A real Bubble Palace is one of the Ab Fab: The Movie’s filming locations that take Edina and Patsy’s glamorous world to the next level. Look out for Cannes’ flashiest hotels and London’s hottest addresses as we take a look back at the lushes’ chaotic 2016 comeback.
Where is Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie filmed?
The Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie is filmed around North London, Southbank and the French Riviera. Exactly where we see PR party queen Eddie Monsoon and her best friend, Patsy, appearing – or within a mile or two, anyway.
Like the TV series, which relied heavily on real luxury brands, the film rolls out some of London and the French Riviera’s biggest names. But with a movie budget to play with, we don’t just see a glimpse of a logo here and there…
“This is Ab Fab on a completely different scale.”
Damian Jones, Producer
And the locations play a huge part in making it happen.
Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie Filming Locations
Edina’s House
In the Ab Fab Movie, Eddie’s house scenes were filmed around Ranulf Road, on the boundary of West Hampstead and Cricklewood.
An episode of the sitcom gives away that the Monsoon family live at 34 Claremont Avenue in Holland Park, W11. So the N2 address isn’t far off (and the areas’ mansions even share the same basement expansion trend).
But matching the layout of the sitcom’s longstanding set was a deal clincher:
“the production team had one very specific requirement; a flight of stairs leading into the living room… the owner… is a huge Ab Fab fan, and was not in any way alarmed at the prospect of potential wild behaviour or offended to be told that his taste matched Eddy's.”
Alan Hanon, 1st Option Agency
High end contemporary style made it work, but the biggest attraction was the layout, with the stairs leading down to the living space.
In the BBC sitcom, most scenes take place around the kitchen/dining area. June Whitfield and Julia Sawalha’s characters are seen living normal-ish lives in the living space, until Edina waltzes down the stairs with a new crisis to deal with.
London Street Scenes
One Canada Square. Surrealjam / CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)
The Ab Fab movie’s office and open plan meeting space scenes were filmed at One Canada Square, Canary Wharf. Other street scenes were filmed along Southbank and the Thames Path.
The Giles Deacon Fashion Show
Viosan at the English language Wikipedia / CC BY-SA (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/)
Ab Fab: The Movie’s glitzy Giles Deacon fashion event was held at Neo Bankside. Standing beside the Tate Modern, its penthouses look out across the City, making the street scenes geographically accurate.
The designer’s looks are worn by Joanna Lumley and Jennifer Saunders in the movie, and seen on the red carpet at the premiere.
Huki Muki’s Fashion Event
Wapping Hydraulic Power Station. Davepape / Public domain
The Huki Muki fashion event scene was filmed at Wapping Hydraulic Power Station by Shadwell Basin.
Wapping’s early example of a hydraulic power station inspired similar industrial buildings around the world, but today it’s the perfect industrial space for fashion shoots.
And of course, it’s got the right look for the Huki Muki event where it all goes wrong in the comedy’s most controversial scene.
French Riviera Hotel Scenes
Two French Riviera hotels are used as Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie locations.
The foyer and terrace of the Hotel Martinez in Cannes appear onscreen.
5-star Hotel Martinez is an Art Deco icon, dating back to the 1920s. Some of the suites’ windows face out across the Mediterranean – and all of the hotel takes inspiration from the landscape.
You can also catch a glimpse of Boulevard de la Croisette, where the hotel is situated.
Eddie and Patsy are also seen hiding out at Le Grand-Hôtel du Cap-Ferrat, a Four Seasons hotel that sits between Nice and Monaco. A lot of the action takes place around Cap Ferrat, including the scenes of Patsy hunting for a wealthy partner.
The Pool Scene
The Ab Fab Movie’s swimming pool scene was filmed at Le Grand-Hôtel du Cap-Ferrat’s Club Dauphin pool. It’s not short on style credentials. La Rotonde (the Rotunda) was designed by Gustave Eiffel, designer of the eponymous tower and the guest book is a who’s who running from Somerset Maugham to Paul McCartney.
The resort’s infinity pool looks out over the Mediterranean, and it brings swimmers even closer to the sea. It’s filled with heated sea water for a sea-swimming experience – with all the comforts of loungers, cabanas and restaurant service.
The Car Chase
Ab Fab’s car chase scene was filmed in Villefranche-sur-Mer. You might know it better as the picturesque holiday destination from Mr Bean’s Holiday.
In Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie’s silly getaway scene, the Edina and Patsy drive a tiny delivery van around the old town’s narrow cobbled streets.
Villefranche-sur-Mer’s St Peter's Chapel and harbour area appear in the movie as well.
Edina and Patsy eventually crash the delivery van into Bubble’s pool, at a distinctive mansion on the French Riviera.
Bubble’s House
Palais Bulle. Gil Zetbase / CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)
Bubble’s house in the Ab Fab Movie was filmed at a real Bubble Palace – fashion designer Pierre Cardin’s Palais Bulles.
It’s in Théoule-sur-Mer, a dream location with a view across the bay to Cannes and Nice.
The quirky mansion was designed by Antti Luvag in the 1970s, and is said to be built entirely of curved lines. Not one sharp angle or straight edge graces the mansion’s six storeys.
Could there be a better filming location for Ab Fab’s fashion PR assistant than a house made of bubbles, owned by a fashion icon?