Guinness Open Gate Brewery achieves autism-friendly certification with AsIAm

In collaboration with autism charity AsIAm, Guinness Open Gate Brewery is now officially autism and sensory-friendly, offering sensory-friendly hours and specially trained staff

The Guinness Open Gate Brewery has today been announced as accredited by Ireland’s Autism Charity, AsIAm, as a certified autism and sensory-friendly venue.

The collaboration between the Guinness Open Gate Brewery and AsIAm aims to ensure that autistic and sensory-sensitive people, and their families can visit the taproom with confidence and comfort. 

To achieve this certification, Guinness Open Gate Brewery employees completed training to better understand autistic customers, their families, and those with sensory processing differences – and how to create a welcoming, inclusive environment for all. From November, the venue will also offer specific sensory-friendly hours, with adapted lighting and sounds.

Adam Harris, chief executive officer, AsIAm, said: “We’re proud to be part of supporting fantastic visitor experiences which otherwise may not have been accessible to our community before. Diageo’s commitment to autism accessibility is particularly important in the context of our work to make Dublin the world’s first Autism-Friendly capital city.”

AsIAm conducted reviews of the vibrant taproom to provide recommendations to increase accessibility and help visitors prepare for their visit, including sensory guide signage, a calmer, seated space in the reception area, and adaptions to the customer experience.

As an accredited AsIAm taproom, the Guinness Open Gate Brewery will provide the following features and services to make the experience as inclusive and enjoyable as possible:

• Training: The Guinness Open Gate Brewery’s staff has been trained by AsIAm.ie to better understand how to cater to autistic or neurodivergent customers
• Collateral: The taproom will offer sensory kits at their inside bar, along with visual guides of the building, and sensory maps. Customers can also visit the website ahead of their visit, and find the sensory map, a Charter of Inclusion and visual guide to the building there also.
• Sensory Friendly Hours: There will also be specific sensory-friendly hours at the Guinness Open Gate Brewery, once-monthly on Sundays, starting November 3, from 1pm to 3pm with reduced lighting and sounds. Tables can be booked for this time period on OpenTable.
• On Site Signage: As an autism friendly taproom, additional signage will be placed around the building, marking higher sensory areas.

Catherine Toolan, Irish Brand Homes managing director, Diageo, said: “With the accreditation now confirmed for the Guinness Open Gate Brewery, all of our Brand Homes, including the Guinness Storehouse, Smithwick’s Experience Kilkenny and Roe & Co Distillery have received accreditation by AsIAm, helping us provide experiences for all visitors.”

The Guinness Open Gate Brewery is open Thursday to Saturday, 1pm to 9pm, and Sundays 1pm to 7pm. 

As it is a working brewery site, this experience and venue is for over 18s only.