And while most of the original programme has been retained, one notable casualty of the move is the Torture Garden LFW Special, now out of the schedule because a suitable venue couldn’t be found.

“It’s been a roller coaster of a ride since my baptism of fire at Skin Two Events,” says LFW founder and event coordinator Max Absolute.

“And sad to say, it appears that the process and difficulties of producing any fetish event seems to have come full circle since then, with the selection and options for suitable venues dwindling by the day.

“Having as many as ten events in a weekend obviously poses a challenge to scheduling, but then to add unexpected venue losses and venue uncertainty to the mix makes it nigh on impossible to run.”

Some commentators blame these difficulties on the British Government’s reversion to more puritanical ways and venues’ consequent distancing of themselves from anything ‘sexual’.

But while venue challenges have visibly influenced the London Fetish Weekend 2017 format, Max says they have also provided the opportunity to “invite some new talent into the family”, and to revisit one particular event feature that it had not been possible to include in the original plans for this year.

Hopefully all this will be some compensation for the absence of Torture Garden from this October’s programme — something the legendary fetish club did its utmost to avoid, explains TG spokesperson Charlotte TG:

“After months of trying to pin down a weekend that meant all events scheduled to be involved could find suitable venues, we have had to admit that it just isn’t going to be possible this year, and sadly TG won’t be part of the LFW line-up for 2017.

“This is a real shame as the weekend has consistently grown in popularity and we’ve really enjoyed being part of the team. But fingers crossed we’ll be back again next year!”

Adds Max Absolute: “TG have on several previous LFWs had to bow out and none of us takes it personally! The LFW has seen so many brands and clubs be part of the weekend and sometimes it’s good to shake things up a bit. But we would of course be delighted to have them back in 2018.”

FETISH THEATRE: Beatrix Carlotta joins the line-up of this year’s LFW (photo: Josh Brandao)

This ‘shake up’ has given three new brands the chance to get involved in London Fetish Weekend 2017.

The award-winning Zara DuRose will be putting “an erotic sassy slant” to Saturday 7’s proceedings by way of some “very naughty” cabaret performers. This ZDR Cabaret & Kink production promises to deliver “a luxury erotic experience to knock the socks off anyone expecting a 50 Shades Saturday”.

Second new brand is the brainchild of Von Hugo and his partner — the swanky members only club, Xanadu Society. It’s open house on Friday 6 for guests to enjoy a Club XS cocktail evening in the centre of Soho before heading off to Subversion Noir in Vauxhall.

The third new addition is the weekend’s opening event on Thursday 5. Fetish Theatre with Beatrix Carlotta & Crew takes place at Resistance Gallery, one of London’s last remaining alternative art and performance venues.

Beatrix (above) is one of just a handful of performers working exclusively in the fetish and art genre. After presenting well-received editions of her avant-garde, thought-provoking and humorous Fetish Theatre, Beatrix was thrilled, we hear, to be invited to contribute to LFW.