Can you visit Donnington Brewery?

Yes, now, in a way you long could not. The brewery runs three guided tours on a Friday, booked in advance, each about ninety minutes and ending with a tasting. Outside those Fridays it is not open to visitors, and its beer is found in its own tied pubs.

What is Donnington Brewery?

A small brewery near Stow in a former watermill, brewing since 1865 on a site recorded since 1291, owned throughout by the Arkell family. Its overshot waterwheel still drives machinery inside, and it supplies its own tied pubs across the north Cotswolds.

Where is Donnington Brewery?

At Upper Swell, near Stow-on-the-Wold in Gloucestershire, about a mile north west of the town.

Visiting Donnington Brewery: Friday Tours & How to Visit

Donnington is the smaller and older-looking of the breweries near Stow, a stone watermill brewing since 1865 with its waterwheel still turning. Long shown to the road but not opened to it, it now runs tours on a Friday. Here is how to visit, and what it makes.

At a glance

How to visit: Long closed to visitors, the brewery now runs guided tours on Fridays, booked ahead; otherwise its beer is found in its own tied pubs.
Where: Upper Swell, near Stow-on-the-Wold, Gloucestershire, about a mile north west of the town.
Best time to visit: Tours run on Fridays only and are booked in advance; the rest of the week the brewery is not open to visitors.
How long to spend: About an hour and a half for a Friday tour and tasting.
Parking: Free, at the brewery entrance.
Getting there: Nearest stations Moreton-in-Marsh and Kingham, each a drive off, then a taxi. By car, on the lanes off the B4077 near Stow.
Dog friendly: Best left at home; the historic brewhouse has steep steps and is a working space.
Family friendly: Not really; it is a working brewery with steep steps and a tasting at the end.

Visiting Donnington Brewery: parking, getting there, when to go

Donnington brews at Upper Swell, a mile or so north west of Stow, in a stone watermill set against its own pond with the wheel still turning on the side of it. There has been a mill here since 1291 and beer brewed since 1865, by the Arkell family throughout. For most of that history you could not get past the gate; the brewery now runs three guided tours on a Friday, booked online, each about ninety minutes and ending with a tasting and a glass to keep. The old brewhouse has steep steps and is not suited to anyone unsteady.

Outside those Fridays the brewery is not open, and the way to taste what it makes is in its own small string of tied pubs across the north Cotswolds. There is free parking at the brewery entrance; the nearest stations are Moreton-in-Marsh and Kingham, each a drive away.

Donnington Brewery questions, answered

Can you visit Donnington Brewery?: Yes, now, in a way you long could not. The brewery runs three guided tours on a Friday, booked in advance, each about ninety minutes and ending with a tasting. Outside those Fridays it is not open to visitors, and its beer is found in its own tied pubs.
What is Donnington Brewery?: A small brewery near Stow in a former watermill, brewing since 1865 on a site recorded since 1291, owned throughout by the Arkell family. Its overshot waterwheel still drives machinery inside, and it supplies its own tied pubs across the north Cotswolds.
Where is Donnington Brewery?: At Upper Swell, near Stow-on-the-Wold in Gloucestershire, about a mile north west of the town.

It is a working mill that happens to be beautiful, photographed across its pond by more people than will ever taste what it makes.

The loveliest things in this country are often the ones held quietly by one family, shown to the road and only lately, and only a little, opened to it.

The story moves through this world. Begin Chapter One →