Torture Garden describes itself as the world's largest fetish and body art club, and it is the name that has defined London's fetish nightlife for decades. Allen Pelling — then an alternative club promoter and DJ at the forefront of London's alt scene — and conceptual artist and filmmaker David Wood formed Torture Garden as a fetish club in October 1990, and it has run ever since.

The club's monthly London events draw between 1,000 and 2,500 guests by the organiser's own figures, staged as multi-room productions: a main dancefloor, a dungeon, an eclectic ballroom and a couples room, built as what TG calls an immersive underworld. Alongside the big club nights sit smaller formats — TG Boat Parties and The Pearl Necklace supper club nights among them — and the calendar peaks each year with the Halloween Balls, the XXXmas Ball and a New Year's Eve event.

The dress code is the institution within the institution: strict, non-negotiable and applied to all genders. TG expects head-to-toe looks — classic fetish, avant-garde or full fantasy — and says plainly that if you could wear it to a regular club without turning heads, it probably is not TG-friendly. Refunds are not given to guests turned away for an inadequate outfit, so read the dress code on the TG site before buying and dress with intent.

Beyond London, Torture Garden runs regular club nights in Scotland and operates franchises in Rome, Tokyo, Los Angeles, New York and Berlin, with guest appearances at international events on top. The organisation is also a latex fetish fashion label, a production company and a performance agency — the costumes, sets and show programme at its events draw on all three.

Tickets for UK events are sold exclusively through the Torture Garden website via the Dice app, shown on your phone at the door — printed tickets are not accepted. Check the TG events page for upcoming dates, and browse our London guide for the city's other fetish venues and events.