The Party on ITV: Filming locations include historic Grade II listed building posing as Denby House
Why travel abroad, when the UK has so much to offer?!
The Party‘s filming locations will leave you with a serious case of wanderlust, as it showcases the very best of the beautiful British countryside.
ITV’s new five-part drama is based on the acclaimed novel by Elizabeth Day. Luke Evans stars as Martin Gilmour, a political journalist whose lifelong friendship with the wealthy and charismatic politician Ben Fitzmaurice, played by Tom Cullen, has shaped his career.
Raised alone by his working-class mum, Martin wins a scholarship to an elite boarding school, where he first meets Ben. The pair forge an unbreakable bond…
We meet them 30 years later, as Ben throws a lavish birthday party at the Fitzmaurice’s country pile Denby Hall. And a huge announcement threatens to dredge up the secrets of their past with tragic consequences.
But what filming locations were used for The Party on ITV, and is Denby Hall a real place? Here’s everything you need to know.
Where is The Party set?
ITV’s drama The Party is set in South Wales and features a largely Welsh cast. The story follows Martin Gilmour as he arrives at the lavish birthday party of his lifelong friend, charismatic Tory politician Ben Fitzmaurice. But news of the Conservative Party leader’s resignation throws the celebration into turmoil. This is because Ben’s nemesis, Jarvis Conrad, announces his intention to stand for election.
But Martin and Ben’s attempts to derail Jarvis risk the exposure of buried secrets from Ben and Martin’s own history. That history starts with young Martin, raised in Wales by his working-class mum, Sylvia, winning a scholarship to an elite boarding school, where he first encounters Ben…
Talking about her character Sylvia, Joanna Scanlan told us: “She’s what’s termed an ordinary woman, and her son is somebody who seeks the extraordinary. […] I think people can identify with that, and I can identify with that certainly because I left my life in North Wales and went off to Cambridge University and the bright lights of London. The streets are supposed to be paved with gold, but of course they’re not.”
She added: “Sylvia is a very Welsh woman. I know from growing up in Wales that it’s a very complete world with its own culture, infrastructure, and national identity. And so, I think Sylvia has this sense of betrayal and mystification about Martin’s decisions.”
Where was it actually filmed?
Cast and crew of The Party filmed in and around South Wales. The series received support from the Welsh Government via Creative Wales.
Key locations included Cardiff, the capital of Wales, and Rhondda Cynon Taf, a county borough in south-east Wales known for its dramatic valley landscapes.
Executive Producer Laura Cotton told us the advantages of shooting the drama in Wales. She said: “We set it in Wales, so that all the characters and the atmosphere could be authentically Welsh. Wales provides a beautiful backdrop as well.
“We had an incredible array of locations, all very close to each other. The house where we shot the party was two minutes down the road from the studio where we built many of the sets. It was great. We also had a Welsh casting director, Sam Jones, who was really familiar with all the Welsh cast. I’m Welsh, too. I’m based there. So it was a joy to work at home.”
What filming location poses as Denby Hall in ITV thriller The Party?
Llanharan House, a Grade II-listed Georgian mansion, poses as Denby Hall in The Party. Built in 1753, the historic house sits within 40 acres of registered parkland, which includes the Glamorgan Ridgeway walk.
The house stands on the outskirts of Llanharan, in Rhondda Cynon Taf, Wales. Like in the show, the house has a strong historical connection with hunting, specifically fox hunting.
The house has preciously been used regularly for filming locations in TV dramas including Sherlock, Upstairs Downstairs, and Doctor Who. There’s also a real-life connection to the Conservative party, as Margaret Thatcher used the house for a conference while she was Prime Minister.
You can even stay in the historic building, in an east wing apartment. The newly-renovated self-contained two bedroom suite within the East Wing of Llanharan House features high ceilings, sash windows, a cast-iron bath, and the large original kitchen.
Key filming locations used in The Party on ITV
- Cast and crew filmed scenes in Cardiff’s Roath Park. It’s a Grade I historic park first opened in 1894 which has a lake, botanical gardens, a pleasure park and a recreation ground.
- Luke Evans and co-stars also filmed at Mocka Lounge, a popular cocktail bar located on Mill Lane in Cardiff.
- Martin and Ben are seen attending Oxford University, specifically at Front Quadrangle and entrance tower at Exeter College, part of the University of Oxford. It is the fourth-oldest college at the University of Oxford. In Elizabeth Day’s novel, however, they attended Cambridge.
- Episode 2 sees the university friends spill out of a grand building posing as Oxford. But it’s actually Swansea Guild Hall, a landmark Grade I listed municipal building located on Guildhall Road North in Swansea. It’s one of the main office buildings of the City and County of Swansea Council.
- In episode 5, Ben and Martin party in Barcelona. Viewers will see an aerial view of the Arc de Triomf and its illuminated promenade in Barcelona. But the cast and crew did not film in Spain. Instead, a An Ystrad Mynach house was transformed into the luxury Barcelona villa.
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