Scott Leathers closes after 40-years of production

Scott products have protected some of the fastest road racers on the planet, including John McGuinness and Joey Dunlop.

Updated: 09 Apr 2026

The well-known custom leather and textile manufacturer Scott Leathers has called in the administrators, with its former managing director putting the blame firmly at the feet of “various governments that we have had over the years”.

Scott has been hand-making leathers and textiles at its Barnhard Castle base for more than 40-years, and has protected riders up and down national and international racing grids. Recent years, though, have been tough for the firm, with the former MD of the firm, Jim ‘Jimmy’ Aird, claiming the government is “killing the UK”.

“It is very sad, but what can we do?" Aird said, according to The Northern Echo. “It is all to do with various governments that we have had over the years," he said. “It is just not possible to be in business in the UK at the moment … There's no point trying to compete with the Far East. We just can't do it, we can't keep pace with it. Everything is going up, wages are going up."

Scott employed around half a dozen staff, with many of the suits either being fully bespoke, made-to-measure items, or off-the-peg suits that were then adjusted to the rider's requirements. Scott also offered adjustment services, textile riding gear, rain suits and more. The brand was particularly well-liked among the TT racing fraternity, with Joey Dunlop, John McGuinness, Bruce Anstey and more looking to the UK brand for protection.

Per The Northern Echo, Ellis Breese has been called in to oversee the process of liquidating the firm, with a spokesperson for the firm saying:

“We can confirm that Kate Ellis of Ellis Breese was appointed as liquidator of Scott Custom Ltd, trading as Scott Leathers, on March 26.
“Our role is to realise the company’s assets and distribute any available funds to creditors in accordance with insolvency legislation.”