Heartbroken owners stage sit-in at popular Manchester village café after being 'locked out by landlord'

Café Blah was unexpectedly closed on Monday, October 7, after its locks were reportedly changed by landlords H Homes. Tenants Adam Porrino and Tess Parkinson say they were then allowed to enter the café on Tuesday, October 8, in order to collect the belongings of some third-party musicians which had been left inside.

But the pair said on Tuesday evening they have no intention of leaving the premises until they’re given ‘a fair notice period’. Staging a sit-in, Adam and Tess claim they have paid rent on time every month in the four years Café Blah has been open, including for the entirety of October 2024. They also believe the dispute with H Homes stems from unresolved lease negotiations, in which they rejected an offer of a ‘65 percent increase’ in rent.

“The original lease ran out in August but it was protected,” Adam said. “We have been negotiating for a ‘right to renew’ section 26 [agreement]. A few days ago that expired, which is not great for us, but without giving us formal notice of eviction they changed the locks.”

Tess added: “Even though we were in this position [of an expired section 26], they agreed to give us notice period. They have jumped to this stage.”

Speaking from inside the café where the ‘sit-in’ was taking place, Adam said the pair ‘do not know what to do at this point’. He went on: “Our heads are everywhere.”

A social media post read: “We are beyond heartbroken, shocked and scared.”

Local politicians have also attempted to intervene in the dispute before the ‘sit-in’ took place, according to Coun Garry Bridges. The Old Moat councillor and city deputy leader said: “Café Blah is a really valuable part of the community — and loved by the community. We have been trying to work with them to ask the landlord to work with Café Blah so they do not have to leave and have a rent rise that’s affordable and does not push them out of the village.”

Night-time economy tsar Sacha Lord has has also said he is ‘aware of the situation and is monitoring its development’. Manchester City Council and H Homes have both been contacted for comment.