Filming and commercial photography

The Great Yarmouth Borough is a unique and evocative place, boasting an iconic seaside resort, miles of sandy beaches, and rich historic architecture - all special locations on the threshold of the Broads National Park and North Sea.

Great Yarmouth Borough Council is a member of Creative England's Film Friendly Partnership Network, welcoming appropriate commercial and not-for-profit filming that supports the borough's reputation and economy.

The Borough Council has an experienced team who are happy to advise you on locations, ownership and permissions. The area also offers plenty of reasonably-priced accommodation for crew.

During 2018, Oscar-winning director Danny Boyle and screenwriter Richard Curtis visited the borough to shoot key scenes for their new film, including a concert scene at Gorleston Beach involving local people among 6,000 extras playing the audience.

"It has been amazing, we've had such a joyful time here. Gorleston is very beautiful. It's one of the great secrets of England, I think, that beach. I didn't know this beach at all until we came here and it's very beautiful.

"People have been very welcoming here, throughout Norfolk and Suffolk. I don't think enough filming is done here."

Danny Boyle, Director

"Our time in Gorleston and the Great Yarmouth area has been a truly fabulous experience from start to spectacular finish on the beach. It has been so refreshing to come into such a welcoming region of the UK and the positive attitude has rubbed off on all the crew.

"The residents of the area have been incredibly patient with us through many road closures, night shoots and big lights shining until very late hours. We are very grateful for all the support and goodwill we have been shown. 

"Our thanks also extends to all the various services that we have worked with from highways, borough council lighting engineers, parking services, property services, RNLI and police to Peel Ports who worked with us closely during the night shoots. 

"Our record crowd for a feature film in the Britain just adds the perfect cherry to the top of our Rom Com cake."

Camilla Stephenson, Supervising Location Manager

Great Yarmouth Borough Council has available a variety of special locations for filming and commercial photography, including: 

• Beautiful beaches and busy historic seafronts (Great Yarmouth and Gorleston-on-sea)
• Historic South Quay (along the River Yare and described by Daniel Defoe as "the finest quay in England, if not in Europe")
• A traditional Market Place (one of the largest and oldest in England)
• Impressive medieval town wall and defensive towers (second best preserved in England)
• Grand historic Town Hall  (19th century renaissance-style civic building)
• Beacon Park (modern landscaped business park)

To search for other local filming locations, please visit Creative England's database here (opens new window).

Please complete and submit the Filming and Commercial Photography Application Form (Word doc) [112KB] , along with your public liability insurance certificate, risk assessment and any other relevant documents identified in the application form. Please ensure your filming request is submitted at least five working days before you wish to begin filming, to allow for your application to be reviewed. 

This applies to both major and small-scale productions, including TV documentaries. For students who wish to film in public spaces, the form should be completed and submitted by your course tutor. You do not need to apply to undertake non-commercial, private photography, such as holiday snaps.

Please complete and submit the Filming and Commercial Photography Application Form (Word doc) [112KB] , which has a section on drone filming. For public safety reasons, all drone pilots taking off from (or flying over) Borough Council-controlled property are required to provide copies of the following documents:  

• Certificate of Competence in remote pilot theoretical knowledge and general airmanship from a CAA-approved trainer
• Certificate of recommendation for a CAA Standard Permission
• Certificate of Practical Flight Assessment
• Air Navigation Order for Small Unmanned Aircraft from the CAA
• Pre-flight briefing information, including risk assessment, method statement and proposed flight plan and arrangements for take-off/landing cordon
• Certificate of public liability insurance to a value of £10 million per claim

All drone operators must follow the Drone Code. 

Where consent is granted for filming and commercial photography on any locations controlled by the Borough Council, you will charged a fee purely to cover the staff time involved in dealing with your application. In return, you will be granted an official Certificate of Consent from the Borough Council. In addition, the Borough Council reserves the right to charge a reasonable location hire fee for filming and commercial photography. 

With respect to locations which are controlled by other individuals and organisations, you have the option to request from the Borough Council, as place-leadership authority, a Notice of No Objection, to show to the property owner and/or other organisations you might need to liaise with.

Fees

The Borough Council has tiered fees, as per the below, for different sized-productions, on the basis that larger productions normally require greater Borough Council support and involvement.

• Certificate of consent or notice of no objection for commercial photography: £40.50 plus VAT
• Standard filming fee per each consent certificate or notice of no objection required: £80.00 plus VAT
• Small feature film fee per each consent certificate or notice of no objection required: £117 plus VAT
• Large feature film fee - single charge covering all required consent certificates or notices: £556 plus VAT

Note: There is not normally a charge for students and community filming, and non-commercial photography activities. A small feature film is defined as one not requiring road closures/closure of public spaces, lease of property and other special support. A large feature film will require special preparations, such as road closures/closure of public spaces, lease of property, modifications to street furniture, and parking for a unit base.

Your property could be just what filmmakers are looking for, whether it be residential or commercial. If your property is based in England, outside of London and could accommodate filming, find out more and register it for free on Creative England's database Creative England filming locations (opens new window).

Please contact the Communications and Media team, via press@great-yarmouth.gov.uk.