There’s no doubt that Brits love beer. After all, what’s better than a nice cold beer at the end of a long day?
In recent years, breweries have become increasingly popular tourist destinations. The UK now plays host to more than 2,000 breweries with the North of England boasting its fair share and, thanks to that popularity, dozens of towns across the country offer brewery tours for the avid beer lovers among us.
Experts from Snaptrip, one of the UK’s marketplaces for holiday rentals, have collated a list of microbreweries up North. So, if you’re a fan of craft ale, raise a glass and read on.
Well-known for hoppy modern pale ales and deep stouts, Hawkshead also has a beer hall that’s open to the public. The beer hall serves up a core range of ales and some small batch beers along with what staff have dubbed ‘beer tapas’ to pair with your pint. And this brewery has received a Cask Marque award for serving the perfect pint. Hawkshead Brewery hosts daily brewery tours at 1pm. During the tour, a short film is displayed and lasts around 45 minutes. You also get a choice of pint or two halves at the end of the tour – not too bad for a tenner.
You can find the Hawkshead Brewery at Mill Yard, Staveley, Cumbria LA8 9LR.
Moorhouse’s brewers are so fanatical about their brew, not a single drop is served unless it has passed their exact specification. The company has a core range of ales and IPAs, with bespoke, craft and small batches.
Specialist brewers will show you around the brewery while explaining all the hows and whys of beer-making. The tours are staggered in costs depending on what goodies guests would like during their time at Moorhouse’s. For £10 (plus VAT) per person, visitors can get a 45-minute tour of the brewery along with a pie and pea supper. While at the brewery, visitors can treat themselves to four samples of the beers for an extra £5 (plus VAT) or can upgrade to four full pints of their favourite Moorhouse’s brews for £10 (plus VAT).
Find Moorhouse’s at 250 Accrington Rd, Burnley BB11 5EN.
For Durham Brewery, the importance of beer in British culture is vital. The history of beer, its cultural significance and why Durham Brewery makes beer the way it does are key for this brewery tour. Not only do visitors get to see how the beer is made, they are treated to samples throughout.
The tour takes approximately an hour and a half, and three beers will be tasted under the tutelage of one of Durham Brewery’s beer tutors. Even though Durham Brewery states that this is a tour, there is minimal walking as it’s a micro-brewery. It’s also wheelchair accessible throughout and is £12 a ticket.
The brewery can be found at Unit 6a, Bowburn North Industrial Estate, Bowburn, County Durham, DH6 5PF.
As well as its brewery, Magic Rock Brewing is known for its tap room. The tap room is the heart of Magic Rock, is open all week, and plays host to regular events such as the bi-monthly event, The Tap Social. Food trucks frequent the brewery car park each weekend allowing visitors to get their street food fix.
The brewery tours are priced at £5 a ticket, which includes the 40-minute tour and a drink. Tours run at 3pm and 4pm every Saturday.
Magic Rock Brewing can be found at Willow Lane, Huddersfield, HD1 5EB.
If these breweries have made you want to wet your whistle, and you fancy a change of scenery, you can check out Snaptrip’s Peak District holiday accommodation here: snaptrip.com/last-minute-cottages/peak-district
