Granada Studios were television studios on Quay Street in Manchester with the facility to broadcast live and recorded programmes. They were the headquarters of Granada Television and later ITV Granada between 1956 and 2013. At the time of their closure, the studios were the oldest operating purpose-built television studios in the UK.
Water Street, Manchester
Granada Studios Tour
The Granada Studios Tour operated from 1989 to 1999 and gave the public the opportunity to visit the Coronation Street set and explore other Granada productions. Although such theme parks based on television and film had been successful in the United States, the idea of such a scheme was unprecedented for a British television company. John Williams, head of studio operations at Granada, promoted the project to provide a new revenue stream for Granada, the only television company to embark on such a venture. The park featured a replica of No. 10 Downing Street, and visitors were shown how television is produced, had the opportunity to present a weather forecast and learned about special effects. The main feature of the tour was the set of Coronation Street, which allowed visitors access to the street and take photographs.
Coronation Street lotGranada TVGranada TVGranada TVGranada TV
Further images of the studios on Quay Street in Manchester
ITV GranadaITV GranadaITV GranadaITV GranadaITV GranadaITV Granada ~ Old Studios Tour entrance on Water StreetITV GranadaGranada TVGranada TVGranada TVGranada TVGranada TVGranada TVGranada TV SignageGranada TV SignageGranada TVGranada TV SignageGranada TVGranada TV3SixtyMedia ~ The Granada / BBC Resources joint venture post production facilityGranada TVGranada TVGranada TVGranada TVGranada TVGranada TVGranada TV SignageProvision, GranadaGranada TV SignageGranada TV SignageGranada TV SignageGranada TVBus Stop Sign ~ Water Street, ManchesterGranada TVGranada TVGranada TVGranada TVGranada TVGranada Studios Sign ~ on Water StreetGranada TVGranada TV SignGranada TV
Sadly the famous Granada TV red lettering was taken down above the penthouse suite in October 2010 as they were corroded and posing a health and safety hazard. At the same time the exterior was spruced up with a lick of paint and new ITV signage appeared in time for the media arriving for the recording of Britain's first televisied election debate.
Granada ~ Lettering is removed in 2010Granada TV ~ The famous red lettering is removed in 2010Granada TV Roof SignageGranada TV ~ Quay Street, Manchester Granada TV Ghost SignWater Street, ManchesterWater Street ~ The old entrance is given a lick of paint in time for the first Election debate to be recordedITV Sign ~ On Water Street
A new era begins… ALL Studios, Manchester
A huge thank you to Allied London the owners of Granada's former home, who granted TVARK permission to document their buildings before redevelopment of the site begins. The best news is that Allied London recognise the heritage of the Quay Street buildings and are keeping the old studios and refurbishing them for future Film and TV productions, under a new brand – ALL Studios, great news for Manchester!. The complex will become part of the new St John's neighbourhood in the city centre.
