Beloved Bar Suddenly Shutters After 41 Years, Ending Houston’s Most Generous Happy Hour

It’s a Sad Ending for Sherlock’s

By Annie Gallay // Jul 3, 2018

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The original Sherlock's Baker St. Pub has closed after 41 years.

Sherlock’s Baker St. Pub is giving its fans a case of the blues. And it doesn’t take any detective work to see why. The low-key, laidback lounge at 10001 Westheimer at Briar Park in Westchase abruptly closed its doors after more than 40 years in business.

To many, it’s the end of an institution. It’s so long, live music. It’s a sad sendoff to free buffet Fridays. But what takes the cake for what’s sure to be the most missed? That would be Sherlock’s Pub’s crazy-long daily happy hour.

Good luck finding another one in Houston that ends at 9 pm nightly.

There was no last call for this casual hideaway. The Carillon Shopping Center spot shuttered on Sunday, based on a notice on the door. “Sherlock’s Pub has ceased operations and closed after 41 years,” it reads. The note was addressed to guests, friends, vendors, employees and bands.

The cozy, casual watering hole opened in the late 1970s, inspired by that curious fictional British detective Sherlock Holmes. The decor had a decidedly East London look, complete with oversized comfy chairs and funky English art.

The Sherlock’s concept was bought by Edgar Carlson and Larry Martin in 1995. The duo grew the concept to include more Sherlock’s, other Sherlock’s Baker St. Pub’s and even Baker St. Pub & Grills. The OG Sherlock’s is survived by the last one of its kind in Addison.

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Several Baker St. Pubs are still sprinkled throughout the Houston and Dallas areas, but several have closed including bars in Rice Village, Cypress, Willowbrook and Clear Lake.

HUSA Management Inc. now owns the concepts, along with associated acts Local Pour — which closed on West Gray but still serves in The Woodlands — the bygone Restless Palate in Katy and the Energy Corridor’s Watson’s House of Ales. HUSA filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in December.

While there are some Baker St. Pubs still open, none can quite replace the Sherlock’s Pub on Westheimer. Its very makeup was different, with multiple levels for any kind of experience you were after.

There were rooms to kick back and just drink. There was a dance floor and spaces to play games like darts, shuffle board, air hockey and pool and stages for live music. Bands ranged from hard rock to old school ’80s jams.

That’s it for Sherlock Holmes and the Case of the Disappearing Pub. Case closed.