Introduction to House of Guinness
A new Netflix drama, House of Guinness, has chosen a location in North Wales as the setting for the Guinness family home. Although the series is set in Dublin and New York in the 19th century, it was filmed in Penrhyn Castle in Bangor, Gwynedd. The castle’s 19th-century architecture and opulent interior made it the perfect location to portray the family’s turbulent history.
The Story Behind House of Guinness
The series was developed by Ivana Lowell, a Guinness heiress, and tells the story of the triumphs and difficulties of the Guinness family. The family’s history is one of success and struggle, from the brewing of the famous Irish Stout beer by Arthur Guinness in 1725 to the current day, where the brewery sells over 10 million glasses of Guinness worldwide every day.
Filming Locations
The series was filmed in various locations in North Wales and northwest England, as the producers found that very little of Dublin still resembles what it looked like in 1868. The team traveled the length and breadth of Ireland and Great Britain before landing in the northwest and finding "stately streets and streets in a Dublin style". Locations such as Manchester, Liverpool, North Wales, and Yorkshire provided the perfect backdrop for the series.
Penrhyn Castle
Penrhyn Castle, a National Trust property, was chosen for its "many parallels" with the Guinness original family home, Ashford Castle in Ireland. The castle’s impressive architecture, opulent interior, and art collection made it the perfect location to portray the family’s history. The castle’s history is also one of prosperity, class differences, and conflicts, similar to the topics researched by the National Trust.
The Series
The eight-episode series follows the story of the Guinness family after the death of Sir Benjamin Guinness in 1868. The series explores the effects of his will on the fate of his four adult children and their struggles to take over the family business. The series has been compared to other popular dramas such as Succession, Crown, and Peaky Blinders.
Launch
The series was launched on Netflix on September 25 and has been well-received by audiences. The National Trust employees at Penrhyn Castle are looking forward to seeing the castle’s characteristics featured in the drama. The series is a must-watch for anyone interested in history, drama, and the story of one of the world’s most famous breweries.
