Sky Studios Elstree celebrates completion milestone

The state-of-the-art Sky Studios Elstree, which has been under construction for the last three years, threw open its doors during half term for a specially curated pop-up cinema to celebrate the end of the building work for this landmark project.

Nearest neighbours to the site were invited to see some of the best films from Sky and sister company NBCUniversal, including kids' favourites The Amazing Maurice and Despicable Me as well as all-time classics such as Back To the Future, Jaws and E.T. 

The screenings were free-of-charge and initially all tickets were snapped up in just 24 hours, with Sky then adding additional tickets and screenings throughout the week.

This enabled 80 per cent of the 4,000 tickets released to go directly to neighbours in Borehamwood, with the rest going to local charities, organisations and partners of Sky Studios Elstree. 

Sky Studios Elstree celebrates milestone

Noel Tovey, Sky Studios Elstree MD, said: “It was such a pleasure to see so many happy, smiling faces from the local community on site over the week.

From young to old, I was delighted to meet so many enthusiastic neighbours and offer them an exclusive glimpse of the finished studio. We can’t wait to get to know everyone even better as we settle into our new home in Hertfordshire.”

Sky Studios Elstree opened its doors for local residents during the half term for a pop-up cinema. (Image: Chris Lobina for Sky Studios Elstree)

SUGGESTED READING

• The Duke of Edinburgh officially opens final sound stage at Sky Studios Elstree
• Students help Sky Studios Elstree celebrate time capsule ceremony
• Sky Studios Elstree launches ground-breaking training scheme
• Elstree Studios stages built on former Big Brother house win building awards

Sky Studios Elstree (Image: Chris Lobina for Sky Studios)

Whilst this celebration marked the official end of the construction phase, Sky Studios Elstree has already begun its journey as a hub for some of the biggest feature films in the UK.

This year alone, the studio has played host to two major productions, including the much-anticipated feature film adaptation of the hit musical Wicked, starring Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo.

Through the construction of the studios, and now with productions using the sound stages, the studio has delivered on its promise to create jobs and to train young people with thousands working across site through construction and with productions.

In total, the project build has also meant that £100m has been spent with local businesses and suppliers over the course of three years, with over half of this going to small and medium sized local businesses.