ZDR & LAM: ZDR ‘last london date’; LAM resumes in new venue

ZDR & LAM: ZDR ‘LAST LONDON DATE’; LAM RESUMES IN NEW VENUE

The first weekend of August promises to be busier than usual on the fetish event front in London, thanks to events from both ZDR and LAM. Saturday August 03 sees ZDR’s postponed Blade Runner party descending on Union Club in Vauxhall, while Sunday 04 finds the first LAM (London Alternative Market) taking place at its new regular venue, Sway Bar in Holborn — a move obliged by the closure of Revolution, its previous home.

But in a shock announcement today (Thursday Aug 01), ZDR host Zara DuRose reveals that Saturday’s Blade Runner at Union will be the last ZDR event in London for the foreseeable future, with November’s London date cancelled. The party at Brighton’s Pelirocco Hotel is still planned for October 25 but 2025 Brighton dates are yet to be confirmed. Read more about Zara’s decision below.

Top image, main picture: ZDR Blade Runner host Zara DuRose. Left column: LAM exhibitors Ada Zanditon (top) and 3nlisted (bottom), plus entrance to new venue Sway Bar (centre). Right column: ZDR performers include Vicky Butterfly (top) and Dolly Pierrot (centre)

Aug 3 Blade Runner at Union: ‘last ZDR London date’ for time being

Vicky Butterfly will perform at this weekend’s Blade Runner, ZDR’s last London party until further notice

In announcing that she’s taking a break from organising London events after Saturday’s Blade Runner party, Zara DuRose confesses that after running parties for nine years, she has reached a point where she has lost the passion for it. “Each event demands a significant amount of my time, as I handle all the planning alone. This has led me to neglect other projects I wish to pursue. It takes three to five months of work for very little financial reward, if any.”

While pointing out that fostering the community and building the ZDR brand — rather than money-making — were always the primary objectives of her events, Zara adds, “Unfortunately, the increasing stress and financial strain have made it unsustainable. Lower ticket sales and the shortage of suitable venues in London add to the struggle. Everyone is feeling the pinch, and fewer people are going out to enjoy these carefully planned nights.”

Problems with venues and other issues experienced by Zara and other kink event organisers motivated the recent launch of S Plus Association, a UK trade organisation for promoters of sex-positive events and those who work in them as welfare monitors. ZDR is one of the founder-members of the new group; other founders include Torture Garden.

Bunny & Felix de la Croix will perform at Blade Runner, “fresh off some of London’s hottest stages”

“For now, I’m stepping back [from hosting London events] and will reassess things next year when I’m ready,” DuRose explains. “In the future, I hope to host one special event in London per year, and possibly two in Brighton. However, future London dates will depend on finding the right venue that aligns with my vision without compromising the quality of the ZDR brand. I hope to find the right venue, as I will miss seeing all the wonderful people who have been the heart and soul of ZDR events.”

Tickets for Aug 03’s ZDR Blade Runner — taking place from 21:00 to 04:00 at Union, 66 Albert Embankment, London SE1 7TP — were still available from Eventbrite at time of writing (entry with photo ID only). Acts lined up for the night are Duo Millers, Vicky Butterfly, Dolly Pierrot, and Bunny & Felix de la Croix. There will also be a Shibari Corner hosted by house rigger Cheeky Monkee and companions.

Zara also recently co-produced a promo video for Saturday’s event in collaboration with Hal Sinden and Eulogy Media. Titled Voight-Kampff Test, it’s a homage to the legendary sci-fi movie that inspired the party’s name, featuring Zara DuRose and Tyler Alan Woods in an ‘interview’ sequence that explains the principle rules of conduct applying at ZDR events. You can watch it below in glorious 480p.

Below: Watch Voight-Kampff Test, the ZDR Blade Runner promo starring Zara DuRose and Tyler Alan Woods

Aug 4 LAM at Sway: London Alternative Market reopens at new venue

As announced in our recent LAM blog item (July 05, updated July 25), London Alternative Market is about to reopen at its new Holborn venue Sway Bar, at 61-65 Great Queen St, London WC2B 5BZ, this Sunday August 04. Nearest tube is Holborn, a mere two — or three — minutes’ walk from Sway, depending on whether you believe the map or the text in LAM’s public announcement.

The first event at the new venue will preserve the format of LAM’s monthly Sundays at previous home Revolution Bar. Doors open at noon, there’s Newbie orientation at 1pm then three workshops during the afternoon. These are: 2.00pm: Healthy Mental Practices with The Kink Shrink (90 mins); 4.00pm: Clear on Conset in Kink with The Kink Shrink; 5.30pm: Peer Rope LAMdon with @opalfruit (capacity: 35).

Garments and accessories by Ada Zanditon (left – photo: Christian Gschweng), and leather lingerie, corsetry and accessories from Crystals N Couture (right) will be among the attractions at LAM

Exhibitors signed up for the Aug 4 market (which is open noon-6pm) are, in A-Z order: Ada Zanditon. Affordable Leather, Bear Bite Bondage, Bound by Lust, Crystals N Couture, Delicious Evilness, Domn8z, 3nlisted, Freebound Studio, Freja’s Field, Fubar Treasures, Fudge Builds, Fun Bombz, Funny Unicorn Studio, Gay Glass Stall (The), Godemiche, Him and Her Erotic Steel, Jed Phoenix, Kinky Emporium (The), Kinky Kraken, Kinky Moongazer, Kinkz Clothing, Leather Delights, Metal Mania, Mintt, Nes Noir, Ravenwerks, Seven Sin Latex, Spank Clothing, Spoilt Kitty.

The Market closes at 6pm, then an hour later the After Party starts in the venue’s Cocktail Room bar, running until 11pm. A variety of advance tickets are available from Ticket Tailor, covering the Market only, Market and After Party and After Party only, with all three options also available with the addition of a carer’s admission.

More LAM exhibitors to look out for include Leather Delights (left) and Seven Sins Latex (right)

LAM’s organisers are once again putting out a call for more volunteers to help with set-up or breakdown (not both) at the new venue. Help is especially needed to load in the market’s traders (arrival 8:30–9:00am) and to load out at the end of the After Party (around 10:30–11:15pm). Volunteers receive free entry to the market, free tea and coffee all day, and a stipend as a contribution for their time. Contact LAM here if you’d like to volunteer.

Links to more info & tickets for ZDR Blade Runner & LAM

Aug 03 ZDR Blade Runner info & tickets/Eventbrite
Aug 04 LAM event info & tickets

Below: Entrance of LAM’s new Holborn venue, Sway Bar, at 61-65 Great Queen St, London WC2B 5BZ