Dry hire for brands and agencies
Dry Hire Café in Manchester: A Blank Canvas for Your Build
Strip BLACK MILK back and you get a bright, empty corner room on Oldham Street with three very large windows, a glass door and a tiled floor. Bring your own build, your own branding and your own crew. We hand you the keys and the café disappears until you hand it back.
Every table, chair and bench comes out, leaving a clear rectangle 4.7 m wide by 7.4 m deep. Vinyl the windows, wrap the signs, dress the walls. The only rule is that the café goes back to how you found it.
McDonald's, Pepsi MAX, Kellogg's, Bacardi and Man City x PUMA have all built in this room. Most arrive on a build day, open the next morning and strike the day after.
The blank canvas
- Clear floor 4.7 m x 7.4 m, about 35 m²
- Three very large windows plus glass door, all dressable
- Three external signs you can wrap
- All seating removable, nothing fixed
- Working kitchen and coffee bar behind the space
- Basement for secure storage and deliveries
- Load in beside the café on Houldsworth Street
- 24-hour access for build and strike
- Exclusive hire, closed to the public
The Space, Inside and Out
Inside: front corner
Three windows onto Oldham Street
The front of the room with every table out. Two side windows and the front window pull daylight across the whole floor.
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Inside: front corner
Glass door and front window
Looking out through the front door. Vinyl this glass and the whole corner becomes your brand from the street.
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Inside: side window
227 cm x 218 cm of glass
One of the two side windows onto Houldsworth Street, where your vans and trailers park.
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Inside: full room
Front to counter
The clear floor from the front window back to the counter and kitchen. 4.7 m wide, 7.4 m deep.
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Inside: full room
Looking back towards the bar
Counter, coffee bar and kitchen stay behind your build, or open them up as part of it.
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Inside: counter
The bar and kitchen entrance
Two-group La Marzocco, fridges and freezers behind the counter. Use them or leave them closed.
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Inside: full room, portrait
Floor to pendant lights
Portrait view of the whole room for vertical mock-ups and social formats.
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Inside: full room, portrait
Tiled floor to ceiling
The tile pattern, the counter and the lights in one vertical frame.
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Inside: side wall
Blank wall, side door
The long wall and side door with nothing on it. Wrap it, shelve it, screen it.
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Inside: side wall, portrait
Floor to ceiling
Pendant lights, painted walls and tiled floor. Everything you see can be covered for the hire.
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Outside: Oldham Street front
The front of the café
Front sign, front window and glass door onto Oldham Street, with the outside benches in place.
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Outside: corner
The corner from Houldsworth Street
Both side windows and the corner of the building, all dressable from the pavement.
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Outside: Houldsworth Street side
Side windows and benches
The licensed pavement area on the side street, with the benches that come out for a hire.
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Outside: corner, wide
The whole corner
Front and side in one frame, from across Oldham Street.
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Outside: corner, wide
Corner with the street
Same corner with Oldham Street running past. The busiest footfall is at weekends.
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Outside: corner, wide
Corner, second angle
Another angle on the corner for mock-ups of window vinyl and signage.
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Outside: Oldham Street approach
Walking up from Market Street
The approach along Oldham Street. Your window branding is seen from here first.
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Outside: Houldsworth Street
Looking down the side street
Houldsworth Street beside the café, where trailers, vans and kit park for load-in.
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Outside: Houldsworth Street
Looking back towards the café
The side street from the other end, with the café's side sign in view.
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Outside: side door
Load-in door on Houldsworth Street
The side door used for deliveries, build and strike.
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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
Dry Hire Specs
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Floor Space
With all furniture removed the room is a clear rectangle 4.7 m wide by 7.4 m deep, about 35 m² (375 sq ft). Tiled floor throughout.
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Photos for Mock-ups
Every photo on this page opens full size (up to 5712 px). Download them, drop them into your design or AI tools and mock up your build before you visit.
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Fully Staffed Instead?
Dry hire is one way to take the space. For a staffed hire with our team, catering and event management, or to see what brands have built here, go to the main venue hire page.
Venue hire at BLACK MILK -
Windows and Door
Front window 267 cm wide x 186 cm high. Two side windows each 227 cm wide x 218 cm high. Glass front door 78 cm wide x 184 cm high. All take vinyl, film or lighting.
Ask about pricing -
External Signs
Front sign 372 cm wide x 70 cm high. Two side signs each 232 cm wide x 40 cm high. Wrap or cover them with your brand for the hire.
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Seating Out, Seating In
Nothing is fixed. Three booths, two large tables and five tables of two all come out. Put them back in a new layout, or leave the room empty.
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Branding
We're open to anything that isn't permanent: walls, windows, floor, signs and counter. The café must be returned to how you found it.
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Build and Strike
Access is 24 hours for build, strike and deliveries. Build and strike days are charged at the same rate as event days. Usual consideration for neighbours on noise.
Ask about pricing -
Load In and Parking
Park beside the café on Houldsworth Street to unload. Free on-street parking 8pm to 8am. Nearest car park: Northern Quarter Car Park, Tib Street, M4 1LX.
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Basement Storage
Secure ambient storage downstairs. We'll take deliveries on your behalf in the run-up to the event and hold stock for a short time after.
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Power
Sufficient power on site for the lighting, screens and kit you bring. Send us your setup and we'll confirm.
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Kitchen and Bar
Full working kitchen behind the space: two-group La Marzocco coffee machine, commercial oven, griddles, blenders, fridges, freezers, ice cream display and dishwasher. Use it or leave it closed.
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Outside Space
Licensed pavement area at the front and side of the café for benches and seating, 11am to 11pm daily.
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Licensed and Insured
Full on and off licence 9am to 12:30am, 7 days a week. 5 star food hygiene rating. £5,000,000 public liability insurance. Happy to apply for a Temporary Event Notice if needed.
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Capacity
40 seated inside, 40 seated outside, 20 boardroom style, 60 standing.
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Staff and Support
Dry hire means you run it. If you'd rather not, our trained team and an event manager can be added, along with local marketing to our 150,000+ social followers.
Ask about pricing -
Nearby Suppliers
Screwfix and Toolstation for build supplies, B&Q for paint, Nisbets for catering kit, and a local printer we can introduce you to.
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Getting Here
88 Oldham Street, Northern Quarter, M4 1LF. Market Street and Piccadilly Gardens tram stops five minutes away, Piccadilly and Victoria stations ten minutes on foot.
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
Dry hire FAQs
What is dry hire at BLACK MILK?
You hire the empty café and run it yourself. We remove the furniture, hand over the keys and the space is yours to build in, brand and staff. Staff, catering and event management can be added if you want them.
How big is the space?
With all furniture removed the room is a clear rectangle 4.7 m wide by 7.4 m deep, about 35 m² (375 sq ft), plus the counter and kitchen behind and the basement below.
What are the window sizes?
Front window 267 cm wide x 186 cm high. Two side windows each 227 cm wide x 218 cm high. Glass front door 78 cm wide x 184 cm high.
Can we wrap the external signs?
Yes. The front sign is 372 cm wide x 70 cm high, and the two side signs are each 232 cm wide x 40 cm high.
Is any of the furniture fixed?
No. Three booths, two large tables and five tables of two all come out, as do the outside benches.
What can we change?
Anything that isn't permanent: walls, windows, floor, signs and counter. The café must be returned to how you found it at the end of the hire.
When can we build?
Access is 24 hours for build, strike and deliveries. Build and strike days are charged at the same rate as event days. Please keep noise in mind for the neighbours overnight.
Where do we unload?
Beside the café on Houldsworth Street. Free on-street parking there from 8pm to 8am. The nearest car park is Northern Quarter Car Park on Tib Street, M4 1LX.
Can you receive deliveries before the event?
Yes. We'll take deliveries on your behalf in the run-up and store them securely in the basement, and hold stock for a short time after.
Is there enough power?
There's sufficient power on site for the lighting, screens and equipment you bring. Send us your setup and we'll confirm.
Can we use the kitchen and coffee machine?
Yes. The kitchen has a two-group La Marzocco coffee machine, commercial oven, griddles, blenders, fridges, freezers, an ice cream display and a dishwasher. Anything broken is repaired or replaced at the hirer's cost.
Can we serve alcohol?
Yes. We hold a full on and off licence from 9am to 12:30am, seven days a week, and can apply for a Temporary Event Notice if your event needs something different.
Can we use the outside space?
Yes. Our pavement licence covers the front and side of the café for seating from 11am to 11pm daily. Customers must be seated and glassware isn't allowed outside.
What's the capacity?
40 seated inside, 40 seated outside, 20 boardroom style, 60 standing.
Is the hire exclusive?
Yes. The café closes to the public for the whole hire.
Who has built here before?
McDonald's built The Sauce Stop, Pepsi MAX built the Pulse Shop, Kellogg's built the Corn-er Shop, Bacardi built the Breezer Cornerbop, and Man City x PUMA x A$AP Rocky built the Don't Be Dumb Caff. Read the case studies on the venue hire page.
Can we get a floor plan?
Yes. Ask and we'll send the licence plan and dimensions, or come and measure up before you commit.
How much does dry hire cost?
Every build is different, so we quote per booking. Tell us the dates, build and strike time, and what you're planning, and we'll come back with availability and a price.