Best warehouse shoot locations in the UK
The UK's most useful industrial spaces for film and photography — by city, with real access information.
Industrial spaces are the workhorse of UK film and photography production. They’re adaptable, they photograph neutrally, and — outside London — they’re often affordable enough that a production can hold the space for two days without it dominating the budget. Here are the locations worth knowing, organised by city.
London: Hackney Wick
Hackney Wick Warehouses in E9 is where the majority of London’s working warehouse hire happens. The Fish Island and Hackney Wick area contains the highest concentration of bookable industrial spaces in the country — over a dozen units ranging from 500 to 5,000 square feet, renting at approximately £250–900 per day. The character varies: some units have polished concrete floors and reclaimed brick; others are raw and functional. Most have vehicle access.
The area has been transforming steadily since the 2012 Olympics, and the supply of genuinely raw spaces is tighter than it was five years ago. Scout before you commit, and be specific about what character you need.
Manchester: Mayfield Depot
Mayfield Depot is the former railway goods warehouse adjacent to Piccadilly Station. At approximately 40,000 square feet on the main floor, it is the largest single warehouse-type space available in Manchester city centre. The building has been repurposed as an events venue, so it is managed at venue rates rather than as raw industrial hire — but the Victorian brick, steel and timber structure is exceptional. Used for events, concerts, and film production.
1830 Warehouse at Castlefield is a smaller but historically significant building — the original 1830 railway warehouse at the terminus of the Liverpool & Manchester Railway. Managed by the Science and Industry Museum; available for evening and weekend hire.
Bristol: Tobacco Factory
Tobacco Factory Bristol in Southville is a former Wills’ tobacco processing building repurposed as an arts venue and workspace. The main venue space retains the industrial character of the original — high ceilings, original factory floor, exposed steel — at scale sufficient for a genuine production. Factory Studios Bristol in the same general area is the more production-focused option for commercial shoots.
Liverpool: The Baltic Triangle
Liverpool’s Baltic Triangle — the industrial fringe between the city centre and the south docks — contains a growing cluster of creative and production spaces. Fabric Studios Liverpool is the best-established production facility here. The wider area has independent warehouse landlords who take production hire enquiries; the Liverpool Film Office can point you to current availability.
Glasgow: The Industrial South Side
Rebel Loop Studios and Broadscope Studios both operate in Glasgow’s post-industrial zones. The city’s advantage is price — Glasgow’s day rates for comparable spaces are consistently lower than Manchester, let alone London.
Birmingham: Digbeth
Digbeth is Birmingham’s creative quarter and has excellent warehouse stock. Black Star Studio Digbeth and Anchor Point Aston are the best-known production facilities in the area. The Custard Factory complex nearby has additional space and a creative community. Birmingham is underused in film production relative to its size and the quality of its industrial location stock.
Newcastle: Gateshead Quays
Gateshead Quays on the south bank of the Tyne has post-industrial warehouse buildings alongside the Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art. The combination of industrial architecture and the Tyne Bridge as a backdrop gives the area a specific visual identity. Rates are competitive with Glasgow and significantly below London.
What to look for in any warehouse
Before committing to any industrial space, confirm: ceiling height (minimum 3.5m for practical lighting), power supply (32A or three-phase for production-scale lighting), vehicle access, parking, and whether there are noise or hours restrictions. Raw warehouses that have been converted into event venues will often have noise restrictions that make them unsuitable for production sound recording.