What Ardmore Studios does

Ardmore Studios is Ireland's principal film and television production facility, operating a self-contained 18-acre campus in Bray, Co. Wicklow, plus the nearby Ardmore Film Factory in Bray's IDA Business Park. The facility provides ten sound stages (eight at the main site, two at the Film Factory) ranging from 3,000 to 23,250 sqft, supported by 25,000 sqft of production offices, 57,000 sqft of support space, workshops, props and wardrobe departments, hair and makeup facilities, meeting rooms, secure broadband, backlot areas, and an A Stage underwater filming tank holding 120,000 litres. The recently completed H Stage adds 21,000 sqft with a 43ft clear height, the largest stage at the facility. On-site lighting, grip, and generator inventory is provided through Teach Solais/MBS Equipment Co., and County Wicklow's diverse natural backdrops are accessed via partnership with Fís Éireann/Screen Ireland.

The business operates as a B2B enterprise sales model targeting film and television production companies. Revenue is generated through sound stage rental (per-production, per-day or per-week), bundled equipment rental through Teach Solais/MBS Equipment Co., and ancillary production support services (offices, workshops, support space). Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed; contracts are negotiated per production. Demand generation is relationship-driven, anchored by direct outreach to production companies, location scouts, and film studios via [email protected], plus referrals through Screen Ireland and The MBS Group's industry network. The facility is owned by Hackman Capital Partners, a US-based entertainment real estate private equity firm, and operated by The MBS Group, which also operates the sister Eastbrook Studios facility in Dagenham, UK.

Ardmore positions itself within Ireland's film-friendly ecosystem, leveraging the country's Section 481 tax incentive and Screen Ireland's national film promotion apparatus. The customer base consists of film and television production companies of varying scales, including large-scale feature film, television series, and commercial productions requiring controlled studio environments, underwater filming capability, and proximity to diverse natural locations. The studio's decades-long heritage as Ireland's original film campus provides accumulated reputational equity and an established network of local crew and production personnel, while the institutional backing of Hackman Capital Partners and The MBS Group provides financial stability and operational credibility.

Name

Ardmore Studios

Legal name

Ardmore Studios Limited

Website

https://ardmore.ie

Company type

Private

Founded year

1958

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Ardmore Studios is Ireland's primary film and television production facility, operating ten sound stages across an 18-acre Bray, Co. Wicklow campus. Owned by Hackman Capital Partners and operated by The MBS Group, it serves production companies with stage rental, on-site equipment, and integrated production services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Film Studio Facility

NAICS

Motion Picture and Sound Recording Industries (512)

SIC

Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812)

akta.pro primary industry

Studio Campus / Production Facility Operators (MPADAIAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Soundstage & Stage Rental (Film/TV) (MPADAIAA), Production Office Space & Support Facilities (MPADAIAD)

Keywords

• Film studio rental
• Sound stage rental
• Television production facility
• Film production services
• Underwater filming facility

Headquarters

HQ city

Bray

HQ country

Ireland

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Infrastructure, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Sound Stage Rental: Ardmore Studios generates primary revenue through the rental of its 10 sound stages (8 at the main site, 2 at the Film Factory), with sizes ranging from 3,000 sqft to 23,250 sqft. Rental is likely structured on a per-production, per-day or per-week basis, consistent with film studio industry norms.
2. Equipment Rental (Lighting & Grip): On-site lighting and grip equipment is provided through Teach Solais/MBS Equipment Co., which maintains an inventory on-site. Revenue is earned from equipment hire as part of the production package, bundled with stage rental.
3. Production Support Services: Ancillary revenue from support spaces, production offices (25,000 sqft), workshops, props and wardrobe departments, hair and make-up facilities, and meeting rooms. These are bundled into the production environment or offered as add-on services.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Ardmore Studios rents sound stages, production offices, workshops, backlots, and on-site technical equipment to film and television productions. The facility comprises 10 sound stages across two sites in Bray, Co. Wicklow (Ireland), supported by 25,000 sqft of production offices, 57,000 sqft of support space, an underwater filming tank, and on-site lighting and grip inventory provided by Teach Solais/MBS Equipment Co.

Product overview

Ardmore Studios operates as Ireland's primary film and television production facility, comprising two interconnected sites: the main Ardmore Studios campus with 8 sound stages (A-H, excluding G) offering a combined 120,000+ sqft of stage space, and the nearby Ardmore Film Factory with 2 additional stages (F and G). The facilities provide comprehensive production infrastructure including production offices, workshops, an underwater filming tank (A Stage), backlot areas, and feature buildings. On-site services include lighting and grip equipment through Teach Solais/MBS Equipment Co., while location scouting is facilitated through partnership with Fís Éireann/Screen Ireland. The operation is managed by The MBS Group and owned by Hackman Capital Partners.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Ardmore Studios Main Site (8 Sound Stages) Rental of the 8 sound stages at the primary Ardmore Studios campus in Bray, Co. Wicklow, with production offices, workshops, backlots, and ancillary production support. Stages range from 3,000 to 15,000 sqft at the main site (with H Stage at 21,000 sqft), serving feature films, television series, commercials, and other screen content productions.
• Ardmore Film Factory (F and G Stages) A self-contained multi-stage production campus located in IDA Business Park, Bray, a few minutes drive from the main Ardmore site. Houses F Stage (23,250 sqft) and G Stage (5,812 sqft), available independently for productions seeking flexibility without the full main campus.
• Underwater Filming Tank A 120,000-litre underwater filming tank with a camera pit built into A Stage, enabling in-studio aquatic filming for productions requiring underwater sequences without leaving the studio environment.
• Lighting and Grip Equipment Rental On-site rental of lighting, grip equipment, and generators provided through Teach Solais/MBS Equipment Co. (a subsidiary of The MBS Group). Described as the industry's largest and most technologically advanced inventory, bundled with stage rental as part of the production package for film and television clients at Ardmore.

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• The MBS GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerArdmore Studios is operated by The MBS Group. MBS provides the operational management, industry expertise, and connects Ardmore to its sister facilities (including Eastbrook Studios in Dagenham, UK). MBS also provides on-site equipment services through its Teach Solais/MBS Equipment Co. subsidiary.
• Teach Solais / MBS Equipment Co.coreTechnology or IntegrationTeach Solais/MBS Equipment Co. maintains a fully operational on-site lighting store at Ardmore Studios, providing the industry's largest and most technologically advanced inventory of lighting and grip equipment plus generators directly to productions.
• Fís Éireann / Screen IrelandminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerScreen Ireland is Ireland's national screen agency, assisting film and television productions in securing filming locations. The agency is referenced as helping Ardmore-based productions access the optimal spaces and natural backdrops available in the surrounding area.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Regional players

• Studio Babelsberg: Germany's oldest large-scale film studio, serving European and Hollywood productions. Regional competitor in continental Europe for productions weighing Ireland versus Germany.

Direct peers

• Eastbrook Studios: Sister facility operated by The MBS Group (also operates Ardmore) and owned by Hackman Capital Partners, located in Dagenham, UK. Directly comparable as a recently developed large-scale sound stage complex targeting film and television productions, with similar operational model and shared equipment/crew network.
• Pinewood Studios: UK-based iconic film and television studio complex owned by Hackman Capital Partners, offering multiple sound stages and production support. Direct competitor for inbound international productions weighing UK vs Ireland incentives.
• Shepperton Studios: Major UK film studio also owned by Hackman Capital Partners, providing 14+ sound stages. Competes with Ardmore for the same large-budget Hollywood productions choosing between UK and Ireland shoots.
• Troy Studios: Ireland's other major film/TV studio facility located in Limerick, operated by Herbert Park Studios. The principal domestic alternative to Ardmore for productions seeking Irish tax incentives and stages.

Broad incumbents

• Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden: Major UK studio complex owned by Warner Bros. Discovery, offering sound stages and production support services. Broader incumbent competing for global productions with established film-studio infrastructure and corporate backing.
• Cinespace Studios: Major North American studio operator with multiple sound stage complexes, focused on film and television production. Comparable business model as a multi-stage facility operator serving production companies.
• Sunset Studios Las Palmas: Los Angeles-based major sound stage complex owned by Hackman Capital Partners. Comparable as a portfolio-mate production facility targeting large-scale film/TV content creation.
• Manhattan Beach Studios: California-based sound stage complex also owned by Hackman Capital Partners. Part of the same broader PE portfolio that includes Ardmore, illustrating the parent firm's strategy across multiple geographies.

Others

• Studios BFC: Not a strong direct comparator; replaced with Film Factory operator context — omitted.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ardmorestudios
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ardmore-studios

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Ardmore Studios