Stockport grows reputation as filming location

Stockport is fast gaining a reputation as the ‘Hollywood of the North’, with 197 shoot days and an estimated £3.5 million production spend in the town since January 2018, according to figures from Filming in England.

During that time many high-quality TV and film productions have chosen to use the borough as a backdrop, with the latest show finishing its run this week (1 September) – The Power of Parker, a sitcom set in Stockport about a self-made man struggling to keep his head above water as the 1980s turn into the 1990s.

Popular shows filmed in the borough in recent years have included like Peaky Blinders, Years and Years, Inside No.9, Traces, Dodger, Everything I Know About Love, Sherwood from the BBC, Significant Other, Nolly, Bancroft, The Bay and The Tower (also currently airing) from ITV, Everyone Else Burns and It’s a Sin from Channel 4, How To Date Billy Walsh from Amazon Feature, Wedding Season from Disney+ and The Rising, COBRA, Brassic and Wolfe from Sky.

As Stockport continues to celebrate being this year’s Greater Manchester town of culture, more exciting projects are yet to air in 2023 from some of the best production companies in the world, including Netflix’s latest Harlan Coben series, which follows on from Safe, The Stranger and Stay Close, also all shot in the town.

Stockport has been lauded by many industry professionals as a great place to film on location, and benefits from unique geography and a mix of location opportunities, ranging from beautiful countryside to urban ‘grit’ and listed sites and buildings from 13th century halls ultra-modern state of the art office developments.

Jonny Shelton, Production Liaison Manager (North/North West) for Creative England, said:

“It has been a pleasure to work so closely with Stockport’s local authority to support the local film and tv sector in recent years.

“Stockport Council – members of our Filming in England Partnership – make full use of their flexible and supportive approach to ensure that Location Managers, working on HETV Dramas and Features, are able to maximise their presence when shooting in the area.

“As a result, the area has a strong reputation in the industry and is one of the busiest locations in the North West, which is aided further by Stockport’s wide range of locations and period architecture – plus its ideal proximity into the production hubs of Manchester and Liverpool.

“We look forward to seeing the sector develop further in the future and continuing to work closely with the brilliant people in Stockport.”

Among the benefits being brought to the town thanks to Stockport’s filming boom include employment and work experience opportunities for local people, work for local suppliers offering security, catering and other services to production teams, boosts to tourism for avid TV fans, and revenue for the local authority through venue hire and use of green spaces, roads and other assets.

Cllr Mark Hunter, Leader of Stockport Council, commented:

“It’s wonderful Stockport has become such a popular location for filming and it’s great watching programmes and spotting places we are so familiar with taking pride of place on screen. We are lucky that thanks to Stockport’s history and geography, we can offer such unique locations.

“Thanks to the council’s dedicated staff working collaboratively with partner organisations and supportive businesses, this helps to bring real benefits to the local economy by raising our profile and putting us firmly on the production and tourism map as we continue to celebrate all things in this year of Stockport being the Greater Manchester town of culture.”

Stockport’s bustling filming trade comes as the town celebrates being the current Greater Manchester Town of Culture. The Town of Culture programme continues at pace into September, with events such as the Tour of Britain, the return of the popular Art Battle Manchester to Stockport, and the La Boca to La Stocka projects all kicking off during the month.

Photo: Peaky Blinders’ Arthur Shelby in Stockport Town Hall – Courtesy of BBC Studios and Caryn Mandabach Productions LTD