PGGB Holds Panel Session and Evening of Networking at Manchester's Space Studios

Last night, we were delighted to welcome members of the region’s production community to Space Studios Manchester for a special panel featuring some of the key crew behind Netflix’s House of Guinness.

Hosted in partnership with the Production Guild of Great Britain, the evening celebrated the strength and creativity of the North West’s film and HETV sector. House of Guinness filmed extensively across the region, with locations in Manchester, Salford, Stockport and Liverpool helping to recreate the world of 1860s Dublin.

The production called Space home for 35 weeks, building sets including the ballroom, docks office and boarding house across our stages. Cast and crew also used dressing rooms, workshops, production offices and unit-base facilities throughout the shoot.

PGGB CEO Kaye Elliott hosted the panel on one of our stages, joined by our Studio Manager, Dean Sinacola, and three members of the House of Guinness production team: Financial Controller Gay Anderson, Supervising Location Manager Dan Connolly and Line Producer Andy Kitching.

Together, they explored everything from location doubling and sustainability to budgets, funding and the realities of producing high-end television in the North West.

“Locations are brilliant here. Replications are very good,” said Dan. “Between Liverpool and Manchester, I knew I could find the world of Dublin in 1865.”

The changing production landscape was also part of the conversation. “Last year was our busiest year in 10 years,” said Dean. “But this year has been a funny one. We keep having to move the goalposts and get creative about how we use the stages.”

Manchester’s cost-effectiveness remains a significant advantage for productions. “Everything here is much cheaper than London—taxis, accommodation, location facilities—right across the board,” said Gay. “When producers are collating budgets, this definitely plays a part.”

The panel also discussed the importance of continued investment in helping the region reach its full potential. “Manchester doesn’t get the screen funding that other cities—Liverpool, Belfast—get,” said Andy. “This is really needed to help the North West move to the next level.”

We rounded off the evening with a networking reception, welcoming industry partners and friends for refreshments, brilliant conversation and, appropriately, a few pints of Guinness.