Spotted: London

This post is part of a global series featuring experiences shared by Night Owls members, written by Thomas Fischer. Have something you want to share or suggest? Share it with us!

Mentioned within:

• Arc Community Spa

• Riot

• London Alternative Market

• Studio Ma and Studio Anatomie (Shibari Studios)

• Charmskool

• Quench

• A curated list of spots
  
  

London Report: Arc Community Spa

Image Source: Arc Community Spa

This is not a kinky or play space. Most events are in the evening or on weekends. So what do you do during the day on a weekday? Arc Spa! I went there day after day.

It's kind of like Othership with less forced socializing.

You sign up for a "class." The guided sauna session includes some structured talking to people, a program of sauna/ice bath rounds, and depending on the type of class breathing exercises, stretching, and lymph drainage self massage in the sauna.

The first guy was my favorite. He had a voice like the singer "The Road" from Om Unit. I simply enjoyed listening to him even if I didn't pay attention to what he said.

https://youtu.be/ANOakkZKTNg?si=j2Ewd7ICz2GzBCGN

The changing area is coed. There is an interesting intimacy to doing your grooming in your underwear with strangers.

They have a great intro special for three sessions.

A final note, I did not get to go to the parties that were on the top of my list. It takes preparation of applying for memberships weeks in advance and lining up dates with events that don't happen so frequently. Supposedly, a lot of events cluster around pay day.

Top of my list are:

•⁠ ⁠Sublime society

•⁠ ⁠7 sins

•⁠ ⁠Klub Verboten

•⁠ ⁠Fox and Badge

•⁠ ⁠Joyride

•⁠ ⁠Opia

London Report: Riot

Image Source: Resident Advisor

Riot is a queer rave party with a play room. They enforce a strict dress code. The interview to get in was about five questions. The guy never gave me a sense that I wouldn't get in. They simply seemed thorough that people read the consent rules. You actually had to submit a Google form that you read the consent. And they checked today you filled it out.

Wow! What walk-in! My senses were flooded by skin, latex, leather, lingerie, and more skin. Not a single person was playing it safe!

The dancefloor had quite a charged energy. There were a lot of makeouts. Two women next to me were making out. They each grabbed a guy to make out. Then one of them grabbed a second guy. Then they started grabbing women and more guys. It turned into a massive makeout island.

There was also a social space. It was strange seeing people in skimpy kink wear with the demeanor of discussing tax reports. There was a topless woman at my table. A guy came up to her to talk. Her face aged like ten years in a minute.

When I went back to the dancefloor, the energy had changed. The music was a style of music that I hadn't heard before. Everything was chopped up, but not danceable break beats. The beat was really harsh. People mostly swayed to the music. Or people gave up on the music and danced to music in their head.

I think it was the end of the party. It was an afternoon/evening party that ends at midnight.

I didn't see the play room. It often had a line.

London Alternative Market (LAM)

Image Source: The Odalisque Letters, Substack

LAM is much talked about. It's not only vendors but also workshops and after party. It seems like a place where the scene meets. People say it's a great entry paths into kink/BDSM die the curious. Bottom line: You are allowed to dress kinky, but you don't have to.

When I tried to find the entrance, I was looking up the house number on my phone. A guy looked me up and down and then said: "You are in the right place."

There is quite a great number of vendors over two floors. Everyone has pretty stuff. Items seem to be around the 40-50 pound range. It seems to be geared towards getting something pretty without guilt. I didn't see anything super pretty or high-end.

People were mostly in normal clothes with some dark elements. I did see a woman in complete seethrough and a man dressed like a king.

The biggest impression is that the many vendors and pepper suggest that the London scene is quite large.

London Report: Studio Ma and Studio Anatomie (Shibari Studios)

Image Source: Studio Ma

My experience has been similar for both places. I felt like I was entering hollowed ground. There is so much that seem to have happened there. A lot of teachers that I admire have taught there. I hoped to get a taste of the environment that might have formed Hua Hua. I'm really drawn to her approach of somatic rope.

The spaces were definitely recognizable from online. It felt like wow to actually be there. Like to take the shoes off downstairs at Studio Ma, to ascend the long stairs, and to arrive at the serene tatami mat room. I'd never seen so much bamboo in the ceiling for suspension. The ceiling was quite low.

However, I didn't get to do a single scene. There wasn't a single aspiring scene to observe. I don't want to be purely negative. However, I think there is something valuable to understand about the culture.

For contrast, in Berlin, I had multiple memorable scenes. And it was amazing to watch how different NYC and Berlin ties.

When I say not a single inspiring scene, I don't mean that I'm better or that there weren't good suspension transitions.

I think it might be culturally. Outside of shibari, I had people tell me multiple times that they are not good at improvising and strongly avoid doing so. A restaurant had an entire menu section labeled "boring but delightful."

For partnering, people seemed to come paired up. People seemed unapproachable, yet friendly if you got them at the right time.

I don't now if it's true. I got the suggestion that you first have to show up that people can see you. Then you have a conversation. And when you see them a second time, they open up more.

I've seen multiple people run jump into each other's arms upon seeing each other. And then they returned to the usual docile self. It took a whole week of being in London until I saw that first enthusiastically excited person.

I was told that the beginner rope jam at Studio Anatomie is better. I had a ticket. However, I was too tired to go.

I also wasted a ticket to the Studio Ma's sanctum rope jam. I think someone told me about that or another event that before COVID, they had such hard scenes that they had to have a doctor patrol!

Despite so many great workshops happening there throughout the year, none lined up with my visit. The same thing happened in Berlin as well. It seems like you have to plan your trip around it.

There is another rope studio. I'm not sure if the name. I'm in their Whatsapp groups but don't see the name listed prominently. Their group is very active with hundreds of messages. It's mostly empty chatter. They have regular jams and full on shibari play parties.

PS: If you aren't in the rope scene, I had heard Studio Anatomie described as one of the most influential studios in the world.

It's in a beautiful space with a tall vaulted ceiling and chillout loft on a mezzanine that oversees the space. It turns out the overall shape of the space is not that unique. They have these long rows of spaces like that under train tracks. There are fitness studios and other businesses next to each other that can cope with trains running over their ceiling and that need big airspace.

PPS: I hadn't seen this elsewhere. They had big boxes of community gear for rigging.

PPPS: Nobody in London seems to tell you welcome when you tell them that it is your first time visiting the place. However, they'll almost cut you off to tell you where the restroom is. There is a great sense of urgency by everyone to tell you where the restroom is. Maybe, it was random or culturally. Or maybe, they want to be friendly, and that's the best they can think of to be friendly...

London Report: Charmskool

Image Source: Charmskool Shop

Charmskool is a fetish/kink boutique. Based on the covered up people I saw in the street, they are in the center of a Muslim neighborhood.

Pretty much every piece had some unique and fun idea. The fabrics/materials were all nice. The owner was friendly.

The prices seem to be in the you get what you pay for range. So that's above cheap and below small car equivalent price. (Fetish wear elsewhere can go for multiply K's.)

They are going to come to Torture Garden NYC and will run a booth at Hit Me Up. She said that I'm the first to know. So you've got the inside scoop!

An interesting thing was that the owner doesn't know what she's getting until she opens the box. Her vendors simply send her stuff. Apparently, she maintains a really good network of vendors.

How To Dress For Kink Parties Workshop

There is an online workshop from London about how to dress for kink parties. I've met the presenter in person. When I did, my eyes went into overdrive bouncing around all over because she was so well put together in every detail and spot.

I figure this could be a worthwhile online presentation if only to get her fashion sources. However, I don't know anything about her or her classes beyond a five minute encounter. Having seen her notebook, she does seem mindblowingly organized. I think her angle is to give you a class for free to get you to hire her.

(Joy club was introduced to me as the European Feeld.)

London Report: Quench

Image Source: OutSavvy

I went to the Quench social yesterday. The theme was tarot and tattoo.

It was sold out and had a funny game to get off the wait-list. In the middle of the night, I got a notification that I got off the waitlist and could get the ticket if I booked within a few minutes. Of course, I missed that. So I stayed up until I got off the wait-list again and quick reaction booked.

The place was a little outside of core London. Every restaurant was Turkish except for the taco house. They had French tacos. It turned out that French tacos are actually Moroccon/Algerian food. What I got seemed like bar food inside a hot pocket.

The social itself was a bit underwhelming. It seemed like a small coffee shop with some vendor tables. People who showed up were seriously diverse. However, they didn't really seem to come to socialize. They either came looked around and left or came to chat with friends.

However, from talking to people, I got the warm, glowing feeling that their parties are actually special. I met one of the organizers. He was sitting mostly by himself at a table - cool guy. He said that he didn't organize that party.

His friend who organized the party was absolutely charming and dazzling like the life of fifty percent of the party. She showed me her Shibari notes. They were absolutely exquisite with drawings. It looked like a published book.

I would call this one a miss. However, I still have very high hopes for their actual parties.

Does anyone have any tips for London: sex-positive parties, techno, shibari jams/classes, BDSM events/socials, queer events, spas? Share it with us!

Here is a curated list of London spots!

Acroyoga

Acroyoga Genie
https://www.acroyogagenie.org/

London Acro Jams
https://www.londonacro.co.uk/#jams

Acro Class
https://www.jaquiwan.com/2021/09/20/acroyoga-sundays-class-jam-tokei-london-bridge/

Shibari/BDSM

Spnkd
https://spnkd.com

House of Circe
https://www.houseofcirce.com/

Rope Jams UK
https://www.ropejam.co.uk/

S*x Positive and Kink Parties

Secret Cinema
London-based but international immersive movies reenacted by attendees
https://www.secretcinema.com/

Klub Verboten
A play party that travels between London, Berlin, and Amsterdam
https://klubverboten.com/

LAM
Alternative market; a monthly kink vendor space with after party
https://londonalternativemarket.com/

Joyride
S*x positive events in London
https://www.joyriderave.com/

Quench London
Sex positive parties
https://www.quenchlondon.co.uk/

Sublime Society
Erotic events in London, Berlin, and Paris
https://www.thesublimesociety.co.uk/

Killing Kittens
Play parties for women
https://www.killingkittens.com/

Heaven Circle
Play parties
https://www.heavencircle.com/

Fox and Badge
Parties that have meetups before to build costumes
https://www.foxandbadge.com/

Torture Garden
Fetish fashion party
https://torturegarden.com/

Pedestal
Female submissive club
https://clubpedestal.com/

Riot
Queer, s*x positive raves
https://riotparty.co.uk/

One Night
Party in a dungeon (need to sign up to the mailing list)
https://www.onenightparties.com/

Club Antichrist
https://www.clubantichrist.co.uk/

Riposte
Queer, s*x positive rave
https://www.instagram.com/riposte.london/

Howl
Queer, s*x positive rave
https://www.howlworldwide.com/

Sex Club
Sex related workshops and retreats in London and some in Berlin
https://www.sexclubme.com/

Dominium Vita
Sex-positive group
https://dominiumvita.com/

7 Sins
https://www.7sins.club/

ENM Fam
They have a calendar with ENM events in London/UK
https://linktr.ee/ENMfam

Techno

Fold
Highly recommended on Reddit
https://www.fold.london/

Fabric
Recommended on Reddit
https://www.fabriclondon.com/

Corsica Studios
Recommended on Reddit
https://www.corsicastudios.com/

Performances

The Box Soho
Wild risque performances
https://theboxsoho.com/

Spas

Arc Community
A social spa
https://www.arc-community.com/

Aire Ancient Baths
https://beaire.com/en/aire-ancient-baths-london

Boutiques

Broke Boutique
Fetish store/brand by appointment
https://brokeboutique.com/

Charmskool Fetish Boutique
https://www.instagram.com/charmskool.showroom

Coco de Mer
Lingerie and sex toys
https://www.coco-de-mer.com/

Note: From time to time, Night Owls may recommend events, venues, or experiences that align with our coverage of nightlife, raves, EDM, erotic, and sex-positive culture, and visual & performance arts. These recommendations are provided for informational purposes only and do not constitute an endorsement, sponsorship, or guarantee of safety, quality, or experience. By participating in our experiences, including any digital platforms, you acknowledge that you have read and agree to the following Night Owls Terms of Service.

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Spotted is a living journal of nightlife, culture, and connection. A space for storytelling, reflection, and discovery, exploring the people, places, and ideas shaping modern social life.