Erotica UK
Erotica was an adult, consumer exhibition held each November at Olympia, London, UK. A mainstream ‘lifestyle show’ aimed primarily at women and couples, visitors were encouraged to celebrate or re-kindle their relationships with goods and services aimed to enhance their love lives. Erotica's organisers claim that it is now[when?] the world's largest lifestyle show "for freethinking adults who are comfortable with their sexuality". Erotica cancelled its 2014 show and has since shut its doors
Exhibitors, including many small- to medium-sized companies and sole traders, offered: fashion, corsetry, lingerie, shoes, jewellery, art, photography, sculpture, adult toys, games, books, DVDs, furniture and romantic gifts. Popular, free entertainment includes: stage shows that run several times each day and are produced by London's Torture Garden; The Fantasy Boys' strip tease; entertainers that wander among the crowds; workshops and demonstrations (including glamour photography, bodycasting and burlesque classes); and a team of NHS sexual health advisors offering free advice, condoms and chlamydia testing. Erotica is keen to promote safe, respectful and responsible sex, and welcomes visitors of all persuasions – straight, gay and transgender. [1]
History
Erotica's first show was at Olympia, London, in 1997[2] and has been an annual event there every November since then. Erotica Manchester had its first show at the G-Mex Centre in March 2003[3] but ticket sales were poor in 2005[4] despite attempts the previous year to attract visitors by having former Conservative Member of Parliament Neil Hamilton promote the event[5] and the organisers did not return.
Previous shows
Year | Dates | Visitors | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1997 | 28–30 November | 12,000 | |
1998 | ??–?? May | 14,000 | |
1998 | 27–29 November[6] | 17,000 | |
1999 | 26–28 November | 19,379 | |
2000 | 24–26 November | 41,237 | |
2001 | 30 Nov – 2 Dec | 54,984 | |
2002 | 22–24 November | 59,797 | |
2003 | 14–16 November | 65,542 | |
2004 | 19–21 November | 70,000[4] | |
2005 | 18–20 November | 80,000 | |
2006 | 17–19 November | 82,000 | |
2007 | 23–25 November | 70,000 | |
2008 | 21–23 November | 56,000 | |
2009 | 20–22 November | 56,000 | |
2010 | 19–21 November | TBC |
Year | Dates | Visitors | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2003 | 21–23 March | ? | |
2004 | 26–28 March | 20,000 (est)[4] | |
2005 | 1–3 April | ? |
Erotica 2013 will be held on 25-27 October 2013 at Tobacco Dock in London.
Notes
- ^ Bates, Stephen (24 November 2007). "Women dominate the annual lifestyle fair". London: Guardian newspaper. Retrieved 21 May 2009.
- ^ Treneman, Ann (29 November 1997). "Erotica show gives Britain a first". London: Independent newspaper. Retrieved 21 May 2009.
- ^ "Erotica returns". Manchester Evening News. 19 March 2004. Retrieved 20 May 2009.
- ^ a b c "Erotica show blames 'chauvinists'". BBC News. 1 April 2005. Retrieved 20 May 2009.
- ^ Glover, Julian (27 March 2004). "Hamiltons promote Erotica 2004 festival". London: Guardian newspaper. Retrieved 21 May 2009.
- ^ Vigar, Simon (27 November 1998). "EROTICA SHOW: OLYMPIA". ITN Source. Retrieved 22 May 2009.
External links
- Erotica website
- EROTICA 2009 (LONDON PIXELS photo set)
- EROTICA 2008 (LONDON PIXELS photo set)
- EROTICA 2007 (LONDON PIXELS photo set)
- EROTICA UK Profile