Future of leading film studio to be considered

The future of the largest film and TV studio in the west of England is set to be discussed at a meeting later.

Bristol City Council, which owns the Bottle Yard Studios in Hengrove, is looking at options including selling the site.

The Bottle Yard has hosted filming for productions like Sherlock, The Outlaws and Poldark since it was established 14 years ago.

Councillors are being asked to consider identifying a buyer for the studios to attract "greater investment opportunities which cannot be pursued under council ownership". The meeting is being held on Monday at 14:00 BST.

Council leader Tony Dyer said due to a change in the sector "and an evolution in the ownership models of studios across the country", the time was right to consider "the best future course for the facility".

Film and TV production is worth an estimated £20m to Bristol's economy, with The Bottle Yard Studios, which was expanded in 2022, considered a key facility for national productions with a global reach.

The council, along with the West of England Combined Authority and several other organisations, has provided investment into the studio since it opened in 2010.

Mr Dyer said the facility began as a "regeneration project aimed at stimulating economic and social benefits" and that the studios had returned on the investment "many times over" by creating hundreds of jobs and generating millions of pounds.

"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," he added.

Laura Aviles, Bristol City Council's head of film, who oversees the studios, said she was pleased the studio's future was 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," she said.

Ms Aviles said since the expansion, its reputation had 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," she added.

Follow BBC Bristol on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630.