Benidorm is Murder: 'Brilliant escapist' filming locations in Spain with 'a very unusual dynamic' and vibrant seafront
It's set in the "glorious and chaotic resort of Benidorm"
Benidorm is Murder is a part cosy-crime, part comedy whodunit filmed in a high-rise Spanish beach resort known for its buzzy nightlife, and popular sandy beaches – so what filming locations were used in the Channel 5 series?
John Hannah stars as “knackered old copper” Dennis who has moved to Spain to run a failing Scottish pub in Benidorm. The burnt-out ex-police officer seems to have largely given up on life, until he hires local Rosa as a barmaid.
The hyperactive aspiring actress is obsessed with British crime dramas, including Marple, and Midsomer Murders. So, when there’s a spate of crimes in the area, Rosa persuades Dennis to investigate, and appoints herself his sidekick.
Together, the unlikely duo find themselves solving murders that no one else can crack, including the local police… All against a backdrop some holidaymakers will recognise very well. Here’s everything you need to know about the filming locations used in Benidorm is Murder on Channel 5.
Where is it set?
Benidorm is Murder, as the name suggests, is set in the Spanish town of Benidorm. Well it doesn’t need a former copper to work that out! The cosy crime follows cynical Dennis and likeable Rosa as they uncover “the darker side of the resort”.
A synopsis tells us: “Set in the glorious and chaotic Benidorm – tribute acts, bingo queens, hen parties, sunburnt tourists and bar owners hanging on by a thread – Benidorm is Murder treats its setting as a beating heart, not as a punchline. Each episode delivers a fresh puzzle: clues, twists, a satisfying solution, and a corner of this febrile resort that turns unexpectedly deadly.”
The deeper Dennis and Rosa dig into Benidorm’s underbelly, the more his past claws its way back. When an old enemy walks into The Tavern and a lock-in ends with blood on the floor, Dennis becomes the number one suspect in a murder mystery even he might not be able to solve…
Where was it really filmed?
As well as being set in Benidorm, cast and crew actually filmed on the coastal town, too. The six-part comedy drama was filmed on location in Benidorm (Alicante).
And the location is very much a central focus of the show, rather than just being in the background. Viewers will see panoramas of the Benidorm coastline, specifically the Levante beach (Platja de Llevant). This area comes alive at night, when the promenades and skyscrapers are illuminated.
The Levante Beach Promenade is known for its extensive beach front with sandy areas. The area is also a popular nightlife spot, featuring plentiful bars and restaurants right along the waterfront. Some of those seen in the show include the Loch Ness bar located on Avenida de Mallorca, sport bar Brit Station, well-known British-style bar The Red Lion, and popular 24-hour restaurant Snack Bar Mariano’s.
Panoramic shots show the rocky headland of the Balcón del Mediterráneo, a famous viewpoint in the city’s Old Town. The sandy area to the left is the Cala del Mal Pas beach, nestled between the viewpoint and the port.
Some scenes were also filmed in Gran Canaria (Las Palmas).
Benidorm is Murder filming locations: Where is The Tavern?
Dennis’ bar, called The Tavern, isn’t actually called that. The scenes were filmed in the Torre Yago building, located on the Levante beachfront in Benidorm, Spain.
The building features specialised lodging with amenities such as elevators, Wi-Fi, and sea views. It is located on Avenida Filipinas, 2, near various tourist attractions and nightlife options.
Accommodations typically range from two to three-bedroom apartments, some of which are renovated.
Key filming locations used in Benidorm is Murder
- In episode 1, the first murder actually takes place in the Hotel Primavera Park, which features distinctive curved balconies. It’s a modern 4-star property located near Parc de L’Aigüera in the centre of Benidorm. Features include an adults-only infinity pool on the 17th-floor roof terrace, a sophisticated bar, and sea views.
- There are recurring shots of the Intempo skyscraper, which stands 202.5 meters high. Completed in 2021, the building consists of two 47-floor twin towers connected by a diamond-shaped structure at the top. It is one of the tallest residential buildings in Europe, originally designed to resemble the letter M in memory of the 2004 Madrid bombing victims.
- In episode 2, Dennis sits on the steps of the entrance to the Benidorm Palace, a famous show bar and cabaret club known for its distinctive stainless steel finish. In the same episode, we see the Hotel Don Pancho, a four-star adult-only hotel.
‘This is our own little Vegas’
Talking about filming in Benidorm, 64-year-old John Hannah explained: “Director Simon Delaney said to me very early on, ‘If you think some of the characters in the script are a bit odd, wait till you get to Benidorm’. He was dead right. I think the characters are written in a way that they are not just something that moves the script on or here comes your funky weird character that is going to be a hoot. Benidorm is a different world to those other shows. This is our own little Vegas.”
Revealing his first impressions, he said: “I think I was probably expecting it to be a lot more raucous. Don’t get me wrong, I didn’t go out at night. We went out for a couple of dinners, but I was staying in a nice little Spanish village just down the coast. I had a beautiful apartment walking onto the beach. Whenever you are filming anywhere and there are crowds and there is drink involved everybody always wants to shout something and get involved. We were filming right on the sea front. I was surprised how respectful they were. People are there having a good time. There was a lot of happiness. That brings a certain energy to this show.”
John, a keen cyclist, also told us what he did in his spare time. He said: “I normally take my bike with me whenever I travel. In that region you’ve got the beach on one side and the mountains on the other. It takes you about five minutes to get out of the tourist hotspot and to find real Spain. It’s so beautiful, that region. It has so much to offer. I spent my weekends exploring along the coast and the interiors. I had the best time.”
Benidorm is Murder filming locations: ‘Benidorm has so much to offer’
Reacting to a certain snobbery around the Spanish resort, John said: “Benidorm has so much to offer. It’s an easy lifestyle if you don’t speak the language. The weather is fantastic. It is reasonably priced. You can get a pint for two Euro. You can be cynical or snobbish about it. But I think for people who don’t necessarily have the kind of wealth that can buy them a villa on the Riviera why should they not have a lifestyle?
“People there have worked their whole lives and if they want to retire and get some sunshine but have food that they recognise then fair enough. It’s not for everybody but I kept saying that my mum and dad would have absolutely adored it.”
‘Benidorm is an inherently working-class place for people to holiday’
Writer Ian Jarvis is also known for creating The Job Lot, and The Completely Made-Up Adventures of Dick Turpin. He told us what excited him the most about setting a murder mystery comedy-drama in Benidorm.
He explained: “The thing that I really loved about the idea of setting it in Benidorm was that, for Brits, I would say it is an inherently working-class place for people to holiday. You don’t see too much of that within this genre. They call shows ‘cosy crime’ because you go to places that are generally quite nice in a middle-class kind of way. That’s part of the escapism of it. But Benidorm is also a brilliant escapist place. It’s a blue-sky city but in this working-class world with working-class characters. Times are tough. I found that a lot of people go to Benidorm for extended periods because when you’re there it is much cheaper to live than it is in the UK. It’s a holiday from the cost of living to a certain extent.”
Ian revealed he “fell in love with Benidorm straight away” and “wanted everything to key into what is uniquely Benidorm”. He added: “There is that side of it that people expect, which is the party town area. But it is a much bigger place than that. There are lots of lovely restaurants and much quieter parts to it. What I love about it, especially amongst British people, you’ve got this real community. People absolutely love the place. They go every year, sometimes three, four or five times a year.”
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