Hi there! We’re pen fight, a feminist and queer shop and small press based in Manchester, UK. Independently run since 2015, we sell zines, radical books, badges, and other DIY and small-run art and craft.
On our shelves you’ll find work on feminist and women’s rights, disability and mental health, food, veganism, gardening, politics, race, class, art, friendship, music, fanzines, and anything else with an ace DIY ethic.
We also operate a small press, printing zine titles by women, non-binary and LGBTQIA+ folks, we want to amplify the voices and creative work of the marginalised and new artists.
More about us:
♡ Upcoming Events / Fairs ♡ Distributing Your Work ♡ Contact ♡
Wholesale
We have wholesale prices on some of our items, available to physical shops. Email us for a price list and details.
What’s a zine?
A zine (pronounced like maga-zine) is a self-made printed publication, often made cheaply, usually photocopied – but other printing methods can be used. They can be about anything, from politics to art to your favourite tv show. They can be hand made one-offs or printed in their hundreds. People can hand draw and copy and paste them, use a computer, or both, or anything in-between. Even if you’ve never heard of them before, you’ve probably seen one and just didn’t know they had a special name. Anyone can make one, including you.
Upcoming Events/Tabling
For upcoming fairs and markets, you can order in advance online and collect for free to save on postage. Just use the collection code as a coupon code on checkout. I can also order most books in for you – email me to organise this
♥ 12th November 2023 – Pop-Up Market, Aatma, Manchester / more info
♥ 18th November 2023 – Our Stories Conference, Manchester Poetry Library / more info + tickets
♥ 23rd November 2023 – Sirens – Revue & Exhibition (pop-up book stall), Islington Mill, Salford / more info
♥ 25th November 2023 – Festive Market, The Proud Place, Manchester / more info
♥ 9th December 2023 – Levy Makers, Overdraft, Levenshulme / more info
Past Events/Tabling
♥ 15th July 2023 – Copy That Zine Fest, Archive, Leeds
♥ 23rd June 2023 – Speed Friending, Mirage Queer Bar, Islington Mill / more info
♥ 13th May 2023 – Levenshulme Market, Manchester / website
♥ 26th April – Queer Craft Club: Spring crafts edition, Gorton Community Centre, Manchester
♥ 1st April 2023 – Levenshulme Market, Manchester / website
♥ March 29th 2023 – Zine Club (East Manchester): Women’s History Month edition, Gorton Community Centre, Manchester
♥ 21st February 2023 – LGBT History Month Zine Making Workshop with MMU Student Union / book here
♥ 3rd December 2022 – Christmas Market @ Yang Sing, Manchester / website
♥ 26th November 2022 – Levenshulme Market, Manchester / website
♥ 5th November 2022 – Levenshulme Market, Manchester / website
♥ 8th October 2022 – Levenshulme Market, Manchester / website
♥ 1st October 2022 – Bradford Zine Fair, City Library / website
♥ 24th September 2022 – Levenshulme Market, Manchester / website / collection code ‘LevySept24’
♥ 10th September 2022 – Levenshulme Market, Manchester / website / collection code ‘LevySept10’
♥ 2nd July 2022 – Levenshulme Market, Manchester / website / collection code ‘LevyJuly2’
♥ 29th May 2022 – Ancoats Pop-up X KAMPUS, Manchester / website / collection code ‘KampusMay29’
♥ 11th June 2022 – Levenshulme Market, Manchester / website
♥ 29th May 2022 – Ancoats Pop-up X KAMPUS, Manchester / website
♥ 7th May 2022 – Levenshulme Market, Manchester / website
♥ 23rd April 2022 – Levenshulme Market, Manchester / website
♥ 9th April 2022 – Ancoats Pop-Up, Cutting Room Square, Manchester / website
♥ 19th March 2022 – Cotton On MCR, Halle St Peter’s, Manchester / website / facebook
♥ 21st November 2021 – SPAM: Small Press Art Market, Hatch, Manchester
♥ 23rd October 2021 – Levenshulme Market, Manchester / website
♥ 24th July 2021 – Northern Publisher’s Fair, Manchester Central Library
♥ 20th Februrary 2021 – Festival of the Photocopier (online)
♥ 7th December 2019 – Manchester & Salford Anarchist Bookfair, People’s History Museum, Manchester
♥ 26th November 2019 – Queer Craft Club: badge making, The Yard, Manchester
♥ 23rd November 2019 – Zine Club: winter survival, Manchester Art Gallery
♥ 9th November 2019 – Craft Club: pom-pom making, Altrincham Library
♥ 22nd September 2019 – Zine Club, Manchester Art Gallery
♥ 22nd August 2019 – Queer Craft Club: pre-Pride special, The Yard, Manchester
♥ 28th July 2019 – Northwest Zine Fest, People’s History Museum, Manchester
♥ 21st-22nd April 2019 – Glasgow Zine Fest, CCA, Glasgow
♥ 19th January 2019 – Queer Craft Club: new year, new zine, Partisan, Manchester
♥ 16th November 2018 – Queer Craft Club, Partisan, Manchester
♥ 7th November 2018 – Revolting Prostitutes book launch, Manchester
♥ 18th October 2018 – Queer Craft Club, Partisan, Manchester
♥ 13th October 2018 – Strange Perfume, Chetham’s Library, Manchester
♥ 6th October 2018 – Bristol Comic & Zine Fair, The Station, Bristol
♥ 13th September 2018 – Rojava book launch, Manchester
♥ 22nd July 2018 – Process! Festival, Somerset House, London / website / facebook
♥ 7th July 2018 – Pen Fight Opening / Small Press Day, Partisan, Manchester / facebook
♥ 30th June 2018 – Bradford Zine Fest, Bradford City Library / facebook
♥ 6th May – Northwest Zinefest, Partisan, Manchester / facebook
♥ 14th-15th April 2018 – Glasgow Zine Fest, CCA Glasgow / facebook
♥ 14th April 2018 – Manchester Print Fair, Manchester Cathedral / facebook
♥ 7th April 2018 – Liverpool Anarchist Bookfair, Black-e / facebook
♥ 17th March 2018 – Zine Club Manchester: Women’s History Month, Partisan, Manchester / facebook
♥ 16th December 2017 – Zine Club Manchester – risograph zines with Shy Bairns, Partisan, Manchester / facebook
♥ 2nd December 2017 – Manchester and Salford Anarchist Bookfair, Partisan, Manchester / website / facebook
♥ 25th November 2017 – Zine Club Manchester, how to bind a zine, Partisan, Manchester / facebook
♥ 28th October 2017 – Lincoln Zine Fest, The LPAC / website / facebook
♥ 15th October 2017 – Zine Club October, Partisan, Manchester / details / facebook
♥ September 2017 – Zine Club September, Partisan, Manchester / details / facebook
♥ 29th July 2017 – Community Fair @ POW #1, Partisan, Manchester / website / facebook
♥ 11-12th August 2017 – Scene Better Days, Wharf Chambers, Leeds / website / facebook
♥ 27th May 2017 – Bent Fest zine fair, DIY Space For London / tumblr / facebook
♥ 20th May 2017 – Muckers Market, The Carlton Club, Manchester / facebook
♥ 29-30th April 2017 – Glasgow Zine Fest, CCA / website / facebook
♥ 14th May 2017 – DIY Cultures, Rich Mix London / website / facebook
♥ 25th February 2017 – Sheffield Zine Fest / website / facebook
♥ 14th January 2017 – Badge + zine making workshop w/ Salford Zine Library, Sale Library
♥ 10th December 2016 – Manchester and Salford Anarchist Bookfair, Islington Mill / website / facebook
♥ 26th November 2016 – Poor Pals Club Pop Up Show #2, Fuel Cafe Bar Manchester / facebook
♥ 19th November 2016 – Zine and badge making workshop w/ Salford Zine Library, Altrincham Library / eventbrite
♥ 26th August 2016 – Hulme Is Where The Art Is, Venture Arts, Manchester
♥ 25th August 2016 – badge making workshop @ Thursday Lates, The Whitworth Manchester / website / facebook
♥ 20th August 2016 – Poor Pals Club Pop Up, Fuel Cafe Bar Manchester / facebook
♥ 18th June 2016 – Northwest Zinefest, Islington Mill Salford / website / facebook (tabling + running a badge making workshop)
♥ 29th May 2016 – DIY Cultures, Rich Mix London / tumblr / facebook
♥ 1st May 2016 – Glasgow Zine Fest, The Old Hairdressers, Glasgow / website / facebook
♥ 30th April 2016 – Sheffield Zine Fest, The Hubs, Sheffield Hallam SU, Sheffield / website / facebook
♥ 31st January 2016 – Weirdo Zine Fest, DIY Space For London, London / facebook