27/05/2016: In a dark corner of the maze, a skinny man wearing a red rubber mask is reclining in a sling, waiting, offered.
Between his open legs, a burly black guy, wearing a pristinely white rugby kit, is preparing to… erm… introduce himself for a deeper sort of acquaintance.
A few metres away, more men in their best fetish finery (buffed up boots, pulled up socks, shiny rubber, blackest leather, or just their birthday suit) are at the bar chatting and flirting obliviously, dominated by the hairy gyrating jockstrap-clad butt of Paul McNulty on the podium, who is making his debut as host, that night.
Those two tableaux sum up perfectly what awaited the visitors of the Hoist last Friday, where international monthly fetish night Twisted had taken over.
Add to the scenes a dark electronic soundtrack adroitly spun by Paul Coals (the man behind the night) and Spanish import Jesus Pelayo, the ministrations of the super friendly Hoist team, and you get an evening ideal to quench all kinds of kinky thirsts.
• The Hoist, Railway Arches 47C & 47B, South lambeth Road, Vauxhall, London SW8