House of Guinness stars Anthony Boyle and Seamus O’Hara share their top spot for a pint in Belfast

They chatted to Belfast Live on the red carpet in Dublin

Anticipation is growing for Netflix’s newest series House of Guinness.

Set in the 1860s, where the “powerful and debaucherous” Guinness family is on the precipice of greatness, all eight episodes of the show are set to be released on Thursday.

From the creator of Peaky Blinders, Steven Knight, House of Guinness explores an “epic story inspired by one of Europe’s most famous and enduring dynasties”.

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Ahead of its release next week, cast and crew took to the red carpet in Dublin earlier this week for a special screening of the first episode – attended by friends, family, stars and media.

Belfast Live chatted to the star-studded cast about what viewers can expect from the series, what surprises are in store and most importantly, where is good to get a pint of the black stuff in Belfast.

Watch the full red carpet video below…

We spoke to local talents Anthony Boyle and Seamus O’Hara about their roles in the show as Arthur Guinness, head of the family, and Patrick Cochrane, a republican figurehead.

Seamus said: “Patrick Coghan is the leader of the IRB, the Fenians in Dublin, so he’s a violent militant Irish nationalist, which is great fun to play – there was a lot of running and shouting and really getting my teeth into the concept of nation building.

“So it was really good fun.”

When asked what attracted him to the project and the role, Seamus said it was creator Steven Knight’s name which instantly caught his attention.

“Steven Knight’s one of the best writers, living writers working today and his work is just consistently magnificent- to be an actor and to get the opportunity to read his words is a stunning, stunning privilege.”

A proud Glens of Antrim man, it is unsurprising that Seamus’s favourite pint of Guinness can be found at the historic Mary McBride’s in his native Cushendun; he recommends The Duke of York and Lavery’s for a city pint of stout.

“There are too many good bars in Belfast,” he added.

After his critical success playing young Brendan Hughes in Say Nothing, Anthony Boyle is no stranger to embodying a historical figure on the screen.

As for who he would like to play next or could see himself playing in a biopic of their lives, he hasn’t got his sights set on anyone in particular yet.

He joked: “People always say I’ve just got like one of those generic white faces – if you squint at it long enough, you go ‘he sort of looks like your man’, so I think whoever they think I look like, I’ll play next.”

On stepping into the world of Guinness and taking on a massive role, Anthony said he thoroughly enjoyed the whole experience.

“It was good craic. It was a real joy to take the role and to do it.

“It was great to grow a moustache that looked like the Pringles man,” he laughed. “I just had a lot of fun doing it.”

Put the same question as Seamus on where is the best for Guinness in Belfast, he replied: “You’re looking at like the PD in Andytown or maybe like Madden’s or Kelly’s [Cellars] in the town.”

House of Guinness comes to Netflix on Thursday, September 25

VIDEO BY HARRY BATEMAN

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