ITV's Without Sin brought a closed Victoria Centre café back to life - much to the delight of the former owner's daughter. In the first five minutes of the ITVX show, Nottingham-born star Vicky McClure's character Stella visits 'Ronnie's' in the Victoria Centre's market, where she chats with staff and police officer friend Remy.
But if you visit the Victoria Market now you'll see an empty space where the café was - the eatery featured in the show was entirely fictional. The previous café there, Maria's Pantry, closed down in 2020, but the reinvention of the eatery for filming impressed one local worker - who happened to be the daughter of the previous business owner.
Tammy Blagden's mother Maria used to run Maria's Pantry before it closed at the start of the Covid pandemic in 2020. The 36-year-old, who works at Gold Bank, just across from the shutdown café, was delighted by seeing the ITV show bring life back to the place where her mum had worked for years.
"My mum's café, which was called Maria's Pantry, closed down at the start of the pandemic. It was lovely to see it back as a café for just a day, it really brought those memories back.
"They painted it and redecorated it all themselves because the only bit of the original café left is the takeaway sign. It was so nice to see it looking like it once did when it was open.
"They were setting up for a few days but the scene was very short. I did see myself and my boss working in the background, too."
The four-part psychological thriller is co-produced by Build Your Own Films, Vicky (Line of Duty, This is England, Trigger Point) and her fiancé Jonny Owen's new production company. Without Sin explores the relationship which develops between grieving mother Stella, played by Vicky, and the man she believes murdered her 14-year-old daughter Maisy.
Maisy is found dead at the family home with the bloodied, hooded figure of Charles Stone standing over her. Acclaimed film and television actor Johnny Harris, star of The Salisbury Poisonings, Medici and Troy: Fall of a City, plays Charles.
Film crews were also out across Nottingham for the latest Vicky McClure drama. It was reported in October 2021 that the Toton Lane tram stop, close to the A52 Bardills Island, was used as a base for ITV crews.
While filming did not take place at the site itself, cast and crew members were spotted in action across the city. And the final scenes were shot in Nottingham city centre in January.
Wollaton-born and BAFTA-winning Vicky posted photos on social media of herself and co-star Harris on day one and the final day, opposite the Cornerhouse. They were with the taxi her character Stella Tomlinson drives in the series, parked in the lay-by outside the Royal Centre.
Film crews were also spotted on Forest Road West, near the Forest Recreation Ground. Reports also suggest other landmarks including Notts County's Meadow Lane stadium feature in the drama.
Speaking previously, Vicky said: "It was lovely to see the filming happening around the city, and we've loads of different people involved and locations. Everyone has been really welcoming and helpful. It's been a joy.
"Me filming something set in Nottingham with a heavy Nottingham crew has been a massive tick on the list because I've been desperate to get that done. I think we've created something really unique and compelling so hopefully we'll get that out as soon as and Nottingham can sing on the screen."
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