Berlin’s hottest lesbian party just landed in London

London’s lesbian nightlife has historically left a little to be desired, but with a slow-burning surge in sapphic spaces, it’s only on the up. The latest addition to the growing scene is Berlin-based lesbian party (lip) service, co-founded by Gabriella Rowland and Lilian Aya Bencze. The party started out as a plan to create a sexier, more music-focused lesbian* night, with the aim of building a “safe(r) space [for] dykes of all genders and their NB and trans siblings”.

On Thursday night (August 27), (lip) service teamed up with Dazed Club to take over the low-lit, labyrinthine rooms of Dalston’s The Roses of Elagabalus for their London Special. Here’s what went down.

While now based in Berlin, London is still home turf for (lip)service’s founders Gabriella Rowland and Lilian Aya Bencze. For their international debut alongside Dazed Club, they brought some of that Berlin-born energy back to the capital, taking over the Cabaret Room and Sub-Rosa at Dalston’s The Roses of Elagabalus.

“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,” says Dazed’s Events and Cultural Programming Executive, Chinwe.

With (lip)service co-founder DJ AYA bringing a bass-heavy set to the room, the night also saw energetic London-based DJ and production duo FAFF take to the decks, alongside Liverpool-based DJ, producer and Céad label boss Or:la.

It wouldn’t be a lesbian party without some not-so-subtle slogan tees, and the crowd came prepared to say it with their chests. From “Girls Eat Girls!” to “I Heart Lesbian Sex”, not much was left unsaid with this crowd. Other gay uniforms were also in sight, with plenty of vests, caps and blazers thrown into the mix.

True to their name, (lip) service was packed with flirting, kissing and new connections – but don’t just take our word for it; check out the gallery above. For one guest, it was the penultimate stop on a first date. “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.”

Stay up to date with (lip)service’s future events here, and check out the gallery above for more images from the night, shot by Lu Deverall.