Help us raise money to save Cafe Kino from closure.
This is our last chance!
For 20 years, Cafe Kino has been more than just a café. It’s been a cornerstone of creativity, connection, and community in the heart of Stokes Croft, Bristol. Now, we’re at a crossroads and urgently need your help to secure its future.
The pandemic hit us hard, leaving us with mounting debts, rising costs, and increasing overheads. But we’re not giving up. With your support, we can overcome these financial challenges and not only save Cafe Kino but take it to the next level, transforming it into a vibrant, renewed space where everyone feels welcome.
This isn’t just about saving a café- It’s about preserving a beloved space where people come together, share ideas, and celebrate life. Above all, we want Cafe Kino to embody the incredible spirit of its community and reclaim its place as the beating heart of Stokes Croft.
What is Cafe Kino?
If you’re familiar with Kino you know it is far more than a place to grab a drink or a bite to eat. It’s a not-for-profit workers’ cooperative, rooted in the radical and creative spirit of Stokes Croft. It’s a place where artists, activists, and queer folk have found a home- a community bound by a shared commitment to creativity, and positive social change.
As a workers' cooperative, Kino is collectively owned and managed, with community at its heart. In a world dominated by profit-driven workplaces, cooperatives like ours offer a powerful alternative: a democratic space rooted in shared values of equity, and mutual support.
We’ve proudly served locally sourced, homemade vegan food and drinks, and been a platform for incredible events, from workshops and book clubs to film screenings, live music, and beyond. We’ve also stood by our neighbours through initiatives like pay-it-forward meals and drinks, supporting vulnerable and unhoused people in our community.
Café Kino is a lifeline, a cultural hub, and a safe, supportive space for all.
Why are we raising money?
Like so many independent businesses in the UK, we’ve been hit hard by unprecedented challenges in recent years. The pandemic and the ongoing cost-of-living crisis have left us in a vulnerable position. Without immediate support, this vital space will be lost forever.
If Cafe Kino were to close, it wouldn’t just be the loss of a café. It would be the loss of a cornerstone of Bristol’s culture, a safe haven for vulnerable people, and a centre of creativity and connection. Too many beloved community spaces have already disappeared from our city. We can’t let Kino become another casualty.
Bristol’s independent spirit is what makes it special. Together, we can resist gentrification and preserve the unique spaces that make our city feel like home.
Your support will help us:
- Pay off pandemic-related debts that have held us back.
- Refresh our café space with new decor and comfortable furniture.
- Transform our basement into an affordable, high-quality venue for events, workshops, and performances.
- Strengthen our long-term sustainability by investing in events and services that support our mission and our community.
We’re calling on the incredible people of Bristol and beyond to stand with us. Together, we can secure Cafe Kino’s future and ensure it continues to thrive as a community space for years to come.
Thank you so much for your support!
Lots of love and curly fries,
Cafe Kino x