With its iconic sights and unique atmosphere, London has long been a popular star of the big and small screen – in fact our capital is one of the most filmed destinations throughout the world. There is nowhere else like London with its dazzling history, Royal pomp and ceremony, not to mention its mix of ancient and modern architecture.
Being situated in central London, right opposite Westminster Abbey, our venue is used to being centre stage and is in hot demand for both interior and exterior filming. Our historic building with Europe’s largest self-supporting domed ceiling, is often chosen by film and tv producers who love its striking architecture and versatile floor space. With 1,000 square feet of versatile floor space and stunning architecture, we have been a popular filming destination for many years
CHW’s 20th Century building with its imposing Great Hall and grand sweeping staircase based on the Paris Opera House, has had its share of the limelight over the years and stands out in the history books for hosting such giant public figures as Winston Churchill and Mahatma Gandhi.
But more recently, our venue also provided the backdrop for the highly anticipated Netflix hit, The Crown, Series 3. Behind the scenes our staff are highly experienced at hosting tv and film shoots and have developed strong links with the industry. They have helped at the filming of countless blockbusters over the last two decades, including Red 2 when the whole venue was turned into a grand Parisian Hotel, Calendar Girls and Florence Foster Jenkins starring Meryl Streep and Hugh Grant, to name but a few.
And for TV, you may have already seen our Great Hall as a backdrop to James Corden’s Late Late Show, the Stand up to Cancer telethon or the BBC’s New Year’s Eve Concerts for the last seven years.
Keeping in the spotlight may seem effortless for such an iconic venue but it’s not as straightforward as it seems. Our Head of Technology, Kim Wright, has her finger on the filming button so offers these top tips for a successful partnership with film and television producers:
- Keep your AV and tech up-to-date and ready to go, whether it’s for film or a live TV broadcast. We have a dedicated in-house AV partner, White Light, to ensure all tech and AV equipment stays as impressive as its period features. In partnership with White Light, we constantly look at ways to improve, for example, recently installing a fitted lighting rig to help film crews set up quickly and easily
- Still on the subject of tech, it’s important to have a purpose-designed PA system that helps production staff manage teams on shoots
- Make sure the team works to anticipate the needs of a demanding film crew. This includes being on-hand to help at all times, whether it’s navigating the building or providing set-up assistance
- Check which rooms have the best acoustics. Sound is very important in film and TV so you need to make the most of a room’s natural qualities. Our Great Hall’s architecture with Europe’s largest self-supporting domed ceiling has excellent acoustics and is often in demand for this
- Let there be light (or not). It’s crucial to provide varying degrees of light to create the right atmosphere. In our Great Hall, we offer full blackout facilities and can also control the amount of natural light which can come into the space
- Ask questions. By anticipating the film crew’s needs, you’ll make friends for life. Whether it’s providing lunch, drinks and snacks or preparing spaces for them in advance, a proactive approach always goes down well
- Keep calm and carry on. Filming is often stressful work and can go on for long and tedious hours. If can keep your head when others around you are losing theirs, you will always be remembered
And that’s a wrap! If you would like to find out more, or have a specific enquiry relating to filming at Central Hall Westminster, we’d be very happy to help.
