By Eva Lovia 
The intersection of avant-garde literature and community athletics converged in West London as Dream Baby Press hosted its inaugural international event at the historic All-Star Boxing Gym. The gathering, described by organizers as a "WWE of readings," marked a significant expansion for the U.S.-based independent publisher and entertainment platform, which has built a reputation for hosting literary salons in unconventional, often gritty, urban locations. Outside the venue, a queue of attendees dressed in vintage fur coats and Maison Margiela Tabi flats stretched along the brickwork, signaling a distinct cultural shift for the local neighborhood institution. A local shopkeeper, observing the unusual demographic, noted that the gym had rarely seen such a crowd, highlighting the event’s success in drawing a diverse, fashion-forward audience to a space traditionally reserved for pugilistic training.
The Strategic Expansion of Dream Baby Press
Founded in 2022 by filmmaker and poet Matt Starr, Dream Baby Press (DBP) was conceived as a passion project aimed at revitalizing the literary scene by making reading and writing "fun, accessible, and sexy." Since its inception, the platform has eschewed traditional bookstores and libraries in favor of off-beat venues that challenge the perceived pretension of the literary world. Previous New York-based events have been staged in Peter Pan Donuts (the city’s oldest donut shop), a multi-level Burger King, and the oldest magic shop in the United States.
The decision to host the first non-U.S. event in London was driven by data indicating that the United Kingdom represents the publisher’s second-largest audience outside of North America. Starr, who expressed a long-standing affinity for London’s cultural landscape—citing influences ranging from British romantic comedies to the historic architecture of the city—noted that the event was a response to persistent demand from his digital community. The sell-out status of the evening underscored the viability of the London market for DBP’s specific brand of "alt-lit" entertainment.
Atmosphere and Venue Significance: The All-Star Boxing Gym
The selection of the All-Star Boxing Gym served a dual purpose: it provided a raw, high-energy backdrop that contrasted with the intellectual nature of the readings and supported a family-run community pillar. Guests entered the high-ceilinged space where boxing bags and team flags hung from aged wooden beams, and an old-school ring dominated the floor. The architectural layout allowed for a multi-sensory experience, with a makeshift bar on the upper balcony serving beer and wine in plastic pints, maintaining the unpretentious atmosphere Starr cultivates.
To set the tone for the "WWE-style" literary bout, the evening commenced not with a lecture, but with a performance by a local Elvis Presley impersonator. Dressed in a signature white jumpsuit with slicked-back hair, the performer delivered a high-energy set of Presley’s greatest hits. The inclusion of "Suspicious Minds," accompanied by traditional cowboy struts and hip swivels, effectively bridged the gap between the gym’s athletic heritage and the night’s performative literary goals, causing the boxing ring itself to bounce under the weight of the spectacle.
The Inaugural London Lineup and Performance Highlights
The curated lineup for the London debut featured a mix of established authors, screenwriters, musicians, and "it-girls," each tasked with exploring the evening’s central theme: pleasure. The readings ranged from earnest memoirs to transgressive fan fiction, reflecting the broad editorial spectrum of Dream Baby Press.
Transgressive Literature and Fan Fiction
Mickey Down, co-creator of the HBO/BBC series Industry, opened the literary portion of the evening with a provocative reading of Harry Potter fan fiction. Down explained his choice by identifying fan fiction as the "horniest subsection of literature," particularly when applied to the wizarding world. His reading focused on a "soft-core" erotic tryst involving the character Neville Longbottom, a choice he made to avoid the more "unsettling" aspects of fan fiction involving school-aged characters. Down’s contribution highlighted the DBP ethos of removing the filters typically associated with public readings, leaning into the "pleasure and horniness" that he feels defines much of contemporary interest.
Physicality and the Female Experience
Emma Forrest, the director and novelist known for Father Figure and the film Untogether, brought a physical dimension to her reading. Wearing contemporary labels Jacquemus and Paloma Wool, Forrest entered the ring and immediately performed a series of energizing press-ups, utilizing the space as a director would a film set. Her reading addressed the "erotic thrill" of the female aging process and the reclamation of the term "hag." Forrest’s performance was a calculated engagement with the "young person’s arena," using the boxing ring as a platform to assert the power and visibility of mature female voices.
Memoirs of Displacement and Discovery
French-British fashion icon and writer Camille Charrière used the event to preview her forthcoming memoir, Ashamed. Charrière read from a chapter titled "Pardon My French," which chronicles her move from France to London to work in the finance sector. Her narrative explored the "agony and ecstasy" of urban relocation and the vulnerability of being "terribly incompetent" in a high-stakes job pursued for the sake of a romantic relationship. Charrière described the experience of reading in the ring as "terrifying and galvanizing," likening the public exposure of memoir writing to the physical endurance required in sport.
Supporting Data: The Rise of the Literary Newsletter and Event Economy
The success of the Dream Baby Press event reflects a broader trend in the publishing industry where digital engagement on platforms like Substack and Instagram translates into high-demand physical events. Dream Baby Press has leveraged its "love/hate" lists—curated by cultural figures such as Lena Dunham and Candace Bushnell—to build a loyal following that views literature as a lifestyle brand rather than a solitary pursuit.
According to recent publishing industry insights, "community-led" literary events have seen a 35% increase in attendance among Gen Z and Millennial demographics over the last two years. This shift is attributed to a desire for "third spaces" that offer intellectual stimulation in social, non-traditional settings. DBP’s strategy of using off-beat locations serves to demystify the authorial voice, placing writers in the same visceral environment as their audience.
Chronology of the Evening
- 18:30 – 19:15: Arrival of guests and queueing outside All-Star Boxing Gym.
- 19:30: Doors open; guests congregate around the boxing ring and balcony bar.
- 20:00: Opening performance by the Elvis impersonator; "Suspicious Minds" sets the stage.
- 20:20: Mickey Down initiates the readings with Harry Potter fan fiction.
- 20:45: Emma Forrest performs press-ups and reads from her work on aging.
- 21:10: Camille Charrière shares excerpts from her upcoming memoir Ashamed.
- 21:30: Bertie Brandes announces her new book Problematic Faves and reads a poem regarding the brand Brandy Melville.
- 21:50: Tish Weinstock reads from Cookie Mueller’s "Ask Dr. Mueller" columns.
- 22:10: Matt Starr closes the evening with selections from his 2024 poetry collection Mouthful.
- 22:30: Event concludes with shop-bought wine and informal networking.
Broader Cultural Impact and Future Implications
The expansion of Dream Baby Press into the London market signifies a globalization of the "New York Alt-Lit" scene. By successfully transplanting a hyper-local New York format to the UK, Starr has demonstrated that the appetite for experiential literature is not geographically confined. The event also served as a launchpad for several upcoming projects. Bertie Brandes utilized the ring to officially announce her book Problematic Faves, slated for a 2027 release via Bloomsbury, while Camille Charrière teased an upcoming column that will continue the themes explored in her memoir.
From a journalistic perspective, the event illustrates a shift in how "It-girl" culture and literary merit are being blended. The presence of British Vogue contributing editors and Industry creators suggests that the boundaries between high fashion, mainstream media, and independent publishing are becoming increasingly porous. The boxing gym, a site of physical struggle and discipline, provided a metaphor for the "nakedness" and "endurance" required in the writing process, as noted by several participants.
Conclusion and Outlook
Matt Starr’s vision for Dream Baby Press continues to evolve from a niche passion project into a significant cultural platform. With the London event serving as a successful proof-of-concept for international expansion, it is likely that DBP will seek further unconventional venues across Europe. The blend of high-brow literary content with low-brow, high-energy settings—the "WWE of readings"—offers a sustainable model for engaging younger audiences who may find traditional book launches uninspiring.
As the night ended at the All-Star Boxing Gym, the "emotional hangover" and "rollercoaster of emotions" described by the readers suggested that the event had achieved its goal: making literature a visceral, shared experience. For the London literary scene, the arrival of Dream Baby Press represents a challenge to the status quo, proving that a boxing ring can be just as effective a podium as a library, provided the content is as raw as the environment.