Film and TV location
Café Filming Location in Manchester
BLACK MILK is a working café on a bright corner of Oldham Street in the Northern Quarter, available to hire as a location for drama, commercials, music videos, stills and social content.
Three very large windows light the room, film trailers park beside the building on Houldsworth Street, and the café closes to the public for the whole hire so your crew has the space to themselves. The basement doubles as a green room or a second location.
Filming credits include Feel Good for Channel 4 and Netflix, Boiling Point for the BBC, BBC See Hear, and a Brother commercial shot by McGill Productions.
At a glance
- Corner café with three very large windows
- Basement green room or second location
- Trailer and unit parking beside the café
- 24-hour access for rig and de-rig
- Exclusive hire, closed to the public
- Sufficient power for lighting and kit
- Working kitchen and coffee machine
- Free 5G WiFi and office space
- Café staff and manager on site if needed
Filmed at BLACK MILK
TV Drama
Feel Good, Channel 4 and Netflix
Tiger Aspect took over the café as a filming location for the Channel 4 and Netflix drama Feel Good.
Watch
TV Drama
Boiling Point, BBC
BLACK MILK was a café location for a scene in the BBC hit Boiling Point featuring Stephen Graham.
TV Documentary
See Hear, BBC
The BBC's See Hear has filmed at the café several times, including a Café Conversations segment with Punk Chef in British Sign Language.
Watch on iPlayer
Commercial
Brother Sewing commercial
McGill Productions used the café as a film set for a Brother sewing machine promotional video aimed at small business owners. We provided the location and extras.
Content Shoot
Pepsi MAX Pulse Shop
Pepsi MAX turned the café into a branded corner shop, with 30 creators filming on the day. We provided the venue and staffing.
Read the case study
Brand Build
McDonald's The Sauce Stop
McDonald's built The Sauce Stop inside the café over a weekend dry hire, a full set build and strike in our space.
Read the case study
Brand Activation
Man City x PUMA x A$AP Rocky
The café became the Don't Be Dumb Caff for one night, built by Ear to the Ground.
Read the case study
What makes BLACK MILK unique
88 Oldham St, Manchester, M4 1LF
Perfect Location
High footfall location at the heart of Manchester's trendiest area.
Friendly Team
Well-trained staff and an event manager available for your event.
Well Known Destination
Along side our popular cafe, we have hosted some of the worlds biggest brands
Location Info
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Unit and Trailer Parking
Park film trailers, vans and kit next to the café on Houldsworth Street.
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Natural Light
Three very large windows on the corner of Oldham Street. Dress them with vinyl or lighting to suit the scene.
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Basement Green Room
The basement works as a green room, holding area or wardrobe for cast and crew, or as a second location in its own right.
Check availability -
Hours and Access
Filming can run 9am to 12:30am. Access for rig, de-rig and deliveries is 24 hours.
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Power
Sufficient power on site for the lighting and equipment you bring. Send us your setup and we'll confirm.
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Exclusive Hire
The café closes to the public for the whole hire, so you control the space and the sound.
Check availability -
Dress the Set
Alter the interior and windows to suit the script, as long as the café is returned to its original condition.
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Working Kitchen
Full working kitchen and coffee machine for food scenes, or crew catering.
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Size and Capacity
35 m² (375 sq ft) event floor with a large storage area.
40 seated inside, 40 outside, 60 standing. -
Crew Facilities
Free 5G WiFi and office space for quick turnaround and upload of rushes.
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Staff and Extras
Trained café staff and an on-site manager available if the brief needs them. We supplied extras for the Brother shoot.
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Booking
From one hour to a week or more, any day of the year. Last-minute bookings turned around fast.
Check availability -
Licensed and Insured
On and off licence, 5 star food hygiene rating and £5,000,000 public liability insurance.
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Getting Here
88 Oldham Street, Northern Quarter, M4 1LF. A short walk from Market Street and ten minutes from Piccadilly and Victoria stations.
Google Maps
Venue Hire
Talk to us about your event
Tell us what you have in mind and we will get back to you with availability and a price.
Send an enquiry
Filming location FAQs
Can we hire the café as a filming location?
Yes. BLACK MILK is available for drama, commercials, music videos, stills and social content, from one hour to a week or more, any day of the year.
Does the café close to the public while we film?
Yes. Every hire is exclusive, so the café is closed to the public for the whole booking.
Is there a green room or holding area for cast and crew?
Yes. The basement can be used as a green room, holding area or wardrobe, or as a second location in its own right.
Where can we park trailers and unit vehicles?
Film trailers and kit can park next to the café on Houldsworth Street.
What are the filming hours?
Filming can run between 9am and 12:30am. Access for rig, de-rig and deliveries is 24 hours. The usual consideration applies to noise during builds, as the café sits among neighbouring businesses and homes.
Is there enough power for our lighting?
There's sufficient power on site for any equipment you want to bring. Send us your setup and we'll confirm.
What's the natural light like?
The café sits on a corner with three very large windows onto Oldham Street, so the room is brightly lit. The windows take vinyl or lighting if the scene needs it.
Can we dress the set?
Yes. Alter the interior and windows to suit the script. The only condition is that the café is returned to its original condition afterwards.
How big is the space?
35 m² (375 sq ft) of floor space with a large storage area, plus the basement. It seats 40 inside and 40 outside, or holds 60 standing.
Can we use the kitchen?
Yes. There's a full working kitchen and coffee machine for food scenes, and we can supply desserts, tea and coffee for the crew or you can bring your own caterer.
Can you provide staff or extras?
Yes. Trained café staff and an on-site manager are available, and we supplied extras for the Brother commercial.
Is there WiFi for uploading rushes?
Yes. Free 5G WiFi and office space for quick turnaround and upload of video content.
What has been filmed here before?
Feel Good for Channel 4 and Netflix, a scene in the BBC's Boiling Point with Stephen Graham, the BBC's See Hear, which has filmed here several times, and a Brother commercial by McGill Productions. McDonald's, Pepsi MAX, Kellogg's and Bacardi have also built activations and content shoots in the café.
Is the venue insured?
Yes. £5,000,000 public liability insurance, 5 star food hygiene rating, and an on and off licence for alcohol.
How much notice do you need?
Very little. We can turn around last-minute bookings quickly, so get in touch even if your shoot date is close.
How much does it cost?
Every shoot is different, so we quote per booking. Tell us the dates, crew size and what you're planning and we'll come back with availability and a price.
Where is the café?
88 Oldham Street in the Northern Quarter, Manchester M4 1LF. A short walk from Market Street and ten minutes from Piccadilly and Victoria stations.