The Sherlock Holmes – one of London’s original themed pubs with a history dating back centuries – is the latest historical site in Greene King’s portfolio to receive significant investment from its owner, restoring a pocket of Victoriana in modern London.
Said to have featured in the 1892 Sherlock Holmes story ‘The Adventure of the Noble Bachelor’, the Sherlock Homes is themed around Conan Doyle’s world-famous detective and has contained a large collection of memorabilia related to the character since the 1950s.
The pub, which is located on Northumberland St, has received a six-figure investment to revive the interior and exterior of the site – all mindfully curated to evoke the atmosphere of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s tales.
Zoe Bowley, Managing Director for Greene King pubs, said: “Pubs are a key part of the history of our country, so we’re always very mindful when we make investments in historic pubs to do them justice.
“The Sherlock Holmes is an important part of our central London offer and, over the years, has become known as a working museum amongst Sherlock Holmes enthusiasts. This investment has rejuvenated the pub, preserving key elements of the Victorian era whilst reaffirming its prime position in St James’s.
“The pub reopens as the third in our ‘Premium Heritage’ collection, making it perfect for customers looking for a classic pub experience, but where they can feel steeped in local history and enjoy refined hospitality over a special meal or after-work drinks with friends.”
The Sherlock Holmes investment brings a complete interior and exterior overhaul, including thoughtfully-designed spaces that lean into the pub as a working museum and the introduction of new dining zones throughout the pub with ‘The Parlour’, ‘The Library’ and ‘The Sir Conan Doyle’ rooms, bringing atmospheric dining to the fore. The exterior has also been completely revamped, with an improved outdoors space with new seating, lighting and signage.
Pete Brown, writer and historian, said: “The Sherlock Holmes, albeit under different names, dates back to the 1800s, and has a rich history on Northumberland St. It’s said to have originally been a hotel, before becoming a pub and receiving a new name, the Northumberland Arms, in the process. It got its current name in 1957, when the pub became home to a detailed replica of a corner of Sherlock Holmes’ fictional apartment from Sir Conan Doyle’s well-known stories, thanks to its reference in ‘The Adventure of the Noble Bachelor’. The replica, along with numerous other memorabilia, remains in the pub in the present day, attracting visitors from across the world.”
The Sherlock Holmes is the latest of Greene King’s historical pubs to receive investment, with the Crown – which dates back to 1833 and is the last remaining pub on the Seven Dials in Covent Garden – and the Garrick Arms, on Charing Cross Road, both reopening recently.
The Sherlock Holmes reopened on Monday, 14 April and is located at 10 Northumberland St, St James’s, London, WC2N 5DB. For more information visit https://www.greeneking.co.uk/pubs/greater-london/sherlock-holmes.
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Notes to editors
Greene King is the country’s leading pub company and brewer with c.2,600 pubs, restaurants and hotels across England, Wales and Scotland.
At Greene King we are passionate about delivering our purpose to ‘pour happiness into lives’. That’s for our customers, our team, our pub partners, our suppliers and the communities in which we live, operate and serve. Founded in 1799 with offices in Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk and Burton on Trent in Staffordshire we employ around 40,000 people across the group with three divisions: Greene King pubs, Destination Brands & Ventures, and Brewing & Brands.
- Greene King pubs: Greene King pubs is our mainstream pub brand located where people and communities come together; pubs enjoyed in cities, towns and villages throughout the country with clear ambition to be “The Nation’s Most Loved Pub Brand”. Pub Partners runs our tenanted and leased pubs business and Hive Franchise pubs.
- Destination Brands & Ventures: Destination Brands is a portfolio of distinct brands which includes Hungry Horse, Chef & Brewer, Farmhouse Inns and Flaming Grill that bring friends and family together, delivering great service, quality and value for money for a range of eating out and drinking occasions. Venture includes Hickory’s, Premium (Crafted Pubs & Metropolitan Pub Company) and Hotels which operate autonomously of Greene King’s managed pub brands.
- Brewing & Brands covers the brewing sides of the business. Quality ales are brewed at the Westgate brewery in Bury St Edmunds and the Belhaven Brewery in Dunbar. Our industry-leading portfolio includes Greene King IPA, Old Speckled Hen, Abbot Ale, Ice Breaker and Belhaven Best and our premium beers, Level Head and Flint Eye, brewed for the modern-day drinker.
For more information or any other media enquires, please contact pressoffice@greeneking.co.uk.
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