The kitchen is the undisputed heart of the home and that’s especially true of shoot location houses. Kitchens are an incredibly important part of most locations and our location library features a diverse selection of very special kitchens for film locations in and around London. But what makes a successful location house kitchen?
You might be surprised to learn that it’s not quite as simple as being a beautiful space. The best kitchen shoot locations in our location library cleverly tick a lot of other boxes - and here we share our insider intelligence with you…
Some of the most sought-after features of a good location kitchen are an island with a gas hob, no visible extractor fan and of course, plenty of space for the camera to get back. And while we appreciate that it’s not always possible, top of the list for serious food shoots is a prep kitchen. It provides a second space where the nitty-gritty of cooking can happen off-camera. It means that the kitchen filming location can stay looking perfect and allows the team to prepare one batch of food while another is being shot - saving a lot of time and effort.
Our popular location ‘N5 Studios’ is a great example of this, with a second prep kitchen to the rear of the house and also, cleverly hidden away behind a wall of panelling in one of several gorgeous sitting rooms, a third kitchen for the team’s drinks and meals. This one on the floor above the main kitchen so that any noise doesn’t impact on the shooting below. With so much thought going into the set-up, it’s no surprise that the main kitchen is brilliant too, featuring an island with hob and sink so that chefs can be filmed in action. The island and upper walls feature lots of open shelving so that props can be used to transform this versatile space to create a wide variety of looks – and there are lots of beautiful props at the location, from stylish pots and pans to hip houseplants.
Another location with a great island feature is ‘Divall House’ in London SW16. The rough-luxe style kitchen is part of a stylish open-plan kitchen-dining space overlooking the garden and summerhouse. The versatile neutral backdrop includes wooden worktops and shelving and a palette of soft greys and whites. The same airy look echoes throughout this spacious five-bedroom Victorian house.
Also in south-west London, you’ll find ‘Eversfield’ one of many stunning exclusives within our hand-picked location library – special places that you won’t find anywhere else. Eversfield features a vast kitchen-dining-living space with floor to ceiling windows onto the garden. This kitchen shoot location in London features the all-important island with hob, gleaming white worktops and sleek grey cabinets.
A short drive west of London is our beautiful ‘Nettlebed Barn’ filming location. It’s a must-see converted barn with beautiful beams and a modern rustic vibe, especially in the kitchen – part of the main open-plan space and featuring a long elegant island with a row of stylish bar stools along one side. It’s no surprise that popular chef Tom Kerridge used the location for his inspiring Fresh Start series.
Our ‘Pagoda House’, just outside London In Surrey TW9, is another exclusive addition to our location library. It has a unique and characterful look featuring exposed beams and rustic vintage cabinets creating a very special island work area. The rustic-industrial look is complemented by a well edited mix of vintage furniture and accessories. We’ve arranged many successful shoots here, including one for Tesco.
Over in London E2 our ‘First Option’ location offers a different interpretation of the industrial style. Set in a converted Victorian factory in Shoreditch opening onto a private courtyard, the space has been designed with shoots in mind and features exposed brick walls and beams and not one, but two kitchen islands (the one with the hob is moveable!) as well as a separate prep kitchen and great-sized dining table. There’s an abundance of natural light via vast windows facing North and South but the space can also be blacked out as required.
If a shoot requires a little more colour, there’s ‘Nuthurst Hill’ in London, SW2. Here vibrant blue cabinets stand out against exposed white brick and wooden details. A stylish island provides the functional focal point, backed by shelving that allows each shoot to personalise the space. It’s a house full of quirky features and pops of vibrant colour with stunning double-height Crittall windows overlooking the garden.
The final property we’ve chosen to highlight is our ‘Ashlake’ location in London SW16. Part of a large period home with a light, modern style, the island kitchen contrasts inky blue, soft grey and crisp white in a calm, neutral space. Food shoots also enjoy the benefit of a separate prep kitchen that features an AGA stove.
These are just some Fresh Locations spaces that we know work brilliantly for food shoots. If you’re a would-be location owner hopefully we’ve given you a good idea of what works really well in a location kitchen. And if you’re looking for a kitchen filming location, do talk to us about your search; our expert team know our location library inside out and will make it easy to track down the perfect kitchen for your shoot…