The Locket
This is Greg’s local. Anderson met with him there during the events in Many Happy Returns, and this is where we find him having a pint and watching the match at the end of His Last Vow.
It’s remarkably similar to The Packet in Cardiff.
Built in 1872 by the brother of the original owner of The Packet—the matching stained glass an enduring testament to their ever-present feud—The Locket once served as an inn for lawyers and other officials travelling into the city on business. Now it’s a typical London pub, attracting a decent mix of tourists and locals, with a fine tradition of keeping their quiz nights to Mondays so Greg can easily avoid them.
It’s to The Locket Greg flees at the end of the day—regardless of whether things went poorly or well. When he and his wife first separated, The Locket provided him comfort and IPA and countless servings of shepherd’s pie. And Greg heads for The Locket when he’s a bit too wired to go home, when they’ve solved a case and he’s electrified with victory and he yearns for the pleasant stimulus of being alone in the middle of a crowd.
Which isn’t to say he’d chafe at some company. Many’s the Thursday (£6 burgers, drink specials until 7) when either he’s dragged Sally or Sally has dragged him, and they’ve stayed out far too late while she reminds him once again why he should never, ever match her drink for drink. And John comes along once in a while, as well as John and Sherlock together, and he’s even been joined—on one notable occasion—by Mycroft Holmes himself.
So if you’re in London come a Thursday, you might think about stopping in at The Locket. It’s very possible you’ll find an off-duty DCI there, lounging against the bar in a tartan shirt and low-slung jeans, curling his tongue and shouting at the football.
It may well be worth your time.