Mello Mello, Liverpool – independent venue, cafe and art hub fights for its future

Mello Mello, Liverpool - independent venue, cafe and art hub fights for its future

Registered as a not-for-profit Community Interest Company, Mello Mello is a wonderful venue, vegetarian cafe and artistic hub in the heart of Liverpool.

Established in an iconic building in Slater Street, L1, the independent venture aims to promote and facilitate local grassroots artistic endeavours.

Mello Mello, Liverpool - independent venue, cafe and art hub fights for its future

The sprawling venue currently provides a vegetarian/vegan/gluten-free cafe bar,  an excellent music venue catering for all genres, a dance/yoga studio, affordable rehearsal space, desk space and  a recording/practice studio.

Sadly, the venue now finds itself threatened with closure as the building has been put up for sale.

Mello Mello, Liverpool - independent venue, cafe and art hub fights for its future

A crowd funding appeal was set up but half way through the fund-raising process they found that their previously accepted offer had been gazumped by an unknown bidder.

This has made it very unlikely that they will be able to continue in their current premises, which would surely represent a real loss to the arts in Liverpool.

Mello Mello, Liverpool - independent venue, cafe and art hub fights for its future

[Mello Mello on Google Maps]

Mello Mello, Liverpool - independent venue, cafe and art hub fights for its future

Contemporary Americana band Ha Ha Tonka from Missouri onstage at Mello Mello, May 1st 2013. Support came from local lads, The Tenements, who were a lovely bunch of lads

Mello Mello, Liverpool - independent venue, cafe and art hub fights for its future

Fund raising fails to meet its target

Sadly, the time ran out on the venue’s fund-raising appeal, with just over £12,000 of their original target of £30,000 being raised.

This money has been pledged towards a new venue, or improvements to the current one if they are allowed to stay. Read the full story here.

If they are forced to try to locate alternative premises, I suspect that they may find it tough to find such a centrally placed location with as much space.

Mello Mello, Liverpool - independent venue, cafe and art hub fights for its future

Good luck Mello Mello

Living in a rapidly-gentrifying Brixton, I can deeply empathise with Mello Mello’s plight.

I wish them all the best because I loved the place. It’s a friendly, unique independent venue with real character, serving a very useful role in the community.

I hope they’re successful in their quest to find new premises if they aren’t allowed to stay. Places like Liverpool need venues like this.

More info:
MelloMello
40-42 Slater St,
Liverpool,
Merseyside L1 4BX
0151 708 0510
Mello Mello Facebook page
Save Mello Mello

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