House of Guinness has been on our screens for just a day, and the reviews are already flooding in. The highly anticipated show charts the fascinating story of the family behind the famous Guinness Brewery, after the death of Sir Benjamin Guinness 19th Century Ireland (although it was actually filmed in the North of England).
The four adult children - Arthur, Edward, Anne and Ben - take the spotlight in the show, alongside fictional character such as Sultan, Sean Rafferty and Byron Hedges. We follow the siblings struggle to navigate the Guinness empire against a changing political backdrop in Ireland, thanks to the rise of republicanism - told through character such as Patrick and Ellen Cochrane.
The show, the brainchild of Peaky Blinders creator Stephen Knight, was highly anticipated and it's already proving divisive among critics. We've broken down what they're saying...
What do the reviews of House Of Guinness say?
Starting strong with The Guardian, who gave the show an impressive five stars. Critic Jack Seale praised the developed characters in the series, writing 'What characters the Guinness quartet are, confidently drawn and wisely performed, powering a fine drama about people with flaws they can’t overcome, delusions of qualities they don’t possess, and weaknesses their foes will inevitably exploit.'
The Times awarded the show four stars, with critic James Jackson praising James Norton (who plays Sean Rafferty's) performance, and writing 'House of Guinness is never dull. In fact, as family sagas go, it is, yes, rip-roaring.'
Anita Singh of The Telegraph awarded the show three stars. She describes James Norton's character as 'the most magnetic character of all', and notes how 'the fortunes of the family are tied up in the politics of the time.' NME also gave the show three stars. 'Beautifully shot and handsomely put together, House Of Guinness is more lavish than it probably deserves to be – Knight using his Peaky Blinders pull to soak a small story in enough prestige until it looks like a big one. If you’re not a fan of his style, nothing here will change your mind,' writes Paul Bradshaw.
However, not all were as impressed with the show. Katie Rosseinsky at The Independent wrote:'There’s a lot to keep track of, sure, but somehow none of it really seems to grab you. Perhaps it’s the paint-by-numbers script, or maybe it’s the overwhelming, well, brown-ness of the whole thing. But choppy cutting and all the Kneecap needle drops in the world can’t compensate for House of Guinness’s sluggishness.'
Where can I watch House of Guinness?
You can watch the entire series right now on Netflix! If you want to read a modern day Guinness' opinion on the series, check out Grazia's recent interview with Daphne Guinness, who calls the name 'a blessing and a curse'.
Alice Hall is the Staff Writer at Grazia UK. She was previously a Junior Features Writer for The Daily Telegraph. At Grazia, she writes news and features about pop culture, dating, health, politics and interiors.