The Flash Centre

The Flash Centre is a national chain with a shiny shiny website. But wait, by ‘national chain’ what I really mean is they have just three shops — 1 here in Birmingham, 1 in Leeds and 1 in (unsurprisingly) London. They stock all kinds of camera equipment and related paraphernalia (lighting, bags, tripods etc.) and I have no idea where they keep it all, as both the London and the Birmingham branches feel like overburdened camera caves, with stock piled all over the place, and with anyone visiting relying on staff to go and dig out what you’re after.
The plus side is, the staff are awesome and helpful. I’ve only been in the Birmingham branch 3 times now, but already they remember me and say hello, and ask how I’m getting on with whatever we’ve bought or borrowed (they do rental too! Canon 5D mkIII — hello there!)
Basically, think Jessops — then think Jessops but with awesome educated passionate staff and an added bonus of a rental service.

Is it possible to review the flash centre and not talk about flashes and what they really offer? No.
I smash lights all the time on photo shoots, now I own my own set of elinchroms and a portable battery I’m a little more careful but before then rented ting was my only option.
Renting is why people go to the flash centre, that and their frequent photographic work shops with will know people in the industry, talks that you will never find any other establishments hosting.
I have a business account with TFC so if I never need an item, I call up, tell them where I am shooting in Birmingham and they ship the item over in a taxi for me. If your shooting a lot I recommend setting up this account.
None of this equipment is cheap and it will never be cheap. But they always have a used item section (sometimes ex-​rental, sometimes exchanged for cash items) that have been served and are in top quality so it’s always worth a look.
Just as DSLR filmmaking grows in popularity, so do camera merchants stock lists. The staff and stock have everything a dslr filmmaker would need for great setup including lights and camera stabilisation rigs.
Check it out, or if it’s too much out the way the website lists everything much better than the shop displays them.