brewery tour burton on trent

Marstons Brewery & Visitor Centre

Join a brewery tour and see the time honoured brewing methods in action, including the famous Burton Union system. A fascinating insight into a traditional working brewery. Tours are available Monday - Friday by appointment only.

Opening times

Open by arrangement only. Please telephone for details.

• Large Groups
• Wet Weather Days
• Museums & Heritage Centres
• History & Industrial Heritage
• Local Produce
• Car Parking
• Coach Parking
• Conference Facilities
• Disabled Parking
• Open All Year

Location Map

The Brewery, Shobnall Road Burton upon Trent Staffordshire DE14 2BG

Image Gallery

The National Brewery Centre

Top ways to experience nearby attractions

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

THE NATIONAL BREWERY CENTRE: All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)

Marston's Brewery Tour

• See all photos

Similar Experiences

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Marston's Brewery Tour - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

Visit A Brewery

Brewery Tours and Information

Visit our famous Albion Brewery, described as a ‘cathedral of brewing’ and home to Marston’s since 1898. Discover how we make our beers including our flagship Pedigree, on our fully guided tour... and yes of course you can enjoy a sample!

We started brewing in Burton-Upon-Trent in 1834. Then in 1898 we got itchy feet. So we moved down the road to the Albion brewery. We still like it so we’ve not moved again since.

Carlsberg Marston's Brewing Company Marston's House Brewery Road Wolverhampton WV1 4JT

Tel: 01604 668866

• Things To Do
• Business Directory
• Latest News
• Advertise With Us

The National Brewery Centre

Address: Horninglow Street Burton on Trent , Staffordshire DE14 1NG

Phone: 01283 532880

The National Brewery Centre (formerly called The Bass Museum and more recently The Coors Visitor Centre) re-opened on 1st May 2010.

It is a museum and visitor centre that celebrates Burton on Trent’s proud brewing heritage and offers a working micro-brewery, vintage vehicles, shire horses, beer tasting and much more.

Take a look at the Video Tour and photos below for more information about The National Brewery Centre…..

[youtube width=”500″ height=”300″]RSN3zC6mA8g[/youtube]

The National Brewery Centre Shire Horses

Opening Hours: Visitor Attraction: 10.00am-6.00pm Every day of the year (except Christmas Day)

Brewery Tap Bar and Restaurant: 11.00am-11.00pm Every day of the year (except Christmas Day)

Admission Prices

Adult £8.95 – including the tour and 4 sample beer tastings.

OAP/Concession £6.95 – including the tour and 4 sample beer tastings.

Child (3-10 years) £4.95

Family (2 adults and 2 children) £24.95

Post Your Review

Click here to cancel reply.

© 2012 InBurton.co.uk . All rights reserved.

Brewery Tours and Tastings: Discovering Burton upon Trent's Famous Beer Culture

Discover the famous beer culture of burton upon trent with brewery tours and tastings. join us on a journey to explore the history and flavours of some of the uk’s most famous breweries. contact home instead today to learn more about our home care services for older adults..

The brewing heritage of Burton upon Trent is one that goes back centuries and is deeply ingrained in our town’s identity. Known as the “Beer Capital of Britain,” Burton has been synonymous with brewing since the Middle Ages. Its unique water source, rich in minerals such as gypsum and calcium sulfate, creates the ideal conditions for brewing beer, particularly pale ales. This “Burtonisation” process imparts a distinct flavour profile to the beer, making it highly sought after by breweries around the world.

Throughout its history, Burton upon Trent has been home to numerous breweries, both large and small. The 19th century saw a boom in the town’s brewing industry, with the likes of Bass, Worthington, and Marston’s becoming household names. The iconic Bass red triangle became the first registered trademark in the UK, reflecting the company’s significant role in the beer industry.

Today, while the number of breweries may have dwindled, Burton’s brewing legacy continues with the presence of companies such as Molson Coors and Marston’s, as well as a growing number of craft breweries and beer festivals celebrating the town’s storied past.

Brewery Tours and Tastings

• Burton Town Brewery is a popular local brewery, known for its classic Burton beers. Inside, you can admire a painted wall mural showcasing the history of brewing and brewing culture in the area. The bar is located next to where the beer is freshly brewed, offering visitors a unique experience. Established in 2015, the brewery started out as a small operation supplying cask ales to local pubs, but now offers a wide range of cask and keg beers, as well as bottled and canned ranges. Visitors have praised the friendly staff and high-quality drinks, with one reviewer calling the IPA “absolutely superb”.
• Marston’s Brewery is one of the UK’s most famous breweries, and visitors can take a guided tour of the brewery to learn about the brewing process and the history of the company. The tour includes a visit to the brewery’s museum, where visitors can explore the history of Marston’s and its famous beers. After the tour, visitors can enjoy a beer tasting, where they can sample a range of Marston’s beers and discover the subtle flavours and aromas of each.
• Heritage Brewing Company is a microbrewery located in Burton upon Trent. While they don’t offer tours, visitors can still sample the brewery’s range of beers at their taproom. The taproom is a cosy and welcoming space, perfect for enjoying a beer and chatting with friends.
• Tollgate Brewery is another microbrewery located in Burton upon Trent. While they also don’t offer tours, visitors can still enjoy a tipple of the brewery’s fabulous beers at their taproom. Tollgate Brewery runs several bars and taprooms throughout the region – each is a perfect spot for enjoying a beer and relaxing with friends and family.

Remember to Keep it Age-Friendly

People of all ages can enjoy brewery tours and tastings, but it’s important to consider age-friendly aspects for older adults. Here are some things to keep in mind:

• Check accessibility : Ensure the brewery has wheelchair accessibility or other necessary accommodations.
• Consider transportation : Home Instead provides local transport services, making it easy for older adults to get to and from the brewery.
• Take breaks : Brewery tours and tastings can be tiring, so it’s important to take breaks and rest as needed.

If you’re a beer lover, then Burton upon Trent should be on your list of must-visit destinations. From the Burton Town Brewery to Tollgate Brewery , there’s something for everyone to enjoy.

Contact Home Instead today to learn more about our home care services for older adults and explore the beer culture of Burton on Trent.

Learn more about our home care services and discover how we can help and support your loved ones

Your online guide to Britain’s unique and distinctive towns.

Burton-upon-trent – the brewing capital of britain.

Brewing is an art in Burton-Upon-Trent which at one time produced one in four pints of beer sold in Britain. Now less so but still known as the capital of brewing today. Despite this Burton is home to the National Brewery Museum , which reopened in 2010. The town sits above the National Forest and on the River Trent.

Early signs of settlement in Burton date back to the Anglo Saxon period. An Irish nun named Modwen rested in Burton on her way to Rome. During this time Modwen built churches here, probably to convert the people to Christianity.

St Modwen church, Burton Upon Trent © Jack Vincent

Modwen claimed she cured eye and skin disorders, using the mineral rich water from a local well. St Modwen built Burton Abbey to protect the well, the water is rumoured for its healing properties. However, the Abbey is now in ruins.

Brewing in Burton

Burton Brewery © Jack Vincent

In 1868 the number of working breweries in Burton-Upon-Trent was 26. There are two reasons for Burton being the first choice for brewers.

First, the water: Due to the water’s hardness and mineral content which is formed on its journey through the Trent valley, this is ideal for brewing pale ale.

Second, transport: The River Trent connects a number of towns and cities in Britain making it perfect for transporting beer. Also, works on the Trent and Mersey canal in 1777 opened new markets for Burton’s beers. No wonder William Bass opened his first brewery in the same year, eventually becoming the largest brewery in the world.

Robey Tandem Combine Steam Engine © National Brewery Centre

Today Burton is home to The National Brewery Centre.  The museum offers daily tours, including the history and development of brewing, and real life stories.

Bottled Vintage Car © The National Brewery Museum

The museum has vintage vehicles on show, with The William Worthington micro brewery topping off the tour. Visitors have the chance to sample a range of local ales brewed on site!

The Brewing process © National Brewery Museum

Other things to do

The town boasts an indoor market hall that opened its doors in 1883. The market still trades to this day, and is an important part of Burton’s culture. Additionally, Burton hosts an outdoor market trading on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.

Taking a narrow boat along Burton’s canals offers a unique insight for visitors. Boating is a perfect opportunity to see the town from a different angle. Additionally, the narrow boat can provide great views of the British countryside.

Trent Canal © Instagram: goozlegram

The C19th Pumping Station at Claymills allows visitors to step back in time, here you can see steam power in action. The Pumping Station is kept alive by keen volunteers. The building is a great find for those interested in industrial history or want to experience something unique.

Claymills Victorian Pumping Station © Enjoy Staffordshire

The National Memorial Arboretum is nearby to Burton, and is home to 350 memorials to those who served. Every memorial is symbolic. The overwhelming Armed Forces Memorial stands high in the centre of the grounds. It is a place to remember and reflect on lives lost while on duty, or as a result of terrorism or designated operations.

Above all ensure to make the most of the visit by taking the tour. Guides certainly enhance the experience with their deep knowledge and true stories.

Naval Memorial National Arboretum © Jack Vincent

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Validation Code * 2+6=?

BURTON BORN & BREWED

Welcome to tower brewery, an independent family brewery established in 2001 and situated in burton on trent – the home of brewing..

To brew great tasting beer a brewer needs to achieve a complex balance: not just between bitterness and sweetness, but between the myriad of malt, hops and yeast-derived aromas, flavours and mouthfeel components of beer. Beers with balance are easy to drink – they have what brewers call “drinkability” or “moreishness” – a quality much sought after but rarely achieved. John Mill’s beers from Tower Brewery are fine examples of beers with this special characteristic – and it is to his credit that he strives and succeeds in brewing great tasting beers year in and year out. Long may he continue!

Dr. Harry White – Past-President, the Institute of brewing & Distilling. Director of Quality Assurance Bass Brewers 1989 – 2003. Global Director of Technical Compliance, Molson Coors 2003 – 2007.

Marston's Brewery Tour

• See all photos

Similar Experiences

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Marston's Brewery Tour - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

National Brewery Centre

Based just a stone’s throw away from Derbyshire’s Lion Head Hotel, The National Brewery Centre finds itself in Burton-on-Trent. Burton is world renowned for its brewing reputation and heritage, making it the perfect place to visit for a guided brewery tour.

What to Do While You’re There?

Dive into the history, art and fun behind brewing with the National Brewery Centre’s guided and self-guided tours . For the full experience, take a guided tour around the historic museum and allow our expert guides to provide an interactive tour you’re sure to remember. Not only will you be taught all about the history and production of our beer, but you’ll also get to taste it. At the end of your tour, you’ll be taken to the Brewery Tap bar to sample some of the award-winning ales brewed on-site.

If you would rather discover the museum at your own pace, you can also opt for a self-guided tour. As a part of either experience, you will also receive beer tasting tokens that equate to one pint and free parking. For those more experienced beer tasters, look out for the Half Hogshead Tour on the second Saturday of each month. As a part of this, you will enjoy tapas and beers that have been carefully selected by our experts to display how they can work together. You will also receive a guided tour of the museum, free car parking and a complimentary hot drink upon arrival. If you fancy something different, you can also take on an escape room to put an end to the Brewery Bandits.

Food and Drink

In addition to the beer tasting and tapas experiences, The Brewery Tap is also open to all who wish to come in and enjoy bar snacks and traditional ales. Open Wednesday to Sunday, the Brewery Tap offers a contemporary feel and features some drinks that have been brewed on site such as White Shield and Red Shield. If you happen to visit on Sunday, you can also enjoy the Brewery Tap’s lunchtime carvery. Featuring only the best hand-carved meats, beef dripping roast potatoes and garden vegetables, you’re sure to be fuelled up for the rest of your afternoon. In addition to their regular menu, also keep an eye out on their website for any changes such as their Pizza and Peroni Thursdays. They can also take bookings for parties for those that are staying with us in groups.

Once you return to our Belper hotel, you can rest your weary legs and enjoy the delights of our homemade cuisine. Our pizza restaurant has earned a fantastic reputation across Derbyshire as well as all of the accompanying items on our gastropub menu .

Facilities Available

Parking can be found at the front and back of the National Brewery Centre and is available to visitors for free. The Brewery Centre also has disabled parking spaces and the building itself is wheelchair friendly. The building itself is also wheelchair friendly and assistance dogs are also welcome. Full details on accessibility can be found on their website. You will also have access to toilet facilities upon your visit.

How to Get There?

Address: Horninglow Street, Burton Upon Trent, DE14 1NG Telephone: 01283 532 880 Website: National Brewery Centre

Allergens and Intolerance

This website is to be used as a a best faith effort to inform you of our allergen and intolerance policy,  and may not be 100% accurate, or may be out of date at the time of reading, you should always advise your server on any dietary requirements, including intolerance & allergies. All our dishes are prepared in our kitchens where allergens are present. We therefore cannot guarantee that all our dishes are free from traces of allergens.

You must assess your own level of risk, based on your personal circumstances before consuming any of our food or drink.

Prices & opening times

Home Prices & opening times

Admission Prices

• Museum & Heritage >>> The worlds secret “treasure trove” of brewery heritage.
• Plan your visit >>> Museum Opening Times & Prices
• Events >>> We've got events for all, all year round!

Sign up to our Newsletter

We'd love for you to keep in touch - to receive the latest news and offers, why not join our mailing list!

Restaurant vouchers

Book your tickets.

THE BEERTONIAN

Burton upon Trent, Beer and Brewing

Power in a Union

Burton Union Systems may be expensive to run, outdated, maintenance heavy and inefficient, but the recent decision by Carlsberg Marston’s Brewing Company (CMBC) to retire the remaining four sets at their Albion Brewery on Shobnall Road in Burton upon Trent has been steeped in controversy, as it marks the end of a chapter in Burton’s […]

G3 Brewery Launches into Space

There’s been something special about Burton upon Trent and beer that stretches back centuries and if the present climate is seeing breweries closing, Burton is showing signs of bucking that trend with certainly two and possibly three companies either actively searching for premises in or planning to move to the town in the near future. […]

Brewery Archives Update

The National Brewery Heritage Trust has appointed Laura Waters as Collections Officer to help them oversee the protection and preservation of the archives and artefacts which make up the National Brewery Collection, based in Burton upon Trent. Laura has decades of experience at museums and heritage sites across the UK, including Buxton Museum and Art […]

Joint winners of The Best Bass in Burton 2023

The annual quest to find The Best Bass in Burton was held over the Easter weekend, with The Devonshire Arms and The Roebuck Inn being joint winners, The Constitutional Club were runners up. Last year’s event was also very close with The Roebuck Inn narrowly beating The Devonshire Arms, so it seems fitting that this […]

The Best Bass in Burton 2023

The competition for The Best Bass in Burton returns for a second year on 7th and 8th April. The inaugural event was won by the Roebuck Inn. “At the Roebuck Inn we put a lot of effort into making sure our beers are in the best possible condition, but I was shocked when I found […]

Safeguarding our Heritage: an interview with Dr Harry White

When the announcement came on Monday 12 September that the National Brewery Centre was to close at the end of October, there was an instant public backlash. A Facebook group “Save our National Brewery Centre” was made, a petition created  that at last count had over 8,000 signatures and there was a protest march through the […]

Thirteen, your lucky number

It can’t be just me thinking that it’s been a bloody long time since the first week of September. In a matter of weeks we’ve lost two Burton Ale Trail venues out of fifteen, but should we be worried for the future of the BAT, I think not. The fate of The Alfred Ale House […]

Keep Your Hands Off Our History!

If this week has shown one thing, it is that there is still a lot of pride in Burton regarding it’s brewing history. If you are reading this you will know this is a subject very close to my heart, unsurprisingly I have taken the news of the closure of the National Brewery Centre hard. […]

The Winner of The Best Bass in Burton 2022

“Elated, surprised, gobsmacked … I didn’t think we were in the running at all … I can’t believe it, I just don’t know what to say,” says a genuinely surprised Julie Latham, Landlady of The Roebuck Inn on hearing the news that her pub has won ‘The Best Bass in Burton 2022’ competition, which was […]

Why is the Bass Triangle red?

I went to the Constitutional Club in Burton upon Trent recently; it sits literally a stone’s throw along High Street from Bass House and was founded by monies from Lord Burton. It proudly serves one beer on draught, what else but Bass? Newly acquired Bass drip mats are on every table, the club printed them […]

• Support All About Beer
• All About Beer Podcast
• The Beer Travelers Podcast
• Brewer To Brewer Podcast
• Drink Beer, Think Beer Podcast
• Beer Me! Radio Podcast
• What is Beer?
• Belgian and Continental Ales
• British and North American Ales
• Seasonal and Specialty
• Stouts and Porters
• Andy Crouch
• Acitelli on History
• Brewing Instructions
• Homebrewing Features
• It’s My Round
• Beer Enthusiast
• In The Barrel
• People Features
• Pull Up A Stool
• The Beer Curmudgeon
• In The Brewhouse
• Visiting the Pub
• Behind the Bar
• Stylistically Speaking
• Magazine Archives
• Beer Travelers
• Beer Weekend
• A Closer Look

Email address:

The Story of Brewing in Burton on Trent

Admirers of British beer know that Burton on Trent is one of England’s great brewing towns. Its breweries—Ind Coope, Bass, Worthington’s, Allsopp—developed India Pale Ale, Britain’s leading export beer in the 19th century. Burton breweries also developed Burton Ale, an ancestor of today’s barley wines.

In The Story of Brewing in Burton on Trent , Roger Protz has produced the first book solely devoted to the history of brewing in Burton. Protz tells Burton’s story with his usual flair and panache.

Brewing in Burton dates back to the Middle Ages, when the Burton Abbey had a substantial brewery to satisfy thirsty pilgrims. But it wasn’t until the 18th century that Burton began to become a brewing powerhouse. Protz offers two reasons why Burton brewers grew substantially. The breweries draw their water from nearby wells with soft water that has high levels of calcium and magnesium salts, ideal for brewing. An additional innovation came from 19th-century inventor Peter Walker, who developed “unions,” consecutive square trays that helped filter the beer, resulting in a bright, clear product that retained enough yeast for robust bottle conditioning. Burton brewers used the unions to develop pale ales that they exported around the world.

Protz shows that the 20th century was one of slow decline in the Burton breweries. They failed to adapt to the rise of lager beer and to advances in brewing chemistry that allowed competitors to “Burtonize” their water. The brewers were also hurt by steadily rising taxes and wartime restrictions on alcohol strength.

Today, only two of the old Burton brewers survive: Bass, now a subsidiary of MolsonCoors, and Marston’s, a regional brewer that is the last brewer to use Burton unions in its brewing. But Protz shows that rising craft brewers Burton Bridge and Tower Brewery are helping to once again make Burton an important brewing town. Also significant is the Museum Brewery, associated with the National Brewery Centre, formerly the Bass museum. While continuing to produce small quantities of such classic beers as Bass No. 1, Museum Brewing is developing several notable beers, including cask ales Worthington E and Worthington Red Shield as well as several seasonals.

Burton on Trent will never become the brewing colossus it was 150 years ago. But Roger Protz shows that the city remains home to a significant regional brewer, some rising craft brewers, and Britain’s leading brewing museum.

The First Big Magazine piece on Microbrewing, 30 Years Later

Once Upon a Time, Beer in Oregon ‘Wasn’t Great’

Throwing That First Harpoon: The First Kegs of Harpoon Ale

2022 Great American Beer Festival Award Winners Announced

Sapporo to acquire Anchor Brewing Co.

The Long Path to New Barley

BREWERS LOVE A RYE SENSE OF HUMOR