Bristol City Council has once again refused to disclose the financial performance of the publicly-owned Bottle Yard Studios, leaving taxpayers in the dark about whether the facility operates at a profit or loss.
Failed Transparency Bid
This month, the council rejected a Freedom of Information request from investigative journalist Andrew Lynch, who sought basic financial figures for the studios' operations. The refusal comes as the future of the South West's largest film and television production facility faces renewed scrutiny.
The council claimed compiling the requested financial information would require more than 18 hours of officer time, making them exempt from compliance under FOI regulations. This marks the latest in a series of rejected attempts by councillors, journalists and members of the public to access the studios' accounts.
Profitable But Secretive
During a council meeting earlier this year discussing the Bottle Yard's future, a senior council officer informed councillors that the facility was indeed profitable. However, no specific figures or evidence supporting this claim have been made publicly available.
The studios, located in a former bottle factory in Hengrove, have become one of Bristol's significant cultural success stories. They've hosted numerous major productions including Sherlock starring Benedict Cumberbatch, bolstering Bristol's reputation as a leading city for the film and television industry.
Costly Sale Collapse
The financial secrecy surrounds the studios comes amid ongoing uncertainty about their future ownership. The previous Labour administration initiated a review to consider selling the studios, recognising that the facility will require multi-million pound investment in coming years to maintain its competitive edge.
The current Green Party-led administration continued with sale plans but announced earlier this year that a deal with a potential buyer had fallen through. Councillors were informed that the marketing and negotiation process cost taxpayers £430,000, despite ultimately proving unsuccessful.
Mr Lynch expressed frustration at the continued secrecy: "How can we run these brilliant, world-class studios and not know if they make or lose money? There's also a sense that senior council officers don't think the public have a right to know how they run the council."
He referenced previous council financial controversies including Bristol Energy and the Beacon, where taxpayers were left with substantial bills running into millions of pounds.
Commercial Sensitivity Defence
When questioned by Bristol Live about the financial situation and the refusal of Mr Lynch's request, the council declined to address specific questions about the studios' profitability or the existence of accounts.
Instead, a City Hall spokesperson stated: "The Bottle Yard Studios is a commercial TV and film studios that successfully operates in a highly competitive market and is one of the main driving forces behind our region's internationally renowned creative sector."
The council maintains that detailed financial records are commercially sensitive, arguing that disclosure could impact the studio's ability to operate competitively and hinder efforts to attract major productions to Bristol and the wider region.
The spokesperson added that as a council service, the studios' financial operations form part of the council's annual statement of accounts, with the latest draft publication available on their website.
