British Grove Studios is a recording studio located at 20 British Grove in Chiswick, West London, owned by musician Mark Knopfler. British Grove Studios was built by David Stewart, the studio's former manager, commissioned by Knopfler as "a monument to past and future technology". It has two studios. Alongside modern technology, the equipment includes two old EMI mixing consoles: a very rare tube desk from the 1960s like the ones used by George Martin and The Beatles and a later console on which the albumBand on the Run was recorded. The large console in studio one is a custom-made Neve 88R, while the console in studio two is an API Legacy. The main speakers are ATC monitors in a 5.1 configuration. Specifically, the full-range models are ATC SCM 300ASL mounted in standard left-center-right configuration, with two more 300As on a unique track system for surround. Dual ATC SCM0.1/15ASL PRO subwoofers alongside the left and right mains provide the LFE monitoring. In February 2009, British Grove Studio was the winner of the Music Producers Guild Award for 'Best Studio'. Before Richard Wright died in 2008, he went to British Grove Studios to record a missing piano part from "Shine on You Crazy Diamond" by Pink Floyd. This was found to be missing by James Guthrie, who was remixing the Wish You Were Here album for an SACD release.
Recordings
The following albums were recorded at British Grove Studios:
Together, David Stewart and Dave Harries set up 'British Grove Studios' in the early 2000's for Mark Knopfler of Dire Straits. As cited in 'The Chiswick Calendar', 'David Stewart knew Mark through his wife Robyn, who was Mark’s PA. He introduced Mark to Dave Harries with whom he had been working for ten years already at that point, and the two of them set about scouring west London in 2000 – 2001 looking for suitable properties'. They decided upon the property in Chiswick largely because of its size and proximity to Heathrow airport, convenient for the numerous American artists travelling to record at the studio. Upon its completion, Stewart made the natural progression of becoming 'Studio Manager'. On the 9th of April 2020, Stewart tragically died of complications from Covid-19. In a statement from Knopfler he said, "I am very sad to announce the loss of our dear friend David Stewart, our studio Manager. David will be sorely missed, not only by everyone at British Grove but also by everybody who knew him. Our hearts go out to our beloved Robyn and their two sons Jake and Tommy".
