Withington has united in support of much-loved music venue Café Blah after owners were locked out amid a rental row.
The future of the small business is uncertain, and the team has been unable to trade for a week despite telling Mancunian Matters their October rent was paid on time.
Business owner Adam Porrino wanted to negotiate a peaceful exit from the property after his shock at the sudden change of the locks at the Davenport Avenue venue. He’s optimistic Café Blah will continue thriving elsewhere with the help of the community who have stood with Porrino since the dispute began on Monday 7 October.
Porrino said: “It’s been surreal, but the sense of solidarity has been amazing.
“People in the community turned up quickly and everyone has been asking if we need anything.”
Withington recently received national praise for the success of its high street regeneration, which has championed independent businesses and enriched community pride.
But the people of Withington feel frustrated by the Café Blah controversy which doesn’t match their value for local spirit.
In response, the community held a demonstration on Saturday 12 October to protest Café Blah’s treatment and raise money through crowdfunding.
Devastated neighbours rallied around Porrino and the team waving placards with messages of camaraderie including ‘Up the Blah’ and ‘Save Café Blah, best place by far!’
While others took aim at a broader concern for independent music venues across Manchester as one sign read, ‘Stop the Manchester culture massacre.’
“The people of Withington and the independent businesses are the heart of it,” said Porrino.
“But it does feel like more needs to be put in place to protect that.
“All this hard work goes into events, business and initiatives but if the powers that be can just take it away so easily it feels pointless.”
And Porrino isn’t the only one to feel this way.
Kirstie McCrum is a journalist living in Withington who recently held Withington’s first book festival. Café Blah hosted one of the week’s events.
McCrum said: “Café Blah is a massive part of Withington, offering more than just a cafe bar but building a creative community.
“Withington needs Café Blah.”
Porrino appreciates the importance of a venue like his in the community, he said: “The concept was always simple – let’s make somewhere that we would want to drink and hang out.
“It’s a cheap bar with good music and a variety of events – that’s what people want and there’s just not enough of it.
“We need to preserve that culture.”
And that’s exactly what the community is doing with a fundraiser in place which has almost reached its target and locals watching out for each other.
“Leah from Ice Shack has been amazing giving us her upstairs space, cooking food for us, keeping an eye out on the cafe when we’ve been trapped inside,” Porrino said.
As a hub of art and creativity, Café Blah has also welcomed those who live outside the community with open arms.
Alex Cook frequents the live music hotspot as a performer.
As recently as Saturday 5 October Cook played Café Blah’s third Party for the People street party event alongside his band, Just Rattled.
Cook said: “It’s terrible what is happening to Café Blah, a complete outrage.
“Culture needs independent music venues.
“Without places like Café Blah culture has no mouth.”
Sam Allonby is a young professional living with friends just around the corner from Café Blah, he volunteered as a litter picker at the street party.
Allonby said: “It’s my favourite place in Manchester.
“I’ll be gutted if they close down.”
The initial lease ran out in August but the team were proactive – from May they urged the landlords to agree on new terms. The landlord suggested a 65% raise in rent.
After some back and forth, terms were agreed over email – evidence Porrino has retained.
But no contract was ever issued.
Porrino acted on advice to issue a Section 26 which protects the right to a new lease – but this was met with an objection on the grounds of the landlord planning on expanding their own business into the space.
Blah’s Section 26 expired on September 30. Within days the landlords turned up unannounced and changed the locks without issuing an eviction notice, leaving the independent business owner unclear on how to proceed.
In the mid-afternoon of Sunday 13 October, the team started to move their belongings from their beloved venue, and the bar’s iconic signage was removed.
Porrino is hopeful Café Blah will remain a staple of Withington’s high street, especially if the community continues to support the team as it has.
He said: “We need to find a new premises.
“Blah will be bigger and better.”
H-Homes, the building owner, has been contacted for comment.
Feature image credit: Sam Allonby
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