Steven Knight’s ‘House of Guinness’ Brews Up Family Feuds and Irish Intrigue on Netflix

Netflix’s latest historical drama, House of Guinness, has arrived, transporting viewers to 19th-century Dublin where the heirs of brewing magnate Sir Benjamin Guinness grapple with legacy, ambition, and a nation on the brink of upheaval. Created by Steven Knight, the mastermind behind Peaky Blinders, the eight-episode series premiered on September 25, 2025, blending sibling rivalries, political tensions, and corporate power struggles in a narrative often likened to Succession with a pint of stout. Set against the backdrop of post-famine Ireland and expanding to New York, the show explores the far-reaching impact of Benjamin’s cunning will on his four adult children, Arthur, Edward, Anne, and Ben, as they navigate the fate of the world’s largest brewery.

Knight, drawing from an idea by Guinness descendant Ivana Lowell, crafts a tale inspired by real history but infused with his signature grit and mythologizing flair. The series kicks off in 1868, immediately after Benjamin’s death, thrusting the siblings into a web of dark secrets, betrayals, and external threats from Fenian rebels and societal divides between Protestant elites and the Catholic underclass. As the brewery’s success hangs in the balance, the heirs must contend with their father’s posthumous directives, which favor certain sons while marginalizing others, sparking intense family drama amid Ireland’s push for independence. Knight told Netflix’s Tudum that the premise—a deceased patriarch dictating his children’s futures via a will—provides the perfect dramatic launchpad, with none of the siblings content with their inheritance.

At the heart of House of Guinness are the four Guinness siblings, each embodying facets of ambition and vulnerability. Anthony Boyle stars as Arthur, the eldest and most politically driven heir, whose career implodes amid scandals and whose marriage strains under the family’s pressures. Inspired by the real Arthur Guinness, who succeeded his father as a Conservative MP for Dublin, Boyle’s portrayal captures a man torn between Unionist loyalties and the brewing empire’s demands. Louis Partridge plays Edward, the youngest and most hands-on with the brewery, channeling the historical Edward Guinness, who later became the 1st Earl of Iveagh and expanded the business globally. Partridge, known from Enola Holmes, brings idealism and pride to Edward, who learned the ropes young and views the brewery as his domain.

Emily Fairn portrays Anne, the sole daughter and a philanthropist at heart, drawing from the real Anne Guinness, who focused on aiding Dublin’s poor despite receiving only a nominal inheritance as a woman. Fairn, recognized from The Responder, underwent multiple auditions to embody Anne’s resilience in a male-dominated world. Fionn O’Shea rounds out the siblings as Ben, the overlooked brother deemed too weak by his father, reflecting historical tensions where Benjamin Lee Guinness favored Arthur and Edward for the business. O’Shea, a Dublin native and fan of Knight’s work, was drawn to the project’s historical roots.

Supporting the family are a cadre of allies and adversaries, including James Norton as Sean Rafferty, the charismatic brewery foreman whose contradictions—charming yet threatening—steal scenes. Norton’s performance has been hailed for its intensity, with the fictional Rafferty serving as a narrative wildcard. The ensemble features Dervla Kirwan, Jack Gleeson, Niamh McCormack, Danielle Galligan, Ann Skelly, Seamus O’Hara, Michael McElhatton, David Wilmot, Michael Colgan, Jessica Reynolds, and Hilda Fay, portraying figures from Fenian rebels to aristocratic influencers entangled in the Guinness orbit.

Produced by Kudos for Netflix, the series was directed by Tom Shankland for the first five episodes and Mounia Akl for the final three, with Knight and Shankland among the executive producers alongside Karen Wilson, Elinor Day, Martin Haines, and Lowell. Filming incorporated lavish sets, including Wales’ Penrhyn Castle standing in for the family’s Ashford Castle estate, to evoke 19th-century opulence and grit. The trailer teases high drama: funerals fraught with tension, promises that could doom the empire, and a cliffhanger gunshot aimed at the siblings, hinting at future seasons.

While fictionalized, House of Guinness roots itself in the Guinness dynasty’s real history. Sir Benjamin Lee Guinness, grandson of founder Arthur Guinness, transformed the St. James’s Gate Brewery into a powerhouse, funding public works like St. Patrick’s Cathedral restoration amid post-famine poverty. As a Tory MP, he supported British ties, contrasting with rising Fenian nationalism—a tension the series amplifies through fictional rebels like Patrick and Ellen Cochrane, inspired by historical Irish Republican Brotherhood figures. The show’s philanthropy themes echo the family’s legacy, including Edward’s real-life housing initiatives to quell unrest. Knight used sparse historical records as “stepping stones,” blending fact with invention to probe power’s corrupting influence.

Critics have praised the series for its dynastic intrigue and Knight’s peak form, with Rotten Tomatoes at 87% approval, calling it a “silky pint” of drama. Reviews highlight Norton’s sizzling presence and the show’s smarter, sexier edge over predecessors like Downton Abbey, though some note its try-hard darkness. On X, viewers recommend it alongside thrillers, with posts buzzing about its Peaky Blinders vibe and binge-worthiness.

No Season 2 renewal yet, but the cliffhanger and Knight’s plans suggest more episodes, potentially exploring the family’s global expansion. All episodes are streaming now on Netflix, complete with Irish subtitles—a platform first. For fans of historical epics, House of Guinness pours a potent mix of ambition, betrayal, and Ireland’s turbulent soul.