Manchester’s Space Studios were used extensively for the lengthy shoot

House of Guinness, Steven Knight’s hefty period drama for Netflix, doubled various Manchester locations for 19th century Ireland, and used the city’s Space Studios for a range of sets.

The eight-part series is produced by Kudos, and filmed for 35 weeks from May 2024 to January 2025, utilising Stages 1 and 4 at Space Studios for various sets including the ballroom, the docks office and the boarding house. The rest of Space was used extensively too, with studio manager Dean Sinacola clarifying: “Very little of the facility wasn’t used in the production…”

Producer Cahal Bannon commented: “Space is the place to be if you are shooting in the north west of England. Great stages, great people with an abundance of fabulous locations within an hour of its doors. What’s not to like?”  Other major productions recently shot at Space Studios include AMC’s Talamasca, series 7 of Sky’s Brassic and Amazon’s Lazarus.  

Directed by Tom Shankland and Mounia Akl, House of Guinness stars Anthony Boyle, Louis Partridge, Emily Fairn, Fionn O’Shea, James Norton, Niamh McCormack, Seamus O’Hara, Jack Gleeson and Dervla Kirwan and explores the aftermath of the death of brewery mogul, Sir Benjamin Guinness, and the great impact of his will on the fate of his four children:  Arthur, Edward, Anne, Ben and other Dubliners affected by the expanding Guinness empire. 

Sinacola enthused: “House of Guinness coming to Space Studios was a perfect fit. The stages’ flexibility allowed multiple sets to be turned around quickly for the team while proximity to the city allowed the production great access to locations and doubles within a short drive from the studios.”

Screen Manchester supported the production and key location scenes – doubling the backdrops for 19th century Dublin – were shot in Lever St, Back Piccadilly, Sackville Building/Sackville St, Anita St and Victoria Square, Ancoats, Heaton Hall, Dale St – Northern Quarter.