Seize Them! (2024)

Jessica Hynes, Nicola Coughlan, Lolly Adefope and Nick Frost stand in front of a red background. Between them, in a wooden throne, is sitting Aimee Lou Wood as Queen Dagan. Either side of the throne is a medieval cannon and a wolf. Wood is wearing a red dress and golden crown. Hynes is wearing a blue tunic and holding a sword, Coughlan is wearing a lighter blue tunic with a decorated leather vest and holding a cannonball, Adefope is wearing a paisley printed blue dress and Frost is wearing a dirty brown tunic and holding a large wooden shovel.

Seize Them! (2024) © Entertainment Film

Director: Curtis Vowell
Writer:
Andy Riley
Starring:
Aimee Lou Wood, Nicola Coughlan, Lolly Adefope, Nick Frost, Jessica Hynes
Production Company:
Entertainment Film Distributors
Kent Locations Used:
Allington Castle

Seize Them! (2024) is a female-led comedy set in the Dark Ages. It follows Queen Dagan, who, after her reign is toppled by the revolutionary Humble Joan. Left a fugitive in the land she once ruled, Queen Dagan must embark on a dangerous voyage to win back her throne.

Written by Andy Riley (Year of the Rabbit (2019), Big Bad World (2013)) and directed by Curtis Vowell (Baby Done, Fantail), Seize Them! stars Aimee Lou Wood (Sex Education (2021), Living (2022)) as Queen Dagan, Nicola Coughlan (Bridgerton (2020), Harlots (2017)) as Humble Joan and Lolly Adefope (This Time with Alan Partridge (2021), Ghosts) as Shulmay, with Nick Frost (The Boat That Rocked (2009), The Nevers (2021)) and Jessica Hynes (The Fight (2019), Seagull (2019)) in supporting roles.

Filming took place at Allington Castle in Maidstone.

Allington Castle is a privately-owned 13th Century Castle situated on the River Medway. Once opening its doors to King Henry VIII, the Castle now plays host to film and TV crews, with productions such as The Zany Adventures of Robin Hood (1984), the 14th-century ABC drama Covington Cross (1992), and Series 2 of the American soap opera The Royals (2016), all making use of the Castle’s picturesque location.

Seize Them! (2024) will be released in UK Cinemas on Friday 5th April 2024.

For more information about Kent’s Filming History please visit our Movie Map.


Operation Mincemeat (2022)

The three actors pictured left to right are Matthew Macfadyen, Colin Firth and Johnny Flynn are dressed in Naval uniform and pose in front of a large Naval building. They carry brown leather satchels

Operation Mincemeat (2022) © Warner Bros / Netflix

Director: John Madden
Writers: Michelle Ashford, Ben Macintyre
Starring: Colin Firth, Matthew Macfadyen, Johnny Flynn, Kelly Macdonald
Production Company: See-Saw Films
Kent Locations Used: The Historic Dockyard Chatham

Operation Mincemeat (2022) is a drama set during World War Two. The film is based on the true story on how British intelligence officers pulled off one of the most successful wartime deceptions of Nazi Germany.

The film was written by Michelle Ashford (The Pacific, Boomtown) and is based on the book by Ben Macintyre. Stars of the film include Colin Firth (Kingsman: The Secret Service, Pride and Prejudice) as Ewen Montagu, Matthew Macfadyen (The Current War (2019), Churchills Secret) as Charles Cholmondeley, Johnny Flynn (Vanity Fair (2018), Stardust, The Dig) as James Bond author Ian Fleming and Kelly Macdonald (Line of Duty, The Victim) as Jean Leslie. Supporting cast includes Penelope Wilton (Downton Abbey (2010-2013), Summerland (2020)) and Alex Jennings (The Crown Series 1 – 4 (2016-2023), The Halcyon (2017)).

Production visited The Historic Dockyard Chatham to film on HMS Cavalier and at Anchor Wharf. HMS Cavalier is hard to spot, but it features at the beginning and end of the film in a sequence where the Allied forces are approaching the coast of Sicily.  Anchor Wharf doubles as the R.N. Submarine Base at Holy Loch, where Charles (Matthew Macfadyen) tells Ewen (Colin Firth) that he is going to travel with the dead body to Spain.

Set on the River Medway The Historic Dockyard Chatham was once an active Royal Navy shipyard and is a popular Kent filming location, especially for period dramas looking for London street doubles. Previous WWII-based productions to film at the Dockyard include Summerland (2020), World On Fire (2019) and Red Joan (2019).

Operation Mincemeat was released in UK cinemas on Tuesday 15th April 2022.

For more information about Kent’s Filming History please visit our Movie Map.


True Things (2022)

Ruth Wilson as Kate leans against a grey concrete wall. She has long brown hair and is wearing a brown jacket with a fur collar. Tom Burke as Blond is leaning over her with his hands on the wall either side. He has dyed blond hair and a dark stubbly beard. He wears a worn black leather jacket.

True Things (2022) © BBC Films.

Writer: Harry Wootliff, Molly Davies,
Director: Harry Wootliff
Starring: Ruth Wilson, Tom Burke
Production Company: BBC Films, The Bureau
Kent Locations Used: Ramsgate, Margate Broadstairs, Kingsgate Bay

True Things (2022) follows Kate, a young woman living on the edge of society as she becomes intoxicated with a stranger who overturns her quiet lifestyle.

Based on the book of the same name by Deborah Kay Davies, True Things was adapted for the screen by Molly Davies and Harry Wootliff (Only You, Totally Frank) and stars Ruth Wilson (Luther, Saving Mr. Banks) as Kate, and Tom Burke (Only God Forgives, The Souvenir) as Blond, the man she falls in love with.

Production based themselves in Kent for the majority of their location filming.

The film is set in the seaside town of Ramsgate, and various locations in the town feature throughout. Roads, such as Military Road and the Ramsgate Harbour Approach Tunnel, feature in driving sequences. Notable landmarks such as the Ramsgate lifts, Royal Harbour and the Jacobs Ladder steps appear in short establishing shots. The exterior and lobby of the Ramsgate The Argyle Job Centre on York Street doubles as the job centre where Kate works. The Royal Harbour Parade car park features as the location in which Blond and Kate have their first tryst, and appears later on in a night-time scene.

Ramsgate is a thriving seaside town with beautiful Victorian terraced housing, a Marina, Port and Promenade. The location often doubles for period London streets and has been used in the productions such as The Flood (2019) and Hard Sun (2018).

The interior and exterior of Kate’s flat was filmed at a private residence in Margate. Nasza Biedronk convenience store on Northdown Road also features as the supermarket in which Kate buys breakfast ingredients for Blond. Margate is a seaside town complete with sandy beach, harbour, amusement park, period housing and the ultra-modern art gallery Turner Contemporary. Margate has previously featured in Above the Clouds (2020) and Jellyfish (2018).

Harpers Bar in Broadstairs features as the pub that Kate visits with Blond, and later with her friend Alison (Hayley Squires). The terrace of The Royal Albion Hotel appears in the scene where Blond and Kate have a romantic lunch date. The old Canterbury Christ Church University campus in Broadstairs was used to film the interior of the job centre that Kate works at. Broadstairs is a traditional seaside town and home to Charles Dickens’ Bleak House. It features a sandy beach lined with traditional beach huts, Morelli’s cafe bar complete with original 1950’s interior, band stand and large Victorian terraces. Previous productions to film here include Dracula (2020) and Juliet, Naked (2018).

Kingsgate Bay is used for a dream sequence in the film’s opening. Kingsgate Bay is a small sandy bay surrounded by chalk cliffs that connects at low tide through Whiteness cliff arch to Botany Bay. It features a Victorian castle on top of the sea defences which were turned into private residences. Sulphur and White (2020) and Bhikari (2017) have previously filmed here.

True Things was released in UK cinemas on Friday 1st April 2022.

For more information about Kent’s Filming History please visit our Movie Map.


The Phantom of the Open (2021)

The Phantom of the Open movie poster featuring an actor as Maurice Flitford (Mark Rylance) lying down in centre frame wearing a red hat with a golf tea in his mouth. In the background supporting actress Sally Hawkins holds a flag and wears a green jacket. Other actors are standing behind her with a blue sky white cloud background.

The Phantom of the Open (2022) movie poster © IMDb

Writer: Simon Farnaby
Director: Craig Roberts
Starring: Mark Rylance, Sally Hawkins
Production Company: Baby Cow
Kent Locations Used: Bedgebury Manor, Littlestone Golf Club, The Historic Dockyard Chatham.

The Phantom of the Open (2021) is a feature film about Maurice Flitcroft, the fraudulent golfer who managed to con his way into several championship games in the 70’s despite not being able to swing a club.

Produced by Steve Coogan‘s company Baby Cow, the film was directed by Craig Roberts (Eternal Beauty, Just Jim), and stars Mark Rylance (Wolf Hall (2015), Bridge of Spies) as Maurice Flitcroft and Sally Hawkins (Tipping the Velvet (2002), The Shape of Water) as his wife Jean Flitcroft. The film is based on the book ‘The Phantom of the Open’ by Simon Farnaby and Scott Murray.

Production visited Kent to film at Bedgebury Manor, Littlestone Golf Club and The Historic Dockyard Chatham. Littlestone Golf Club features as the course where Maurice competes in the 1978 British Open Qualifying disguised as a Frenchman called Gerard Hoppy, and Anchor Wharf at The Historic Dockyard Chatham features throughout the film, doubling as Vickers Shipyard where Maurice and his son work. Bedgebury Manor was used as the interior of a hotel and a golf club, although unfortunately this doesn’t seem to have made the cut.

Bedgebury Manor is a former boarding school set in 200 acres of parkland in the Weald of Kent. There are many facilities available for filming including a theatre and gymnasium suitable for set building, outdoor swimming pool, tennis courts, cricket and football pitch. In 2007, Series 3 of Tittybangbang (2007) filmed at this location.

Littlestone Golf Club is a traditional links golf course on the Romney Marsh with views across the English Channel to France. The course sits on 300 acres of the Romney Marsh and is a site of special scientific interest for flora and fauna and location for the CL Junior Open 2021.

Set on the River Medway, The Historic Dockyard Chatham was once an active Royal Navy shipyard and is one of the most popular Kent filming locations. Recent productions to film at the Dockyard include The Nevers (2021), Bridgerton (2020) and The Crown Series 1 – 6 (2016-2023).

The Phantom of the Open was released in UK cinemas on Friday 18th March 2022.

For more information about Kent’s Filming History please visit our Movie Map.


The Electrical Life of Louis Wain (2022)

Benedict Cumberbatch, as Louis Wain, stands on a pebble beach, wearing sunglasses and looking off into the distance with a row of colourful houses in the distance. Cumberbatch, dressed in white trousers, navy blazer and blue and white striped t-shirt stands to the left with three women sitting on wooden stools with wooden easels in front of them to the right of the frame.

Benedict Cumberbatch, Stacy Martin, Sharon Rooney and Aimee Lou Wood in The Electrical Life of Louis Wain (2022) on Walmer Beach, Deal © StudioCanal

Writer: Will Sharpe, Simon Stephenson
Director: Will Sharpe
Starring: Benedict Cumberbatch, Claire Foy, Andrea Riseborough, Aimee Lou Wood, Toby Jones
Production Company: Amazon Studios, Film4, Shoebox Films, StudioCanal, SunnyMarch
Kent Locations Used: Botany Bay, Kingsgate Bay, Deal, Walmer, Kingsdown Leas

The Electrical Life of Louis Wain (2022) is a biopic of the English painter who rose to fame at the end of the 19th century. Known for his unique paintings of anthropomorphised cats, Wain suffered from poor mental health in his later years and was hospitalised when his family could no longer care for him.

Benedict Cumberbatch (Doctor Strange, Sherlock) stars as the titular character Louis Wain, with Claire Foy (The Crown (2016 – 2023), A Very British Scandal (2021)) portraying the love of his life, Emily. The film also features Andrea Riseborough (Luxor, The Grudge), Aimee Lou Wood (Sex Education (2021)), Toby Jones (Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom, Christopher Robin) and Sharon Rooney (My Mad Fat Diary, The Tunnel: Vengeance (2017)). The film was written and directed by Will Sharpe (Defending the Guilty, Flowers) alongside writer Simon Stephenson (Eleventh Hour, Paddington 2).

Various scenes were shot on the Kent coast, including at Botany Bay and Kingsgate Bay in Thanet, Kingsdown Leas, Deal seafront and the Coast House B&B in Walmer, Deal.

Botany Bay in Thanet is a popular filming location in Kent. The sandy bay is set against a beautiful white cliff backdrop which is popular with tourists. Previous productions to have made use of this stunning location include Sulphur and White (2020) and Series 2 of Humans (2016).

Kingsgate Bay is a small sandy bay surrounded by chalk cliffs that connects at low tide through Whiteness cliff arch to Botany Bay. The Victorian Kingsgate Castle is perched on top of the sea defences; it has since been turned into private residences. Other productions to have filmed at Kingsgate Bay include True Things (2022), Mr Selfridge (2013-2016), and Bhikari (2017).

Deal is a town on the south coast of Kent with a long naval history as one of the major Cinque Ports. Deal’s seafront has a large green, promenade, small fishing fleet, huts, sailing boats, lifeboat station as well as an extensive pebble beach. Liar Series 1 & 2 (2017 – 2020) and Baptiste (2019) both recently filmed here.

The Electrical Life of Louis Wain was released in UK cinemas on Saturday 1st January 2022.

For more information about Kent’s Filming History please visit our Movie Map.


Paani Ch Madhaani (2021)

A couple stands in the middle of a city street in front of a blue VW campervan. Both stare lovingly at each other. The woman is wearing long flowy orange trousers, a long white and orange speckled top with the sleeves rolled up, a white knitted vest, a pair of brown slip-on shoes and an orange headscarf. She is holding a bunch of red roses and has a brown and white bag on her arm. The man has mid-length brown hair brushed away from his face and tidy facial hair. He wears a brown tweed vintage style jacket with a dark green checked shirt underneath, baggy light brown trousers and brown shoes. He is holding a wooden rectangular instrument case. The Title Paani Ch Madhaani is written across the bottom third of the movie poster.

Paani Ch Madhaani Film Poster © Dara Films Entertainment

Director: Vijay Kumar Arora
Starring: Neeru Bajwa, Gippy Grewal, Rene Costa
Production Company: Dara Films Entertainment
Kent Locations Used: Canterbury, Herne Bay, Ramsgate Marina

Paani Ch Madhaani (2021) follows the story of Gulli (Gippy Grewal), a rising star in the music world in 1980, who is waiting for his big break. Eventually, Gulli decides that the secret to success is becoming a duo and teams up with another singer, Gazal (Neeru Bajwa). The film follows the ups, downs and hardships of trying to make it in the business, and a burgeoning friendship that may turn into romance.

The rom-com was directed by Vijay Kumar Arora (Prince’s Son, A Flying Jatt) and stars Neeru Bajwa (Munda Hi Chahida, Shaada), Gippy Grewal (Daaka, Ardaas Karaan)  and Rene Costa (Holby City, Jawaani Jaaneman).

During filming, production visited Herne Bay, Canterbury, and Ramsgate Marina.

Scenes at Herne Bay include shots of the Clock Tower, Pier and Central Parade. Herne Bay is a coastal seaside town near Canterbury and is known for its 2-mile-long coastline, colourful beach huts, promenade, pier, and historical bandstand. Many productions have filmed here before including High End Yaariyaan (2019) and Two Weeks to Live (2020).

Production filmed a romantic song at Ramsgate Marina. Ramsgate is a thriving seaside town with beautiful Victorian terraced housing, a Marina, Port and Promenade. It often doubles for period London streets. Productions such as The Flood (2019) and Juliet, Naked (2018) have previously filmed here.

Scenes were also filmed in Canterbury City Centre. Canterbury is a historic cathedral city; the Cathedral is amongst the oldest in England. The city is a popular tourist destination which boasts a modern shopping complex with many restaurants and bars. Canterbury Prison is a popular filming location, with recent productions including Break (2020) and Avengement (2019).

Paani Ch Madhaani was released in select UK cinemas on Friday 5th November 2021.

For more information about Kent’s Filming History please visit our Movie Map.


Bull (2021)

Neil Maskell as Bull, holds his 11-year-old son Aiden, played by Henri Charles. In the background is a fence and bushes. The two are smiling at something off-screen. Neil has brown hair, a beard and moustache and wears a purple and navy-blue striped polo shirt. Aiden wears an oversized blue hoody and has brown hair.

Bull (2021) © Signature Entertainment

Writer: Paul Andrew Williams
Director: Paul Andrew Williams
Starring: Neil Maskell, David Hayman, Tamzin Outhwaite
Production Company: Giant Productions, Tea Shop Productions, Signature Films, Signature Entertainment, Particular Crowd
Kent Locations Used: Dartford, Dartford Working Men’s Club, Holy Trinity Church, Temple Hill, Forge Farm Meats in Tunbridge Wells, Gravesend

Bull (2021) depicts the story of ex-gang member Bull, who, after mysteriously disappearing 10 years ago, has now returned to his old hunting ground with only one thing on his mind: Revenge. Embarking on a search for his missing son, Bull will stop at nothing to ensure that those who double-crossed him pay for their sins. A brutal and suspenseful revenge thriller, at its core, Bull (2021) is the story of a father’s eternal love for his son.

Written and directed by Paul Andrew Williams (London to Brighton), Bull (2021) stars Neil Maskell (Kill List, Happy New Year, Colin Burstead) as the titular character Bull, David Hayman (Fisherman’s Friends, The Boy in the Striped Pajamas) as Norm, and Tamzin Outhwaite of Eastenders-fame as Sharon.

The production visited several locations across Kent for their shoot. The Temple Hill housing estate in Dartford appears throughout the film, as the location of Gemma’s (Lois Brabin-Platt) house and Dave’s (Jay Simpson) flat. Dartford Working Men’s Club also features as the pub where Norm (David Hayman) warns Bull (Neil Maskell) to stay away from Gemma. Holy Trinity Church in Dartford features at the end of the film, as Bull carries a teenage Aiden (Matthew Castle) into the church for salvation. Various roads in Dartford also appear, including an M25 underpass which features as the homeless camp Bull finds Aiden living in.

A private house in Gravesend doubles as the home of Bull’s mother Marge (Elizabeth Counsell). Forge Farm Meats in Tunbridge Wells appears as an abattoir, where Bull and Norm torture the owner.

Located on the border of Kent, Dartford is a historic market town which boasts one of the largest shopping centres in Europe. Perhaps best known for the Dartford Crossing and Bluewater Shopping Centre, Dartford’s combination of industrial and historical landscapes makes for a popular filming location. Previous productions that have filmed in Dartford include the SKY series Gangs of London (2020-2022), and The Escape (2018).

Set in the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, Tunbridge Wells is a historic spa town that offers a mix of independent shops and restaurants set alongside the colonnaded Pantiles and the picturesque High Street.  The area is renowned for its historic houses and gardens and has been a place of interest for over 400 years. Previous productions to shoot in Tunbridge Wells include the BBC sitcom The Cleaner (2021), Rupert, Rupert & Rupert (2019), and series 3 of Britannia (2021).

The maritime town of Gravesend is a popular filming location, due to its picturesque setting and rich history, including an unspoilt promenade, high street and two shopping centres. Other productions that have filmed here include the BBC TV spy thriller Killing Eve (2018-2022), which featured Nell’s Café in the first Series and the popular Netflix anthology TV series Black Mirror (2018), which used several locations across Gravesend for the hostage sequences in Series 5, Smithereens.

Bull was released in UK cinemas on Friday 5th November 2021.

For more information about Kent’s Filming History please visit our Movie Map


After Love (2021)

Actress Joanna Scanlan as Mary Hussain in a scene from the film. Joanna wears a patterned top and black headscarf and is looking into the distance. Behind her is grass.

Joanna Scanlan in After Love (2021) © IMDb

Director: Aleem Khan
Starring: Joanna Scanlan, Nasser Memarzia, Nathalie Richard
Production Company: The Bureau
Kent Locations Used: The White Cliffs of Dover, Kingsdown, Port of Dover

After Love (2021) is a BFI funded film directed by Aleem Khan (Three Brothers, Diana). It follows Mary Hussain played by Joanna Scanlan (The Larkins (2021-2022), Dracula (2020)) in the wake of her husband Ahmed’s (Nasser Memarzia, KnightfallThe Honourable Woman (2014)) unexpected death. She leaves her hometown of Dover behind to cross the channel to Calais where she hopes to uncover secrets in her husband’s past.

The film also stars Nathalie Richard (Never Let Me Go, Caché) and focuses on the beauty of cultural differences and the effects of physical distance on people’s relationships.

Production visited The White Cliffs of Dover whilst filming, as well as a private residence in Kingsdown, near Dover which doubles as Mary’s home. One scene was filmed showing Mary boarding a ferry at the Port of Dover, as she travels to the Continent.

The White Cliffs of Dover are an iconic landmark, affording spectacular views across the Channel. Dover is a popular film location which also boasts the historic Dover Castle. The White Cliffs of Dover have previously featured in Sherlock Holmes – A Game of Shadows (2011), On A Clear Day (2005) and Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines (1965).

As the busiest passenger port in Europe, The Port of Dover is a very sought-after filming location. Previous productions to film at the Port include Christopher Robin (2018) and Will (2011).

After Love was screened as part of the BFI London Film Festival 2020 in October 2020.

After Love will be released in UK cinemas on Friday 4th June 2021.

For more information about Kent’s Filming History please visit our Movie Map


Ammonite (2020)

Image of two faces overlapping and facing one another - Actress Saoirse Ronan playing Charlotte Murchison and Kate Winslet playing Mary Anning.

Ammonite movie poster
© EF Neon

Writer: Francis Lee
Director: Francis Lee
Starring: Saoirse Ronan, Kate Winslet, Fiona Shaw, Gemma Jones.
Production Company: See-Saw Films, British Film Institute, BBC Films
Kent Locations Used: Romney House, School Road, Charing, The Historic Dockyard Chatham

Ammonite (2020) is a film loosely based on the life of the acclaimed English fossil hunter Mary Anning (Kate Winslet) in 1840s England. Widely known for her contribution to prehistoric geology, she made ground-breaking Jurassic period discoveries as she spent time investigating the cliffs at Lyme Regis and Charmouth in Dorset. Whilst the film addresses Anning’s professional life, it also explores her private affairs and her struggles to make ends meet.

The film was written and directed by Francis Lee (God’s Own Country, The Farmer’s Wife) and Kate Winslet (Titanic, The Reader) stars as Anning alongside Saoirse Ronan (Little Women, Lady Bird) as her fellow geologist and companion Mrs Charlotte Murchison.

Kate Winslet as Mary Anning and Saoirse Ronan as Charlotte Murchison in Ammonite walking along a beach in Lyme Regis. Kate wears a blue coat and brown frock, her hair is plainly tied back and she carries a leather satchel across her shoulder. Saoirse wears a bonnet and black dress and walks behind. Waves are breaking behind them onto the beach and the cliffs are shrouded in mist..

Kate Winslet and Saoirse Ronan in Ammonite (2020) © See-Saw / British Film Institute / BBC / Cross City / Stage 6

A couple of scenes for the film were shot in Kent. Romney House, a grade II listed building in Charing, was used to stand in for a Lyme Regis property belonging to Dr. Lieberson (Alec Secareanu) where Mary and Charlotte attend an evening party. A further scene was filmed at The Historic Dockyard Chatham, in which Mary Anning alights a boat just arrived to London Docks from Lyme Regis.

Charing is a quaint, traditional and beautiful village in the Ashford district of Kent and is situated on the historic Pilgrim’s way that stretches from London to Canterbury. The high street has many old whitewashed buildings comprised of brick and tile, some also exhibiting exposed timber frames. It is also home to the famous building the Archbishop’s Palace, a large manor house historically belonging to the Archbishop of Canterbury.

The Historic Dockyard Chatham was established in the mid-16th century and is located on the River Medway. A location with an extensive history, evident through its numerous buildings and exhibitions open to the public. The site offers maritime, industrial, Georgian and Victorian architecture and cobbled streets, an ideal set for many film productions. Recent feature films that have shot dockside scenes at the Dockyard include Red Joan (2019) and The Mercy (2018).

Ammonite is scheduled for release on Amazon Prime Box Office on Friday 26th March 2021.

For more information about Kent’s Filming History please visit our Movie Map.


Summerland (2020)

Alice (Gemma Arterton) laying on the grass with a book smiling at the camera with white cliffs as a backdrop.

Gemma Arterton in Summerland (2020) © Michael Wharley Flying Castles Ltd

Writer: Jessica Swale
Director: Jessica Swale
Starring: Gemma Arterton, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Penelope Wilton, Tom Courtenay
Production Company: British Film Institute, Quickfire Films
Kent Locations Used: The Historic Dockyard Chatham, Dover Castle

Set during WWII, Summerland (2020) is a period drama from writer and first time director Jessica Swale (Horrible Histories: The Movie – Rotten Romans, Leading Lady Parts) which tells the story of reclusive writer Alice (Gemma Arterton) as she learns to open her heart to Frank (Lucas Bond), a young Blitz evacuee.

This BFI and Quickfire Films production features Gemma Arterton (St. Trinian’s, Prince of Persia: Sands of Time ) as Alice , Lucas Bond as Frank (The Cleansing Hour, The Miniaturist) alongside other cast members Gugu Mbatha-Raw (Belle 2013), Concussion 2015), Penelope Wilton (The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel , Shaun of the Dead) and Tom Courtenay (Doctor Zhivago, 45 Years).

Production for Swale’s directorial feature film debut visited The Historic Dockyard Chatham, making use of multiple areas at the location including; the exterior of the Captain’s House, Officers’ Terrace, Old Pay Office, Sail and Colour Loft and the Fitted Rigging House cellars on Anchor Wharf. The exterior of the medieval Dover Castle makes a small cameo in the film in a dream-like scene.

Set on the River Medway The Historic Dockyard Chatham was once an active Royal Navy shipyard and is a popular Kent filming location, especially for period dramas looking for London street doubles. Recent productions include Hetty Feather (2015-2020), Call the Midwife (2012-2020) and Pagalpanti (2019).

Dover Castle towers above Dover town, signalling Dover’s strategic importance in the defence of the country in World War Two. Other feature films shot at Dover Castle include Christopher Robin (2018), Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015) and Into the Woods (2015).

Summerland was released in UK cinemas and Amazon Prime Video Cinema on Friday 31st July 2020.

For more information about Kent’s Filming History please visit our Movie Map.