Wesley Owolabi is the assistant manager of one of Leeds most prolific bars, Fibre. Known throughout the scene was boisterous and fun-loving, GayLeeds.com caught up with Wes to wax lyrical on his time at Fibre and the gay Leeds scene.

Despite living in Leeds for over four years, there’s been no change to his distinctive liverpudlian accent, and although now single, Wes came to Leeds for love:

“Liverpool was getting a bit hectic, and my boyfriend moved to Leeds. I was only going to come here for about three months, but I got a job working at Ann Summers, where I quickly became supervisor, so I decided to stay here with a view to become manager and then transfer to the Liverpool store.”

A freak accident and what some people might describe as fate changed those plans -

“I was working a Saturday job at Fibre, and at Pride I fell off one of the floats. I snapped the tendon in one of my fingers. I didn’t think anything of it at the time, and worked the rest of Pride. The next day I couldn’t move me finger, and after a visit to the hospital I was told it’d snapped all the way up my wrist.”

After an operation which involved cutting open Wes’ finger and wrist, he was required to take six months off work to recover, which included a spell in physiotherapy. Ann Summers proved less than supportive, whilst Fibre were keen to ensure Wes’ wellbeing. Fit to work again Wes was offered a full time position at Fibre, and jumped at the chance.

“All my friends were here, so it made sense. I’d never thought of a bar job as one that could sustain me but I haven’t looked back since! Being part of management over the past seven months has been amazing. I’m the type of person who needs to be busy all the time - I have a 24/7 life, and when I go home all I do is sleep.  My mind is always running, and I’ve always got ideas and opinions so it’s great for me.”

Wes has a great relationship with Fibre manager Clare McGrogan, who he also lives with:

“I’ve worked with Clare for a long time - she is the only person left from when I started. When she came back after working in The Viaduct for a year I was a bit apprehensive that we’d be in each others faces too much, but it hasn’t been at all - we have a really close professional and friendly relationship and it works.”

Wes talks of the Fibre staff as a ‘family’, and it’s clear all the staff are very close. Wes puts this down to sensible hiring of staff - Fibre staff need to have something different and unique in their personality. There’s also a competitive streak amongst the staff:

“We do try to out-do each other sometimes, particularly when it comes to things like costumes. Everyone gets really excited when we’ve a good theme coming up and we can put our minds to something creative. My favourite outfit had to be the flamingo outfit I wore at Leeds Pride 2009.”

That outfit saw Wes on the cover of the Leeds Pride 2010 edition of the Leeds Guide - something that was quite a shock:

“We get our photos used a lot in the Leeds magazines, so I didn’t really think much of it when the Leeds Guide asked to use some of our photos. I remember going to the newsagents before work to buy cigarettes, where I saw it on the magazine stand. I started screaming in the middle of the shop! I didn’t stop going on about it for months afterwards. I have it framed in my house.”

Wes knows that sometimes he can come across as loud and bossy, but he puts that down to his Liverpool roots, and says that when he goes back, things seem much more hectic but he fits in more. Despite this, he sees Leeds as his home, and has a particular fondness for the Leeds scene: “It’s a lot closer, and everyone knows each other - that can have its downside but I like being able to go out and see people I know.” Being so busy all the time doesn’t leave much room for other interests, but Wes did reveal a little hobby he used to partake in when he lived in Liverpool:

“People will be surprised to know but I used to collect Marvel comics! I’ve got about five thousand at home! That was my biggest hobby but I haven’t kept up with it in Leeds.”

2011 holds lots of potential for Fibre and for Wes himself. Fibre will see a new strictly gay night and new Sunday Night Live events, and for Wes:

“2010 was such a good year for me, and I’m hoping for the same this year. It’s only the third week in January and already I’m so busy. I don’t know what 2011 holds but it is what you make it, and I’ve a feeling it’s going to be good.”