Arborfield Studios is a

film A film, also known as a movie or motion picture, is a work of visual art that simulates experiences and otherwise communicates ideas, stories, perceptions, emotions, or atmosphere through the use of moving images that are generally, sinc ...

and television studio located in Arborfield,

Berkshire Berkshire ( ; abbreviated ), officially the Royal County of Berkshire, is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in South East England. It is bordered by Oxfordshire to the north, Buckinghamshire to the north-east, Greater London ...

, England. It is located about 9 kilometres from central

Reading Reading is the process of taking in the sense or meaning of symbols, often specifically those of a written language, by means of Visual perception, sight or Somatosensory system, touch. For educators and researchers, reading is a multifacete ...

and 4 kilometres from

Shinfield Studios Shinfield Studios is a film and television studio located in Shinfield, Berkshire, England. Located approximately 37 miles from London, the studio is owned by Shadowbox Studios and finished construction in spring 2024. It is part of the newly ...

. Managed by Longcross Studios, the studios have been used for productions by

Netflix Netflix is an American subscription video on-demand over-the-top streaming service. The service primarily distributes original and acquired films and television shows from various genres, and it is available internationally in multiple lang ...

and

Disney The Walt Disney Company, commonly referred to as simply Disney, is an American multinational mass media and entertainment industry, entertainment conglomerate (company), conglomerate headquartered at the Walt Disney Studios (Burbank), Walt Di ...

History

Arborfield Studios are located on a site which was previously part of the Arborfield

Garrison A garrison is any body of troops stationed in a particular location, originally to guard it. The term now often applies to certain facilities that constitute a military base or fortified military headquarters. A garrison is usually in a city ...

which was established in 1904 for the

Army Remount Service The Army Remount Service was the body responsible for the purchase and training of horses and mules as remounts for the British Army between 1887 and 1942. Origins Prior to 1887, the purchase of horses was the responsibility of individual reg ...

. After

WW2 World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies and the Axis powers. Nearly all of the world's countries participated, with many nations mobilising ...

, it served as the depot of the

Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers The Corps of Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME ) is the maintenance arm of the British Army that maintains the equipment that the Army uses. The corps is described as the "British Army's professional engineers". History Prior t ...

and housed the

REME Museum The REME Museum, also known as the Corps of Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers Museum, is a military museum of the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME) – the corps of the British Army responsible for the maintenance, servici ...

. The military left in 2015, and the potential of the large hangars for film production was recognised. In 2016, the DIO developed the site, and plans were approved on the 2nd of February 2017 to convert a section of the disused barracks into a film studio. The studios partnered with Sohonet at the end of 2017. The temporary planning permission expires on 1st Febuary 2026, leaving the Studios future uncertain.

Facilities

Arborfield Studios offers a total of three filming stages. The stages vary significantly in size: * Stage 1: Approximately 70,000 sq ft (tallest working height: 39 ft) * Stage 2: Approximately 13,200 sq ft (tallest working height: 26 ft) * Stage 3: Approximately 13,500 sq ft (tallest working height: 29 ft) * Stages 4, 5, and 6 are smaller, with areas ranging from 7,100 to 16,000 sq ft and heights up to 35 ft. And are used as supplementary warehourses, offices, workshops and amenities. The studios provide extensive space for various production needs, including: Wardrobe, Art department, Construction, Props, Office space, Editorial/VFX suites and two

backlot A backlot is an area behind or adjoining a movie studio containing permanent exterior buildings for outdoor scenes in filmmaking or television productions, or space for temporary set construction. Uses Some movie studios build a wide variety of ...

areas (approx. 90,000 sq ft and 50,000 sq ft) suitable for building exterior sets.

Productions

Film

* ''

Aladdin Aladdin ( ; , , ATU 561, 'Aladdin') is a Middle-Eastern folk tale. It is one of the best-known tales associated with '' One Thousand and One Nights'' (often known in English as ''The Arabian Nights''), despite not being part of the original ...

'' (2019) * '' Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey'' (2020) * '' Stuntnuts: The Movie'' (TBA)

Television series

* ''

The Witcher ''The Witcher'' (, ) is a series of 9 fantasy novels and 15 short stories by Polish author Andrzej Sapkowski. The series revolves around the eponymous witcher, Geralt of Rivia. Witchers are monster hunters given superhuman abilities for the ...

'' (2021) * '' The Witcher: Blood Origin'' (2022)

References

{{Cinema of the United Kingdom British film studios Buildings and structures in Berkshire Television studios in England 2017 establishments in England Film production companies of the United Kingdom