After a turbulent eviction in October 2024, Café Blah is set to reopen in a new location on 24 May, participating in the free Withy Weekender festival.
The much-loved European-style art café, run by Adam Porrino and Tess Parkinson, is taking over the former Herbivorous site next to Southside Tequila Joint.
Café Blah is a community hub for Withington. More than just a day and night bar-café, it also functions as a gallery, music venue and cinema.
Café Blah previously closed due to ongoing disputes with their landlord negotiating a lease for the following year
In August 2023, Café Blah’s lease shifted to a rolling monthly contract with a 12% rent increase. Porrino and Parkinson refused to sign the revised agreement due to it containing numerous spelling errors.
The letting agents, H Homes, responded with a proposal demanding a staggering 68% rent hike and an annual 7.5% increase.
Despite applying for a Section 26 lease renewal to protect their tenancy, Café Blah was abruptly locked out of its former premises on 30 September – without the required 30-day eviction notice.
H Homes claimed they needed the space for their own use, yet Porrino later found the property listed on Zoopla.
The lockout sparked an outpouring of solidarity. A five-day protest outside H Homes’ Withington office followed Blah’s closure.
In support of Blah, fundraisers at The Peer Hat and the Withington Public Hall Institute drew both crowds and contributions. A JustGiving campaign ‘#SaveCafeBlah’ quickly surpassed its £9,000 target, ultimately raising over £10,000 to help Café Blah rebuild.
“We can never repay the love the community has shown us”, said co-owner Adam Porrino.
To celebrate Cafe Blah’s return, Porrino hosted a “prefurb” party at their new site on 3 May, reuniting their community.
Their official reopening on 24 May will coincide with the free ticketed event – Withy Weekender. It is a new community festival funded by the UK Government and Manchester City Council to celebrate the opening of new community spaces in Withington and Greater Manchester.
The free event, spanning from Egerton Crescent to the Withington Public Hall Institute, will feature local talent including Tesni, Wyatt, Sinead Una, Den Jam, Another Country, Lounge Lizard, and more. Café Blah itself will serve as one of the festival’s live music stages, with surprise headliners yet to be announced.
Café Blah remains committed to its roots as a creative hub for residents in and around south Manchester. Porrino wants 445 Wimslow Road to be ‘everyone’s space’, encouraging people to reach out for events, exhibitions, and collaborations.
The venue plans to support local artists, connecting creatives to opportunities and each other. Their February farewell event, 2024 Blah Open drew over 100 submissions from 80 artists.
‘The Blah community is really something special. We are excited and nervous, but we can’t wait to get back to doing what we love and bringing an eclectic mix of events and culture back home to Withington”.
Owner Adam Porrino told The Mancunion that Cafe Blah is “open to hosting your events”, adding that “all ideas [are] welcome”.
For more details, you can reach them at [email protected]
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