DIVA caught up with the trailblazing visionary who is reshaping the nightlife landscape for women
BY ELLA GAUCI, IMAGES BY RACHEL SHERLOCK PHOTOGRAPHY
Teddy Edwardes has been changing the nightclub industry ever since she founded LICK – the company creating events across the country for women, made by women. Since its launch, LICK has hosted nights with artists like Young MA and Ms Banks at sold-out venues.
The model and businesswoman has been building her empire ever since, and she was even featured on the BBC Three show The Proud Party Agency which took us behind the scenes of the LGBTQIA events planning world.
LICK has been creating safe spaces for the LGBTQIA community ever since its inception and has watched as thousands of women enjoy the best nights of their lives. We caught up with the powerhouse, Teddy Edwardes, to find out more about her career and story.
LICK has become such an important space for the LGBTQIA community. Why did you decide to start LICK?
For years I stopped going to straight clubs because I was so exhausted with constantly being harassed by men on nights out. I then moved to London to work at SHE bar which was a very exciting prospect for me after spending most of my life not having many queer women around. I worked there for around six months and unfortunately/fortunately got fired!
I was very upset about it as that was my only space to go to, so I walked straight across the road to the bar opposite and asked them if I could start a night on a Tuesday to rival their event called Ruby Tuesdays. They said yes and the following week my event called C U Next Tuesday started and there were queues around the block! I eventually changed the name to LICK and over the next eight years, it just kept getting bigger and bigger!
When you were growing up, did you feel like you had safe LGBTQIA spaces around you? If not, why do you think these spaces are so important?
I grew up in a tiny fishing village in Cornwall and was quite literally the only gay in the village. As far as I’m aware there weren’t any gay bars in the whole county and to meet other gay people was almost impossible. I think it’s amazing now that there are so many spaces where not only can you meet other queer women but also queer women with similar interests as you as the plethora of events is so vast.
There has been a recent decline in lesbian bars/spaces for queer women. What have been some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced while running LICK?
I think there’s a decline in gay bars in general and I believe it’s because a lot of them haven’t adjusted to more current times. There are however way more spaces for queer women than ever before, just in the form of events. People can now find a night out for any music/vibe/special interest they like and it’s completely catered to what they’re into.
I think my biggest challenge has simply just been running an event while being an autistic person. I can find social situations extremely uncomfortable but at the same time love watching other people have a good time so it’s been challenging to find a balance that works for me in a healthy way.
Coming out of lockdown was challenging too, and I think only towards the end of 2023 did the old clubbing vibes really start coming back and people started feeling completely comfortable and like they could enjoy themselves fully again.
What has been one of your proudest moments so far?
I think just watching LICK get bigger and bigger, the first 2000 capacity event I remember standing on the balcony and looking down at 2000 women and just thinking WOAH. And now we do that regularly which is just mind-blowing.
Your mantra is “Whoever has the most fun wins”. Could you tell us a bit more about this philosophy and how you’ve used it throughout your career?
I think people underestimate how much I just want to have a nice time and be happy. A lot of people run events as a way to make money and although it’s amazing that I can do that, I’m really just here to throw a night that I feel excited and proud about where I can look at the whole crowd having a great time and think yeah, I smashed that.
LICK sells a lot of tickets but what people don’t realise is I will often spend every penny of it to create these memories for people like booking big artists or other things that haven’t been done before, all in the name of fun!
What is next for LICK, and do you have any projects that you can tell our DIVA readers about?
I have some huge things coming up later in the year that a lot of people will be excited about but nothing I can speak about yet, keep your eyes peeled!
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