2008 was a bumper year for The Pie Factory, the converted studio complex on the site of MediaCityUK in Salford. The former Campbell’s Soup and Pie making factory is owned by Peel Media and managed by Andy Sumner of Sumner’s. The first year of trading saw the Pie Factory rack up an extensive number of TV, film and commercial shoots, cementing The Pie Factory’s status as the UK’s new studio facility of choice outside of the South East.

Last year’s credits were impressive with the Pie Factory being heavily booked across the whole of the twelve month period. Television highlights included Sunshine starring Steve Coogan and Bernard Hill, and The Royle Family Christmas special (both Jellylegs Productions), together with children’s comedy series Trexx and Flipside for Hanrahan Media. Work also commenced on Series 3 of Jimmy McGovern’s The Street, while Drop Dead Gorgeous, another Pie Factory production picked up a gold at the 2008 Comedy Awards.

The Pie Factory was also the office base for Ken Loach’s new film Looking for Eric (Sixteen Films, release date Summer 2009), starring Eric Cantona, as well as Splintered (Not A Number Films).

In addition The Pie Factory was host to an extensive number of commercial and photoshoots during the year including work for Nike, Disney, Iceland, Manchester United, Ferrari, Magnet Kitchens, Aldi and Chicago Town Pizza.

John Rushton, who produced both Sunshine and The Royle Family at The Pie Factory, says film production in the North West has received a massive boost with the opening of the studios: “The Pie Factory has a real ‘grown up’ feel to it, reminiscent of Pinewood and Shepperton. Cast, crew and production all love it because it’s got everything to hand, and it’s run by an expert team. We’re already booked back in for 2009.”

The Pie Factory is also home to over a diverse range of tenants including Lemon Casting, 24-7, Axon Birch, Purple Crew and Design 108; many of whom have benefited from the amount of filming in the studios.

David Carr, Director of Operations at MediaCityUK said: “The Pie Factory is very much the foundation of MediaCityUK and is a test bed for the main site and we are delighted with the success of it to date. Before there was nothing in the region to attract serious TV and film shoots of this nature but now that gap has been filled and we are delighted with the work Andy Sumner and his team have done to help make it a success. This is just the start, and proof, if any were needed, that MediaCityUK is already up and running, with plenty more to follow.”

For more information visit: www.mediacityuk.co.uk