| Manchester Studios (All Studios) | |
|---|---|
Granada Studios | |
 Granada House with the original two-storey studios in the foreground pictured in 2006. The broadcasting tower and the red Granada TV logo on Granada House have since been removed. | |
| Former names | The Manchester Studios Granada (1956–1971) 3SixtyMedia Studios (2000–2013)[1] |
| Alternative names | Manchester Studios All Studios Manchester |
| General information | |
| Type | Events Venue Television studios |
| Location | Quay Street Manchester M60 9EA, Manchester, United Kingdom |
| Coordinates | 53°28′44″N2°15′21″W / 53.478879°N 2.255808°W /53.478879; -2.255808 |
| Current tenants | All Studios |
| Construction started | 1954 |
| Completed | 1962[2] |
| Inaugurated | 3 May 1956 (first broadcast) |
| Renovated | 1987 (forGranada Studios Tour) 2006 (to Bonded Warehouse) |
| Renovation cost | £3m (1987) |
| Owner | Allied London and Manchester City Council |
| Landlord | Allied London (All Studios) |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | Ralph Tubbs |
| Other designers | Sidney Bernstein[3] |
Granada Studios was a television studio complex and events venue onQuay Street inManchester, England, with the facility to broadcast live and recorded television programmes. The studios were the headquarters ofGranada Television from 1956 to 2013. After a period of closure, five of the six studio spaces reopened in 2018.[4] The studios are the oldest operating purpose-built television studios in the United Kingdom pre-dating BBC Television Centre by five years.[5]
They were previously home to the world's longest-running serial drama,Coronation Street, as well as other long-running shows such as the quiz showUniversity Challenge and the current affairs documentary seriesWorld in Action. As well as being the oldest television studios in the United Kingdom, the studios also heldthe Beatles' first television performance in 1962 and the first general election debate in 2010.[6]
Until 2010, the main building, Granada House, had a red neon "Granada TV" sign on the roof, which was a landmark for rail passengers travelling from the west intoManchester city centre.[7] A broadcasting tower was erected at the behest ofSidney Bernstein to give the studios an embellished and professional appearance. The three largest studios each covered over 4,500 square feet (420 m2).
The studios were managed byITV Studios andBBC Resources through a joint venture company,3SixtyMedia from 2000 until 2013. After a dip in production during the early 2000s,[8] the studios underwent a revival from 2009 until their closure.Countdown moved to Manchester from theLeeds Studios in 2009 and the facility had numerous new commissions includingThe Chase,Divided,Take Me Out andHigh Stakes.
The studios closed in 2013, and ITV Granada and ITV Studios moved toDock10's studios atMediaCityUK inSalford Quays. Later that same year, the Granada Studios was sold for £26 million to Allied London and Manchester City Council.[9] Allied London's initial plans for the site involved transforming the studios into residential space. However, plans were changed in 2017 to maintain the studio complex due to demand, and most studio spaces were reopened in 2018.[10] Although there were calls to preserve the oldCoronation Street exterior set, it was demolished as part of redevelopment work in 2017.[11][12] Other areas knocked down were Studio 4 and the remainingGranada Studios Tour entrance. The studios' former office block, Granada House is being converted into a hotel and office space.[13][14][15]
After Granada secured the contract for broadcasting to the north of England on weekdays, the company built a television studio complex whileBBC Manchester andABC (originally Granada's weekend counterpart) respectively converteda former church/film studio anda cinema in the city for television use. The transition for the other broadcasters was that new areas were required for transmission facilities. Granada bypassed these problems by creating entirely new studios.
Sidney Bernstein chose its base for northern operations fromLeeds,Liverpool[16] and Manchester.[17] Granada executive Victor Peers believed Manchester was the preferred choice even before Granada executives, Peers,Denis Forman, Reg Hammans and Sidney Bernstein, toured possible locations.[17][18] One site was identified by Hammans in Leeds and three were found in Manchester which convinced Bernstein to explore further.[18] Two sites were deemed expensive, and another inSalford Quays was rejected by Bernstein as inadequate.[19] A site onQuay Street inManchester city centre owned byManchester City Council was bought for £82,000.[17] Part of theManchester and Salford Junction Canal, which linked theRiver Irwell to theRochdale Canal from 1839 to 1922, ran in tunnel underneath the site.
The studios were designed byRalph Tubbs, but Sidney Bernstein was instrumental in influencing designs and giving regular plan briefings.[20] Bernstein was believed to have some architectural knowledge despite no experience or formal training,[20] and was referred to as a "genial tyrant" by Granada producerJeremy Isaacs for his influence in many decisions at Granada.[21] In his memoirs, Forman wrote: "Anyone who witnessed Sidney at work in one of these sessions had to acknowledge his practical genius as an architect" as Bernstein lectured and demonstrated his plans for the studios to colleagues.[19] Forman wrote that Tubbs looked "sometimes enthusiastic, sometimes disconsolate"[19] during Bernstein's lecture briefings.
The logo which adorned the building was in a period font and remained in position from 1961 until 2010. Bernstein, keen to save money, had the studios built in a modular, sequential cycle – so new facilities were not built unless there was demand. This led to a jumbled appearance as the company expanded and renovated the site which encompassed a bonded warehouse built in theVictorian era.
The original studios were in a two-storey building on Quay Street. Bernstein stipulated in 1956 the company needed the bare minimum of studio space and was unwilling to invest in facilities that would rarely be used.[22] This was the reason construction took from 1954 to 1962 and the "save money at all costs" mantra was reflective of Bernstein's business plan. Facilities expanded and a tower block was built next and studios expanded over time. From time to time, as extra production, rehearsal or office space was temporarily required, various adjacent buildings were annexed. These included warehouses on the opposite side of Water Street, the buildings between Quay Street and New Quay Street and the old school premises directly opposite the tower block.
In 2000, the Granada Studios were taken over by3SixtyMedia, a joint venture between Granada Television andBBC Manchester. Granada produced many programmes for the BBC such asUniversity Challenge,The Royle Family andWhat The Papers Say[23] and the link allowed the BBC use of the three large studios compared with one atNew Broadcasting House. Production on programmes normally filmed at Studio A (which was subsequently mothballed but later reused to high demand) transferred to Granada Studios such asA Question of Sport.[24]
In 2002, the studio's reception area was moved from the eastern end of the tower block off Atherton Street, to the western end inside the compound so visitors passed through a secure area before accessing the non-public reception. The old reception area became unused. Granada unveiled plans to move into the bonded warehouse adjacent to Granada House in 2003.[26] One of the four studios would be decommissioned as part of the move.[26] This plan was postponed as plans for the BBC to move production to Manchester emerged.
Asbestos was found at the studios in October 2002, but not removed until spring 2006 costing thousands of pounds.[27] The renovation meant programmes such asMastermind andAn Audience with Coronation Street were moved toThe Leeds Studios andThe London Studios respectively.[27] In 2006, the 21 acre studio facility employed approximately 1,200 people.[26]
After the BBC selected MediaCityUK as its new operating base in Greater Manchester, Granada progressed its £18m move to the bonded warehouse.[28] About 800 office employees moved to the renovated warehouse, leaving 400 employees in the Granada building which houses three studios.[29][citation needed]
The iconic "Granada TV" sign on Manchester skyline, remained in place on the roof and sides of the buildings until September 2010 despite rebranding and the merger between Granada and Carlton. A safety check revealed the signs, that had been in place since the 1950s, were severely corroded and unsafe. They were removed from the penthouse suite in October 2010. Other signs remain on the side of the tower and on either side of the small building on Quay Street. A large ITV logo by the entrance had been placed next to the gate until 2016, when it was removed and replaced with a sign reading 'Old Granada Studios'.
Despite its iconic status, Granada House has been described as a "1960s nightmare" by staff.[30]
The merger betweenGranada plc andCarlton Communications to formITV plc created speculation that the Quay Street complex would be sold. In 2004, a plan emerged for the production centre to be sold for development and the regional news centre and staff moved into the bonded warehouse in the complex. Production would move toYorkshire Television'sLeeds Studios, and other centres including independent facilities.
A 2003 article inThe Daily Telegraph estimated the plot of land on which the Granada House building stands could sell for £15m,[31] a speculative figure considering the economic situation in 2011.
The company negotiated withPeel Holdings with a view to relocating to Trafford Wharf, next to theImperial War Museum North and theMediaCityUK development. The proposal meant the outdoorCoronation Street set would need to be relocated, and plans to create a media hub at Quay Street abandoned. The discussions continued for many years but in March 2009, Granada reported that due to the poor financial climate, it would remain at Quay Street "for the foreseeable future". Talks resumed in January 2010 after a change of management at ITV plc and Granada announced on 16 December 2010 that it would move production and ancillary staff to the Orange Building in the MediaCityUK complex to produceGranada Reports and production ofCoronation Street would take place at a facility across theManchester Ship Canal in Trafford Park on Trafford Wharf. The new facility, which opened in early 2014, has two large studios with production units, set storage, dressing rooms, space for interior sets and a new outdoor set.
The studios initially closed in June 2013, and ITV Granada and ITV Studios moved toDock10,MediaCityUK inSalford Quays and Trafford Quays. Later that same year, the site was sold for £26 million to Allied London and Manchester City Council.[9]
In 2012, a planning application was made to list some parts of the studios. This included theCoronation Street building and the Granada House building. The plan was however rejected.[32] The bonded warehouse to the west of the studio complex is already listed.
A set ofThe Crystal Maze Live Experience opened in the former Stage 2, previously used byCoronation Street, in April 2017.
Four of the studios on site were reopened byAllied London,[33][10] under the name ofAll Studios in 2018.[34] The site is also advertised under the name ofOld Granada Studios. The four studios which are part of the main complex, Studios 2, 6, 8 & 12, are due to be retained,[35] with the former Studio 4 (by then part of the building's reception area) having been demolished as of January 2019. Work started on removing the old equipment from the galleries in February 2018 to install new production facilities.
It incorporates part of theEnterprise City project,[36] which also includes co-working facilities, a cinema (Everyman Manchester St. John's)[37][38] and aSoho House hotel.[39]
The site has been used to filmDragons' Den since 2018, using flyaway equipment in the galleries[40] and also some scenes forPeaky Blinders. The studio space also hosts events and has hosted concerts.[41]
TheGranada Studios Tour operated from 1989 to 1999 and gave the public the opportunity to visit theCoronation Street set and explore other Granada productions. Although such theme parks based on television and film had been successful in the United States, the idea of such a scheme was unprecedented for a British television company. John Williams, head of studio operations at Granada, promoted the project to provide a new revenue stream for Granada,[42] the only television company to embark on such a venture. The park featured a replica ofNo. 10 Downing Street, and visitors were shown how television is produced, had the opportunity to present a weather forecast and learned about special effects.[citation needed] The main feature of the tour was the set ofCoronation Street, which allowed visitors access to the street.[citation needed]
One film based attraction was Motion Master. This started visitors off seated in a 1930 style cinema showing a very short black and white film. You then walked into a modern cinema which put you into a space ship chasing an opponent. The seats moved in synchronisation with the film, tilting and rising/falling as the ship flew.
In 1997, Granada builtSkytrak, a "flying roller-coaster" which tilted riders forward as the ride progressed.Skytrak, an uncomfortable ride, was considered a failure and was plagued by mechanical unreliability. Nevertheless, it was the first roller-coaster of its type in the world.[43]
The tour was initially popular, attracting 5.5 million visits between 1988 and 1999,[44] but the attraction fell into disrepair as Granada concentrated on other priorities such as the launch of OnDigital (ITV Digital) in the late 1990s. Visitor numbers waned and the tour closed in 1999.[44] The entrance to the park remained until 2019 when it was demolished; the Granada Studios Tour sign was removed during this period.
The studio complex comprised the original building and office block accessible from Quay Street, with other studios around the complex. Granada's studios were originally all numbered evenly to falsely embellish the size of the complex and make Granada Television appear to be a large broadcaster. Granada Studios main studios – Studios 2, 6, 8 and 12 – were housed in Granada House, and it is these which have been retained as of January 2019.[45]The original studios at the Granada Studios were:
In addition to the original studios, there are other studios located around the complex. TheBreeze Garden Studio was located in the garden, south of the tower, and is 477 m2 (5,130 sq ft). It was originally built and used for programmes onGranada's satellite and cable channels and was later used for press shoots and some programmes on the now defunctITV Play channel. It is now a marketing suite for the St. John's complex. The adjacent bonded warehouse was used for many years as offices and television production facilities.
The Starlight Theatre was part of the Granada Studios Tour changed into two studios of 700 m2 (7,500 sq ft) and 424 m2 (4,560 sq ft). It was used for drama productions and late-nightITV Play programming. It is located in the southwest corner of the site. The Blue Shed which measures 1,577 m2 (16,970 sq ft) is not available for public hire.
Post production facilities were located in the tower block as were green rooms and other guest facilities. The site contained the former set ofCoronation Street on the south of the site, and the bonded warehouse on the south west.
Situated across Grape Street from the main studio building and adjacent to the bonded warehouse is the formerCoronation Street set. This version of the set was first created in 1982, but was replaced in January 2014 by a new set at ITV's new facility in Trafford Wharf Road. It was mostly demolished to make way for outdoor filming and parking for production vehicles in early 2018.
Citations
The practical-looking building, finished finally in 1962, looks very much of its time, with rectangular lines and a lot of glass, and is still in use
It was during this period, when both time and money were short, that I was first to see Sidney acting in the role of architect
{{cite book}}:Missing or empty|title= (help){{cite book}}:Missing or empty|title= (help){{cite book}}:Missing or empty|title= (help)Architect Ralph Tubbs, who had designed the Dome of Discovery for the Festival of Britain, was called in and was given a comprehensive brief during ongoing planning sessions by Sidney Bernstein, who had quite an ability as an architect.
The switch would spell the end for the iconic building on Quay Street which supporters see as a symbol of the company's proud regional ethos but insiders say is a "1960s nightmare".
Bibliography
