The start of this week was very much about pancake, bubbles and Belfast after attending the opening event of Pancake Studios and rubbing shoulders with around 300 creatives, producers and industry voices to celebrate the launch of a space that already feels set to play a significant role in the region’s creative future.
From the moment our team arrived, it was clear this wasn’t just another studio opening, there was a real sense of momentum across all of the space, a shared understanding that Northern Ireland’s screen and audio industries are entering a new phase, and that the space is going to be essential in shaping what comes next.
Founded by Christian Gerring who, during his career, has moved from acting into producing and directing, Pancake has been created in response to a challenge many independent productions face…finding accessible, professional space to get started.
And so when the opportunity to develop a prime site presented itself, Christian and his team chose to build something that directly addressed that gap with a highly flexible offering and over 10,000 square feet of production studio space as well as 6,000 square feet of creative space, comprising offices, rehearsal, and audio recording space.
“Pancake brings together hot desks for media creatives, rehearsal studios, professional audio and podcast facilities and its 10,000 square foot production studio, providing space for productions both large and small. It’s designed to give smaller creatives and independent teams a real foot in the door not just somewhere to work, but somewhere to grow.”
– Christian Gerring, Founder @ Pancake Studios
What stood out most during the launch was the emphasis on home-grown storytelling with an appetite for Irish and Northern Irish stories, both from audiences and from production companies, and that shows no sign of slowing down.
Christian adds: “Many years ago I saw Northern Ireland described as the ‘New Hollywood of Europe’, and it made me laugh, as at the time it felt like it was just somewhere Hollywood came for good tax breaks and cheap labour, not somewhere where the people had actual creative control over the productions being filmed here. Today that tide is shifting. Blue Lights, Derry Girls, Say Nothing and many others, have proven that there is a hunger for stories from this Island being told by people of this Island, and Pancake Studios wants to champion local talent to create exciting new stories that meet that want in the market.”
“I want to see the creative talent we have across this Island believing that it is a truly viable option for them to stay at home and still make it to the top of their chosen career. It’s time to end the creative brain drain that has been going on for decades.”
“We’ll also host our own productions, including Skylark, scheduled for April and May, and the development of a Northern Irish action feature film.”
“Conversations are already underway with production companies, which to us signals strong demand for the space even at this very early stage.”
Ashleigh Dillon, client development executive at Access Bookings, said: “Being at the launch was a reminder of just how important physical creative spaces are in supporting the TV, film and sporting industries we work alongside. Just as the travel and events sectors are adapting and evolving, the creative industries are doing the same, building the infrastructure that allows local talent to thrive rather than feeling they need to leave.”
“At Access Bookings, we work closely with TV, film and sports productions to ensure travel and accommodation run seamlessly behind the scenes, essentially helping teams get where they need to be, when they need to be there, so schedules stay firmly on track. It’s exactly the kind of practical support that complements spaces like Pancake Studios as they grow.”
– Ashleigh Dillon, Client Development Executive @ Access Bookings
We’re genuinely excited to see where Pancake Studios goes from here, and proud to have been there at the start of something that already feels like it matters to Northern Ireland’s creative communities.