Where was Tip Toe filmed? The real Canal Street bar doubling for Spit & Polish

by

Russell T Davies is returning to Channel 4 with a new drama that feels like a follow-up to his iconic series, Queer as Folk. While revisiting familiar locations, the new show offers a fresh take on the stories and characters.

The new series, described by its creator as urgently important, highlights the growing problem of prejudice against LGBTQ+ people in Britain. This issue is presented as part of a larger trend of increasing division and distrust between different communities.

Leo (Alan Cumming) and Clive (David Morrissey) are next-door neighbors who’ve gotten along well for over ten years. But when an embarrassing situation happens, their friendly relationship quickly falls apart.

I’m bracing myself for a really unsettling story, but one that feels important. It seems to be a plea for us to talk to each other more and be kinder, because the alternative could be disastrous. It all unfolds in a well-known city, and specifically focuses on its vibrant LGBTQ+ neighborhood, which adds another layer to the narrative.

Want to know where the movie Tip Toe was filmed? We’ve got the details, including the actual bar used as Leo’s bar, Spit & Polish, and the location of the street where the movie’s key scenes take place.

Where was Tip Toe filmed?

The movie Tip Toe was filmed in Manchester, and the city’s vibrant Canal Street—known as its gay quarter—plays a big part in the story. It’s where Leo sets up his make-believe bar, Spit & Polish.

The interior scenes were shot at an actual gay bar on Canal Street called The Church, which used to be known as Churchills. Director Peter Hoar praised the bar’s staff, saying they were incredibly helpful during filming.

Nicola Shindler, an executive producer on Tip Toe, shared that she and Russell Davies had filmed on Canal Street in 1998 for Queer as Folk. However, she pointed out that the experience of filming there nearly three decades later felt quite different, particularly in terms of how they were received.

Looking back, there was a big difference with the first season of Queer as Folk. At the time, no one really understood what we were trying to achieve, so there was a lot of scrutiny and concern about whether we’d offend viewers – which, unsurprisingly, we ended up doing.

Now, I believe people have calmed down and realized Russell’s intentions, and they went ahead and fully reopened the street.

Davies told press how he aimed to make Spit & Polish feel authentic, despite its fictitious nature.

He said he hadn’t been to Canal Street in a while, so he decided to visit. He’s familiar with the area – he knows the landlords and pub owners, and has spent a lot of time chatting with staff, even enjoying drag brunch. He noticed how incredibly busy everyone is, and how much constant work it takes to keep things running.

Another important filming location in Tip Toe is the street where Leo and Clive live. The outside shots of their homes were filmed on Saxon Street in Miles Platting, an inner-city neighborhood of Manchester.

Cinematography World reported that filming some scenes for the intense series needed streets to be temporarily closed to traffic.

The scenes taking place inside the houses weren’t actually filmed in real homes. They were shot at the nearby Space Studios, where the team, led by manager Dean Sinacola, created a detailed set to represent Tip Toe’s world.

He explained that they constructed multiple interconnected interior sets on stage over an 18-week period at the end of 2025. Because the studios were conveniently located near the city center, the production team could film both on location and on the soundstage in the same day, which is unusual.

Want to see this content?

I’ve noticed this page uses a security feature called Google reCAPTCHA to help keep things safe and prevent automated abuse. Before it loads anything, it politely asks for my permission – which I appreciate! It does this because reCAPTCHA uses cookies and similar technologies. If I choose to ‘Accept and continue,’ it will allow reCAPTCHA to do its job and protect the site.

Tip Toe premieres on Channel 4 on Sunday 31 May.

Don’t miss out! Add ‘Tip Toe’ to your watchlist on the TopMob ‘What to Watch’ app. Download it today for daily TV recommendations and the latest features.

Authors

David CraigSenior Drama Writer

David Craig writes about TV dramas and comedies for TopMob, focusing on the newest and most popular shows on television and streaming platforms. Before joining TopMob, he worked at Starburst Magazine and hosted The Winter King Podcast on ITVX. He also has a degree in Journalism from the University of Sheffield.

  • Visit us on Twitter

Read More

2026-05-31 22:36