TV and film hub promotes long-time staff member to top role

Bristol’s Bottleyard Studios has named KATHERINE NASH as its next head of studios.

She takes over from LAURA AVILES, who oversaw the Bottle Yard Studios as part of her role as head of film for Bristol City Council for five years until July 2025.

After starting out in locations for High-End TV, Nash joined the southwest TV and film hub as a studio coordinator in 2011, shortly after it opened, before advancing through the ranks.

Since 2020, she has served as business operations manager and was involved in Bottleyard’s delivery of its £12 million TBY2 facility, which opened in 2022, adding three more sound stages to the studio’s now 11-strong portfolio.

She was also a driving force behind TBY2’s 1MW rooftop solar array, funded by Bristol Energy Cooperative, thought to be one of the UK’s largest community-owned photovoltaic rooftops.

“As someone who has been passionately committed to the Bottle Yard since its inception, I’m excited to bring to this role my knowledge and experience of the studios and its important position within the wider filming ecosystem in Bristol and the West of England,” said Nash.

“I look forward to delivering the best studio experience for the Bottle Yard’s valued clients and ensuring that the three core principles of our brand – studios, sustainability and skills – are embedded throughout the business.”