please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Tourist trap pub serving GK ales (and the Sherlock Holmes Ale is just re-badged Morland, don't be fooled into paying more folks).
I guess it has some novelty value for a quick pint and a gawp at the Conan Doyle nik-naks, but as many others have said elsewhere, your beer money is better spent at the Ship & Shovell a short walk away, which is also a hell of a let better in terms of being a proper piece of old London memorabilia.
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Very convenient for dropping in on the way over the Millenium bridge to Waterloo.
lovely pint of Abbott was enjoyed on friday 18th April. We were about to get another when we were told quite firmly that we were not allowed to sit at the bar on the bar stools. Since there was no table free and there was no crowd around the bar we considered these comments, which were delivered in a tone worthy of a teacher to a naughty adolescent, quite out of order. How about some training on customer relatios. We left straight away.
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I like this place - if you sit outside tourists will take pictures of you (well not you, the pub, but still). Resonably priced for the area. Nice place to have a pint after work if you don't want to be somwhere with loud music and young people.
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Visit the Sherlock Holmes website to find out more:
www.traditionalpubslondon.co.uk/sherlockholmes
jg501 - 17 Mar 2008 13:00 |
Perfectly reasonable traditional pub that gets a lot of tourists in due to its association with you-know-who ( the clue is in the pub name )
I tried their own branded Sherlock Holmes Ale, on the basis that it would probably have the biggest throughput. It did, but it wasn't particularly inspiring.
Roger B ( posting in Dec 2007 ) may well be correct that this beer is Morland in disguise - after all it's now a Greene King pub - but I couldn't discern anything from the taste.
Worth taking your American cousins to, but I think I'll stick to the Ship and Shovell myself( under the arches selling Badger beers )
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a fine establishment for enoying a half of the cheapest whilst embarking on the circle line challenge. although our stay was brief, the staff were friendly and understanding to our outrageous order. not even very pricy for its location.
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Despite this being local to work, I’ve avoided it for a while now in favour of the Ship and Shovel 100yrds away. Mainly because of the couple of times I’d been in before, the beer had been awful and place rather grungy.
However after being persuaded to pop in for one at lunchtime I have to say it seems much improved. The refurbishment of a while ago seems to have cleaned up the seats. The pint of Abbot I had was good and the service from the cheery barmaid excellent.
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First visit since the refurb despite walking past this place every night on the way home. Nothing really changed except the seats don’t collapse beneath you any more and everything is a bit cleaner and fresher. Usual Green King beers - IPA, Speckled Hen, Abbott and their own branded Sherlock Holmes Ale (which I understand is Morland in disguise). Decent enough prices for the West End and service fine. All the Sherlock Holmes memorabelia will be of interest to fans. Was packed to the rafters on Friday but at this time of year, where isn’t?
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Always liked this pub, good beer, good staff, but was incensed last week when, having consumed a few ales, asked for a pint of tap water. "We aren't allowed to do that here" Won't be going back.
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Great Pub!!! good atmosphere, nice beer, and must go more often.
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Very, very good pub. On the ball, chatty and welcoming innkeeps, food was scrummy but overpriced in my opinion. House ale 'Sherlock Holmes Ale' was brillo. Decent customers and decent, clean and characterful inside and out.
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Another refurb that doesn't appear to have made much difference, but i can't help liking this pub.
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myself and my best mate went to this pub in march of this year, and i cannot understand those inbreads who slate it, ok it took me three days to find it but when i did it was great, the staff were helpful and attentive the pub was clean and well kept the home ale was grand , the place was heaving and still it only took me minutes to get served and i even got to try the sherlock holmes ale with out buying. what more do you people want!! the locals were friendly and welcoming even though i was being a tacky tourist and taking pictures using flash photography doing everything i myself find annoying in my own local pubs, they showed extream tollerance. we liked the place so much we are going back in a few weeks and this time we wont take that long to find it!!!
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An interesting and altogether very touristy pub situated just across the road from Trafalgar Square, I was content enough in The Sherlock Holmes yesterday afternoon (28th July). My pint of Speckled Hen tasted okay and the staff were friendly and attentive. Whether I could withstand a session here, I don’t know, but its worth popping in if passing by.
HTM69 - 29 Jul 2007 11:07 |
Nice enough pub, worth a quick trip to for the Sherlock Holmes.
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Good food, good service, along with a good pint of IPA, and a solid British menu.
Let down by the deteriorating decoration, but this then boosts its quaintness factor.
TV and piped music a bit annoying.
On the tourist trail, but appears to predominantly draw native Londoners.
Despite being a tourist attraction, the staff do make the effort to provide a good, convivial, service, which probably attracts the local patronage.
Be prepared to have your picture taken every 15 seconds or so by the never ending trail of tourists passing by.
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Went there for a pint in February and service was appalling. Not particularly busy but waited over ten minutes to be served and they even served someone who joined the queue after me, seemingly because they know him. If it had'nt have been named after me, I 'd have walked out. As it is, had two pints and went. Disgusted.6/10 purely for name.
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not bad, certainly one of the better in the area. resonable booze. wouldnt go out of my way for it
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went in one saturday and been here many times only for a quick pint but my companion wanted a short so we ordered a double vodka n red bull and i had a vodka and orange ..... £12 , i know this is central london but how do they get away with charging these prices ?
think im gona stay with lager in here from now on , apart from that the service is good (mainly foreigners behind the ramp) havent tried the food but hear good things , bit of a touristy pub as mentioned on a few of the london tours , nothing to write home about
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Friendly pub. Food wasn't as good as I'd have hoped (small portion considering the price) but it was tasty and the service was good.
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Met my old friend Dr Watson for a drink here the other day, great boozer. And the pubs good too..! It was sunny, but just a tad chilly. Watters insisted on smoking his pipe, so i ventured upstairs to their 'no-smoking' veranda.. room enough for about 12 people off the 1st floor corridor, but its 3/4 open to the elements, and I detected a bracing cold wind in the afternoon air, so couldnt stay there too long..! We adjourned to the good old 'Arch Duke' over Hungerford Bridge, on the South Bank. The Doctor got the orders in, he prescibed me a lovely Paulaner weisse beer, which worked wonders. I suggest you try it too. Doctors orders! TJ
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Now reopened again - have not been inside yet to see what has changed. Might nip in tonight after work for a quickie!
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One of my favourite lunchtime pubs. I normally go for the Sherlock Holmes bitter (I know it's another brewery's!) Get there just before noon, bag a table and order lunch and enjoy your pint - marvellous! The food is excellent and reasonably priced and there are the old Sherlock Holmes films to enjoy too.
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Currently closed whilst undergoing a major refurbishment so you're too late if you wanted to try out the bottomless seats!
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Not too bad, provided that you don't get there at the same time as a coach-load of Conan Doyle enthusiasts...
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Originally called the Northumberland Arms, in the late 50's this pub became the home of the Sherlock Holmes exhibition that was previously part of the Festival of Britain (the pub itself stands on the site of the Northumberland hotel that featured in certain novels, hence the Holmes connection). It is also close to the old Scotland Yard police station. The horseshoe shaped interior has walls littered with Sherlock Holmes memorabilia, letters, Victorian artifacts, business cards, letters, stamps, police whistles, magnifying glasses, prints and pictures from TV and stage performances and of course, the iconic Sherlock Holmes pipe. There is even the stuffed head of the Hound of the Baskervilles! Upstairs, the restaurant offers views into a faithful recreation of Holmes study complete with a wax model Sherlock. It all sounds very tacky and touristy but I personally did not find the museum approach detracted from the pub. That said, strip away the Holmes memorabilia and you would be left with a fairly ordinary traditional style West End pub. Cosy enough and welcoming but nothing startling. The Green King beers are nothing special and I bow to the previous posting that the Sherlock Holmes Ale is in fact Morland bitter in disguise (not sure what Holmes would have made of this!). Some of the seating needs some attention as you almost fall to floor through the seat when you sit down. The 2 small TVs above the doors seem a little inadequate. There are some seating on the pavement outside and the passing traffic is generally tolerable for a main road in London. A short stroll from Charing Cross and Trafalgar Square, the pub is worth a visit, especially if you are a Holmes enthusiast, but then if you are, you have probably already been here. One last bit of trivia – this apparently used to be a regular watering hole for Jimi Hendrix.
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There last Saturday evening and thought it was great. Beer and service both excellent and a great cross section of customers made excellent viewing. Would definitely go there again!
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I decided to try this place for a quick drink last night before closing time. The beer was horrible, and so were the toilets. The staff noisily brought the outside chairs and tables in the piled them up while people drank. The nearby Ship and Shovel beats it hands down.
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tourist trap, but has a bit of very distant charm if you are in about 10pm.
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'Laid back Ron' used to frequent this excellent boozer, many moons ago!! Its still excellent! TJ
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Decent boozer! Lots of 'history' attached. A good place for a clandestine meeting.. or if you fancy Miss Marples! Good beer. Good food. Good grief..is that the time..? Time for a drink at the ole Sherlock! TJ
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A nice building, with a mock up sherlock holmes study on the first floor. A bit disappointing downstairs though. Nice from the outside. Prefer the Ship and Shovel though.
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Very near Charing Cross, so a good place to meet people. Very crowded around the time that the offices are emptying. Nice beers, worth going in for a pint or two.
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Expensive seems to be catering for the tourists that sometimes swarm the area friendly staff the only positive note I can think of.
juzza - 23 Apr 2006 19:58 |
A homely old fashioned style corner pub with a local feel to the place, which is quite surprising for the area. Usual pub knick-knacks along with the inevitable Sherlock Holmes material. A relaxed and reasonably atmospheric pub - one of the better Greene King places I've visited. There are twelve pumps working, but only four different beers. The house special - Sherlock Holmes Ale - is Greene King's Morland Original. The food is typical pub grub, with bangers and mash at under £6. Beer condition is decent. All in all a pub which is slightly above average.
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pretty average, only greene king available, and pretty expensive at that. Full of tourists, never tried the food but it looked pretty standadard and a bit pricey... The staff were very friendly though.
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I had a couple of pints here one lunchtime and enjoyed it. Nice atmosphere, good service.
anonymous - 1 Apr 2006 14:28 |
been here many times and quick like this pub before 4pm after that it gets too busy , which is ok on a sunny afternoon as you can sit outside and watch the world go by , the beer is good and the service is good , the food upstairs is sublime , i do like this pub , but on a weekend you get alot of people doing the monopoly trail using the pub , but nice pub all in all
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Well, it does everything fairly competently I suppose.
I'm just not sure it's worth going out of your way for.Beer is good (Greene King) albeit expensive, food fairly standard-issue and the interior no great shakes.Busy enough, so maybe i'm just being a moaning so and so.Still, I reckon you'd be better served by going to the Ship and Shovell nearby.
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Average pub, average beer, full of tourists but you are next to Trafalgar Square so what you expect.
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Quaint - but jam packed with tourists - so expect a long wait to get what you went in for. Beer was ok - cold but a bit flat alas.
Generally it was OK though - would go in there again -well if someone else was buying the drinks that is !!!
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Nice pint. Very quick service despite the crowds, which was impressive. Pity we never managed to get a seat.
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As South African travellers - we found this pub very "warm" and typically english and thoroughly enjoyed our pints as well as some good ole' fish 'n chips! Very central for "walking tourists" will call again when the opportunity presents itself.
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Went to this pub on a thursday evening it was heaving so i sat outside it seems to be owned by greene king now had a nice pint of i.p.a quick efficient service despite being busy a nice pub i have been here quite a lot on visits to london.
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Good place to have a couple of pints now and then. Very amusing when an australian tourist told one of his mates on the phone it was called the 'Shakespeare Arms'. Elementary mistake to make.
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One of those places where you get the impression that the bar staff think they are doing you a favour by letting you buy a beer. We all know they don't want to be there but does it have to be so obvious?
Tourists might enjoy it.
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I have had a few very well kept pints of Speckled Hen in here whilst the Adnams and the Sherlock Holmes own (are you Adnams in disguise ?) were passable. Seems to be on the tourist route as occasionally a coachload will appear to fill it up for an hour or two - but it's better to catch this pub late at night - when there's lass of a crush at the bar and you can breathe in without catching a lungful of smoke.
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For all its tack, this pub defies the reviewer and remains a fun place, if a bit too busy. There is really little to recommend it except its central location: expensive and poor ales, lots of tourists, not enough seats, sometimes a bouncer, etc. But I kept going back. There must be something about it, though that something is certainly not the booze. A true survivor and the tourists think it is very British. I'll drink to that. Cheers!
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Very smokey pub attractive from the outside. Very busy and expensive probably due to it's close proximity to Trafalger Square. Had a pint of London Pride it was ok.
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A bog-standard pub in general appearance with a deceivingly pleasant exterior. Stupid prices (£2.70 for a London Pride, you're 'aving a laugh!), badly pulled (would you like a flake in that, luv?), terrible selection of beers and food. You'd be better off buying a couple of cans from Tesco Metro and sitting on the riverside.
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Maybe it will be good only for tourist, but, as a tourist, I've had some real good time in the busy rooms of this pub, with some good food and a excellent ale.
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Tourist-tastic, but quite a nice little boozer nonetheless. Normally a few decent hand-pulled ales available. Best in warmer weather when outside drinking is possible.
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Insane pub, obviously aimed at the Yankee tourists who lap it up.
TheGP - 13 Sep 2004 11:05 |
Tourist pub, food is tasty if you forget about the price, another pub with excessive head on most pints served.
Rob - 22 Jul 2004 13:40 |
I have happy memories of this charming little pub.I used to meet a couple of old drinking buddies in here at the start of an evening and the place was never too busy or too quiet.Lovely bar in a beautiful little spot just off trafalger square.
Nick HAMER - 9 Jul 2004 18:50 |
A nice pub serving good beer, London Pride, Bass, Speckled Hen and Sherlock Holmes. The upstairs study is worth a peep.
Nigel - 2 Jul 2004 18:17 |
My brother and I visited the pub last September and found it to be very interesting. I found the food, bangers and mash to be very good. My brother is a Sherlock fan and really enjoyed the pub. We visited from America and had a great time in your country.
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very nice pub, a place where I spent a few hours of my holliday, it's so sad that it is closed. Is there a possibility that this pub opens back soon? sorry, I'm not used to speak English
de deken - 22 May 2004 15:10 |
.....my first visit to the Sherlock Holmes on 13/06/02 had me bedecked in dearstalker & pipe in celebration of the incomparable Basil Rathbone's 110th birthday - what a star! Surroundings are pleasant and topical and service good but, as has been mentioned, the food is an absolute travesty. Still, it's a worthwhile experience for all Shelockians - with or without the props!
spudster - 19 May 2004 14:49 |
First, as to Tim's question about Holmes' and Watson's address. Yes it was in Baker Street. This pub celebrates the Northumberland Hotel which was featured in "The Hound of the Baskervilles". The hotel was located at the pub's location. It is a very important location for Sherlockians. Visitors should be aware of the superb recreation of Holmes' and Watson's flat. This is located on the second floor. It is on the floor just above the toilets.
The food is regular pub food. Not bad but not exciting either. Not a problem for a lunch when in the area. I enjoy the Flowers Bitter - it is the only pub I have that in. The staff is always polite and quick. There are a lot of tourists and why not. It is of great importance for Holmesians. There are a a great many of non-Holmesians who use it as a regular place to enjoy a drink and perhaps a lunch. It is a nice pub beyond it's historical importance.
Charles - 28 Sep 2003 04:51 |
Nice pub with friendly staff. Can get busy with suits and tourists (I thought Sherlock Holmes was from Baker Street???). Top tip is to use the roof patio, up the stairs at the back of the pub on the right, at the top it's the first door on the right. It's open air but under cover - perfect for the british summer and away from the crowds downstairs. Final thoughts: Nice pint of Pride and reasonable for this part of town.
Tim - 1 Aug 2003 09:21 |
It's ok, full of tourists though!
Mimi Le Bonk - 29 Jul 2003 21:42 |
elementary my dear watson, i picked a fancy dish to eat..and starters and dessert-all very nice-expensive for pub food but nice all the same. However my friend thought it needed a dose of fit young aguileras(he also asked me if it was true: was sherlock gay then?) thats friends for you-i need new ones!...well i rather be surrounded by decent sorts not up-for-it types(council estate yobs)food? go for the bohemian...or the case of something or the other...good stuff...loads of memorabilia too.
belgrave square boy - 21 Jul 2003 12:30 |
Went here a few weeks ago with a couple of mates and was astonished at the sheer volume of tourists who poured in. Shame, really, as the food belching out of the dumb waiter looked utterly inedible. There goes another British stereotype about to be reinforced. Sigh.
Still, not a bad boozer when there aren't gangs of Dutch men outdside screaming 'Hoopla!' on a half-hourly basis.
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Try the Sherlock Holmes Ale - vetry nice pub
Matt Le Ross - 28 Apr 2003 12:32 |
Has a most remarkable 'roof garden' with delightful panoramic views of, er, other roofs.
Pauly H - 12 Nov 2002 11:19 |
