Wales has always been a thriving hub for exquisite filming locations, used by the likes of Doctor Who, Torchwood, Gavin and Stacey and more recently the Hollywood blockbuster Havoc starring Tom Hardy.
The Guest, the new BBC thriller is no different. Starring the Welsh leading ladies Eve Myles and Gabrielle Creevy, it is set (and predominantly filmed) in Cardiff. When watching the series, it is easy to spot some iconic locations whether that’s The Hayes or your favourite bar.
We’ve comprised a full list of the locations used during the series to help you figure out where exactly The Guest was filmed. We’ve pulled out the most prominent and interesting from the show at the top. For the latest TV and showbiz gossip sign up to our newsletter.
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The Manor House, Whitson, Newport
The beautiful manor house is located in Newport. -Credit:BBC/Quay Street Productions
One of the main focal points of the entire series is Fran’s Manor House and Guest House. It highlights Eve Myles’ character’s lavish lifestyle, and really demonstrates the class disparity between the two leading ladies.
The house itself is not actually in Cardiff, but instead is located in Whitson, Newport. In fact, the house has a very interesting history which Eve explained prior to the series launch.
She explained: “The house is in the area of Newport, it’s on the outskirts of Newport. It is the most exquisite house I have ever stepped foot into.
“They have done the most beautiful job on that house, there were peacocks in the garden and it’s just absolutely beautiful.
“A former zoo, apparently! It’s got an incredible history, the building, that’s the first time that location has been shot at, it’s just magnificent.”
The property previously housed Whitson Zoo during the 1960s and 1970s and belonged to Olive Maybury. The venue housed a variety of creatures including monkeys, lions and Himalayan bears, though it shut down during the 1980s.
Read our full interview with Eve Myles, here.
Master Gunner, Gabalfa Avenue, Cardiff
The Master Gunner pub on Gabalfa Avenue in Cardiff has been an iconic spot for decades, after it first opened in 1967 when they decided to open a public house in the area. It was used in the first episode of the The Guest, when Ria (Gabrielle Creevy) attends her friend’s birthday party.
A quintessential and quite classic looking pub, it represents the gritty side of Cardiff, filled with post-war buildings and a cracking pint. The Local Development Plan website even says “the building represents a fine example of the ‘golden years’ of this building type; the 1950s and ‘60s.”
They host Karaoke nights and car boot sales, so if you’re interested you can find more information here.
Parkgate Hotel, Westgate Street, Cardiff
They used filming locations like The Parkgate hotel in Cardiff. -Credit:BBC/Quay Street Productions
Another popular Cardiff location was used for Fran (Eve Myles) and Richard (Emun Elliott)’s hotel room. The Parkgate Hotel on Westgate Street, is known for their lavish rooms and gorgeous spa with exquisite views.
The hotel which has drawn many touring celebrities and filming locations. Last year, it was used to film a scene in the Gavin and Stacey finale, has now it has been featured in the new BBC Thriller too.
Now, the award winning hotel has 169 rooms that start from £90 per night, but in the past it was previously home to Cardiff Post Office and County Court.
Hayes Island Snack Bar, The Hayes Cardiff
BBC’s new thriller is set (and predominantly filmed) in Cardiff. -Credit:BBC/Quay Street Productions
Whether you’re local to Cardiff or not, you may have recognised the Hayes Island Snack Bar which was used as a high street café in the series. The oldest snack bar in Wales, which opened in 1948 is a staple in the city centre.
Whether you’ve had a toastie or some classic fish and chips it is extremely recognisable, making it the perfect location to film a series set in Cardiff.
What was originally a parcels depot for Cardiff Corporation Tramways and was used to distribute parcels from 1911 until the Second World War, is now an iconic TV filming location.
Hensol Castle, Castle Park, Hensol, Pontyclun
The grand Hensol Castle, Hensol, with a gin distillery in its cellars -Credit:Hensol Castle
Some of you may have recognised Hensol Castle straight away in The Guest. Located in Castle Park, Hensol in Pontyclun, it was used to film the scenes in the Bristol apartment and Oakwood Care Home during the series.
Hensol Castle is a beautiful location, which has been used for filming, weddings and it even has a gin distillery in the cellar. The 400-year-old castle sits in more than 650 acres of parkland and is part of the successful four-star Vale Resort – an award-winning spa, golf, conference and hotel complex.
In 1926 the Glamorgan County Council bought the estate and used it as a county asylum. However, the hospital later closed and in 2004 the castle and grounds were bought by local businessman, Gerald Leeke.
In 2015 it was given a £10 million revamp to restore it to its former glory, and then it officially opened as a wedding and conference centre.
The Savoy Snooker Club, Broad St, Barry
One of the only non-Cardiff-based locations, The Savoy Snooker Club which can be found on Broad St, Barry was used as a snooker hall during the series. This was used in the scenes of Lee (played by Siôn Daniel Young) and his mates.
If you’re a keen snooker player and fancy a trip down Barry, you can find more information about them here.
Gin and Juice, Castle Arcade, Cardiff
Many of the scenes were filmed in Cardiff city centre. -Credit:BBC/Quay Street Productions
If you’ve been on a night out in Cardiff then chances are you’ve popped by Gin and Juice. The bar which is known for it’s impressive cocktails and gins (obviously), was used in the series for Ria and Mike’s date night in episode one of the series.
The bar located in the Castle arcade saw the pair laugh and bond over endless mojitos, which some of us may be able to relate too. They then ended up on the High Street, before grabbing a taxi home with Jesus.
Voco (St David’s Hotel), Cardiff
Spoil your loved one with a break at the voco St. David’s in Cardiff Bay. -Credit:voco St David’s Cardiff
Two different locations were used to film the swanky Cardiff Bay apartment. Firstly they used a seventh floor suite of Voco St David’s Hotel on Havannah Street, Cardiff. Known for their popular spa, they recently had a massive £650,000 refurbishment of one of its luxury floors.
The iconic building has been open for 26 years and quickly became a landmark in the capital after it first arrived in 1999. The hotel is even renowned for hosting the stays of some of the biggest celebrities and sports stars.
Secondly, they used the Ocean Reach Apartments also located on Havannah St, Cardiff.
The Old Rectory and Rhossili Beach, Swansea
The beautiful view of Rhossili was used in episode two of The Guest -Credit:Getty
Swansea’s Gower peninsula is beautiful, in fact it’s famous across the world for it’s gorgeous scenery. So, it is no wonder that they used a section of it to film the exciting thriller. They used The Old Rectory and Rhossili beach as the coastal property, path and beach during some of the last scenes of the series.
The shots of the coast and the property made for some stunning landscape shots, which demonstrated the beauty in contrast to the grittiness of the series. It really shows the beauty that Wales has to offer.
You can even book to stay in the cottage that The Guest was filmed in. The Old Rectory can house up to seven guests across four bedrooms and is available to book on the National Trust website.
The website reads: “Offering a panoramic view of Rhossili Bay and Worms Head Island, Rhossili Old Rectory is the only building on the world-famous bay. Built in the 1800s, the house has had an intriguing past – from its role as a base for radar workers during the Second World War, to appearing in the hit TV series Torchwood. “
Other filming locations include:
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The streets of Cardiff city centre
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The road between Cibilion and Reynoldston, Gower, Swansea
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Car Park of Former Nos Da Hotel, Despenser St,Cardiff
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Fitzhamon Embankment, Cardiff
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West Canal Wharf, Cardiff
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Despenser Street, Cardiff
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DAY The Storage Group, Usk Side, Business Park, Church St, Newport
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Mattancherry, Cowbridge Road East, Cardiff
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Barber shop, Pontcanna St, Pontcanna, Cardiff
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James Street bus stop, Cardiff Bay
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Filco Supermarket, Boverton Road, Llantwit Major
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Premier, Barry Road, Barry
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Barry Satellite Telecraft, Thompson Street, Barry
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Storage Works Cardiff, Penarth Road, Cardiff
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The Old Farmhouse, Llandow
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Cardiff Central Police Station, King Edward Avenue, Cardiff
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Beech House, Hollybush Estate, Coryton
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Westgate Hotel, Unit 6 Commercial Street, Newport
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Maple and Bean, Morgan Arcade, Cardiff
Tune into The Guest on BBC One from 9pm on Monday, September 1 or stream on iPlayer.