And so a London legend has reached its final chapter. Covent Garden’s Coffee, Cake and Kink, which bills itself as “the only kinky café gallery in the U.K.” gave its farewell party on July 23, 2008 following a protracted legal battle with its landlord.

Though the café’s closing date is imminent, it still has events planned for the whole of August. Featuring such events as “Friday Nights Are Fetish Nights,” enticing patrons to “come along in your favorite fetish gear for an evening of fun! Gimps and maids welcome!” while offering such unique caveats as “Note: Regrettably people in rubber/latex costumes will have to remain upstairs as we currently have no suitable covers for the soft furnishings” Coffee, Cake and Kink’s final month is sure to be memorable.

Serving only freshly ground Monmouth coffee (fair trade to be sure—for the fetishist with a sense of social justice), and offering a bring-your-own-bottle feature (after six pm, though a five pound corkage fee applies), Coffee, Cake and Kink will be sadly missed. They’ve attracted throngs of fans around London, including BDSM blogger Bitchy Jones, whose first impressions of the shop can be found at Little Wonder. Her laments for the café’s departure can be found here.

Happily, CCK’s online shop will remain open to serve the needs of London’s (and the world’s) fetish needs. Even offering an online (as well as telephonic— you can reach them at +44 (0) 207 419 2996) personal shopper option (featuring the very helpful Sonia and Emily) to help you find exactly what you’re looking for.

But fear not, lovers of kink, there are spots of fading yellow light amidst the black/blue of CCK’s closing up shop. “Whether or not Coffee, Cake and Kink comes back as a social space”, says founder Alan Cassidy, “depends largely on the success of the online retail, and how well we are able to demonstrate that the loss of the premises has not diminished our customers’ faith in us. So far, people have voted with their feet, now they will vote with their mouse! With every order placed online, a deposit for new premises builds up and customers show that they want us back.” Garreth Carika