Hook Norton Brewery

Hook Norton Brewery is one of only 32 family-owned breweries in Britain, a proudly independent and passionate family business that has been brewing traditional real ales since 1849. Located in the picturesque Hook Norton village near Banbury in the beautiful Cotswold Hills, it stands as the finest example of a Victorian Tower Brewery in the country. The magnificent 5-storey tower brewery still uses time-honored brewing methods, powered by a working steam engine that runs on the first Sunday of each month at 11:30am. This award-winning brewery combines handcrafted heritage with a modern approach to produce an exceptional range of real ales. Brewery tours offer an immersive 1.5-2 hour guided experience through all five floors, priced at £20 per person. Tours must be pre-booked and take visitors through the sights, sounds, and smells of the brewing process, ending with a tutored tasting session in the atmospheric cellar bar. Please note tours are not suitable for children under 12 or those with walking difficulties, as there are over 100 steps to navigate. Sensible footwear is required. The brewery is also home to three magnificent Shire Horses in on-site stables, which are open Wednesday to Sunday for visitors to enjoy. The Visitor Centre features a free museum showcasing the brewery's rich history, a well-stocked brewery shop, and the Malthouse Kitchen Café. A multiple-year winner of the Visit England Hidden Gem Award, Hook Norton Brewery also operates 36 pubs across the region. The site is nut-free and no-smoking throughout. The Visitor Centre, Brewery Shop, Malthouse Kitchen, and Museum are easily accessible, with parking available on site.