VIP Brewery

VIP Brewery sits just outside Chathill in Northumberland, a proper working craft operation that takes itself seriously without the pretension you sometimes get. You're looking at a genuine production facility here, not some Instagram-baiting taproom - though they do welcome visitors keen to understand what goes into their beers.

What you'll actually see depends on whether they're running tours on the day you visit. The brewery itself is the draw - watching the kit in action, learning how they source and process their ingredients, tasting what comes out the other end. It's hands-on stuff, the kind of thing that appeals to serious ale enthusiasts and anyone curious about small-scale brewing in the North East. If you're staying at one of the nearby parks - Coast and Castles Camping is only 3.7 miles away, or Percy Wood if you prefer something a touch further out - it makes a decent half-day break from the usual seaside routine.

Do ring ahead before turning up. Opening hours and tour availability aren't fixed, and you'll want to know whether they're actually set up for visitors that particular day. Admission details are similarly unclear online, so a quick phone call saves a wasted trip. Allow a couple of hours if you're going the full tour route.

Frankly, it's niche. Families with non-drinking kids might find it dull after twenty minutes. But if you're a beer geek camping locally, or you just want to support independent brewing in Northumberland, it's worth the detour from Chathill.