Tyger (2024)

Posted on February 5, 2024 by Kent Film Office

Director: Alexander Milo Bischof
Starring: Dylan Edwards, Laura Haddock, Ben Aldridge, Natasha O’Keeffe, Shaun Dooley
Production Company: Stave Hill Films
Kent Locations Used: Margate, Arlington House, Botany Bay, Kingsgate Bay, Canterbury Prison

Tyger (2024) is a road movie which follows an ex-soldier who, upon his release from prison, embarks on a journey to reunite with his family.

Directed by Alexander Milo Bischof (Struck, Trouble Will Find Us), Tyger stars Dylan Edwards (Wanderlust, GameFace) as Joe, Laura Haddock (Guardians of the Galaxy, Transformers: The Last Knight) as Hannah, Ben Aldridge (Our Girl, Pennyworth (2019-2021)) as Sebastian, Natasha O’Keeffe (Peaky Blinders, Misfits) as Maggie and Shaun Dooley (The Woman in Black, Blood Moon (2014)) as Neil.

After being released from prison, Joe is relocated to Margate, where filming took place. Locations featured include Arlington House, Dalby Café, TSD Social Club, Holy Trinity Church as well as Margate roads. In nearby Broadstairs, filming also took place at Botany Bay and the clifftop of Kingsgate Bay. Filming also took place at the old Canterbury Prison.

Margate is a seaside town complete with sandy beach, harbour, amusement park, period housing and ultra-modern art gallery Turner Contemporary. Arlington House sits on Margate seafront and is an eighteen-storey residential apartment block and a great example of British Brutalist architecture. Other recent productions to have featured Margate include Empire of Light (2023), Dreamland (2023) and Series 4 of Killing Eve (2018-2022).

One of the most popular filming locations in Kent, Botany Bay is a sandy bay set against a white cliff backdrop with a steep, sandy track for vehicle access and small portable café. Recent productions to have filmed on Botany Bay include Carry on Jatta 3 (2023), The Great (2020-2023) and The Electrical Life of Louis Wain (2021).

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. True Things (2022), Devils (2021) and Bawri Chhori (How to Kill Your Husband) (2021) have previously filmed here.

Now owned by Canterbury Christ Church University, the former Canterbury prison has wings with closed cells dating back to 1808. Though it is no longer available as a filming location, it previously played host to Series 2 of The Larkins (2021-2022), Deceit (2021) and Small Axe (2020) having filmed there.

Tyger (2024) was released on Prime Video, AppleTV+ and the Google store on Monday 12th February 2024.

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

True Things (2022)

Posted on March 25, 2022 by Kent Film Office

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 1^st April 2022.

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

The Electrical Life of Louis Wain (2022)

Posted on December 27, 2021 by Kent Film Office

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 corporate limbs of the 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 1^st January 2022.

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

Bawri Chhori (How to Kill Your Husband) (2021)

Posted on February 14, 2021 by Kent Film Office

Director: Akhilesh Jaiswal, Umang Dev Shukla
Starring: Aahana Kumra, Rumana Molla
Production Company: Big Films Media Fz, Jar Pictures, Manna Pictures
Kent Locations Used: Kingsgate Bay, Upper Farm Cottage

Bawri Chhori (How to Kill Your Husband) (2021) follows Radhika, a young woman who has left India for London on a journey to find her estranged husband and enact her revenge on him.

Directed by Akhilesh Jaiswal (Gangs of Wasseypur, Ugly) and Umang Dev Shukla, the film stars Aahana Kumra (Lipstick Under My Burkha, Rangbaaz) as Radhika and Rumana Molla (Dev DD, Pyaar Ka Punchnama 2) as Anna, the free-spirited woman she meets on her journey to England.

Production visited Kent to film on Kingsgate Bay in Broadstairs and at Upper Farm Cottage in Ashford, which doubled for Nani’s (Sohaila Kapur) cottage in Oxford. Filming also took place along Herne Bay seafront, but this did not make the final cut.

Kingsgate Bay is a small sandy bay surrounded by chalk cliffs and featuring a Victorian castle (now private residences) on top of the sea defences. Other productions to have filmed there include True Things (2022), Sulphur and White (2020) and Bhikari (2017).

Upper Farm Cottage is a detached timber frame house set in the quiet village of Rolvenden in Ashford. It is set within approximately 1 acre of land with far-reaching unspoilt countryside views.

Bawri Chhori (2021) did not receive an official UK release but is available to stream on Eros Now via Amazon Prime.

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

Devils (2021)

Posted on February 11, 2021 by Kent Film Office

Patrick Dempsey as Dominic Morgan & Alessandro Borghi as Massimo Ruggero are walking down an outside stairway with skyscrapers in the background.

Patrick Dempsey as Dominic Morgan & Alessandro Borghi as Massimo Ruggero
© Antonello&Montesi

Writer: Elena Buccacio, Mario Ruggeri, Alessandro Sermoneta, Ben Harris, Chris Lunt, Michael A Walker
Director: Nick Hurran, Jan Michelini
Starring: Patrick Dempsey, Alessandro Borghi, Laia Costa
Production Company: Lux Vide, Sky Italia
Kent Locations Used: Kingsgate Bay in Broadstairs

Based on the novel by Guido Maria Brera, Devils (2021) is a brand new TV series set in the London Offices of a large investment bank where Massimo Ruggero (Alessandro Borghi) discovers a worldwide financial conspiracy. Will he side with the perpetrators or expose the fraud?

The writing of the show is shared amongst several writes, including Elena Buccacio (Magie and Bianca Fashion Friends), Mario Ruggeri (Don Matteo), Alessandro Sermoneta (Once Upon a Time The City of Fools), Ben Harris (Dark Heart), Chris Lunt (Prey) and Michael A Walker (Primevil). It is directed by Nick Hurran (Sherlock), and Jan Michelini (Medici). Starring Patrick Dempsey (Grey’s Anatomy, Bridget Jones’ Baby), Alessandro Borghi (Romulus and Remus: The First King), and Laia Costa (Cities, Only You).

Production visited the Kingsgate Bay in Broadstairs to film a dialogue scene on the clifftops.

Broadstairs is a coastal town on the Isle of Thanet in the East Kent district. Productions that have also visited this area include and The Tunnel (2016) and Humans (2016).

Devils was released on Sky Atlantic and NowTV on Wednesday 17^th February 2021.

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

Sulphur and White (2020)

Posted on February 27, 2020 by Kent Film Office

Sulphur and White poster. A shattered glass butterfly against a white background. In the butterfly's wings are screengrabs from the film. On the right side of the image are the words Sulphur and White written in faded black text.

Writer: Susie Farrell
Director: Julian Jarrold
Starring: Mark Stanley, Emily Beecham, Anna Friel, Dougray Scott, Aftab Shivdasani
Production Companies: AMG International, EMU Films
Kent Locations Used: Thanet (Joss Bay, Kingsgate Bay, Botany Bay)

Feature film Sulphur and White (2020) is inspired by the true story of David Tait (Mark Stanley), a city trader and mountaineer, who tries to forget his traumatic childhood as he climbs the corporate ladder in the City Of London. When he meets Vanessa (Emily Beecham), David’s life begins to change.

Sulphur and White is directed by the award winning Julian Jarrold (Kinky Boots, Becoming Jane) and the screenplay was written by Susie Farrell (Dirty God). It stars Mark Stanley (Game of Thrones, Run) as David Tait and Emily Beechman (Daphne, Hail, Caesar!) as Vanessa. Co-stars also include Anna Friel (Marcella, Deep Water), Dougray Scott (EverAfter, Hitman) and Aftab Shivdasani (Mast, Kasoor).

Filming took place in Thanet, a district of Kent containing resort towns Margate, Ramsgate and Broadstairs with beautiful beaches.

The production visited Joss Bay in Broadstairs, a proclaimed surfer’s paradise, boasting a 200 metre-long stretch of sandy beach. Kingsgate Bay and Botany Bay afford incredible views of white cliffs and highly photographed white chalk stacks.

These coastal locations have attracted various film and TV productions over the years from French coming-of-age film À nous les petites Anglaises (1976), Mr Selfridge Series 4 (2016), Bhikari (2017) to most recently Dracula (2020).

Sulphur and White will be released in UK cinemas on Friday 6^th March 2020.

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

Bhikari (2017)

Posted on October 1, 2017 by Kent Film Office

Writer: Guru Thakur
Director: Ganesh Acharya
Starring: Swwapnil Joshi, Rucha Inamdar
Production Company: Mi Marathi Film Production
Kent Locations Used: Kingsgate Bay, Botany Bay

Bhikari (2017) follows the story of a rich young man whom having finished his higher education in London, returns to India where his mother hands over the family business to him. However, unfortunate events lead Samrat to face difficult choices in order to save his mother’s life.

The film is was written by Guru Thakur, a popular lyricist and screen-writer, and directed by Ganesh Acharya (Bhaag Milkha Bhaag, PK), and stars Swwapnil Joshi (Mumbai Pune Mumbai 2, Duniyadari) and Rucha Inamdar (Children of War, Under the Same Sun).

Both Kingsgate Bay and Botany Bay in Thanet were used as locations as backdrops for dance sequences for the feature.

Botany Bay is has stunning white cliffs and chalk stacks and is great for rock pooling. Over the years, Botany Bay has also featured in productions such as Thaandavam (2012), Humans: Series 2 (2016) and True Love (2012).

Kingsgate Bay is known for its beautiful sandy beach and sea caves. Kingsgate Bay has featured in films and television series such as Mr Selfridge Series 4 (2016) and Whistle and I’ll Come to You (2010).

Bhikari (2017) was released on Amazon Prime in January 2018.

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

Mr Selfridge (2013-2016)

Posted on January 8, 2016 by Kent Film Office

Mr Selfridge – Jeremy Piven as Harry Selfridge, Katherine Kelly as Mae Rennard, Sacha Dhawan as Jimmy and Zoe Richards and Emma Hamilton as The Dolly Sisters © ITV

Starring: Jeremy Piven, Frances O’Connor, Ron Cook, Kika Markham, Tom Goodman-Hill, Amy Beth Hayes, Samuel West
Production Company: ITV Studios, Masterpiece
Kent Locations Used: The Historic Dockyard Chatham, South Foreland Lighthouse, Kingsgate Bay

Mr Selfridge (2013-2016) was an ITV drama series based on the novel ‘Shopping, Seduction and Mr Selfridge’ by Lindy Woodhead. The series tells the true story of charismatic American entrepreneur Harry Gordon Selfridge who transformed the world of retail after opening the first ever Selfridges store in London in 1909.

The series stars Jeremy Piven (Serendipity, Entourage) as Harry Selfridge, Frances O’Connor (A.I. Artificial Intelligence, Mansfield Park) as Rose Selfridge, Ron Cook (On a Clear Day (2005), Hot Fuzz) as Mr Crabb, Kika Markham (Killing Me Softly, Outland) as Lois Selfridge, Tom Goodman-Hill (The Rizen (2017), Humans – Series 2 (2016)) as Mr Grove, Amy Beth Hayes (Three Little Birds, Lilyhammer) as Kitty Hawkins and Samuel West (Darkest Hour (2017), Howards End) as Frank Edwards.

The production came to The Historic Dockyard Chatham to film the exterior of Selfridges’ Oxford Street store throughout all four series.

Frances O’Connor, who plays Rose Selfridge, said: “The exterior set is down at Chatham in Kent and just looks like the outside of Selfridge’s. Then if you step a couple of feet one way you’re in the water of the docks. That’s the magic of filming. It really does look amazing.”

For Series 3, production visited the South Foreland Lighthouse in Dover to film Violette Selfridge (Hannah Tointon) and Victor Colleano (Trystan Gravelle) taking a drive to the coast.

Kingsgate Bay in Broadstairs features in Series 4, in a scene where Mr Grove and Miss Mardle (Amanda Abbington) visit the beach.

Harry Selfridge talks to Journalists in an airfield

Set on the River Medway, The Historic Dockyard Chathamis a popular film location offering Georgian and Victorian architecture, maritime environment, dry dock, cobbled streets, and industrial buildings. The Historic Dockyard Chatham has previously featured in productions such as Victor Frankenstein (2015), Jekyll and Hyde (2015) and Great Expectations (2012).

South Foreland Lighthouse in Dover is a Victorian lighthouse landmark along the White Cliffs of Dover. The White Cliffs of Dover has been featured on screen in productions such as Sherlock Holmes: Game of Shadows (2011) and On A Clear Day (2005).

Kingsgate Bay is a beautiful sandy beach surrounded by chalk cliffs in Broadstairs. The Thanet area has welcomed filming from projects including The Lady in the Van (2015), Eastenders (2007-2023) and Die Another Day (2002).

The first episode of Mr Selfridge aired on ITV1 on Sunday 6^th January 2013.

The final season of Mr Selfridge (2013-2016) began airing on ITV1 on Friday 8^th January 2016 and all 4 series are now available to stream on ITVX.

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

Whistle and I’ll Come To You (2010)

Posted on December 4, 2010 by Kent Film Office

John Hurt wearing a dressing gown with one arm holding the dirty wall behind. Looking slightly distressed,.

Starring: John Hurt, Gemma Jones, Lesley Sharp

Kent Filming Locations: Botany Bay, Kingsgate Bay and the Sea Pavilion at Walpole Bay

BBC2 drama Whistle and I’ll Come To You is a modern adaptation of M R James’ Edwardian ghost story which stars John Hurt (Merlin, Hellboy) as James Parkin who after leaving his wife in a nursing home travels to their favourite destination, a quiet seaside town. On a deserted beach he has an encounter with an apparition which continues to haunt him for the rest of his stay.

The one off drama was written and adapted by Neil Cross and explores the themes of ageing, supernatural with a psychological element throughout.

The drama also stars Gemma Jones (Bridget Jones Diary, Sense and Sensibility) and Lesley Sharp (Scott & Bailey, The Full Monty).

Kingsgate Bay is a small sandy bay surrounded by white chalk cliffs with it having some of the best sea caves in the country and has been used by Sulphur and White (2019) . Nearby Botany Bay which also has a white cliff backdrop is a popular filming location and has been used for productions such as True Love (2012) and Hunderby (2012).

Whistle and I’ll Come To You was shown on BBC TWO 24^th December 2010 at 22:00.

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

Gypo (2006)

Posted on February 4, 2006 by Kent Film Office

an actor leaping off a concrete structure into the air

Writer/Director: Jan Dunn

Producer: Elaine Wickham

Production Company: Medb Films, British Broadcasting Corporation, Distant Eye Films, Molinare Studio, Spotty Dog Films, VMI

Starring: Pauline McLynn, Chloe Sirene, Paul McGann, Rula Lenska

Kent Filming Locations: East Kent College, Kingsgate Bay, Margate, Pegwell Bay, Port of Ramsgate, Ramsgate, Royal Harbour Hotel and the Wig & Pen pub

Gypo is a 2005 feature length film follows the breakup of a working class family when their teenage daughter befriends a Romany Czech refugee. Gypo told in three revelatory narratives, each from a particular character’s point of view, reveals how the disintegration of an ordinary working class family finally comes to a head when unexpected emotions are unleashed. An innovative, gripping and engaging journey into the heart of a dysfunctional British family on the Kent coast, Gypo reveals how suburban fears and tabloid sensationalism have come to perpetuate the myths surrounding refugees.

Jan Dunn (The Calling, Ruby Blue) directs and writes the screenplay to her debut feature length film. Pauline Mclynn (Father Ted, Eastenders, Angela’s Ashes) stars as Helen with a supporting cast including, Chloe Sirene (United 93, The Calling, Ruby Blue), Paul McGann (Alien 3, Withnail & I, Queen and the Damned).

The production filmed at a variety of locations in Thanet including East Kent College, Kingsgate Bay, Margate, Pegwell Bay, Port of Ramsgate, Ramsgate, Royal Harbour Hotel and the Wig & Pen pub.

The Thanet area is made up of the towns Margate, Ramsgate and Broadstairs, and boasts beautiful sandy beaches and busy vibrant towns. The area has been featured on screen in productions including The Tunnel: Sabotage (2016), The Lady in the Van (2015) and Top Dog Model (2012) .

Since their success with GYPO, Elaine Wickham and Jan Dunn, the team behind Medb Films have made a second feature set in East Kent, RUBY BLUE starring Bob Hoskins, as well as a short, MY MOTHER, both currently in post-production.

The film was released in November 2005 and is now available for DVD release.

With thanks to Jan Dunn and Elaine Wickham from Medb Films for the photos

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

Kent's Premier Film Commission