5 min readHero image credit: Screen Manchester/Sky Max
A new series of Sky’s hit comedy Brassic is back, and season six is set for more chaos and laughs than ever before. For anyone that doesn’t know Brassic is written by Danny Brocklehurst and stars Joe Gilgun, Michelle Keegan, Dominic West and more. It’s set in a fictional town in Lancashire but is based on Gilgun’s real-life upbringing, with hilarious twists and a way of addressing mental health struggles. Over 6 series, viewers have followed protagonist Vinnie and his group of mates as he navigates living with Bipolar disorder and the general havoc that seems to follow the group around.
Whether you’re a long-standing fan of the show, or you’re just getting to know Vinnie and the gang as it’s trending on Netflix, you may spot some Greater Manchester locations while you’re watching.
Brassic’s filming locations are spread over the North of England, taking advantage of our towns, countryside and northern charm. So, if you want to find some of the filming locations in real life, we’re rounding up some of the settings in Greater Manchester:
Star & Garter, Manchester
Arguably the heart of Brassic, the fictional Crow’s Nest pub is filmed inside a real-life pub in central Manchester, the Star and Garter. The Star and Garter is a pub with a rich history, as a live music venue and longstanding city-centre drinking spot. It’s also no stranger to film crews, acting as allocation for titles like Band of Gold, Cradle to Grave and It’s a Sin as well as Brassic. Located right next to Manchester Piccadilly Station and close to Escape to Freight Island and Mayfield Park, it couldn’t be easier to pop in for a beverage at the infamous Brassic Boozer. So why not head over and pretend you’re one of the gang?
AJ Bell Stadium, Salford
Ashley’s traveller site has seen a few locations over the past six seasons. Originally, it was based near Manchester’s Etihad Stadium in the Eastlands area, but this area is now primed for regeneration. For the time being, Ashley’s site has settled in Salford at The AJ Bell Stadium, which has been his home since season three. With the unmistakable M60 in the background, it’s instantly recognisable to any Greater Manchester local.
Haigh Hall, Wigan
Without any spoilers, one episode of Brassic sees the cast steal a wedding, based in a stately home. This stunning stately home is Haigh Hall in Wigan. The Hall’s woodlands have also been used for filming in various episodes of Brassic. The Wigan beauty spot is no stranger to film crews, with the recent ITV drama Passenger using the Hall.
Frederick Road Campus, Salford University
The first series sees Salford University used as Erin’s college campus and it turns out Vinnie’s appointments with Dr Cox also take place at the Frederick Road Campus of Salford University. Just half a mile from Manchester City Centre and located near Salford’s vibrant Chapel Street district and stunning Peel Park, why not explore some of what the city has to offer while location spotting?
Erin’s House, Tameside
Erin’s House is based in Greater Manchester’s Ashton-under-Lyne, taking advantage of the stunning hills and scenery Tameside offers. While we can’t disclose the street, we can recommend that fans of the show take in some walking trails around Ashton-under-Lyne including Daisy Nook, Peak Forest and the GM Ringway to take in some of the same scenery and get to know Tameside.
Whalley Road, Manchester
For the newest series of Brassic, series 6, film crews and cast members were spotted on Whalley Road in Manchester, in Walley Range and close to Old Trafford. It’s not clear what brought the gang to these parts but if you know the area well you may be able to spot it, or if you find yourself in the Whalley Range and Chorlton area you could take a small detour to follow in the footsteps of the cast.
Bolton Town Centre
Bolton is often used for filming, so of course Brassic also had to take advantage. Originally, Vinne’s shack was located in the woodlands in Bolton, but has since moved to Cheshire’s Arley Hall. However, since then, scenes have been shot in, Kearsley and at Bromley Cross and Le Mans Crescent in Bolton. The borough is often home to productions including most recently, Netflix’s hit series Fool Me Once, which also starred Michelle Keegan, A Gentleman in Moscow with Ewan McGregor, Coronation Street and more. With iconic architecture, beautiful countryside and stunning interiors, Bolton can double as a historic location and a modern-day town.
Bacup
Finally, while it's not strictly Greater Manchester, we couldn't mention Brassic without discussing the character's home town, and it's not too far from us. Brassic is set in the fictional town of Hawley but is filmed in the real-life town of Bacup in southeast Lancashire very close to Rodale and Bury in Greater Manchester. The town has become a second home to the cast and has taken on a new identity From Rochdale, which is just a short train journey from Manchester City Centre, you can get a short bus to visit the town of Bacup and walk the streets you’ve seen many times on your TV screen. You’ll recognise the main street, shop fronts and more just a short journey from the city.
