Tour Guide Steve Kingsford Shares His Favourite Corner of Hook Norton Brewery

At Hook Norton Brewery, every corner tells a story—from the copper mash tuns to the 1899 steam engine. In the second instalment of our series asking our tour guides to reveal their personal favourite spots (following Leon Daly’s pick a couple of weeks ago), tour guide Steve Kingsford takes us outside into the courtyard.

Having guided visitors around our historic site for over a year and a half, Steve bypassed the obvious highlights to choose a quiet, working corner of the brewery yard.

A Working Brewery, Not a Museum

For Steve, this specific view encapsulates everything Hook Norton Brewery stands for. Stand in the yard, and you see spent grain, weathered stonework, and modern stainless steel fermentation vessels operating side by side. It is a living, breathing blend of old and new—proof that Hooky remains a fully working brewery rather than a museum piece.

A Tribute to Service & Community
Looking up towards the iconic William Bradford tower—which Steve describes as a “cathedral to the brewing industry”—your eye is drawn to the Union Flag flying proudly above the roof and water tanks.

For Steve, that flag carries a deeper personal meaning. It stands for service and pays tribute to the five brewery men who lost their lives during the First World War—a poignant loss for a close-knit rural community like Hook Norton.

Brewery tours run seven days a week, offering visitors the chance to explore the tower, stop by the Malthouse Kitchen, meet our resident Shire horses in the stables, and enjoy a fresh pint of beer.

Book your tour here:
https://www.hooky.co.uk/visit-us/book-a-brewery-tour/