The Pie Factory, MediaCityUK Celebrates Four Years

The Pie Factory is celebrating four successful years as MediaCityUK's thriving production base since its transformation from a derelict pie-making factory in 2007.
Since opening, The Pie Factory has become a renowned home for numerous commercials, drama TV productions and photo shoots. Notably, in 2010, the cast of award-winning drama, The Royle Family, returned to The Pie Factory to film their popular Christmas special for a third consecutive year.
MediaCityUK developers Peel Media decided to convert the former Freshbake factory into a new TV, film and commercial production facility, renovating the site's old meat stores into three 15,000 sq ft sound stages, making it the first fully working studio complex on the development in Salford Quays.
Space was also converted to include a costume department, make-up rooms, dressing rooms, green rooms and office space dedicated to media-related companies.
Andy Waters, Head of Studios at MediaCity: "We are extremely pleased with the success of The Pie Factory; it's hard to believe that the enormous sound stages were once used to make pies! The Pie Factory's internal spaces are an ideal venue for drama productions and commercials, providing the perfect alternative to our new HD studios now open at MediaCityUK. The Pie Factory remains a key component in establishing MediaCityUK as a vibrant media community."
Peel Media are now converting a three-storey building next door to The Pie Factory into a new office development called The Greenhouse. The office suites will complement the now fully occupied Pie Factory, offering cost effective work spaces for small creative businesses wanting to join the MediaCityUK environment.
The BBC is moving around 2,300 staff to MediaCityUK this year, while the University of Salford has committed to a new higher education centre at MediaCityUK, which will accommodate more than 1,700 students and staff. ITV will also move its Manchester-based operation, including Coronation Street, to MediaCityUK in 2012. Coronation Street's new production facility will be purpose-built on a 7.7 acre site on Trafford Wharf.
(KMcA)