MANCHESTER
5th – 7th DECEMBER 2025
VENUES INCLUDE SOCIAL REFUGE AND THE EAGLE BAR LODGE
Tickets are now LIVE for the UK Bootblack Contest 2025
The UK Bootblack Contest aims to celebrate the technical expertise, creativity, and passion of bootblacks in the UK. Whether you’re new to bootblacking or a seasoned pro, this contest offers an exciting opportunity to learn, connect, and grow within the community. This year we will be holding the public portions of the contest at Social Refuge and The Eagle Bar in Manchester. Come and support our fabulous contestants, sit for them, get your boots shined and your leathers cared for, socialise, and have some fun!
CONTESTANT APPLICATIONS ARE NOW CLOSED
SCHEDULE
Friday 5th December
7pm – 11pm, at Social Refuge: The opening of the contest, public bootblack stands and bar. Come and socialise, get your boots shined or your leathers cared for. Ticket required.
Saturday 6th December
CANCELLED **Walking tour** CANCELLED
7pm – late The Manchester Leathermens Social at the Eagle Bar Lodge: Public stands open during the Manchester Leathermen’s Social upstairs at the Eagle Bar. Open to all gender identities. No ticket required.
Sunday 7th December
11am – 1pm, Brunch at Social Refuge: Come and join us for brunch. Pay for your own order. No ticket required.
Kink Education Classes 2pm – 5pm (Ticket required)
**PLEASE EMAIL YOUR CLASS CHOICES TO: ukbootblackcompetition@gmail.com
Education 1: 2pm – 3.30pm Choice of 1 out of the following 2 classes:
Cruising for All will tell you all the do’s and don’ts of cruising, whether you’re trans, cis, leatherdyke or leatherman. Come and learn, discuss and add your experiences to the mix! This class will be facilitated by BvtchBoots, Baddogbootblack and Banjo
Whip Play and Whip Cracking – with Jay, an LA based whip master. Have you ever wanted to play with singletailsm, whips and all those delicious things? Come and join Jay as he demonstrates and talks you through the basics of whip play and how to achieve that elusive crack!
Education 2: 3.30pm – 5.00pm Choice of 2 out of the following 2 classes:
Erotic Bootblacking – Join BvtchBoots in talking about Erotic Bootblacking. What to expect on the stand, and how to negotiate for what you want.
Breathplay – Master DK Leather has been teaching the kink world about Breathplay since the late 90’s. In this class you will learn the medical reasons why breathplay is such a risky play and why it is considered Edgeplay. Come and join in the discussion so you can make an informed choice about the risks of this type of play.
7pm – 11pm at Social Refuge: Contest Finale. The final of the contest. Public Bootblack stands open for 2 hours, with the winner announced on stage at 9pm. Ticket required
Contest Format
- Educational Component:
To be submitted in advance, by midnight on 30th November.
- Format: A 10-15 minute teaching class/video submitted a week before the contest (submission date provided on the application form).
- Content: Contestants present a class relevant to being a bootblack titleholder. Topics may include specific bootblacking skills, stand management, communication, inclusivity, or diversity. Media formats such as PowerPoint, recorded classes, or other video-friendly options are acceptable.
The live contest will take place over 2 days of the contest weekend and will consist of the following sections:
2. Tech Boot: Contestants repair or restore one boot from a provided pair during the Friday night party. Judges evaluate technical skills and decision-making.
3. Bootblack Speed Dating: Contestants rotate through one-minute Q&A sessions with each judge.
4. Public Stand Time: Contestants perform bootblacking services during the scheduled 10 hours of public stand time on Friday and Saturday. They must work a minimum of 5 hours stand time. Judges assess interaction, technical skills, and chair management.
5. Personal Interview: A 30-minute session where judges evaluate the contestant’s knowledge, personality, and community involvement. This is done in a private interview space on Saturday morning 10am
6. Public Ballot: Customers receive personalised ballot papers to vote based on their experience with contestants. Ballots are counted for each contestant and scores are averaged out over the number of customers they had – speed and number of boots is not an advantage, but quality of care is!
UK Bootblack Contest Production Team:
Producer, Alistair LeatherHiraeth: Bootblack Europe 2020, International Mr Bootblack 2022, Producer of Bootblack Europe at Darklands
Assistant Producer, Mal McDonald: Bootblack Europe 2023, Co-founder, Proteus Leather
