Bristol City Council to consider selling Bottle Yard Studios

The future of Bristol’s The Bottle Yard Studios will be discussed by councillors next week, in plans that include a potential sale.

A committee within Bristol City Council is being asked to agree to sell the film studio as a number of options are considered by the council.

The facility, based in Hengrove, is a leading film and TV studio facility in the West of England and is a cornerstone of Bristol’s UNESCO City of Film designation.

From its establishment in 2010, and following over a decade of steady growth and investment – which included the Studios’ expansion in 2022 – the facility now stands as a key piece of national film & TV production infrastructure.

Bristol has developed into one of the most filmed cities in the UK since the opening of the studios and its close partnership work with the Bristol Film Office ensures that locations across the city regularly feature in primetime TV shows and feature films. Latest figures from Bristol Film Office show that film and High End TV production at The Bottle Yard Studios and on location in Bristol is now worth more than £20m per year to Bristol’s economy.

Ownership of the studios currently sits with the council, which, along with the West of England Combined Authority and a number of other organisations, have maintained steady investment into the facility since opening.

They say that owing to changes in the TV and film production market and the ownership and investment models of local authority-owned studios elsewhere, councillors on the committee are being asked to agree to a process to identify a purchaser for the studios to “maximise future investment opportunities”.

Cllr Tony Dyer, leader of Bristol City Council and chair of the strategy and resources policy committee, said: “The Bottle Yard Studios began as a regeneration project aimed at stimulating economic and social benefits that could benefit the city whilst providing vital new facilities for the regional film and TV sector. The success of the studios over the past 14 years is almost unparalleled with the facility returning on investment many times over through the creation of hundreds of jobs through the sector and being a primary stimulator of millions of pounds of inward investment to the city.

“Now we’re seeing a change in the sector market and an evolution in the ownership models of studios across the country, it’s the right time for the council to consider the best future course for the facility. We’ve seen the huge potential the studios possess to drive economic and social value for the city and to be a focal point for the UK’s TV and film industry. What I and my colleagues on the committee now want to do is to explore how to grow investment and deliver the most for Bristol.”

Laura Aviles, Bristol City Council’s head of film who oversees the studios, says: “I’m pleased that the future of The Bottle Yard is being placed high on the agenda by council leaders. There is absolutely no doubt that the Studios have had a transformative effect on the film and TV industry in Bristol and the West. This success can be seen in the thriving workplace it provides for hundreds of crew and creative professionals each day, the tight-knit community of specialist companies resident on site, and a strong booking slate stretching into 2025/26. Since expanding two years ago, our reputation has been further elevated amongst leading UK and US producers, commissioners and streamers. I want to ensure The Bottle Yard continues to achieve its full potential into the future.”

The meeting will take place on Monday 16 September.