Film crews spotted in manchester as they transform beloved pub for bbc show

A MANCHESTER PUB, DATING BACK TO THE 18TH CENTURY, IS BEING USED FOR FILMING THE HIT TV SHOW 16:08, 11 Feb 2025 Film crews have been spotted in the city centre today to shoot scenes for a

returning BBC show - with a beloved pub transformed into a new fictional venue. Crews were seen filming for the second season of comedy thriller series Black Ops, which stars BAFTA winner

Gbemisola Ikumelo as Dom, a woman who signs up to become a community police officer. The show also stars Hammed Animashaun and Akemnji Ndifornyen as Kay and Tevin.. Set to air on BBC One and

BBC iPlayer later this year, the second season will feature guest stars including Nigel Havers, Annette Badland, Ed Speleers, Tom Stourton and Cathy Tyson across the six episodes. Following

filming taking place in Wigan earlier this week, which saw flats in Scholes and Thomas Linacre Centre both used for scenes, crews have now taken to the city centre to film scenes involving

a pub. Taking over Kennedy Street, near St Peter’s Square and Deansgate, the Vine Inn pub has been transformed into fictional venue Bird Inn Hand. However, the popular drinking spot has

still retained most of its green exterior and its mosaic tiled frieze that has made it so familiar to visitors. Article continues below Originally an 18th century townhouse, the Grade

II-listed venue first became a pub in the 1880s The traditional pub is split across three levels today and features a cellar bar which includes a specialist ale and whiskey section. Most

recently, the pub expanded into the adjacent property, which is also being used for filming today. Production vans and make-up crews were also seen parked up on the nearby Booth Street.

Picking up where season one began in 2023, the second series will see Dom and Kay now working for the ‘decidedly unglamorous’ MI5. Speaking about returning for season two, lead star

Gbemisola, who won a BAFTA in 2020 for short film Brain in Gear, said: “Being back on set for series two is like rediscovering your favourite shoes. A little bit older and stiffer but even

more fabulous! Article continues below “I can’t believe some of the amazing things we’ve been able to achieve with this show the second time round. Fans of series one will be right at home

again with Dom and Kay’s crazy, funny shenanigans whilst old and new viewers alike will be totally invested in the stakes and real world danger they find themselves in.” Other shows to film

across Greater Manchester most recently also include Netflix's upcoming House of Guinness, set to star James Norton and Louis Partridge, which saw Stockport double up for Dublin.

Production crews on Netflix's next Harlan Coben drama, which will feature James Nesbitt, were also seen filming across the city-borough earlier this year.