Filming for the new HBO Harry Potter series temporarily closed down a quiet commuter town, causing significant delays and disruption for residents. However, we’ve learned the town was compensated with up to £1 million for allowing the production to use it as a filming location for a single day.
The town experienced significant disruption this week as a film crew arrived. Many shops were forced to close for a day, and roads were blocked off, causing traffic to be rerouted.
While businesses and the local council were pleased with the financial benefits, many residents were frustrated by the traffic jams and detours caused by the road closure, as they didn’t receive any compensation.
Earlier this year, HBO – reportedly planning to spend $1.2 billion over ten years to bring J.K. Rowling’s books to the screen – reached out to various shops and businesses in Hoddesdon, Hertfordshire.
With each episode costing around £75 million, the show is one of the priciest TV series ever made, and Hoddeson was eager to work on it.
The production team sent letters asking property owners if they’d be interested in temporarily transforming their buildings to look like they’re from the 1980s, and offered to pay them for the day’s closure.
People who reached agreements received ‘several thousand pounds‘ to cover lost income. Broxbourne Council, which is run by the Conservative party, reportedly received around £1 million.
As a local, I was a bit inconvenienced yesterday, but it was all for a good cause! They were filming right in the centre of Hoddesdon all day, starting bright and early at 8am. It meant several roads were closed, which caused some bus route changes and even moved the taxi rank. It was a bit disruptive, but exciting to see something being filmed here!
To film the scene, the area around the town’s clock tower was decorated to look like it was 1981, recreating the time period shown in the beginning of the Harry Potter movies.
Okay, so they *filmed* it in Hoddesdon, which is amazing because I drove past the set like, five times! But get this – the show is *supposed* to be set in Guildford, Surrey, which is miles away! Apparently, Hoddesdon just *looked* more like the town they imagined, which, honestly, makes perfect sense. I’ve been stalking the news and they’re saying it’ll finally air in 2027. I’ve already marked it in my calendar – it’s going to be epic!
In the Harry Potter series, Harry’s uncle, Vernon Dursley – portrayed by Daniel Rigby – is a non-magical person, known as a Muggle, who lives in Little Whinging. He strongly dislikes and fears magic and is married to Petunia.
On set photos show Vernon wearing a suit and tie and carrying a pastry. As he exits a shop, a little man dressed in a purple cloak seems to stumble and fall right in front of him.
The shop in question is a newsagent owned by 49-year-old Bala Kumar, who said he was happy to help when the Daily Mail asked if they could use it. He described it as ‘a great honour’.
We received a letter some months ago, and then a representative visited to discuss it with us. They offered us financial compensation for the inconvenience, and while I can’t disclose the amount, it was a worthwhile settlement.
I believe my shop was unique in staying open, likely because of the amount of inventory we had on hand.
As I understand it, the amount of compensation depended on the size of the business and how much customer traffic it lost. Larger shops with greater losses received more money.
Closing all the shops for the day must have been expensive. On top of that, I heard the town council also received payment for the disruption.
‘There has been talk of them getting £1m, but I don’t know if that’s true.’
He explained that everything was made to feel incredibly realistic, even including original Daily Mail newspapers from the period, and he managed to keep a few copies.
Peter Sampson, 86, and his wife Rachael were among the lucky winners after filming took place the day of Peter’s birthday while they were out for a walk in Hoddesdon.
Hertfordshire Zoo’s owner, Mr. Sampson, revealed to the Daily Mail that the film crew paid him ‘several thousand’ pounds to park their trucks on the zoo’s property, describing it as a beneficial arrangement. He declined to disclose the exact amount.
We received a request for assistance a few months ago and were glad to be involved. To be frank, it didn’t significantly impact me personally, and it’s hard to refuse a substantial payment like that – especially now.
The actors and crew stayed at my house, and they were fantastic guests – really well-behaved and no trouble at all. Everything’s back to normal now.
When questioned about rumors that Broxbourne Council received £1 million, Mr. Sampson responded that he wouldn’t be shocked. He noted the location had been completely closed and was undergoing significant improvements the week prior.
They completely cleaned up the area, removing all trash and gum from the sidewalks to ensure it was spotless.
Dino Savva, the 59-year-old owner of George’s salon, said the shop’s exterior was renovated and quickly fixed up after a few minor adjustments.
They were easy to work with, and when they reached out, they offered me a job for the day. The pay was higher than my typical Tuesday rate, so I gladly accepted.
I was really surprised when five customers showed up for haircuts even though the shop was officially closed. I’m not sure how they managed to get past security, but I ended up giving them haircuts in the back.
To be honest, I earned a good amount for the day’s work, but the preparation leading up to it was more challenging. I did lose some business while getting ready for the filming, but I expect the publicity from it will balance things out.
Not everyone was pleased with the situation. One resident told the Daily Mail that Tuesday was “absolute chaos,” with the road closure preventing them from reaching a doctor’s appointment.
It was really frustrating to have to walk around the entire block and back again, and to make matters worse, no one even apologized.
I understand Broxborne Council received a million pounds. Hopefully, they’ll use the money to repair the potholes in the area.
Broxbourne Council is considering legal action against the government, similar to what Epping Forest District Council has done. The dispute centers around the government’s use of the Cheshunt Marriott hotel to house migrants.
Last month, Broxbourne Council leader Corina Gander stated they were urgently seeking legal counsel to explore options similar to those taken by Epping Forest Council. She explained that the hotel was significantly impacting local services.
In a statement to Daily Mail, Broxbourne Council did not confirm the exact amount paid to the town.
The Council isn’t able to discuss the filming project happening in Hoddesdon because they’ve signed a confidentiality agreement. However, they’ve confirmed that rumors about the financial details are inaccurate.
Before starting this brief project, we informed local businesses and residents about temporary changes, such as road closures and limited access for pedestrians. We also let the wider public know about these arrangements.
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2025-09-25 14:22