COLCHESTER’S Priory Walk has suffered a blow with the impending closure of Piatto cafe.

Music group SlackFolk have been told the venue will close in the couple of weeks as the owners have returned to Poland.

The cafe is one of the most prominent units in Priory Walk, which has a number of empty units including former Peacocks and Superdrug stores.

The ex-Co-op and Linens Direct buildings in Long Wyre Street, at the junction of Priory Walk, are also empty.

SlackFolk has held sessions once a month on Saturday afternoons at Piatto since 2015.

Richard Brazear, SlackFolk co-ordinator, said: “I am working on identifying and agreeing a suitable venue to replace the Piatto Café and I hope we will be able to find a suitable place for SlackFolk to continue without a significant break in the programme.

“It’s difficult, though, for me to a make a judgement on how long it will take to find a new venue. If I’m not able to organise a venue quickly, it may be necessary to suspend SlackFolk sessions for a month or two.”

SlackFolk began using the café when SlackSpace, in Queen Street, closed to make way for a creative business centre.

Prior to that SlackFolk has also been run from Victoria Place and the former Keddies store, also in Queen Street.

Mr Brazear said the SlackFolk Autumn Acoustic Mini Festival at Firstsite, planned for Saturday, September 28, is unaffected by the closure.

He said any venue would need space for a stage and audience capacity for 50 to 70 people.

He said: “The SlackFolk ethos has always been to present a platform for acoustic solo artists, bands and poets to showcase their material and to offer everybody a chance to escape the chores of Saturday afternoon and to hear some great acoustic music and poetry.

“Entry is free, which makes the sessions attractive to audiences, but means that we have no income.

“All the SlackFolk team are volunteers and the performers all perform for free.

“Despite this, we attract excellent quality performers from a wide area. We intend to continue doing that.”

To help with a venue email info.slackfolk@gmail.com or call Mr Brazear on 07850 773291.

The Gazette has tried to speak to Piatto’s owners but they have been unobtainable.