Scott Fleary built the new set for MasterChef.

Installation
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Rehoming MasterChef in Digbeth

Tue, 23 Dec 2025
Scott Fleary Productions was commissioned to deliver the scenic and structural studio fit-out for the new permanent home of MasterChef inside Birmingham’s Grade II-listed Banana Warehouse. The project forms part of a wider regeneration of Digbeth’s industrial heritage and required a sensitive design and build approach suited to a historic structure that now operates as a high-spec television studio.

Vagabond Design

Working closely with Vagabond Design, we supported the development of their creative vision from an early stage. Sampling and prototyping were used to test materials and finishes, with detailing refined ahead of full-scale production. The entire set was prefabricated in our South London workshops, allowing detailed quality control, accurate setting-out, and tighter coordination across the build before installation began on site.
A key aspect of the design was the requirement for scenic brickwork to integrate seamlessly with the existing Victorian masonry. Brick arches and borders were modelled to historic brick dimensions, with corbels included in the same approach, before being hand-finished and scenically painted to sit convincingly within the warehouse architecture. As a permanent standing set, all scenic elements were constructed for durability and repeatability, supporting long-term use across all areas.

Refurbishing the building

A significant portion of the project involved integrating services within the building’s refurbished shell. This included complex sub-floor construction and detailed cable management, supported by access hatches, as well as high-level service coordination. Mezzanine platforms were installed, alongside balcony structures, with marketplace steelwork delivered as part of the wider build. The irregular geometry of the building required responsive setting-out and ongoing on-site problem-solving to achieve a consistent visual outcome on camera.
Installation took place over a period of more than eight weeks. Careful sequencing was required to manage access and the shared use of the building with other contractors. The completed studio provides a robust, production-ready environment that balances heritage character with the technical demands of a major TV set construction project. We are grateful to Shine TV and Vagabond Design for the opportunity to contribute to the new MasterChef studio and to play a part in the ongoing regeneration of Digbeth’s creative quarter.
Scott Fleary Productions was appointed as the scenery construction and installation contractor for the new MasterChef studio at the Grade II-listed Banana Warehouse in Digbeth. The project combined heritage-led design constraints with the requirements of a permanent television production environment.

Design development and fabrication

  • Early sampling and prototyping were undertaken to develop brick finishes, LED lightboxes, wall coverings and artwork.
  • Full fabrication of scenic and structural elements was completed in Scott Fleary’s South London workshops.
  • Prefabrication enabled accurate coordination between scenic and structural interfaces, with technical integration resolved prior to site installation.

Structural works

  • Design, fabrication, and installation of a modular walkway with integrated lighting.
  • Mezzanine platforms formed part of the structural package, alongside marketplace steelwork.
  • Balcony structures were installed and consolidated with the floor before tying back to the existing building.
  • Load paths and fixing strategies were developed to respect the limitations of the historic fabric.

Flooring and technical integration

  • Sub-floor systems were installed across the main studio, corridor, Critics’ Room and Contestants’ Room.
  • Integration of access hatches and service routes, with curved border details incorporated within the main floor.
  • Coordination of cable management with lighting features, alongside high-level services, with specialist contractors.

Scenic craftsmanship

  • Plaster brickwork was manufactured to match historic brick sizes and profiles, then hand-painted to match the existing building.
  • Corbels and arches were hand-finished and painted, with borders completed for visual continuity with the existing warehouse walls.
  • Scenic flats and architectural features were adjusted on site to accommodate building irregularities.

Installation programme

  • Eight-week installation programme within a heritage site.
  • Careful sequencing of deliveries and lifting operations, with shared access requirements managed throughout.
  • Ongoing collaboration with the designer and art department to resolve architectural constraints in real time.
The project demonstrates Scott Fleary’s experience as a UK stage set builder and TV scenery fabricator, delivering technically robust, craft-led solutions within complex historic environments.
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