TV & Showbiz

Stay Close – filming locations around Manchester as new Netflix crime drama tops charts

Daisy Jackson - 4th January 2022

Stay Close, Netflix’s newest crime drama which has rocketed to the top of its most-watched list, was filmed all over the north west.

A huge chunk of the hit series was filmed around Manchester and its boroughs, with some familiar landmarks cropping up throughout.

Starring James Nesbitt, Cush Jumbo and Eddie Izzard, Stay Close was released on New Year’s Eve on the streaming platform.

Its gripping plot follows four people, each concealing dark secrets from those closest to them.

The series is based on Harlan Coben’s book of the same name – the author was also behind Netflix smash hit The Stranger.

And much like The Stranger, a lot of the filming locations in Stay Close are right here on our doorstep.

Impossible

There are a lot of dark happenings afoot at Vipers, the nightclub at the centre of much of Stay Close’s plot.

While the outside scenes were all filmed in Formby, the majority of the action takes place inside.

And it’s a bit closer to home – Netflix crews used Impossible bar on Peter Street to film all this, including the above scene with Michael Broome (James Nesbitt) and Lorraine Griggs (Sarah Parish).

The Refuge

In the very first episode of Stay Close, we see lead character Megan (Cush Jumbo) heading out on her hen do.

The bride-to-be and her pals were actually gathered in The Refuge, the huge Manchester bar that’s part of the Kimpton Clocktower hotel building.

It’s a pretty striking venue and an easy one to spot.

The Stoller Hall

One of Manchester’s most striking concert venues – and also one of its most-recognisable – is The Stoller Hall.

The concert hall is part of the Chetham’s School of Music, close to Manchester Victoria train station.

In Stay Close, it was used in a scene where copper Brian (Jack Shalloo) watches his daughter play piano.

Ashton-under-Lyne

Parts of Stay Close are set in a shop called Hannibal’s Animals – which was given a makeover for filming.

The unit is actually in Ashton-under-Lyne, on the corner of Stamford Street Central and Warrington Street.

In real life, the Tameside retail unit is a carpet shop.

Arley Hall

In the final episode, we finally get to see the wedding of Megan and Dave.

Netflix chose the magnificent Arley Hall in Cheshire to film the big day.

The familiar building was also used in Peaky Blinders, where it doubled up as Tommy Shelby’s house.

The Edwardian Manchester

Dave is led blind-folded through a rather familiar hotel lobby on the day of his stag do in Stay Close.

Eagle-eyed viewers may recognise the modern space as the entryway for The Edwardian Manchester, a Radisson Collection hotel on Peter Street.

The Drill Hall in Bury

The Grade II-listed Castle Armoury Drill Hall in Bury was also used by Netflix crews for Stay Close.

The historic military building was turned into Fourways Prison in several episodes of the hit series.

The Feathers

Back to Tameside again – and this time to a local boozer.

Film crews will often change the appearance of a business for TV, but The Feathers appears completely unchanged in Stay Close.

The pub is on Stamford Street Central in Ashton-under-Lyne.

Didsbury village

The incredible house used as Megan’s home is actually in Manchester, and a lot of the action is set here.

The property is in the leafy suburb of Didsbury, not far from Wilmslow Road.

In the series, she lives in a massive house on Springdale Gardens.

Pokusevski

Any brunch addicts out there will have recognised this a mile off.

One of the early Stay Close episodes was filmed inside Pokusevski’s, the popular cafe and deli in Heaton Moor.

Featured image: Netflix UK