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Who knew that what we were all really missing was a show about the dynasty behind Guinness? The House of Guinness is a Succession-esque tale set in 19th-century Dublin. The gripping Netflix drama takes us into the power manoeuvres of the four Guinness children as they vie for control of the brewery following Sir Benjamin Lee Guinness' death.
The show takes us from various Irish estates to the famous Guinness brewery itself. And because it's all based on true stories, we can't help but wonder: was it filmed in the real-life locations where the Guinness family once lived (and brewed)? Well, not exactly.
So, where was House of Guinness filmed? Here's everything to know about the real filming locations that brought the historic tale to life.
Niamh McCormack, Emily Fairn and Danielle Galligan tell us why “the women are the smartest people on the show”.
Shockingly, but also understandably, no.
Director Tom Shankland opted to use Greater Manchester and Liverpool as filming locations instead. “Unfortunately, we couldn't have shot in the Guinness Brewery in Dublin,” he explained. After all, we all need our Guinness IRL! "It's a working brewery and museum, not really the same brewery as it was. There are some lovely iconic buildings in Dublin; Iveagh House is an iconic location, but we couldn’t realistically have filmed on St. Stephen’s Green. So, it became quite clear that we just weren't going to get the 1868 Dublin we wanted."
He added that "places like Manchester, Liverpool, North Wales, and Yorkshire gave us what we needed. I really hope we’ve done Dublin justice."
Here are some of the specific locations you may spot in the show.
Liverpool’s iconic Croxteth Hall and Country Estate is a Grade II listed statement home from the Edwardian era. It has appeared in a number of other period dramas, including The War of the Worlds and Peaky Blinders.
This location was used for both interior and exterior scenes depicting Iveagh House, the grand house owned by the Guinnesses. Inside, rooms were used to for scenes set in the Grand Staircase, Corridors, Arthur's Bedroom and Birthing Room. The exterior of the house was also used for Iveagh House, as well as Jude's Tavern.
Instead, the house was also used for other locations, including the Hope St Bedroom, the Probate Office and the Temple Bar.
According to director Tom Shankland, who spoke to Condé Nast Traveller, it actually worked better than the real thing. "You're like, ‘That's Iveagh House!’ in a way that we could never have achieved at [Dublin’s] St. Stephen’s Green,” he said.
This dock, situated on the Leeds and Liverpool Canal, is lined with historic industrial buildings, making it a perfect setting for period dramas. It appeared in Captain America: The First Avenger, Sherlock Holmes, Peaky Blinders and even Taylor Swift's gritty music video “I Can See You (Taylor’s Version).”
In The House of Guinness, this location doubled as the Guinness Brewery, so you'll see it cropping up in plenty of shots.
It is also featured in scenes set in the stables, yard, Pneumonia Alley, Edward's office and Rafferty's office.
The show's creator, Steven Knight, has given an update.
A Grade I listed building in Liverpool, St George's Hall's claim to fame is that it is officially the largest tunnel-vaulted ceiling in Europe. It's often used as a venue for music festivals and also serves as the location of the Civil and Crown courts.
This location was used for Benjamin Guinness's funeral. It also served as the prison cells and corridors.
Nearby, you'll find St George's Quarter, a Victorian area of Liverpool with plenty of cultural attractions. This location was used for several protest scenes in the show.
This century site features an elaborate dome and grand, awe-inspiring architecture, making it perfect for this period drama. It can be spotted in a scene when the Guinness family meets up for one of their discussions.
The cobbled streets and picturesque Georgian townhouses of the Georgian Quarter make it one of the most attractive, historic spots in Liverpool. Arthur Guinness has a few scenes in these streets.
A gorgeous Victorian site, the Sefton Park Palm House is a giant greenhouse you can visit for yourself in Liverpool. It dates back to 1986 and houses hundreds of exotic plants. As you might have guessed, this was used for the scene that featured Arthur Guinness at the botanical gardens.
It wouldn't be a show about Guinness without a few pubs, would it? Naturally, they picked a good one. The Vines Pub dates back to 1907 and is a Grade II listed establishment. It doubles as The Flowing Tides Pub.
This Neo-Norman castle, situated on the outskirts of Bangor, Gwynedd, served as Ashford Castle, the Guinness family home.
It “has many parallels with Ashford Castle, as both were built to appear older than they are for industrialists who made a fortune during the Victorian era,” explained Karen Wilson, Executive Producer for House of Guinness.
You might also spot Broughton Hall in Skipton, Yorkshire. This 14th-century home has also been used in the 1992 adaptation of Wuthering Heights and Gentleman Jack. In House of Guinness, Broughton is transformed into St Anne's house, another of the Guinness family homes.
