From packed-out festivals to quiet post-work pints, Guinness is a summer staple at NOTION HQ. Six team members share their nostalgic moments made better with a pint in hand.

With summer finally in full swing, we’re seeing our drinking habits shift. The days are longer, the sun is (hopefully) out, and suddenly every spare moment feels like a reason to celebrate – whether you’re on your way to (or at) a festival,  in the park, or just catching up with mates at home or in a pub garden.

 

While many reach for a lager or a spritz in the summer, looking back on some of our favourite sunny memories, one drink kept showing up time and again: Guinness. Whether it was poured fresh at the pub or cracked open mid-festival, there’s something about it that hits right: smooth, satisfying, and always part of the moment.

 

We asked six members of our team to share a moment in the sun they won’t forget. From spontaneous BBQs to after-work pints and festival highs, here are a few stories of summer – and the little details that made them.

Tom: “At Wide Awake festival, I ended up bumping into loads of my old mates from uni in Bristol – some of them I hadn’t seen in ages. We used to drink Guinness all the time back then, so we grabbed some cans and kept the tradition going. We were watching Chanel Beads, an artist I’d wanted to see live for a while, and it felt like a real moment, brought all together by the Guinness.”

 

Eben: “One of the best days last summer was a totally unplanned garden hangout at my mate Sam’s. The sun was out, someone put on a playlist, someone else fired up the BBQ, and the rest of us just chilled with a pint of Guinness. There was nothing flashy about it, just good vibes, good music, and all of us being in the same place at the same time.”

Liam: “We were at We Out Here festival, it was a scorching day, and I had a moment of clarity mid-sip on a can of Guinness, just as the beat was dropping on a mix by Joy Orbison, I realised then that it’s the ultimate festival drink. It’s rich but still refreshing, and it just worked for being out all day. Since then, it’s been my go-to for festivals.”

 

Rizka: “My friend had just moved to London from New York, so we met at Skehan’s for a catch-up. We sat out in the pub garden with a pint of Guinness and just talked for hours. I think ‘North’ by Clairo was playing in the background, and I’m a massive Clairo fan too. The atmosphere was perfect – warm summer air, the buzz of people around us, the clink of glasses. It felt like such a classic London moment, and Guinness really added to that feeling of welcome and connection.”

Shakira: “My mate was having leaving drinks in Greenwich Park, and there must have been about twenty of us spread out on the hill. Someone had brought some Guinness, and we were all sipping from cans, watching the sun set over the city. My friend was playing a Sammy Virji mix to get us in the mood for festival season, everyone was laughing, hugging, taking photos and have a good time.”

 

Liv: “One evening after a long shift, a few of us headed to the local for a pint. The sun was starting to set, and we found a little table outside. It felt right to order a Guinness. That first sip hit different, especially after a full-on day. We sat there for ages watching the world go by until we decided to do some karaoke, where I performed ‘Judas’ by Lady Gaga, pint in hand.”