Film and TV shoots attract £250,000 to towns

Major film and television productions have attracted about £250,000 to coastal towns, a local authority says.

Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council (BCP) attributes the rise in filmmakers choosing the region to its "diverse scenery and historical sites".

Highcliffe Castle in Christchurch, Lake Pier in Hamworthy and Southbourne Beach have seen the glamour and glitz of blockbuster movies.

Councillor Richard Herrett, cabinet member for destination, leisure, and commercial operations, said: "We live in a beautiful place of the world, with miles of sandy beaches, stunning coastline, and historic buildings which offer a wealth of possibilities for film and TV projects."

Earlier this month Hollywood star Ben Stiller was filming at Highcliffe Castle in Christchurch for Netflix. In June, filming took place at Lake Pier in Hamworthy for a blockbuster show about the American political dynasty, Kennedy, starring Michael Fassbender as Joe Kennedy Sr.

Southbourne Beach had also recently been used as a filming location for Netflix.

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, the council said the recent filming had significant economic benefits for the town, with an estimated £225,125 generated through spending on accommodation, catering, transportation, and other services.

Herrett, said: "Filming is already bringing people to the area, and we expect it to attract even more visitors in the future as fans seek out locations featured on screen.

"We are looking forward to welcoming more productions here in the future and hope our residents have as much fun as we do spotting their favourite local places on the big and small screen," he added.

The region had taken centre stage for screen actors over recent years.

In 2025, the owners of a coastal cottage in Portland Bill had a glimpse of Hollywood magic as filming took place for the Amazon series, The Rings of Power.

American actor Timothée Chalamet was spotted in Lyme Regis, filming for the Willy Wonka movie in 2021.

The first episode of Chris Chibnall's Broadchurch was first shown to Dorset residents at Bridport Arts Centre before it aired on ITV in 2013.

Three series later, Chibnall has used an imagined Dorset as the backdrop for his debut novel, Death at the White Hart.

The BCP Film Office supports productions of all sizes, guidance, location advice, and production support to help make filming in Bournemouth, Christchurch, and Poole as straightforward as possible.