Full Fetish week returns to London

Every year just after Pride, Recon brings its Full Fetish week to London to help London’s gay scene get its kink on. With big parties, socials, classes and a dinner, Full Fetish provides a variety of ways to get your kit on for almost whatever you’re into.

Most events, including the big weekend parties, take place in South London with the Full Fetish main party on Saturday, July 12 at Coronet in Elephant & Castle. Friday’s diverse collection of events (Skinhead, Rubber & Into the Tank parties) also happen around Vauxhall, and the Deconstruction closing party will be at the Hoist. The Soho social and Fetish Dinner are the only events taking place outside South London, although fetish retailers Regulation and Expectations will be hosting shopping events, as will Vaxuhall’s RoB London.

Full Fetish advertises a strict dress code, however in our experience at past events we found it’s not rigidly enforced, which is a bit disappointing. Full Fetish lacks a leather only party but has dedicated parties for skinhead, rubber, and sports wear, plus those fetishes are popular at the main party. Of course I’m biased in my preference with leather and the main party is great for bringing everyone together, however a lot of money and effort goes into leather (and rubber) and it would be great to see the organizers encourage leather more. Despite the advertised strict dress code, making some effort will get you in the door, so it does remain an inclusive event. We found the rules around trainers/sneakers wasn’t strict, partially given the sports wear option.

The event promotes fairly hard-core fetishes and many party goers do make the effort, however while we found the range diverse, the crowd and allowances for extreme kink doesn’t exist. Rubber definitely reigns supreme at Full Fetish. When you dig into the dress code you find especially with sports and uniform, a lot of flexibility and inclusion where you can get away with trackpants and trainers/sneakers, something most bars even ban outright. The guys that take sports but in leather or rubber show a lot of imagination and even more kink.

In fairness it seems the English don’t take to leather as men in other countries do. That said, the wider fetish community has grown to allow even more diversity and an outlet for this would be welcome at Full Fetish. The parties also feature cruise and playrooms, with a set up one year allowing guys to have a piss down a pipe that emptied into a wet area below. So expect harder action at the club.

Full Fetish is a lot of fun and a great night out if you’re going with your friends. Everyone at the parties sticks to their groups and aside from the play area, people aren’t very friendly. I gave the main party a miss last year and I haven’t decided if I’ll go this year; I like my kink as much as most men, and enjoy the chance to put on all my leather and be in public, but on my own I have found the party and crowd a disappointment.

For more details and tickets to the events, visit the Full Fetish website.