Addressing the economic abandonment and corporate exploitation threatening queer cultural spaces.
Photo credit: Rae Tait
INFERNO has brought together eight of London’s leading queer nightlife collectives for a landmark photoshoot and joint statement confronting the crisis facing grassroots venues and cultural spaces across the city.
The collaboration—featuring INFERNO, Queer House Party, Riposte, RIOT, BUMPAH, Coven, UHAUL Dyke Rescue, and PLASTYK—marks a rare moment of solidarity. Together, they call out the growing economic abandonment and corporate exploitation threatening the spaces where queer culture has taken root.
Since 2006, over half of London’s LGBTQ+ venues have closed. Rent-free models have been replaced by £1,000+ hire fees, forcing many grassroots organisers to operate at a loss or without pay.
In their collective message, the groups point to deeper issues: trans and queer communities—already facing higher rates of unemployment, housing instability, and marginalisation—are being priced out. Meanwhile, corporate players repackage queer nightlife aesthetics into expensive, sanitised events, eroding the cultural value of underground scenes.
“This photoshoot is an important moment of solidarity between all nightlife collectives,” says Lewis G Burton. “These spaces are a lifeline—where we build chosen family, find community care, and survive. We need queer nightlife to be taken seriously and funded properly, like any other cultural institution.”
The statement closes with a challenge to the city: “This is not a eulogy. This is a declaration. The question London must answer: what version of queer nightlife do we want in ten years? One built on individualism and corporate profit, or one built on care, collectivism, and genuine liberation?”
The message comes as INFERNO celebrates its 10th anniversary. Founder Lewis G Burton has also released their first new music in six years, unveiling a powerful video for ‘Mother’s Milk’ and a 25-track compilation album. Stream and download here.
Read the full collective message below.
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