• Swindon & Wiltshire Culture
• Monday July 7 2025

Film and TV boosted Bristol economy by nearly £50 million last year

Filming at locations around Bristol and at the city’s The Bottle Yard Studios boosted the city’s economy by £46.6m last year – an increase of 55 per cent on the year before, according to new figures from Bristol Film Office.

Three feature films and 26 major productions, including Channel 5’s Forsyte Saga reboot The Forsytes, Netflix Agatha Christie thriller The Seven Dials Mystery, Sky Original thriller Inheritance, and BBC coming-of-age relationship drama The Dream Lands were filmed in Bristol in 2024/5.

In total, 689 filming permits were processed by the Film Office in 2024–25, permitting filming to take place on council-owned streets, properties and green spaces.

The year also saw more of Bristol’s best-loved visitor destinations directly benefitting from income brought in by filming, after being connected to productions by Bristol Film Office.

Historic boatyard Underfall Yard – which has been fundraising since 2023 to complete recovery and reinstatement works following a devastating arson attack – and inner-city community hub St Werburghs City Farm, are two examples of local charities that hosted extensive filming last year.

Councillor Tony Dyer, leader of Bristol City Council, said: “Bristol’s film industry plays a significant role in the growing strength of our local and regional economy.

“The substantial growth in economic impact these latest figures demonstrate underlines just how important this sector is to our city, not just in terms of jobs but also exposure to a global audience.

“This impact, combined with that of other culture and creative sectors in the city, is driving an economic impact worth £892 million a year to Bristol and makes us a city that investors have increasing confidence in with an estimated £88 leveraged by arts organisations for every £1 invested.”

Laura Aviles, head of film at Bristol City Council, said: “A 55 per cent increase in the economic contribution generated by film and TV productions hosted by The Bottle Yard Studios and supported by Bristol Film Office, in just one year, is outstanding.

“Not only are we seeing the number of productions opting to film in Bristol remain strong, we’re also seeing the size and length of those shoots increase.

“Thanks to the outstanding service from The Bottle Yard team and the gold standard of logistical liaison provided by the Film Office on location, productions are spending more time prepping and filming bigger, more ambitious shoots here.

“This is leading to more employment for regional scripted freelancers and companies, and more local spend in the economy.”

More widely, Bristol’s first annual Culture Impact Survey has revealed that the city’s cultural sector generated £892.9 million in economic impact in 2023/24.

The headline stats from the survey show that:

Culture generates £892.9 million of economic impact, including £122.4 million in social value (this includes benefits to wellbeing, education, employment, and environmental sustainability).

Bristol’s Cultural Sector directly spent £176 million in jobs and wages and £272.7 million on cultural programming and third-party suppliers, totalling £448.7 million in direct economic impact.

Cultural organisations in Bristol reached a combined audience of 10.9 million people, through in-person and digital cultural activities.

Organisations funded by Bristol City Council generated a direct economic impact of £41.5m. This investment leveraged £10.4 million from other funding sources. The funding Bristol City Council invests means that for every £1 invested, Arts organisations can leverage £88 in to the city.

Philip Walker, head of culture at Bristol City Council, said: “The findings of this first Culture Impact Survey highlight what many of us in the sector have long known – Bristol’s cultural offer is rich, diverse, and deeply embedded in the life of our city.

“From grassroots initiatives to world-class institutions, culture is a vital part of how we live, connect, and grow. This impact is only possible through the strength of our partnerships – between artists, organisations, communities, funders, our regional partners and the public sector.

“Together, we are building a cultural ecosystem that not only drives economic value but also fosters inclusion, wellbeing, and pride across Bristol and the wider region.”

Main image: Mia McKenna-Bruce in The Seven Dials Mystery © Netflix
Inset: Amal at COP26 © The Walk Productions