LIMEHOUSE

LIMEHOUSE TELEVISION (1989 - 1992)

The story of Limehouse Television began back in 1983, when a group of senior management staff from Southern TV set about creating their own independent facilities company. After acquiring premises in London’s docklands Limehouse Studios was opened out of what had been a rum and banana warehouse.

The studios here highly successful, producing many shows for the newly created Channel 4, but also for the BBC and ITV. Limehouse prided itself on offering a more client orientated facilities solution than the more traditional studios of the BBC and ITV.

Photographs from the early Limehouse Studios development in London's docklands.

However, come the end of the 1980s and the docklands area was beginning to undergo major transformation. In 1988 the London Docklands Development Corporation issued a compulsory purchase of the Limehouse building, and by 1989 the studios were closed and subsequently demolished. The famous Canary Wharf tower, also known as One Canada Square, now stands on this site.

It is well worth reading Martin Kempton’s section on Limehouse here, as it details the real highs and lows of the Limehouse docklands story:

The owners of Limehouse, Trilion PLC, set about finding new premises for the business. They acquired a small space in central London for some programmes but purchased the Wembley Studios in 1989 and set about turning them back in fully-equipped television studios. Limehouse decided to only re-equip Studio 5A & 5B and demolished many of the old film stages.

Footage showing the redevelopment of Wembley under Limehouse Television. With thanks to Cine Sanctuary and Grant Bennett for allowing us to use this footage.

Once the refurbishment of Wembley was completed, Limehouse started to welcome many clients into the studios. Have I Got News For You, The Word, Hit Studio International and Food & Drink were all regulars to use the facilities. Many former staff have commented that the atmosphere at both the Docklands and at Wembley was very enjoyable, and that the variety of programmes was one of the highlights of the job.

Julia Knowles remembers her time directing The Word at Limehouse in Wembley.

David Fader talks about his memories of Limehouse Wembley and his ongoing connection with the studios.

In 1991 Freddie Mercury recorded what would be his final music video at the studios. These Are The Days Of Our Lives was recorded in May 1991 just 6 months before he passed away on 24th November 1991.

Queen's "These Are The Days Of Our Lives" recorded at Limehouse Wembley in 1991.

Courtesy of David Wild - tickets to The Word at Limehouse Wembley in the 90s

In late 1992 Limehouse's parent company, Trilion PLC, collapsed and took all of its subsidiary companies with it. Limehouse closed its doors officially on New Year's Eve 1992. Limehouse had a short lived stay at Wembley but there was another company waiting in the wings to try and continue their successes of bringing television back to Wembley...