Film crew hire/Birmingham/Props and wardrobe
Props and wardrobe for Birmingham shoots. Where it comes from, and who runs it on the day.
Birmingham has no film prop house we could confirm, so hired props and period costume come from the RSC’s stores in Stratford-upon-Avon, or up from London’s houses and down from Manchester’s. What the city does have is Bullring & Grand Central, the Rag Market’s fabric stalls and the Jewellery Quarter’s makers. Here’s where to go, how hire is charged, and what Production Central WM wants to know about a replica gun. We book the stylist, props buyer or art director, and run it on the day.
RSC Costume Hire · Stratford
60,000+ items
RSC hire · second week
50% of week one
Picture cars 40+ years old · CAZ
No charge
Stylist · day rate
£519–647
On this page
01 The people
Who runs props and wardrobe on a shoot
On a corporate interview off Colmore Row, often nobody: the contributor wears their own clothes and the set is the meeting room. On a brand film or an advert, these are the people, at our day rates. We book them from Birmingham where we can, and from Manchester, London or Bristol where the brief needs them, with travel on the quote.
| Role | What they do | Day rate |
|---|---|---|
| Art director | Designs the look of the set and runs the art department | £675–878 |
| Props buyer | Finds, buys or hires everything on screen, and knows what to buy in the city and what to bring in | £493–585 |
| Set builders | Build, paint and strike the set | £341–512 |
| Stylist | Chooses and fits the wardrobe for talent and contributors | £519–647 |
| Costume | Designs, sources and fits costume for period or character work | £519–694 |
| Wardrobe assistant | Dresses the cast and keeps continuity on the day | £341–398 |
| Hair and make-up | Gets people camera-ready, and keeps them that way | £398, plus a £25 kit fee |
| Armourer | Looks after any firearm or offensive weapon on set, which Production Central WM’s code requires | Quoted on the brief |
Full production · Oslo, Norway · 2026
A stylist with a returns day
For the Oslo chapter of AI for Empowerment, the stylist was booked for a prep day, the shoot day and half a day for returns. Most styling jobs need all three, so all three go on the quote.
Crew hire · Canary Wharf, London · Oct 2024
A podcast set on the 48th floor
When the planned office fell through, a US media agency moved its podcast panels to a day-hired floor of One Canada Square, eight days out. An art director dressed it for three cameras, with podcast mics on boom arms as dressing and logos covered, and one hair and make-up artist looked after the host and three guests.
How we crew it · Birmingham
Bought in the city, hired from outside it
Contemporary wardrobe and small props bought at Bullring & Grand Central, fabric from the Rag Market, period costume booked in Stratford or London and fitted before the day, and the van on a bay suspended through Production Central WM. Every purchase and hire is its own line on the quote.
02 Props
Prop hire and set dressing
We couldn’t find a film prop house in Birmingham with a live site in October 2026. The nearest hire store is the RSC’s, in Stratford-upon-Avon; the big houses are down the M40 in London and up the M6 in Manchester.
Stratford-upon-Avon · Timothy’s Bridge Road, CV37 9UY
RSC Prop Hire
Props from the Royal Shakespeare Company’s productions, from chairs and luggage to skulls, seagulls, stuffed bears and food, hired to theatre, film and TV. Non-working props only: it won’t hire guns or weapons.
London · Park Royal, NW10 7BX
Superhire
Furniture and accessories, with themed ranges for diners, hospitals, schools and police stations. It doesn’t deliver: bring an enclosed van.
London · Bermondsey, SE16 3PB
National Theatre Costume & Props Hire
Furniture, props and armour from past National Theatre productions, down to severed heads, stuffed animals and fake food.
Manchester · Trafford Park, M17 1JL
Stockyard North
70,000 sq ft of props, set dressing and furniture, with transport among its services.
Worth knowing
Production Central WM’s code of practice asks productions to give location owners written details of any art department work, dressing and construction included. Send them before the van turns up, not on the day. West Midlands Code of Practice.
03 Wardrobe
Costume and wardrobe
The biggest costume store near Birmingham is the RSC’s, in Stratford-upon-Avon. In the city, one theatre wardrobe hires by appointment. Book the fitting before you book the shoot.
Stratford-upon-Avon · The Other Place, CV37 6BH
RSC Costume Hire
More than 60,000 costumes and accessories, most made by the RSC’s own costume department: historical, modern and fantasy, military uniforms from every period, footwear, jewellery and millinery. It works with production companies on film, TV, photoshoots and stage.
Brindleyplace · Sheepcote Street, B16 8AE
The Crescent Theatre
A wardrobe built up over 80 years: Roman, medieval, Victorian, Edwardian and the 1920s to the 1960s, with uniforms and dinner jackets. It’s offered for plays and events, so ask whether a shoot qualifies.
London · Hendon, NW9 6AA
Angels Costumes
More than a million items and “eight miles of hanging costume”, with military and civilian uniform collections. Now part of John Gore Studios.
London · Bermondsey, SE16 3PB
National Theatre Costume Hire
Over 100,000 costumes from past productions. Reserve for up to four weeks, or take them away on the day.
Our crew
Stylists, costume and make-up
We book costume designers and stylists, and hair and make-up artists, with the rest of the crew. Wardrobe runs the fittings before the day, and the rails and continuity photos on it.
04 In the city
What a stylist buys in Birmingham
Bullring & Grand Central
Birmingham’s largest shopping centre, above New Street station, with Selfridges for designer pieces. A contemporary wardrobe can be bought in a morning; the stylist keeps the receipts and returns what doesn’t go on camera. Bullring & Grand Central.
The Rag Market
350 stalls and 17 shops of fashions, fabrics and haberdashery in the Bull Ring markets, open Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday (checked October 2026). Lining, trim and buttons for a costume maker, or a cloth for a dressed table. Rag Market.
The Indoor Market
Carpets, household linens and clothing, Monday to Saturday: dressing for a home that has to look lived in. Birmingham’s markets.
The Jewellery Quarter
Birmingham has made jewellery here since the 18th century, and still does. When a character needs a real ring or chain rather than a costume piece, the makers are here, and so is the Assay Office, hallmarking since 1773. The Jewellery Quarter’s story.
A fitting in London
When Stratford doesn’t have the period stock, London is a day trip: Euston is 1 hour 17 minutes from New Street on the fastest trains (checked October 2026), so the stylist can be at a fitting there and back the same evening.
05 Specialist
Replica weapons, uniforms, vehicles and the street
Weapons
Production Central WM’s code of practice wants firearms and weapons discussed with the film office in advance, and it consults West Midlands Police and the emergency services. An armourer has to be on set whenever firearms or offensive weapons are used, the production keeps real and replica weapons in safe custody throughout, and extra licences may be needed. The code gives no notice period, so raise it on the first call. West Midlands Code of Practice.
The law
Section 12 of the Firearms Act 1968 lets people taking part in a film production have a firearm for the production without holding a certificate. Supplying it and looking after it is the armourer’s job: the RSC’s prop store won’t hire guns or weapons at all. Firearms Act 1968, section 12.
Staged crimes and effects
A staged crime or accident is on the code’s list for West Midlands Police. Stunts, special effects and pyrotechnics need a qualified co-ordinator or effects operative, the emergency services consulted, the neighbours told, and seven days’ notice to the film office (checked October 2026).
Uniforms
Impersonating a police officer is an offence, so the code asks for actors’ police uniforms to be covered wherever possible, between takes especially, and West Midlands Police are told. Fire and ambulance uniforms and lookalike vehicles go to the fire and ambulance services the same way.
Police-lookalike vehicles
Livery covered whenever the car isn’t filming or is driven on the road, no siren on location at any time, and flashing lights off when they’re not in shot.
Picture cars
Cars On Screen, based in Trentham, Stoke-on-Trent, lists privately owned classic, modified and sports cars, bikes and vans for productions across the UK, and sources vehicles for longer shoots. The production insures the car, agrees a mileage limit and moves it on a trailer. Cars On Screen.
Picture cars and the Clean Air Zone
Inside the A4540 Middleway, a historic vehicle, built or first registered at least 40 years ago, pays no charge, and nor does a military one. A younger car that isn’t Euro 4 petrol or Euro 6 diesel pays £8 a day (checked October 2026). Production Central WM on the Clean Air Zone.
Changing the street
Painting out road markings, yellow lines or signs needs the council’s approval, West Midlands Police are told, and the production puts it all back. Taking down street signs or pay-and-display machines is agreed through Production Central WM and normally done by the council’s contractor, at the production’s cost. And if props would block an emergency vehicle’s way, ask the film office first: it can mean a road closure.
06 Costs
How prop and costume hire is charged
By the week
The RSC hires by the week, with a one-week minimum and no part weeks: full price for the first week, 50% for the second and 25% for weeks three to 12. After that props drop to 10%, and costume is 10% for weeks 13 to 20. A full costume is about £90 + VAT for the first week (checked October 2026).
London’s houses
Superhire charges 10% of each item’s risk value for the first week, 5% for the second and 2.5% for each week after, with a minimum of £100 + VAT on every contract (checked October 2026).
Risk value
Every hired item has one: the replacement cost if it doesn’t come back. At Superhire the hirer insures it against all risks from collection to return.
The van
Superhire supplies no transport, so a London collection is a van day on the quote: an enclosed van with blankets and ties. Back in Birmingham, a van below Euro 6 diesel or Euro 4 petrol pays the Clean Air Zone’s £8 a day inside the A4540 Middleway, and its bay is suspended through Production Central WM at £18.90, for technical vehicles parked beside the shoot (checked October 2026). Parking and the Clean Air Zone.
Couriers and holds
RSC Costume Hire can courier, next day and on Saturdays, and hold a selection for up to six weeks, both at extra cost. Its prop store will pick props and email pictures if you can’t get there.
Cancellation
Superhire charges 30% of the hire to cancel a confirmed or packed order more than 24 hours out, and 50% (at least £50 + VAT) inside 24 hours or if it isn’t collected.
On our quote
Purchases and hires go on at cost, each on its own line, with the prep and returns days most jobs need. Returns are scheduled like a shoot day, so hire charges don’t run on.
Need props or wardrobe?
Tell us what’s in the frame. We’ll book the stylist, buyer or art director, buy it in the city or bring it in, and put each item on the quote. Or call us on 07412 543822.
Quick contact form
07 Questions
Props and wardrobe in Birmingham: questions
Where can I hire props in Birmingham?
Not in the city itself: we couldn’t find a film prop house in Birmingham with a live site in October 2026. The nearest hire store is the RSC’s in Stratford-upon-Avon, open to film and TV by appointment on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Furniture and themed ranges come from London’s houses, Superhire in Park Royal among them, or from Stockyard North in Trafford Park, Manchester. Smaller props and dressing are often bought in the city.
How much does prop hire cost?
It’s charged by the week. The RSC charges full price for week one, 50% for week two and 25% for weeks three to 12, with a one-week minimum. Superhire, in London, charges 10% of each item’s risk value for the first week, 5% for the second and 2.5% after that, with a £100 + VAT minimum (checked October 2026).
Can I hire costumes in Birmingham?
The biggest store nearby is RSC Costume Hire in Stratford-upon-Avon: more than 60,000 costumes and accessories, military uniforms from every period included, hired to film and TV by appointment, at about £90 + VAT for a full costume for the first week. In the city, the Crescent Theatre by Brindleyplace hires from an 80-year wardrobe for plays and events, by appointment. Contemporary clothes are bought at Bullring & Grand Central.
Can I use a replica gun on a shoot in Birmingham?
Yes, with the film office told first. Production Central WM’s code of practice says firearms and weapons are discussed with it in advance, and it consults West Midlands Police and the emergency services. An armourer must be on set, the production keeps replica weapons in safe custody throughout, and extra licences may be needed.
Can actors wear police uniform on a Birmingham street?
Yes, with West Midlands Police told through the film office. Impersonating a police officer is an offence, so the code asks for uniforms to be covered between takes. A car that looks like a police car keeps its livery covered off camera, never uses a siren on location, and has its lights off when they’re not in shot.
Do picture cars pay the Clean Air Zone charge?
Not if they’re historic: Production Central WM says vehicles built or first registered at least 40 years ago, and military vehicles, are exempt automatically. Anything younger that isn’t Euro 4 petrol or Euro 6 diesel pays £8 a day inside the A4540 Middleway (checked October 2026).
Do you supply stylists and hair and make-up?
Yes. We book stylists, costume designers and hair and make-up artists from Birmingham where we can, and from Manchester, London or Bristol where the brief needs them, with travel on the quote. A stylist is £519–647 a day and hair and make-up £398, before our 10% booking fee and 2% insurance.
Around the crew
More for Birmingham shoots
01
Kit rental
Kit houses at the NEC and on Hagley Road, the crew’s own kit, and what comes up from London.
02
Locations and permits
Production Central WM, the canals, New Street, the parks and the airport’s drone zone.
03
Studios and set builds
Digbeth Loc., Curzon Street, blackout and green screen studios, and set builds.
