Choosing a Brewtown tour

Do you offer private tours?

Yes, we do! Our eight-seater minibus is the perfect size for you to fill with your friends, but you’ll need to let us know in advance so we can ensure you’ll have the space to yourself. Visit our Contact page to get started.

Do you offer bespoke tours?

Yes, we do! If there’s a certain local brewery you’re desperate to visit that isn’t on one of our usual routes, we’ll try our best to make that happen – visit our Contact page to discuss your ideas with us.

What kind of occasions is a Brewtown tour suitable for?

The sky’s the limit! Whether you’re planning a birthday present or an anniversary gift; a work outing or a reunion, a romantic weekend, a tourist activity off the beaten track; our tours have something for everyone.

That said, unfortunately our tours aren’t suitable for those looking for a booze-fuelled day out. The emphasis of our tours is on tasting, education and experimentation.

If you have any specific requirements, we’re happy to discuss them further, please call us on 01904 636666 to tell us more.

What is included in the price of the tour?

The price of every Brewtown brewery tour includes transportation, tours and tastings. At every brewery, you’ll receive a behind-the-scenes tour of the premises and equipment. The staff will talk you through the brewery’s story, the brewing process, the ingredients and the rationale behind some of their recipes. There will also be a tutored tasting with plenty of samples to enjoy!

What if I don’t drink beer?

We encourage all of our customers to come on a Brewtown tour with an open mind. ‘Beer’ is a very broad umbrella term which covers an incredibly diverse array of styles, flavours and ingredients. We’re firmly of the opinion that there’s a beer out there for everyone, but you may need to be willing to step out of your comfort zone and try things you wouldn’t normally try to find out what you like!

Is there an age limit?

Yes – Brewtown’s tours are for those aged 18 and over only. We regret that you cannot bring under-18s on the tour, even if they won’t be drinking.

It’s your responsibility to carry either a valid passport, driver’s licence, proof of age card or other suitable form of identification for the duration of the tour This applies whether you’re worried about looking under 18 or not.

Are Brewtown’s tours suitable for people with disabilities?

We welcome everyone on Brewtown’s brewery tours. However, it’s a good idea to contact us in advance of booking to let us know about any physical, medical or other special requirements you or anyone in your party has. Not all locations we visit may have the required facilities or access, so a heads-up in advance gives us the chance to accommodate you as best we can.

Booking a place

Do I need to book in advance?

Generally, yes. Our tour groups are small but perfectly-formed - the Brewtown minibus can hold up to 8 guests, so we’d advise securing your space in advance. Head over to our Bookings page or call 01904 636666 to book your spot and guarantee a place on the bus.

There’s always the possibility of making a last-minute booking – cancellations and not-quite-full tour groups means there’s sometimes a spare space or two available on the day. However, we strongly encourage you to call us in advance to check that there is space available on a particular tour - we’d hate to disappoint you when you arrive.

Can I pay on the day?

No – booking and paying for your place confirms your spot on the tour. We don’t carry cash on the bus so won’t be able to take your payment or give you a receipt if you try to pay us on the spot.

I’d like to bring a friend on a Brewtown brewery tour. Do you do gift vouchers?

Yes, we do! We offer two different options for gift vouchers. If you’re certain you know what tour your recipient would like, you can buy a voucher for a specific tour on a specific day. Alternatively, if you’d rather leave the choice up to them, you can choose a gift voucher for a particular value (e.g. £50) and let the recipient decide how to spend it.

When you buy a Brewtown gift voucher, you will receive an email with the voucher code on it which you can then pass on to the recipient. Gift vouchers can be purchased and redeemed online. They expire 12 months after the purchase date. If you’d like to find out more, head over to our Gifts page for the full lowdown.

Can I book a single space on a tour or do I need to fill up a bus?

No, you can come on a tour solo if you want.  Beer drinkers tend to be a friendly bunch and by the end of the session you’ll most likely have made firm friends with your fellow guests.

The date I’d like to book isn’t available. What do I do?

Unfortunately, this means that our tours on this date have sold out. Check our Bookings page for our available dates, or if you prefer, call us on 01904 636666 to discuss your alternatives – we’ll be as flexible as we possibly can.

Changes and cancellations

What happens if I need to cancel my booking?

If you need to cancel your tour for any reason, please contact us as soon as possible. See Terms & Conditions, Terms for Brewery Tours 8.3 What happens if you end the contract without a good reason?

In all cases, if at the time of cancellation there is a waiting list for your booked tour and your space can be filled, you will be eligible for a full refund.

What happens if we cancel a tour?

We reserve the right to change or cancel any bookings. If we cancel a tour for any reason, we’ll try our utmost to do one of the following:

Re-book you for another date, tour (subject to availability) or refund your payment.

The practical stuff

Where will you pick me up?

Your Brewtown brewery tour will start and finish in a different location depending on the chosen tour:

For York tours: York Tap at  York Railway Station, Station Rd, York YO24 1AB. The Tap is accessible from inside the station next to Platform 4; or, from outside, turn left out of the main entrance and it’s just on the left.

For Leeds tours: Outside the Queens Hotel (next to Leeds Station), City Square, Leeds LS1 1PJ

We’ll make sure that the pickup spot is clear, accessible and obvious. The Brewtown minibus has our logo on the side, so you’ll easily be able to spot us.

We keep a checklist of who’s booked onto every tour, so rest assured we won’t leave without you. Nonetheless, if you’re running late or unable to make it to your booked tour we would appreciate being informed as soon as possible. This will help prevent disruption to our schedule and any inconvenience to other guests.

Where will you drop me off?

In York the last stop will be Brew York, Walmgate or The Malting, Tanner’s Moat, so you can stay there and continue your evening in York; otherwise, we will drop you off at the railway station.

In Leeds you will finish the tour at The Brewery Tap, New Station St. If you aren’t planning a night on the town, the Tap is just a few seconds’ walk to the railway station.

The Brewtown minibus returns to York for the evening.

How long will each tour last?

Each tour is scheduled to last for 4/5 hours depending on traffic and the tour, finish time is usually between 5pm and 6pm, however, we like to keep things flexible if possible. If our guests are having a great time in one location and it won’t cause disruption to the schedules of anyone involved in the tours, we’re happy to play it by ear.

Our FAQ page will tell you where each route is scheduled to start and finish. When planning the rest of your day, don’t forget to factor in the travel time to and from these points.

What should I wear/bring?

You are in Northern England - be prepared for all weather! 

All of the breweries we will visit as part of our tours are working environments, so certain health and safety standards must be met. Sturdy, closed-toed shoes with good grip are essential, as heavy machinery and large volumes of liquid are part and parcel of a brewery’s operation.

Breweries can also get very warm due to the boiling process on brewing days, so we’d definitely recommend wearing layers which can be removed if you get too hot.

We’ll ensure that you have access to water and non-alcoholic drinks at every venue, but bringing a bottle of water for the minibus is certainly a good idea.

Can I drink on the bus?

We’re afraid not – our licensing doesn’t permit it. Trust us, though: with the range of beers on offer on the tours themselves, you won’t need to.

What happens if I get drunk on the tour?

We like to think of our Yorkshire brewery tours as a marathon, not a sprint, with an emphasis on quality, not quantity. There’ll be plenty of samples for you to enjoy, which will be spread out over the duration of the session. The strengths of the different drinks on offer will vary though, so it’s possible that you’ll feel the effects of these over the course of the tour.

That said: we appreciate that everyone’s tolerance to alcohol is different and we expect you to know your own limits, how to stick to them, and when you should stop. Brewtown reserves the right to ask you to stop drinking if your behaviour becomes inappropriate and the brewery staff may ask you to leave the premises if your behaviour puts yourself or other guests in danger. If needs be, we will take any action we deem reasonable, including removing you from the tour, to ensure the trip remains safe and enjoyable for all guests.

For more information about the legalities of this, please see our Terms & Conditions.

We also insist that you don’t drive home after the tour, as you will almost certainly be over the legal limit. Please take public transport or arrange a designated driver instead – we’re happy to recommend local taxi companies.

Can I buy bottles to take away?

You certainly can – in fact we’d encourage you to take advantage of the diverse range of Yorkshire beers you’ll encounter on our tours, as they make great souvenirs and gifts. However, we ask that you don’t open your purchases on the bus – our licensing doesn’t permit you to drink en route.

Can I take photos?

Absolutely – we encourage you to document your experience and we’d love to see your pictures! Feel free to share them on your social media accounts – make sure to tag us so we can see them, or use the hashtag #BrewtownTours.