Executive Overview
London’s nightlife landscape has long faced a quiet crisis regarding inclusive, vibrant, and intentional spaces for queer women, non-binary individuals, and trans communities. While the capital boasts a glittering array of hyper-visible gay male venues, historical spaces dedicated specifically to sapphic nightlife have frequently suffered from closures, commercial homogenization, or a lack of sonic ambition. However, a slow-burning cultural shift is currently underway—one defined by radical inclusivity, high-octane music programming, and unbridled desire.
At the vanguard of this movement is (lip) service, a Berlin-born lesbian party co-founded by creative dynamos Gabriella Rowland and Lilian Aya Bencze. Originally conceived as a counter-narrative to traditional, often sterile queer women’s events, (lip) service was built to champion a sexier, more music-forward ethos. Its core mandate is uncompromising: to construct a safer, highly charged space for dykes of all genders, alongside their non-binary and trans siblings.
On Thursday, August 27, this burgeoning ethos crossed international borders for a landmark collaboration. Teaming up with Dazed Club, (lip) service descended upon Dalston’s labyrinthine, low-lit haven, The Roses of Elagabalus, for an exclusive London Special. Transforming the venue’s Cabaret Room and Sub-Rosa spaces into a pulsating epicenter of queer joy, the event served as both a triumphant homecoming for its founders and a masterclass in modern sapphic nightlife curation.
Featuring heavy-hitting bass sets from international and local DJs, a crowd decked out in unapologetic sartorial statements, and an atmosphere thick with palpable chemistry, the night captured the exact pulse of contemporary queer culture. This report examines the anatomy of the event, the broader renaissance of sapphic spaces across Europe, and what this high-profile partnership signals for the future of underground nightlife.
Detailed Chronology: Anatomy of a London Special
The transformation of The Roses of Elagabalus on August 27 did not happen by accident; it was the result of meticulous spatial and sonic planning designed to evoke intimacy, liberation, and raw energy.
The Venue and the Homecoming
Though (lip) service currently calls Berlin its operational base, London remains the intellectual and cultural home turf for Rowland and Bencze. Bringing the party back to the capital was an exercise in bridging the gap between Europe’s industrial clubbing aesthetics and London’s granular, community-driven nightlife.
The venue itself played an active role in the night’s narrative. Hidden away in the heart of Dalston, The Roses of Elagabalus offered a labyrinth of moody corners, velvet textures, and shadowy recesses. Chinwe, Dazed’s Events and Cultural Programming Executive, encapsulated the venue’s unique appeal:
"The venue was already such a sexy, moody setting, with low lighting, little rooms and corners that felt made for disappearing into conversation. It was extremely lesbian-coded, in the best possible way."
As guests trickled in past the threshold, the shift in atmosphere was immediate. Gone was the clinical, well-lit sterility often found in mainstream corporate venues; in its place was a sultry, cavernous grotto where patrons could easily transition from sweaty, high-bpm dancefloors to intimate, whispered conversations in secluded alcoves.
The Soundscape: Keeping the Decks Hot
Music is the pulsating heart of the (lip) service philosophy. Rejecting the tired, Top 40-heavy playlists that have historically plagued mainstream women’s nights, the organizers curated a line-up rooted in cutting-edge electronic music, bass, and techno.
Kicking off the night with a thunderous, bass-heavy masterclass was (lip) service co-founder DJ AYA. Known for her fearless genre-blending and driving rhythms, AYA’s set immediately anchored the room in a heavy, physical frequency.
She was joined on the decks by FAFF, the dynamic, London-based DJ and production duo celebrated for their high-energy delivery and deep knowledge of underground club sounds. The sonic journey reached its zenith with Or:la, the Liverpool-based DJ, producer, and boss of the acclaimed Céad label. Or:la’s masterclass in hypnotic, textured electronic music ensured that the dancefloors in both the Cabaret Room and Sub-Rosa remained at a boiling point well into the early hours of Friday morning.
Sartorial Subversion: The Lesbian Uniform
Fashion at (lip) service has always functioned as a language of resistance, humor, and mutual recognition. The crowd at The Roses of Elagabalus arrived fully prepared to make a statement, turning the venue into a living, breathing runway of contemporary queer streetwear and tongue-in-cheek graphics.
Slogan tees dominated the room, leaving very little to the imagination. Phrases like "Girls Eat Girls!" and "I Heart Lesbian Sex" blazed across chests, subverting historical tropes of modesty and respectability politics in favor of loud, unapologetic lust. Beyond the graphic tees, the crowd embraced a diverse spectrum of sartorial subcultures: utilitarian vests, sharp-cut vintage blazers, functional caps, and structured workwear dominated the room. It was a masterclass in the evolving geography of queer aesthetics—one that honors classic butch/femme dynamics while violently pushing them into new, gender-fluid territories.
Intimacy and Connection
True to its namesake, (lip) service fostered an environment where romance, flirting, and physical connection were not merely tolerated—they were the foundational energy of the night. From stolen glances across smoke-filled rooms to full-throated kissing in the corridors, the night was a celebration of sapphic desire in all its forms.
Attendees ranged from seasoned community organizers to first-time daters experiencing the nightlife scene for the first time. One attendee, reflecting on the evening as the penultimate stop of a first date, shared:
"The whole thing felt intimate and sexy without trying too hard to be. The date went well, the venue was hot, and I left wanting to see her again — a successful Thursday night out in Dalston."
Captured expertly through the lens of photographer Lu Deverall, the night’s visual archive reads as a testament to the power of physical spaces in fostering genuine human chemistry.
Supporting Context & Metrics: The Sapphic Renaissance
To understand the cultural significance of the (lip) service x Dazed Club takeover, one must examine the broader socioeconomic and geographical landscape of queer nightlife in Europe over the past decade.
The Shrinking Map of Queer Spaces
According to independent nightlife research, London lost over 58% of its dedicated LGBTQ+ venues between 2006 and 2022. While queer men have historically retained spaces via historic pubs, cruising bars, and large-scale circuit parties, spaces dedicated explicitly to women, trans individuals, and non-binary communities have faced disproportionate closures. Rising commercial rents, gentrification, and heteronormative municipal licensing policies have forced organizers into the precarious world of pop-ups and nomadic club nights.
Furthermore, traditional lesbian events have often fallen into two limiting categories: overly commercialized spaces lacking musical credibility, or exclusionary environments that failed to respect the gender spectrum of modern dyke culture.
The Berlin-to-London Pipeline
The birth of (lip) service in Berlin—a city globally renowned for its radical club culture and progressive sexual politics—provided a blueprint for how a sapphic party could operate with uncompromising artistic integrity. Berlin’s underground scene prizes safer-space policies, dark rooms, and uncompromised techno curation.
When Rowland and Bencze decided to bring this energy back to London, they tapped into an immense, starved demand. London’s queer youth are increasingly rejecting sanitized corporate Pride events in favor of raw, underground, community-led gatherings. The collaboration with Dazed Club—a massive cultural curator—demonstrates that mainstream media institutions are finally beginning to recognize what underground organizers have known for years: sapphic nightlife is not a niche market; it is a booming, highly sophisticated cultural powerhouse.
Official Statements & Industry Perspectives
The success of the London Special has sparked vital conversations among cultural programmers, organizers, and media executives regarding the future of queer nightlife spaces.
Chinwe, Events and Cultural Programming Executive at Dazed:
"When looking at how we build cultural programming today, the priority has to be authenticity and community safety. (lip) service doesn’t just throw a party; they build a sanctuary. Collaborating with them allowed us to lean into an aesthetic and an energy that London’s nightlife desperately needs more of—spaces that are genuinely coded for us, by us, without compromise."
Gabriella Rowland, Co-Founder of (lip) service:
"We started (lip) service because we were tired of choosing between good music and feeling safe in our identities. We wanted to build a space where dykes of all genders, trans folks, and our non-binary siblings could experience the kind of raw, sweaty, high-intensity club culture that is so often gatekept. Bringing this back to London with Dazed was a surreal, beautiful homecoming."
Lilian Aya Bencze, Co-Founder of (lip) service:
"Berlin taught us how to hold space fearlessly, but London gave us our roots. The energy in Dalston on Thursday night proved that people are hungry for intentionality. They don’t just want a venue with a bar; they want an environment that respects their history, their bodies, and their ears."
Future Outlook: Where Do We Go From Here?
As the dust settles on The Roses of Elagabalus, the momentum behind (lip) service shows no signs of slowing down. The success of the London Special marks a crucial turning point for the collective, proving that their hyper-specific brand of Berlin-honed, London-rooted party curation can scale internationally without losing its underground soul.
1. The Expansion of Nomadic Curation
As permanent real estate remains a challenge for independent nightlife organizers, nomadic party series like (lip) service will likely continue to dominate. By partnering with established cultural institutions like Dazed Club, underground collectives can bypass traditional real estate hurdles, utilizing pop-up takeovers to test new markets and reach wider audiences while maintaining absolute artistic control.
2. A Paradigm Shift in Electronic Music
The line-up featuring DJ AYA, FAFF, and Or:la highlights a broader industry shift: women and non-binary producers are no longer being relegated to opening slots or peripheral rooms. They are commanding prime-time headline slots on heavy-hitting bass and techno stages. This sonic elevation is attracting a younger, more discerning crowd that demands high-level musical execution alongside social inclusivity.
3. Redefining "Safe Spaces"
The term "safe space" has frequently been co-opted by corporate entities as a buzzword. However, events like (lip) service demonstrate what a genuinely safer space looks like in practice: rigorous door policies, explicit community guidelines, low lighting that offers privacy, and an atmosphere free from male gaze harassment. As public discourse around safety in nightlife intensifies, (lip) service’s framework is poised to become the industry gold standard.
Conclusion
The (lip) service x Dazed Club London Special was much more than a successful Thursday night out in Dalston; it was a cultural manifesto. It proved that when sapphic spaces are curated with musical brilliance, unapologetic sexuality, and uncompromising community care, the response is overwhelming. As (lip) service continues to expand its footprint across Europe, one thing is abundantly clear: the lesbian renaissance is loud, it is heavy on the bass, and it is here to stay.
Stay up to date with (lip)service’s future events via their Instagram, and check out the official gallery shot by Lu Deverall for a deeper visual dive into the night.
