Mills Hill Development Limited (MHDL) is the creative force behind some of the North’s most celebrated hospitality venues, including the renowned El Gato and Canto restaurant chains.
Background
As the organisation sought to evolve its offering, it introduced the Black Cat Club, a dynamic entertainment concept combining darts, shuffleboard, immersive gaming experiences, and multiple sports screens across new sites in Manchester and Leeds.
To bring this high-energy venue to life, MHDL needed more than atmosphere and design. The concept relied fundamentally on secure, uninterrupted connectivity: fast WiFi, dependable cabling, stable gaming infrastructure, and the reassurance that every device on the network could perform without interruption.
Having partnered with Advantex for over a decade, MHDL turned once again to the Gateshead-based technology specialist to build the digital backbone of the Black Cat Club.
The Challenge
The Black Cat Club concept demanded an ‘always-on’ platform capable of powering dozens of concurrent experiences, from digital darts boards and shuffle systems to high-definition sports screens and point-of-sale systems. Any outage, even momentary, would disrupt the customer experience and impact revenue.
MHDL also needed a unified solution that was scalable across multiple sites as the concept expanded regionally. This meant ensuring consistent performance in both Manchester and Leeds, with a model that could be replicated at future venues.
Security was equally critical. With entertainment systems, staff devices, payment terminals, and customer traffic all traversing the network, the organisation required a strong, centralised security approach to protect customer data and maintain operational resilience.
In short, MHDL needed a digital infrastructure that was fast, secure, resilient, and future-proof, capable of supporting a venue where technology is the stage, not the backdrop.
The Solution
Advantex delivered a comprehensive connectivity and security solution, first deployed in Manchester and recently mirrored at the Leeds Black Cat Club. The new infrastructure included:
- High-capacity WiFi covering the entire venue
- Dedicated cabled connections for gaming and entertainment systems
- Redundant internet transit, ensuring uninterrupted uptime
- Diverse Plus dual circuits at each site to minimise service disruption
- A centralised security model using Cisco’s leading security appliances
- Advantex’s own Security as a Service (SECaaS) to enhance resilience and visibility
Together, these components formed a robust, scalable architecture capable of supporting the venue’s complex digital needs.
Benefits
With Advantex’s infrastructure in place, MHDL’s Black Cat Clubs now benefit from:
Uninterrupted, high-performance connectivity
The dual-circuit, resilient design ensures patrons enjoy seamless gameplay, stable streaming, and reliable services throughout their visit.
A scalable digital blueprint
The solution adopted in Manchester and Leeds provides a repeatable, efficient model for future Black Cat Club venues, reducing deployment time and cost.
Strengthened cybersecurity posture
Cisco-powered security combined with Advantex SECaaS protects critical systems, customer data, and venue operations in an increasingly digital landscape.
Operational efficiency and cost savings
By consolidating connectivity and security under a single, centralised model, MHDL benefits from enhanced performance and reduced overheads across all properties.
A trusted technology partnership
The long-standing relationship between MHDL and Advantex continues to underpin the success of each new venue, ensuring technology never becomes a barrier to creativity.
With the Black Cat Clubs now launched in Manchester and Leeds, and backed by a future-ready IT foundation. MHDL is perfectly positioned to scale its innovative entertainment concept across the UK.