Film and TV tourism to benefit district

South Kesteven District Council’s Set-Jetting project is being run by Lincolnshire County Council thanks to a £55,000 grant from SKDC’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

It’s in response to the growing and valuable trend among visitors increasingly influenced and attracted by film and TV show locations.

Latest figures put film-related screen tourism as worth £892m to the UK annually.

The project will deliver an industry Screen Networking Event to showcase South Kesteven to industry professionals such as potential producers, crew, location managers and commissioners.

A showreel will illustrate notable productions filmed in the district with footage of locations as visitors will experience them and bespoke itineraries to help guide visitors.

Many blockbusters have already been filmed locally including The Crown, Victoria, Bridgerton and Frankenstein - filmed recently at Burghley House near Stamford, itself an example of stunning Georgian architecture.

Now SKDC is searching for potential new film locations, from humble hideaways to stately homes, off the beaten track gems, historic buildings and even old barns and farmyards that might lend themselves to a film script. 

They will be added to the council’s SK Film Friendly Proposition available to industry professionals, producers, crew, location managers and commissioners to attract production companies

Cllr Ashey Baxter, SKDC Leader said: “Beautiful South Kesteven is already a famously film-friendly district. We want to encourage new and returning film-makers and production companies to make the most of our historic street scenes and rolling countryside.

“We also know tourists love to visit film locations and this is a great opportunity for us to help them to do so.

“Now we want to find new locations to make the most of this opportunity.  It’s an area with huge potential for filming and we want to hear about potential sites and buildings that we can add to our offer.

Hayley Toyne, Growth Manager for LCC’s Visitor Economy Team said: “Film tourism is incredibly valuable. It provides an income stream for locations, plus adds a whole new dimension to the district’s visitor appeal.

“South Kesteven has a huge amount to offer and we look forward to helping welcome more film cameras to this amazing district.”

Suggestions on film locations can be sent to Joshua Farmer, SKDC Tourism Officer on joshua.farmer@southkesteven.gov.uk