Venue Hire
Manchester Venue Hire at BLACK MILK
BLACK MILK isn't just a venue. It's a Manchester institution with a cult following and a genuine feel for the city's food and culture, bringing personality, credibility and a built-in audience to every brand experience.
You'll find us on a high-visibility corner in the heart of the Northern Quarter. Characterful interiors and a flexible footprint make the space ideal for immersive takeovers, content creation and community-focused events.
McDonald's, Pepsi Max, Kellogg's, Bacardi and Man City x Puma have all built activations in our venue. The café has appeared on Netflix, Channel 4 and the BBC.
Key Features
- 150,000+ social media followers
- 40,000 strong email list
- Established destination
- Northern Quarter location
- High-visibility corner frontage
- Flexible event layout
- Fully licensed venue
- Experienced on-site team
- Excellent city centre connectivity
Recent Events At BLACK MILK
Brand Activation
Man City x PUMA x A$AP Rocky
BLACK MILK became the Don't Be Dumb Caff for one night: around 300 fans, a DJ and the first chance to buy the limited edition jersey. Built by Ear to the Ground.
Read the case study
Experiential Marketing
McDonald's The Sauce Stop
McDonald's built The Sauce Stop, its first space dedicated to its dips, inside our Northern Quarter café. Find out how the weekend dry hire went.
Read the case study
Brand Activation
Pepsi MAX Pulse Shop
Pepsi MAX turned the café into a branded corner shop for the 2024 UK relaunch, with 30 creators filming on the day. We provided the venue and staffing.
Read the case study
Pop Up Retail
Kellogg's Corn-er Shop
W Communications transformed our café into a nostalgic Kellogg's corner shop to launch Chocolate Corn Flakes. 750 portions served over two days, with two days of set build.
Read the case study
Film and TV
Brother Sewing commercial shoot
McGill Productions used our café as a film set for a Brother sewing machine promotional video aimed at small business owners. We provided the location and extras.
Product Launch
Breezer Cornerbop
Bacardi brought Breezer back to the UK with a corner shop party at BLACK MILK: two DJs, three new flavours and over 40 guests. Built by Ask The Impossible.
Read the case study
Documentary Filming Location
Stacey Dooley: Meet the Shoplifters, BBC
Little Dooley filmed interviews for Stacey Dooley's BBC documentary on Britain's shoplifting epidemic in our café. The Manchester-based film follows shop staff and the people stealing from them.
Watch on iPlayer
Café Filming Location
Feel Good, Netflix and Channel 4
Tiger Aspect took over our café as a filming location for the Channel 4 and Netflix drama Feel Good.
Watch
TV Filming Location
Boiling Point, BBC
BLACK MILK was a café location for a scene in the BBC hit Boiling Point featuring Stephen Graham.
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
Venue Info
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Easy Vehicle Access
Park film trailers or events kit next to the café on Houldsworth Street.
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Perfect Location
High footfall location at the heart of Manchester's trendiest area.
Google Maps -
Capacity
40 café-style seats inside and 40 outdoors
20 boardroom-style for meetings
60 standing -
Flexible Layout
Hire our space as a functioning café or as a blank canvas for dry hire. See the empty room, dimensions and full-size photos for mock-ups.
See the blank canvas -
Three Large Windows
Add vinyl or illuminated lighting to the corner frontage on Oldham Street.
Ask about pricing -
Fully Licensed Venue
We hold an on and off licence, so alcohol can be served on site.
Bacardi Event -
Working Kitchen
Full working kitchen and coffee machine on site for food events.
Ask about pricing -
Fast WiFi
Free 5G WiFi and office space for quick turnaround and upload of video content.
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5 Star Food Hygiene
Rated 5 for food hygiene, with £5,000,000 public liability insurance.
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35 m² Event Space
375 sq ft event floor with a large storage area.
Dimensions and photos -
Power
Sufficient power on site for any equipment you want to bring.
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Hours and Access
Events run 9am to 12:30am. Access for build, strike and deliveries is 24 hours.
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
Venue hire FAQs
Can we hire BLACK MILK as a dry hire?
Yes. Take the space as a blank canvas and bring your own build, or hire it as a working café with our team. There's a working kitchen and coffee machine behind the counter either way.
Which brands have used the venue?
McDonald's built The Sauce Stop here. Pepsi Max ran the Pulse Shop, Kellogg's launched Chocolate Corn Flakes with a Corn-er Shop, and Bacardi relaunched Breezer. The café has also been a filming location for Netflix, Channel 4 and the BBC.
What's the capacity?
60 standing, 40 seated inside, 40 seated outside, or 20 boardroom style.
How long can we hire it for?
From one hour to a full week or more, any day of the year.
Can we have build and strike days?
Yes. Build and strike days are charged at the same rate as event days.
Can we brand the windows or change the interior?
Yes. Three large windows on the corner of Oldham Street take vinyl or illuminated lighting, and you can adapt the interior to suit your build. The only condition is that the café is returned to its original condition afterwards.
Is there vehicle access for trailers and kit?
Yes. Film trailers and event kit can park beside the café on Houldsworth Street.
Is the venue licensed and insured?
Yes. On and off licence for alcohol, 5 star food hygiene rating and £5,000,000 public liability insurance.
Can you provide staff?
Yes. Trained staff and an on-site event manager are available, or go fully dry hire.
Can you cater the event?
We can supply desserts, tea and coffee from our own kitchen, or you can bring your own caterer.
Where is it and how do people get there?
88 Oldham Street in the Northern Quarter, a short walk from Market Street and ten minutes from Piccadilly and Victoria stations.
Does the café close to the public during a hire?
Yes, every hire is exclusive. We're also open to collaboration events that run alongside the café.
What audience does BLACK MILK bring?
Over 150,000 social media followers and a 40,000 strong email list, plus a high footfall corner in Manchester's busiest independent district.
Is there enough power for our equipment?
Yes. There's sufficient power on site for any equipment you want to bring. Tell us what you're planning and we'll confirm the setup.
Are there any time or noise restrictions?
Events can run between 9am and 12:30am. Access for build, strike and deliveries is 24 hours. The usual consideration applies to construction noise during builds, as the café sits among neighbouring businesses and homes.
How much notice do you need?
Very little. We can turn around last minute bookings quickly, so get in touch even if your date is close.
How much does it cost?
Every event is different, so we quote per booking. Tell us what you have in mind and we'll come back with availability and a price.