Video Podcast Studio London: What Eight Bookings This Month Tell Us About the Format

Video Podcast Studio London Eight days this month. That is how many days are confirmed for video podcast productions in the studio so far in June — and we have had to turn away a couple more because we were already fully booked on the dates requested. We have been running Mount Pleasant Studio for more than 20 years and video podcasting seems to be here to stay. Shoots are increasingly become ‘broadcast quality’ with higher production values. This post is my attempt to explain why — and what producers and brands actually need from a studio if they want to do it properly.

Why video podcasting has changed

Podcasts used to be audio, and good microphones, a quiet room and a conversation was enough. This is no longer the case. YouTube is now the world’s largest podcast platform, and in the UK, more than a quarter of podcast listeners say they prefer to watch when a video version is available and that number is rising. So is the screen it is being watched on — in the US, video podcasts are increasingly being consumed on smart TVs, and Netflix are increasingly exploring distributing podcast content through deals with Spotify and iHeartMedia. The format is crossing over into mainstream entertainment. The UK is following the same direction. Leading British podcasts already have full YouTube channels, and some content is moving towards streaming platforms like BBC iPlayer and Channel 4. If that trajectory continues, video podcasts will need to look less like it’s shot in a cupboard and more like a broadcast production. For producers and brands this changes things completely. You are no longer just recording a conversation, but rather creating a multi-platform content asset that might appear on YouTube, LinkedIn, TikTok, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and possibly a streaming service — all from one recording day. That is why the quality bar has gone up so sharply, and why productions are increasingly looking for proper studio space rather than a basic podcast booth.

What a video podcast studio actually needs

A video podcast can look deceptively simple: a table, some chairs, a couple of microphones – and I’m happy to say the microphones are starting to out of frame or attached to clothing! Productions that work well are the ones where everything in the environment is controlled. The most common problems we hear about from productions coming to us from cheaper or less suitable spaces are:
  • Sound bleed from traffic, construction or building noise
  • Flat or unflattering lighting that makes talent look tired
  • Not enough floor space for multiple camera positions
  • No decent green room or make-up area for talent
  • Clients and producers squeezed in around the set
  • Sets that look visually limited or obviously ‘podcast booth’
  • Unreliable power or internet for live streaming or remote viewing
Sound is still the foundation of any podcast, visual or not. Bad audio makes even a beautifully shot production feel amateur. In central London, where traffic, sirens, and building works are constants, you need a room that is genuinely soundproofed — not just acoustically treated. There is a significant difference. For the first time ever a producer came from a recce last week with a dB meter and said that of the eight studios he’s visited ours had the superior soundproofing. The same applies to space. A serious video podcast typically runs four cameras: a wide shot of the full set, a medium two-shot, and a close-up on each contributor. That requires room to position cameras and operators without crowding the talent or compromising the angles. And when you add a director, a producer, a client representative and make-up artist, you quickly realise that the studio footprint matters.

Why Mount Pleasant works for video podcasts

Our stage is 15 feet high, 31 feet wide, and 41 feet deep. It is fully soundproofed — not sound-reduced, soundproofed — with a permanent U-shaped infinity cove and a pre-rigged LED RGBWW soft light system (Nanlux 650 Soft Lights and Iris One cyclights) that is fully dimmable and can produce virtually any colour temperature or mood. The cove in particular is something productions keep coming back for. It gives a clean, seamless background that works beautifully for interview-led content, branded sets, and high-end aesthetics. It means less dressing time and more flexibility on the day. Every studio hire includes much more than the stage itself. The full package comes with:
  • A green room for talent and guests
  • Dedicated make-up and dressing rooms
  • A shower room
  • A 30ft × 20ft props storage area
  • A 30ft industrial kitchen with AEG ovens, gas hobs, fridges, freezers, and food prep space
  • Fibre broadband for live streaming and remote shoot viewing
That last point matters more than people expect. Live streaming a video podcast — whether directly to YouTube or for a client watching remotely — requires reliable, fast bandwidth which we have courtesy of our fibre connection. We have a huge range of lighting equipment, but if your DOP needs anything in addition, we also have accounts with all the major lighting and camera houses and can arrange additional equipment through the studio with at least 25% discount off rate card.

The central London advantage

Location matters more for video podcasts than most people initially think. A video podcast often has multiple contributors who are not full-time production professionals. They are executives, founders, journalists, athletes, academics, or public figures fitting a recording into a busy day. Getting them to a studio in a convenient location is the difference between a confirmed booking and a cancelled one. We are at 51–53 Mount Pleasant, London WC1X 0AE — a short walk from Farringdon station (rail, Elizabeth, Circle, Hammersmith and City lines) and Chancery Lane (Central Line), and about ten minutes east of Soho. For anyone coming from the City, from a hotel in central London, or passing through before or after another meeting, it is genuinely easy to get to. For production teams and agency clients, being central makes access easy. That all contributes to a calmer shoot day, which in turn produces better performances on camera.

The branded video podcast opportunity

One of the biggest drivers of demand we are seeing is branded podcasts. Not productions that feel like adverts, but content that gives a brand a genuine voice — a series of conversations about topics the brand has real authority and interest in. A law firm talking about business risk. A financial services company exploring entrepreneurship. A university showcasing research and alumni. A sports brand building a personality-led interview series. These productions sit somewhere between editorial content and marketing, and they work precisely because they do not feel like a hard sell. For agencies and production companies, branded podcasts are also attractive as client work because they generate repeat production. Rather than one campaign film, a client might need a full series, seasonal specials, social cutdowns, and event content. The studio day becomes the start of an ongoing relationship, not a one-off job. And because the content has to work across YouTube, LinkedIn, Instagram, and potentially streaming platforms, the production quality has to be right from the start. You cannot fix a flat, noisy, badly lit recording in post. The environment is everything. What a booking looks like For a typical video podcast production, you are looking at a full studio day in a well-equipped, properly staffed space in central London — with everything you need to walk away with broadcast-quality content across multiple formats. We have hosted productions for the BBC, Disney, Discovery Channel, and many others over more than 20 years. Our clients consistently tell us the studio is easy to work in, the team is helpful and experienced, and the location makes the day easier for everyone.

Thinking about a video podcast production?

If you are planning a video podcast — whether a one-off pilot, an ongoing branded series, or a live-streamed event — we would be happy to talk it through. Get in touch with Simon at simon@mountpleasantstudio.com, call us on 020 7837 1957, or take a look at the full studio details at  www.mountpleasantstudio.com. We are always happy to show productions around the studio before they book. Mount Pleasant Studios Ltd   ·   51–53 Mount Pleasant, London WC1X 0AE   ·   020 7837 1957