Baked Bean Museum of Excellence

The Baked Bean Museum of Excellence was a private museum in Port Talbot, Wales. It occupied the living room, bathroom and kitchen of Captain Beany’s council flat. The collection centred on branded food cans, advertising and promotional items for baked beans. Brands such as Heinz, Crosse & Blackwell, Branston, HP and Van Camp’s were represented. Over 500 items filled the small flat, with Captain Beany estimating he spent over £10,000 building the collection. The museum stood out for its unusual theme and lack of a gift shop. Instead, Captain Beany ran a weekend market stall selling branded souvenirs of both the museum and his Captain Beany persona. It was registered with the Association of Independent Museums and comedian Danny Wallace served as a patron. In 2018, TripAdvisor ranked it the fourth most visited attraction in Port Talbot. Visitors found a living space turned museum, where exhibits lined shelves and walls. Items from food brands and comedy character Mr Bean were displayed alongside promotional materials. The flat’s everyday rooms became galleries for cans, posters and memorabilia. Though the museum closed in 2023, some of the collection was to be donated to a London museum.