ITV's new drama The Party, starring Welsh actors Luke Evans and Tom Cullen, was filmed across Wales, including locations in Cardiff, Port Talbot, Bridgend and Swansea. The series airs this autumn, with the premiere on Sunday, October 11.
The drama is based on Elizabeth Day's critically acclaimed novel and reunites Luke Evans with the production company behind The Pembrokeshire Murders. Evans plays Martin Gilmour, a journalist whose life has been shaped by his enduring friendship with the affluent and magnetic politician Ben Fitzmaurice, portrayed by Tom Cullen. Although the novel is set in the Cotswolds, producers relocated the series to Wales to utilise Luke's personal background.
Why the series was moved to Wales
Luke Evans said: "Once we decided that we could move the whole story to Wales, we thought, 'well, why not just shoot the whole thing in Wales.' Creative Wales, who came on board and helped secure funding and the locations and all of that stuff, the studios, everything else was just plain sailing."
He added: "We have incredible talent in front and behind the camera, incredible studios, everything's accessible and easy to get to from Cardiff. I got to live near my family for the first time in 30 years. The only problem, it was winter, so it rained almost every day for three months."
Filming locations across south Wales
The series is set in the fictional town of Denby, not to be confused with the real Welsh town Denbigh. The police station where Martin is questioned after an incident at Ben's birthday party was recreated using two locations: Heath Park West in Cardiff and Swansea's Guildhall. In these scenes, police officers are seen speaking Welsh at the front desk.
Martin and his wife Lucy stay at Denby B&B, which was filmed at Heronston Hotel & Leisure Club in Bridgend, just a 15-minute drive from Dragon Studios where many scenes were shot.
Denby Hall and other key sets
Ben's impressive "Welsh home", Denby Hall, was assembled from several locations: Llanharan House in Llanharan serves as the front of the house and many party rooms; Merthyr Mawr House in Bridgend provides the 'back' rooms and bedrooms; and Cardiff's Temple of Peace was used for Denby Hall's chapel. The big party tent on the property's grounds was set up in Dragon Studios in Bridgend, allowing filming to continue regardless of weather. The studios, Llanharan House and Merthyr Mawr are all within a few miles of each other, making Bridgend the perfect base for filming.
Burtonbury School, where a young Martin meets Ben, was also made up of several locations: Howells School in Llandaff, Cardiff for the exterior and classrooms; Margam Discovery Centre in Port Talbot for the dorms; Llandaff Rugby Club for the rugby field; and New College Cloisters in Oxford for the historic corridors.
Flashback scenes of Martin and Ben at Oxford were partly filmed at Exeter College in Oxford, with the rest shot in south Wales. Cardiff University's Glamorgan Building, Main Campus and University Hall were used for various Oxford scenes, in addition to Swansea's Guildhall. Oxford Hospital scenes were filmed at Cardiff's Heath Park West, while Oxford Crown Court was actually Sessions House in Usk.
Other locations and broadcast details
Other locations used throughout the series include Bay Studios in Swansea; Plas Cilybebyll Manor in Pontardawe, Swansea; Cardiff bars Mocka Lounge and Nightshade; Maindy Barracks in Cardiff; houses in the Heath, Roath, Cardiff Bay and a stunning Airbnb in Ystrad Mynach, Hengoed. Cast and crew were also spotted filming in Roath Park in December 2025, with Luke Evans seen prepping for scenes and chatting with crew members.
The Party airs on ITV1 and ITVX from 9pm on Sunday, October 11.
