The number of items booked in for sale piled up the night before at The Den pub. A great mix of leather jackets, chaps from RoB, boots, shirts from Expectations, breeches from Leather Maniacs and even bespoke limited edition kilts from Scotland. And it didn’t stop there, with more gear coming through the door on the Saturday, filling up several racks and benches will all kinds of leather gear from jeans, breeches, shorts, boots and jackets. Biker gear as well came in large numbers - with a hot Dainese number being snapped up as soon as it was put out on display. And the range of gear suited every taste and every pocket: from the new leather boys and men, right up to the veterans looking for that rare item. The day saw the usual comings and goings, with several new faces in Bristol for the day, travelling from as far as Exeter, Cheltenham, Swindon, Chippenham, Swansea, Cardiff and Oxfordshire.. A very excited leatherman from Exeter was keen to find a jacket, But it did’t quite end there. On hand were the LeatherWest helpers to ensure not only did the jacket fit, but also how it would work on a night out. So on went a leather shit and gloves and a bit of role play to…erm…erm, illustrate how a scene in a dark corner could work, (Tit play involved, say no more). A very satisfied man with a wide grin came for a jacket and left with a completed full-on leather look, and all at a fraction of the usual in-the-store price tag. His BLUF application is now pending.

Then there was a clean cut guy, cute with a bread, man from Cardiff. Initially interested in something for the top half, had no problem stripping off to be helped to slip into more: “I only came for a shirt”, he said after spotting pants that looked as if they would fit. They did, producing a nice butt hugging display with a hot bulge that one helper just couldn’t resist to produce a tape measure “just to check it’s alright for you” (perv!). After that little event, our cute Cardiff man had to go back out to the cashpoint to secure his purchase. Another happy customer.

One of many leather jackets for sale at today’s #leathermarket @thedenbristol today 12 noon - 5pm #gayleather twitter.com/LeatherWest/st… — LeatherWest (@LeatherWest) May 25, 2025

Then there was the item that had been talked about form the night before. A rare chance, and I mean a very rare chance, to acquire a VK79 biker jacket, handmade and bespoke from Berlin. In every way a classic and stunning item. In Langlitz Coloumbia Padded jacket style, complete to every detail, this was one item that had to be chained to the rack. Certainly it caused a stir, and plenty of guys considering whether or not to “go for it”. Guys helped each other on with the jacket, checking it out in the mirror, and a crowd circled in to see who it would fit best. And that’s a thing that happens here in the West: the guys between agreed who was the best fit and who ‘d get first call on the jacket. “If you’re gonna spend that sort of money on a jacket like that, it has to be right. No good getting it wrong”, said Ian from Wiltshire. In the end a lucky Bristol leatherman, known to many, secured the jacket, a tight ‘glove like’ fit and looking just, well….splendid. Now here’s the thing: a bespoke jacket from VK79 ordered from the tailor in Berlin will set you back around a grand. Bidding on eBay (and that happens maybe once or twice a year) and you’ll be shelling out £600-£800 without the opportunity to “try-before-you-buy”.

@leatherwest great news we hope to see the #VK79 jacket out on a #gaylwather night in #Bristolsoon!!! #BLUFBristol — BLUFBristol (@BLUFbristol) May 26, 2025

Our lucky, lucky buyer, clearly loving his new prized item said, “I’ve been saving up with the idea of eventually getting a Langlitz jacket from the West Coast. Don’t have to now. Not only have I saved on buying the jacket, there’s the airfare to get over there to collect it.” Leather luck certainly landed on someone that day, as it seems to with every market event. That’s where the Market comes into its own. You can try, get the right fit. Having time to think about it, ask mates there for an opinion, knowing it’ll fit, no drama with PayPal and an instant purchase. Much better than taking a chance on an auction or on-line for sale site.

It’s soo hot at the #leathermarket a biker has just melted!!!!! #gaybiker #gaywest twitter.com/LeatherWest/st… — LeatherWest (@LeatherWest) May 25, 2025

On the day, the team reported that more items had been sold than the first event, with a trend for boots, caps and jackets being seen.

Clearly there’s no shortage of gear out there. LeatherAsh from Cardiff, one of the helpers on the day said: “There’s always guys with gear in a cupboard, wanting to sell it because as we all know we all change shape through the years. The market makes sure you get a good price and your gear goes to a good home.” Encouraging for the leather community were several new younger faces wanting to get their gear together: chaps a popular staring item; shirts for others going for a fuller leather look. The event is a great way that doesn’t intimidate guys looking to start their ‘leather life’ and bring out that inner kink. Talking about leather with guys in the know is a vital way to ensure the future health of the leather community - especially over a coffee and a slab of cake from the bar! From what I witnessed, these newbies will be back for more.

The next leather market is scheduled for the autumn in October. Expect a bigger sale than previously. The Den reports that many regulars missed the market due to other commitments on the day, and interestingly said that in the week after “…three guys said they wished they’d been there because they were in the market for chaps.”

So, whether it’s an old biker jacket, shirts or chaps, there;s a ready market out their for your gear. And if you have a Muir Cap, you can be certain of a frenzy. Tall boots are sought after more than ever. And if you have any bondage kit, cuffs, restraints, collars - there’ll be an interested crowd. The Market had a great chilled laid back approach. The Den produces a ‘cafe style’ atmosphere and browsing and chatting with other guys is certainly something that just isn’t happen anywhere else in the UK.

Debt of gratitude to helpers and supporters for the #LeatherMarket special mention to Shaun @thedenbristol @leatherash89 @johnehesketh — LeatherWest (@LeatherWest) May 26, 2025

A big special thank you should go to the organising team for the day: Mark Bristol Uniform, SBerg, LeatherAsh for the logistics; BShaun Boo and the team at The Den for running the bar, providing eats and drinks DaddySW for inspiring the original event, resulting in the Market being a reality; John H and Master Nigel, Welsh 9 Inch and Chris Biker for helping on the day. Links: You can read more about LeatherWest’s Markets:

• the very first one in November of 2012
• and the run-up to this Summer’s event
• catch up with LeatherWest at Facebook and live up-to-date feed over on Twitter.

.@blufsberg @leatherwest @thedenbristol @leatherash89 well done everyone you did a great job from top to bottom people 🙂 — louis powell (@supercheflou) May 26, 2025

@leatherwest a great day thanks for organising and the @thedenbristol too ! — Bluf SBerg (@BlufSBerg) May 26, 2025

@leatherwest @thedenbristol @johnehesketh was a pleasure really good day hard work payed off 🙂 — LeatherAsh89 (@LeatherAsh89) May 26, 2025

Wowsers what a day!!! a hunky bar gay named Dan, Ggggrrrra wall to wall filled pub. bring on sunday!! — TheDenBristol (@TheDenBristol) May 26, 2025

@leatherwest I hope all went well with the rest of the market and thanks for a good afternoon it was great to meet everyone 🙂 — louis powell (@supercheflou) May 25, 2025

@adamt29 “if the bf allows it” blimey bring him along then or get a leather bf! 🙂 we can introduce you to some nice gentlemen. — LeatherWest (@LeatherWest) May 25, 2025