The Bottle Yard Studios

Apr 13, 2023

It's Hollywood in Hengrove - Bristol's stars and politicians launch the city's new film studio complex at the Bottle Yard Everyone who is anyone in South Bristol was there Bookmark Bookmark Jayde Adams and Joe Sims at the launch event of TBY2, the new facility at the Bottle Yard in Hengrove, South Bristol (Image: Bottle Yard) It's not often stars of TV and movies get to mingle with city leaders but an event almost worthy of inclusion in those glossy Hello! magazine spreads happened in South Bristol on Thursday night. Stars of Strictly Come Dancing, Broadchurch and The Outlaws all celebrated the launch of Bottle Yard Studio's big expansion, which studio bosses and politicians say will bring even more high end TV and movie production to what has been dubbed 'Hollywood in Hengrove'. And there was a heavy dose of politicians there too - with city councillors, the mayor, the metro mayor and South Bristol's MP all helping to launch TBY2, a £13.5 million redevelopment that has seen three new big film stages created, to take the number of studio stages at the former drinks factory site from eight to 11. The Bottle Yard Studios is owned and run by Bristol City Council, and opened back in 2010. Since then, there have been more than 70 film and TV productions made there, and TBY2 is the Bottle Yard's state-of-the-art second facility, less than half a mile away, with three new stages that are 20,000 sq ft, 16,500 sq ft and 7,000 sq ft in size, and 34ft high - which enables production teams to recreate the outdoors inside in a range of productions from period dramas to sci-fi movies and series. Bristol City Council has also invested in 'renewal and repair' works at the main Bottle Yard site and say 135 jobs were created during the redevelopment works to create TBY2. Outlaws star Gamba Cole was among the stars there Gamba Cole, Stacey Olika (Channel 4) & Asiya Sutton (Channel 4) at the launch event of TBY2, the new facility at the Bottle Yard in Hengrove, South Bristol (Image: Bottle Yard)1 of 9 Share Hartcliffe director Paul Holbrook South Bristol MP Karin Smyth and film director and writer Paul Holbrook at the launch event of TBY2, the new facility at the Bottle Yard in Hengrove, South Bristol (Image: Bottle Yard)2 of 9 Share Two councillors, a metro mayor and an MP walk into a film studio... City councillors Helen Holland and Craig Cheney with South Bristol MP Karin Smyth and West of England Metro Mayor Dan Norris at the launch event of TBY2, the new facility at the Bottle Yard in Hengrove, South Bristol (Image: Bottle Yard)3 of 9 Share Karin Smyth MP Karin Smyth MP at the launch event of TBY2, the new facility at the Bottle Yard in Hengrove, South Bristol (Image: Bottle Yard)4 of 9 Share The Metro Mayor said Dan Norris, Mayor of the West of England, says: “I’ve watched this expansion come alive, from a cold and empty space to the fully functioning facility we see today. I’m incredibly proud that this is down to £12 million of investment from the West of England Combined Authority I lead. "Creativity runs through our region’s veins, and we are fortunate to have truly world-leading people working locally in our creative industries. With Netflix, Channel 4, the BBC and more, making shows like Bridgerton, The Outlaws, Tracey Beaker and natural history gems here in the West we have an exciting story to tell. "Now the improved Bottle Yard Studios with three brand-new stages means we can continue to build on these successes to create even more top-notch film and television and bring thousands of highly skilled jobs to our region. Today’s official opening sends a strong message nationally and internationally that our amazing West of England is open for business. So please come here and invest. "I look forward to watching as more films and TV hit the screens that were made in our amazing West of England region." (Image: Bottle Yard)5 of 9 Share The MP, a council film studio boss and Joe Sims South Bristol MP Karin Smyth with actor Joe Sims and Laura Aviles at the launch event of TBY2, the new facility at the Bottle Yard in Hengrove, South Bristol (Image: Bottle Yard)6 of 9 Share The council's senior film manager Laura Aviles is the Senior Film Manager at Bristol City Council. She said it was important that the local community benefit from the Bottle Yard's expansion. "We have now appointed our first Outreach Coordinator who will liaise between productions filming in Bristol and our many skills and education partners including local schools, colleges and universities, to further strengthen the city’s film and TV production workforce," she said. "We’re making sure Bristol seizes the opportunities presented by the UK production boom with both hands, so that local crew, companies and talent benefit from the employment, business and skills development it brings.” (Image: Bottle Yard)7 of 9 Share It's a big space (Image: Bottle Yard)8 of 9 Share (Image: Bottle Yard)9 of 9 Share Most Recent Most Recent