The UK Bootblack & Leather Munch
Every month at the Birmingham Bizarre Bazaar (BBB)
Top Floor · 12–5pm
Munch 12–2pm · Bootblacking 2–5pm
Come for the shine, stay for the community!
The UK Bootblack & Leather Munch is a monthly space for anyone curious about Leather, kink, care, and craft. Whether you’re new to Leather culture or have been polishing boots since the ’80s, this is a space to learn, share, and connect.
Hosted by Vulpine (Parker, Pine, and Sixx), the munch combines socialising, discussion, education, and hands-on skill-sharing. We welcome everyone: those who want to know what Leather is all about, those learning to care for their own gear, and aspiring bootblacks looking to deepen their craft.
What is bootblacking?
At its core, bootblacking is the care of worn leather – cleaning, conditioning, shining. But it’s also about connection. Bootblacking honours tradition, tells stories through touch, and can be a sensual, devotional, or practical act. It sits at the intersection of craftsmanship, kink, and community care.
“Kink is what we do,
Leather is what we feel.”
Solenne, 2020
What do we mean by Leather?
Leather is more than aesthetic – it’s an ethic. Rooted in queer history, Leather culture values chosen family, consensual power exchange, erotic expression, and intergenerational skill-sharing.
Sit for a shine
From 2–5pm, the top floor transforms into a working bootblack stand. Bring your boots, shoes, harness, or leathers – or even latex! Have them cleaned, conditioned, and restored with skill and care. A bar shine takes around 20–30 minutes.
Bootblacks work for tips
A suggested donation is £10–20 per pair of high-shine boots, but no one is turned away – come talk to us.
Before we begin, we’ll check in with you about what kind of experience you want: practical? ritual? silent? chatty? There’s no one way to bootblack.