Troubadour Theatres Inks Deal for New Studio

Troubadour Theatres is set to open a brand-new temporary state-of-the-art film and TV studio at Brent Cross Town in North London.

The space, which is to be called Troubadour Brent Cross Studios, will open in early 2022. The deal includes a three-year lease on 150,000 square feet of space from Argent Related and Barnet Council—the joint venture delivering the new Brent Cross Town park town—marking the most significant tenancy to date at the development.

Troubadour Brent Cross Studios includes offices and workshops on site, with the location set to house the largest single studio space (27,000 square feet) that Troubadour has created in London to date.

Troubadour, a supplier to the likes of Netflix, the National Theatre, the BBC and MTV, opened the Meridian Water Studios in Enfield, a 155,000-square-foot film and television studio complex with Enfield Council. Its other venue, Wembley Park Theatre, is currently playing host to the production of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time.

Further, Troubadour will set up a local Skills Academy that will run in conjunction with Troubadour Meridian Water Studios and enable opportunities for the local communities to be trained in the film and television industry and help raise aspirations and improve diversity and employability. The Skills Academy, operating across all sites, will provide over 500 training opportunities per year, create between 150 to 450 employment and site opportunities, and build partnerships with local businesses and communities. At Troubadour Brent Cross Studios, an estimated 150 training opportunities are planned in the first three years.

Oliver Royds and Tristan Baker, CEOs and founders at Troubadour Theatres, said: “We are enormously excited about coming to Brent Cross Town and working together with the Barnet Council and Argent Related. We strongly believe that Troubadour Brent Cross Studios will quickly become an integral part of the community in the heart of an area going through huge regeneration. Our Skills Academy will create an immediate positive and demonstrable local impact that we hope will become a catalyst for employment within the Borough.”

Helena MacKenzie from Film London said: “We are delighted that a great space such as this is being utilized for film and television production. With no sign of production slowing down in London, its launch is very timely, and we welcome the investment into this very accessible area of London. We look forward to working closely with all the partners, not only to ensure continued first-class production in the capital but also assist with providing training and employment opportunities to the area as a result of this studio complex.”

Nick Searl, partner of Argent Related, said: “Creating valuable opportunities so that the neighborhood can benefit from Brent Cross Town in its early stages is a top priority as we deliver on our pledge of creating a town where all can flourish. Troubadour Theatres is a fantastic addition to the development, bringing with it new job and training opportunities in the dynamic international TV and film sector. Brent Cross Studios will provide a tangible boost to the local economy and will attract world-class TV productions and film houses.”

Cllr Daniel Thomas, leader of Barnet Council, said: “The opening of the Troubadour Theatres’ Brent Cross Studios next year is another great example of how we are reviving this corner of Barnet and will transform the well-known Toys ‘R’ Us site. The vibrant offer presented by Troubadour will create exciting job and skills development opportunities for local people with a new training academy. It will also join the London North Studio in Mill Hill in supporting a growing sector across the borough by bringing a new network of film, television and other creative businesses and entertainment professionals to the area.”