EXOTICA to EROTICA – Tobacco Dock 1814 – 2013.

EXOTICA to EROTICA – Tobacco Dock 1814 – 2013. 

As the classy red Ferraris, the noisy Porches and the sleek black limos speed down The Highway in East London, taking their owners and passengers from their posh Canary Wharf apartments or the new Docklands  Airport into the heart of the City, they pass by a most remarkable and quite unique building.   But most of them won’t even notice it or even know that it’s there, for just like the proverbial iceberg only 5% of it is visible, the remainder hidden behind a old redbrick  wall or buried deep below the ground. 

Constructed two hundred years ago, this vast complex of secure covered warehouses with it’s amazing ironwork and distinctive underground vaults, in the years that followed went on to make the already wealthy merchants and traders of The City of London even richer than they were before.  Originally the world centre for the sale and distribution of tobacco - hence its name - it eventually became a bonded warehouse for millions of pounds worth of the most exotic and extensive range of goods from all over the world , including rare spices , fine wines and cognacs , quicksilver , and lavish animal skins -  to name just a few .

The rapid decline of The London Docks began in the late 1960’s and was soon followed by all those industries that relied upon them. The areas immediately surrounding the docks -including the entire Tobacco Dock site - fell into decay and disrepair and were effectively ignored and neglected for many years afterwards.

                                                                first stage of renovation

 When trade began to pick up in the 1980’s, two local entrepreneurs with a keen eye for regeneration bought Tobacco Dock and spent millions of pounds on a sympathetic and authentic restoration of this magnificent heritage site to its original splendour. The plan was to create a high class shopping and leisure centre blending a few major specialist retailers with an eclectic mix of niche businesses and artisan crafts.   It was an immediate success – I know as our family business were one of the very first occupants – but after only a year disaster struck.  In the midst of a general financial downturn the Natwest Bank foreclosed on the new owners who had no other option than to go into liquidation.  

                                                                   A thriving retail site

Despite the fact that the real value was in excess of £100 million the site was quickly sold off for a paltry £11 million to a Kuwaiti investment company.  Left in some kind of limbo, all the tenants packed up and left, licking their financial wounds – and once again this incredibly important historical building went into shutdown mode  – and remained that way  for the next twenty years.  To give them their due the Kuwaiti owners did take very good care of the building, employing full time specialist management and security staff to keep it in tip top condition over the years. 

I only live a short distance away and each time I walked past I hoped to see some kind of activity taking place, but over two long decades virtually nothing changed - that is until the middle of 2012 when right out of the blue one morning I saw a huge convoy of army trucks pulling into the front of the canal side entrance.  Around two thousand soldiers were staying inside the protected confines of Tobacco Dock while providing specialist security for The London Olympics, which they did with typical British style and panache. 

 

I was hoping against hope that this would be the start of something new for this wonderful place and I didn’t have too long to wait.     It had set off a wind of change which hopefully will continue and for the first time in more than twenty years we found ourselves back inside Tobacco Dock this time for the 18^th annual London EROTICA SHOW.

                                                                            Dream On.

I wondered how this unusual exhibition would successfully transfer from one completely different kind of venue to another, but in the event was not at all disappointed.  Savvas  Christodoulou and the amazing team responsible for the considerable organisation needed to put this unique show on the road had done it again and would no doubt congratulate themselves on yet another success. 

                                                                    Its not ALL about sex.

 I have spoken to many people over the years who have initially thought that this exhibition is only about sex - and yes, well in a way it is – as indeed are so many facets of life nowadays – but the word erotic can take many and varied forms.   The show is exceptionally well organised, the venues always clean, bright and interesting and bad behaviour of any kind is  not tolerated at all. In fact many newly formed small businesses have used the exhibition either to launch or promote their product/service and some ( remember the film ‘Kinky Boots’ ?) have gone on to find fame and fortune.  Proud  Cabaret, who were in the 2010 exhibition to showcase their newly opened ‘London City’ luxury nightclub are another good example. Since then they have opened two more equally luxurious venues, one in nearby Camden and the other in Brighton

                                                                            Or nudity !

There is usually some kind of link to the naturist lifestyle.   I didn’t see so much of it this year but there were one or two smaller business that I have seen here before and one I haven’t -but do know about.    Holidays4couples www.holiday4couples.com is owned and run by an  Englishman , who together with his charming wife have been the owners of a very smart and sophisticated hotel and leisure complex in South West France for almost twenty years.   Described in their brochures as a place of sexual freedom designed to bring together liberated people of all nationalities to meet and have fun in a stunning location, they describe prospective guests as intelligent laid back people who are open minded and non –judgemental about other peoples sexuality.  Peter told me that over the passing years the hotel has attracted a small number of naturist visitors whom he assures me have all enjoyed their holiday, as the hotel publicity and website make it very clear to all guests that that there is no obligation for anyone to become sexually involved and that the primary motivation is on atmosphere and enjoyment.  

                                                                 Holidays 4 Couples

I never ceased to be amazed at what people get up to in the attempt to satisfy or stimulate  their sexual desires.    Each year what I would call the Bizarre section includes items for sale which  almost defy explanation or reason and this show was no exception.  I have seen just about everything going – from adult babies to training girls to dress up as horses and pull carriages around – but The Dogs Bolloxx was just about the strangest one of all time.   It seems that the popular fetish trend this year is to have a human pet, complete in full realistic costume – primarily a dog but it appears that almost anything will do - and this new business is there to supply every conceivable kind of accessory imaginable. Off the shelf or made to measure, from bones to biscuits and other things quite peculiar even to me.   Oh well – that’s life - and I am assured that the RSPCA  are not at all bothered !!!.  

 

While thousands of eager visitors, many of them trying to outdo each other in their style of exotic dress still queue to get in , those already inside the area making their way amongst the fascinating    displays and exhibition stands,  begin to move to the throbbing music that heralds the start of the first of the truly amazing LIVE STAGE SHOWTIME events.

                                                             Bernadette & Victy.

This is one of the highlights of Erotica , a series of cabaret , dance and fetish performance taking in 28 shows on three stages over the three day event.   London is fast becoming a centre for burlesque and Erotica has always put on a good show, but this year was the absolute best.  In fact I would go so far as to say that the Burlesque section hosted by an amazing couple Bernadette & Vickty , calling themselves East End Cabaret  - funny sexy and rude , but never crude - was the best show I have seen anywhere, for many years if not ever.   As well as their own act, East End Cabaret  ( www.eastendcabaret.com ) hosted the main burlesque show and also organise regular gigs  of their own held in a venue actually in the East End – a very affordable and a must see event.  I understand people come from all over the South of England to see them and I am not at all surprised.  

                                                                        Its a dogs life !!

But that’s not the end for Erotica of course, only the beginning – because the end of one show means the start of the next.  As soon as the Xmas holidays are over The Team are once again hard at work, out and about seeking out and discovering new and exciting products, new faces,  innovative ideas and interesting and talented people -  the very best they can find from all over the UK and even further afield who will become an essential part of the next  show– EROTICA 2014 – and held at Tobacco Dock I hope.  

 

From Erotica 2010.