Proposals to sell a council-managed television and film studio have been paused following the failure of a possible acquisition of the property.
Bristol City Council decided in October 2024 to consider options for selling the Bottle Yard Studios located in Hengrove.
In a statement, the council has now verified that it has “not been possible to reach an agreement” regarding the sale of the leasehold for the studios to an unidentified purchaser.
“This has been a lengthy process by design, to make sure every possible factor is taken into account and that a high degree of careful review is conducted throughout,” said councillor Tony Dyer, leader and chair of the strategy and resources committee.
“We began this process with the goal of ensuring a lasting future for the studios and the chance to realize its vast potential,” he added.
Those objectives stay unchanged, along with our commitment to ensure that one of our city’s most prosperous redevelopment initiatives maintains a positive trend to create additional employment opportunities and attract more funding for Bristol.
The council stated that the site’s sale was subject to an exclusivity agreement with the preferred bidder for a period of three months.
This occasion was meant to facilitate “in-depth discussions and the creation of more comprehensive plans for the possible sale.”
Bottle Yard Studios is the biggest film and television production space in the Western part of England, having hosted programs like The Outlaws, Rivals, and Boarders.
The potential sale had drawn criticism due to a performing arts and entertainment trade union’s worries about potential job cuts.
“Bristol’s film and television industry plays a vital role in our local economy, acting as a driver for new employment opportunities, additional investments, and enhancing our city’s image both nationally and internationally,” stated councillor Ani Townsend, co-chair of the Bristol One City Culture Board.
“I can confidently state that a major factor in the sector’s growth over the last fifteen years has been The Bottle Yard Studios’ contribution in offering a base for productions from Bristol,” she added.
The studios will keep running as usual, but the council mentioned that they have not excluded the possibility of selling them later and stated that officials will “now evaluate the different options available to us.”
The entertainment and television sector contributed roughly £55m to the regional economy in 2024, as reported by the Bristol Film Office.
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