LIVERPOOL’S VERSATILITY: A WOMAN OF SUBSTANCE

Have you seen Channel 4’s A Woman of Substance yet?

PEAKY BLINDERS: A LIVERPOOL HISTORY

POWIS STREET

The place where it all began! 

Birthplace of Ringo Starr, Toxteth’s ‘Welsh Streets’ also bore the crime-saga we know and love today, transforming into 1919 Birmingham’s inner-city slums in the very first scene of the show. Powis Street became ‘Watery Street’ for the first few seasons, its blackened, terrace-lined houses acting as the humble beginnings of the Peaky Blinders, home to the Shelby family home and their illegal betting shop. It was the site of iconic scenes throughout the series, like Campbell’s invasion of Small Heath in season 1 and Polly’s march hand-in-hand with the Shelby wives in season 3.  

Watery Lane’s impact went beyond just the screen too, with production bringing an increased interest to the Welsh Streets and the disrepair they had fallen under, eventually leading to refurbishment work beginning in 2017.  

ST GEORGE’S HALL

Our region’s magnificent example of neoclassical architecture is a must see for any Peaky Fan. It’s grand main hall is enough to take the breath away on its own, but pair that with the fact that it’s hosted some of the series most integral moments – like Grace’s death in season 3 and the fascist rally and failed assassination of Mosely in season 5 – it’s truly a sight to behold. The show didn’t only rely on the building’s grander parts either, with the dark, looming bowels of the hall the perfect setting for the Shelby’s (almost) execution that began season 4.  

Keen eye viewers will be able to see the outside of the hall in The Immortal Man, with the imposing Corinthian columns at the front and usually peaceful St John’s Gardens at the back of the building ladened with sand bags, fake smoke and rain machines as the exterior subbed in for a Birmingham going through the Blitz.  

Also featured in: House of Guinness, The Batman, Fantastic BeastS and Where to Find Them

STANLEY DOCK

Home of many a ‘Red Right Hand’ sound-tracked slow-motion walk, the city’s most famous dock gave us the backdrop for the tense showdown between the Peaky Blinders and Billy Kimber’s gang at the end of season 1, as well as the dingy alleyways around The Garrison pub seen throughout the series. Today’s it’s the place where Liverpool’s past and future sit side by side with one another, the sight’s foreboding, Grade 2 listed Tobacco Warehouse (the world’s largest brick building upon its completion in 1901) situated directly next to Everton’s brand-new Hill Dickinson stadium.   

Also featured in: Captain America: The First Avenger, House of Guinness, Sherlock Holmes  

FORMBY BEACH

One the show’s most memorable moments out of the smog of Small Heath, Tommy Shelby and Alfie Solomon’s ‘fatal’ beachside confrontation at the end of season 4 was filmed on Formby Beach, acting as a double for Margate. Owned and operated by the National Trust, when it’s not relied on for stand-offs, it offers a picturesque walk where the Mersey meets the Irish sea, rolling sand dunes and woodlands known for their Red Squirrel population. 

Also featured in: Chariots of Fire 

PORT SUNLIGHT

A picturesque Victorian bubble in the heart of the Wirral, complete with 900 Grade 2 listed buildings built in the late 1800s for the workers of the nearby Unilever factory. Now a model village filled with fresh cut lawns, cosy cafes and the world-class Lady Lever Art Gallery at its centre, it’s no wonder Aunt Polly was so happy with her birthday present in season 2, with the village hosting the Shelby matriarch’s new rural home.  

Also featured in: Tolkien, Midas Man, Chariots of Fire 

ANGLICAN CATHEDRAL

Standing 101 metres above ground and dominating the Liverpool skyline, the world’s longest and eighth largest church was the scene of reflection and tension throughout the Peaky Blinders series. It’s impressive stain glass windows offered a cinematic backdrop for Shelby’s times of worship in the Small Heath Catholic Church, and its quiet halls offering space for hushed meetings like Tommy and ‘Uncle’ Jack Nelson’s in season 6.   

Also featured in: Anne 

FACILTIES FRIDAY: THE QUIET BACKBONE OF PRODUCTION!

Direct Film has been a quiet backbone of the North West’s screen industry since the 90s, supplying the facilities that keep productions running long before most people even know a shoot is happening.

FILM + TV CHARITY: REEL IMPACT RETURNS

The final round of The Film + TV Charity’s ‘Reel Impact‘ programme has opened, aimed at strengthening fairness, partnership working, and support for mid‑to‑senior Black and Global Majority talent. 

CREWSDAY TUESDAY: SAYING ‘YES’ TO OPPORTUNITIES

This week’s Crewsday Tuesday turns the camera towards Pete Nance, a second assistant camera technician who has built a steady, skilled career across the Liverpool City Region by following his instincts, saying yes to opportunity and carving out his own path in the department. 

WEDNESDAY WHEREABOUTS: THE FIRST GRACE!

Wednesday Whereabouts returns with a look at 1/3 of Liverpool’s iconic waterfront – The Port of Liverpool Building.

INTO THE LEAD: 2 BIRDS AND A PLAN

For our final look at the participants of Into The Lead, Screen Alliance North’s leadership programme for independent production companies across the North of England, we hear from Kate Robinson, founder of Liverpool-based production company 2Birds and a Camera.

CALLING ALL CREW, PRODUCTION LEADS AND FACILITIES – HAVE YOUR SAY!

Calling all North West screen industry crew, facilities and production leads!

Along with our Screen Alliance North partners (Screen Manchester, North East Screen and Screen Yorkshire), we form the largest BFI Skills Cluster in the country. Our remit is to work across the north of England to tackle skills shortages and improve access to quality training provision for diverse talent and communities.

As we head into our next phase of Screen Alliance North, we want to ensure we’re meeting the needs of the sector and wider industry by gathering real‑time data to map crew and facilities to upcoming productions, identify skills gaps and shortages, and enable our four partners to work strategically across the north to build a stronger, happier and more inclusive workforce for a sustainable future as a leading global centre for screen production.

In order to achieve this, we’re asking for 10 mins of your time to fill in a survey about the use of our databases.

As a thank you for taking part, all those who complete the survey will be entered into a prize draw to win an overnight stay for 2 at a Dakota hotel (in Manchester, Leeds or Newcastle).

Fill in your appropriate survey below before 20th March.

For LCR based Crew on the LFO database ➡️ https://forms.gle/2PYa5s2JtPBnUUvR6

For Senior Execs and Production Companies based in Liverpool City Region ➡️ https://forms.gle/ei61RGSihtZsHwV69

For LCR based Facilities on the LFO database ➡️ https://forms.gle/mTfdKuPFc6T3yuTY8

INTO THE LEAD: BOOM POW!

We continue our look at Into The Lead, a new Screen Alliance North programme supporting and upskilling leaders of independent production companies across the North of England, with writer and producer Johanne McAndrew, founder of Boom Pow Productions.  

FACILTIES FRIDAY: BRINGING STYLE TO THE SCREEN

We spotlight Christine Clarke and behind Bijou & Vintage, a one‑woman costume supplier whose work –including for the recently released Netflix drama Run Away – has shaped the style of major productions across the Northwest and beyond. 

INTO THE LEAD: FROM LIVERPOOL TO THE WORLD

Continuing our series profiling participants of Into The Lead, Screen Alliance North’s leadership programme for independent production companies across the North of England, we hear from Sol Papadopoulos, co-director and founder of Liverpool-based Hurricane Films. 

WEDNESDAY WHEREABOUTS: DOWN BY THE WATER

Whereabouts Wednesday is back! We continue our series looking at our region’s extensive filming locations with a look at the burgeoning Liverpool Waters area.

Liverpool Waters offers an exceptional range of opportunities for film and TV productions in the region, accommodating production teams needing significant land for unit bases, parking, and logistics, whilst also providing stunning and versatile filming locations.

Over the years, Liverpool Waters has welcomed a wide variety of high‑profile productions, hosting teams from House of Guinness, The Batman, Peaky Blinders, Fantastic Beasts, and most recently, This City Is Ours, often seeing action scenes unfold while the day‑to‑day work on the estate continues.

A standout moment for Liverpool Waters was during the filming of Channel 4’s The Gathering, when actors staged a dramatic sequence involving jumps into Princes Dock, with rescue boats on standby to escort them from the water, “seeing that level of energy and coordination up close was fantastic”.

Their skyline – familiar to any TCIO fans – includes residential buildings up to 34 storeys high across the Princes Dock area, giving unrivalled views across the waterfront, along with historic spaces within Central Docks that lend themselves to a broad mix of genres – from contemporary drama to period productions.

So whether productions need water access, large-scale operational space, or atmospheric backdrops, Liverpool Waters is uniquely equipped to support their creative and practical needs. 

The city is incredibly adaptable and visually rich – it can transform into a huge variety of settings. Whether productions require waterfront access, contemporary urban environments, or a striking historical backdrop, Liverpool offers options that work beautifully on camera. Its versatility, architecture, and cinematic appeal make it one of the most popular filming destinations in the UK.

Learn more about Liverpool Waters here ➡️ https://www.liverpoolwaters.co.uk/

INTO THE LEAD: COME INTO THE FOLD

Continuing our series spotlighting participants of Into The Lead, Screen Alliance North’s leadership programme for independent production companies across the North of England, we hear from Michelle Stein, co-founder of North West-based production company The Fold.

Film and TV Charity: Money Matters 2

FILM AND TV CHARITY REPORT REVEALS STRUGGLING WORKFORCE

Drawing on insights from over 2,000 people working behind the scenes in film, TV, and cinema, the Film and TV Charity’s latest Money Matters 2 report unfortunately reveals a workforce under mounting financial pressure. Key findings include:

– 46% of freelancers are struggling financially (compared with 27% of permanent staff)

– 74% are considering leaving the industry due to money worries

– 43% have already taken steps to leave – up from 32% in 2023

The results point to a sector losing stability, resilience, and confidence. However The Charity’s message is clear: short‑term fixes won’t be enough. Securing the long‑term health of the screen industries requires meaningful, coordinated, industry‑wide action.

That’s why we are proud to be supporting the Film and TV Charity at this Saturday’s ‘Northern TV and Film Gala’ at Liverpool Town Hall, raising funds for and awareness of the charity’s integral work supporting all aspects of our industry’s crew.

READ THE FULL REPORT HERE LEARN MORE ABOUT THE CHARITY

IT’S OFFICIAL! 5 YEAR IMPACT REPORT

IT’S OFFICIAL!

OUR NEW IMPACT REPORT REVEALS Liverpool City Region has become UK’s leading film and TV hub outside London.

We are beyond proud to unveil our ‘Impact Report 2019 – 2025’, highlighting the impact our team’s hard work has had on the Liverpool City Region during this transformational period in our recent history.

Our Impact Report reveals record growth in our region’s film and TV industry since 2019, with more than 1,600 productions, including The Batman and BAFTA-winning dramas Time and The Responder, investing £150m into the local economy.

The Combined Authority’s £2.8m LCR Production Fund and the development of the LFO-managed The Depot have played a pivotal role in this growth, helping to create more than 5,400 full-time equivalent jobs, supporting local businesses, nurturing the next generation of local talent and transforming Liverpool into a major production hub and the UK’s most filmed city outside of London.

We could not have realised the positive impacts in this report without the support and hard work of our industry partners, stakeholders and beneficiaries. We would particularly like to thank The Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, Liverpool City Council, Halton Borough Council, Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council, St Helens Metropolitan Borough Council, Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council, the British Film Institute, Screen Alliance North, Sunbelt Rentals, as well as Paul Scraton of Agency by Agency and Ross Palmer of Kenfolk for bringing the report together.

READ THE FULL REPORT HERE