| The Wharf Studios | |
|---|---|
 | |
 Interactive map of the The Wharf Studios area | |
| General information | |
| Location | 8 River Rd.,Barking, England,IG 110JE |
| Coordinates | 51°31′37″N0°05′38″E / 51.5269°N 0.0940°E /51.5269; 0.0940 |
| Current tenants | MBS Equipment Company |
| Opened | 2022 |
| Owner | Hackman Capital Partners (HCP) |
| Technical details | |
| Floor area | 200,000 square feet |
| Grounds | 10 acres |
| Website | |
| The Wharf Studios | |
The Wharf Studios is afilm and television studio located in theLondon Borough of Barking and Dagenham, East London. Developed by Hackman Capital Partners and operated by MBS Equipment Company, the complex opened in 2022.
The development of The Wharf Studios is tied to a wider regeneration effort by the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham to establish the area as a global media and film hub, transforming the area's economic identity "fromFord to film."[1][2]
In March 2021, Hackman Capital Partners (HCP), a majorLos Angeles-based real estate firm specialising in studio properties, signed a deal with thelocal council to lease and convert the two warehouses into The Wharf Studios. This move was made to quickly boost the borough's stage capacity ahead of the completion of the larger, new-build Eastbrook Studios complex nearby. The total investment by HCP in the two studio sites was estimated at £350 million.[3]
The Wharf Studios opened its doors in 2022,[4] and its operations are managed by The MBS Group, a global leader in studio management and technical equipment.[5]
The Wharf Studios is a private 10-acre riverside campus that offers over 104,000 square feet of soundstage space. It was established through the conversion of two existing large warehouses, complementing its larger sister site, Eastbrook Studios, which is also located in the borough and developed by the same partners.[5]
The complex features six purpose-built, acoustically treated sound stages, which vary in size and ceiling height, allowing for a range of production scales and formats.
| Stage | Size | Ceiling Height |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 21,797 sq ft | 46 ft (14 m) |
| 2 | 21,937 sq ft | 46 ft (14 m) |
| 3 | 16,576 sq ft | 34 ft (10.3 m) |
| 4 | 16,770 sq ft | 34 ft (10.3 m) |
| 5 | 21,850 sq ft | 33 ft (10 m) |
| 6 | 7,276 sq ft | 26 ft (8 m) |
| Source:[6] | ||
Supporting the main stages is over 94,000 square feet of ancillary space, including: 62,000 square feet of production offices and 32,000 square feet of workshop space and a cafe catering to cast and crew working in the studios.
The studios is also involved in wider iniatives within the London borough to promote film, such as the Make It Here program by Film Barking & Dagenham.[11] This included a visit from theDuke of Edinburgh.[12]
In 2023, Eastbrook & The Wharf studios become the sponsor for the north terrace ofVictoria Road, the home ofDagenham & Redbridge Football Club.[13]
