Shortly after celebrating their 20th anniversary, Café Kino in Stokes Croft has released a crowdfunding plea this week, as it admits that it is struggling to keep the business afloat.
The venue has been a staple for many locals, acting as a safe space for many individuals in the community, and hosting a wide range of events, including cabaret nights and poetry readings.
Alex, who has worked at the business for a year-and-a-half, highlighted some of the current issues affecting the business:
“We have had some staffing issues, as there’s not enough in the budget to have more than 3 of us working at once, which becomes difficult as we have our hands full every shift and potentially we miss out on anything extra we could be doing, like going that extra mile for a customer.”
Many community organisations have reached out in support, including Shake Bristol and Inside Bristol, who have expressed their concern on their social media platforms, urging people to donate.
Team Leader at the cafe, Mina Jaff, shares her thoughts on the cafe’s potential closure:
“The café has been open since 2004, and it’s one of the oldest of its kind in the area, so it’s kind of a local treasure. Unfortunately, everything has gotten really expensive, and we have had to put the prices up.
“The community outpour has been incredibly positive and it’s so nice to see that the café has a special place in so many people’s hearts.
“We are also coming up to Christmas so we hope that people will recognise the Christmas Spirit and be a bit more giving more the festive period. In the long run, it’s not about reaching that target, it’s about making people aware of the business and that it’s there.”
