Bristol sees in 2013 with exciting developments.
Any New Year sees promises of resolutions
Not to mention changes, promises and new starts - many of which get dumped by the end of January!
Remember that self-promise to go to the gym?
Sam Benger reports for LeatherWest on major changes in the heart of Bristol’s Old Market Quarter which are going to be of keen interest to leathermen and boys in the west. At the heart of these changes is the establishment of a new leather and kink night in a well known location.
In the heart of Bristol’s Old Market Quarter. The Vault opens in February.
The venue itself is The Vault. This centrally located nightclub has had many guises over the years. Who can remember Wyn’s which hosted the weekly Sunday night fetish nights Hard and Deviant? Now long gone but still spoken about with a certain amount of nostalgia and affection.
Pictures courtesy of The Vault, January 2013
The “old bank on West Street” is now to be relaunched and revamped as The Vault. In keeping with its history and old fetish roots, the new promoters have looked at the venue’s past as a guide to the future and the offerings for leather guys.
The Hall: revamped ready for a New Year. Pictures courtesy of The Vault, January 2013
Promising a venue that will be a serious gay man’s bar - free from hen parties and welcoming in atmosphere. An exciting schedule of premier weekend events has already been launched. Bearotica is a regulary monthly man’s night where leather and fetish is welcomed and encouraged.
A new leather, fetish and kink night is to launched in February in the form of Spitfire. This event will cater for the interests of leatherman and offer a horny night of a cruising atmosphere, hot dancers and cool music.
The promoters gave LeatherWest a behind the scenes look at the changes being made to the club.
These are, we are told enthusiastically, the beginnings of a rolling programme of improvements and changes over the coming months to give local guys in the west a “club that will meet the demands and expectations of a men-only crowd and an outreach to the local leather and kink community and to come and claim it as their space”.
“Over the coming months, every time you visit you’ll see something change as we progress to make the venue bigger, better, bolder. We’re going to be listening carefully to the feedback from the guys attending so we can tweak here and there and provide the space they really want.”
At the rear is located, The Pit, the second arena which, we’re told with a big grin, “..has a darker and dirtier feel.” You’ll find the decor with an industrial feel and which will be popular with a more, let’s say, ‘sexually charged’ crowd up for a cruise and a fumble and more. The music policy is promised to be “heavier and more raunchy” than The Hall at the front - so you can guess where we’ll be found hanging out!
The long bar has been retained, allowing for a swift bar service on the crowded nights. “This is quite a vast space which presents us with plenty of scope to try out lots of ideas we’ve got. We’re pretty excited about the leather, rubber and kinkster events we’re going to be doing here.”
Giving its name to the whole venue, the centrally located Vault which really is in the heart of the club. This, the press pack says “…provides the opportunity for guests to get a more intimate, personal experience. The Vault is furnished with slings and other play items.”
Already to go for a grand opening in early February, The Vault has a calendar full of weekend events.
The leather & kinkster night launches in February.
Spitfire Bristol will be a “dress to impress” party night. So it’s a case of buff-up those leathers and polish them boots.
Snap on a cock strap and come ready for some S&M - and that doesn’t mean ‘stand and model’. Not that this is likely to happen in the West - leathermen and boys here are more a “does what it says on the tin” sort of men.
Spitfire is aimed at the broad kinkster community. So expect to rub up against rubber lads, skins and army kit men.
The Vault promise a mood created where the music and tunes will be darker, edgier sound of tribal and underground house “at its finest” delivered by top DJs creating soundtracks where even those ‘lads in their chaps’ will want to bump and grind.
Certainly for our visit The Vault is going in the right direction to appeal to the men’s crowd. A serious, sincere attempt to outreach to the leather community in the west is welcomed - the fact they want to listen to feedback and design new developments to the club based on everyone’s thoughts is a refreshing change.
To have a successful venue for a leather crowd you need certain elements: the right decor, the right music, the right atmosphere and hot men .The Vault is bringing all these elements together along with appropriately dressed bar staff, extras such as performers and the right balance between the social, the cruise and the play.
Racing to the opening, The Vault promoters are serious about getting it right and incorporating all the essential elements for a good leather night out.
I can only commend their sincerity and obvious hard work in wanting to provide a venue and create opportunities for leather men and help build the community here in the West.
This February, check in at The Vault and make a deposit!
Spitfire launches Saturday February 16th.
Links:
The Vault on Facebook and website
Spitfire on Facebook and website about to launch.
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