Blencowes is the kind of cafe you walk into, and feel like you’ve arrived home.

After living in Balaclava for a long time, owners Josh and Tansy decided to set up a place that could call their own. They wanted a spot that their ragtag group of friends could call their headquarters. For those who were a little weird, a little outside the norm – arriving at Blencowes would be like finding your tribe.

Re-imagining plans

The original plan of becoming a restaurant with booze and cool music didn’t eventuate. But business is like that. It doesn’t always go according to plan, and sometimes you end up with something even better than you’d originally imagined.

“We built a little cafe and although it evolved into something different to what we originally imagined, the main purpose of building Blencowes was to create a community and that’s what we got.”

During Covid-19 restrictions, locals and fans rallied around and started a crowdfunding campaign for the staff. It’s that kind of place: so central to the community that people chip in to see it succeed.

Head to Blencowes for coffee and cake:
blencowesmilkbar.com