Guest post from a guest house: Two-and-a-half rooms, 26 Denmark Street, London

Note:  Super-Strikers BadlyWiredLamp (@badly_wired) and SukiLewis (@suekmoorhen) took the ultimate Strike Fan pilgrimage for the release of The Hallmarked Man, spending two nights on Denmark Street in Strike's flat, now converted into butler-staffed lodgings that can be rented for a book-reading getaway (even if that isn't the typical use!)  I am delighted that they were willing to share their account of the adventure (and pictures!) here.   -Louise

The idea of a stay at 26 Denmark Street first occurred to us the day before we watched the filming of The Ink Black Heart on Denmark Street in March 2024. It seemed like it would be a cool thing to do, but a perusal of the Chateau Denmark website and noting the prices gave us enough of a shock to have only an "ooh, but wouldn’t it be a great experience" conversation before we moved on to another exciting Strike topic. We, the Strike.Fans crew, had managed to wangle a guided tour of the apartment that would have been the Office, so that was exciting for us all and satisfied our thirst, at the time.

The thought of staying at No. 26 stayed with me, and as the date of the release of The Hallmarked Man approached, Badly_Wired and I pondered the possibilities of where we should read the book. We had already agreed that we would read it together this time both to provide emotional support and counsel and, of course,  to have someone to share the experience with. We had already dismissed Sark, noting that we would all want to do that once we had read the book and knew the locations that we would need to visit. Going on an expensive trip to Sark beforehand and missing some key locations would have been a travesty!

I think we both wanted to do Strike’s flat if at all possible, sod the expense--well kind of, after all we haven’t got Jonny Rokeby’s money! I am lucky to be able to visit London quite frequently; work often dictates that I am there, plus, I have a good friend who lives not too far from Central London who puts up with me crashing at her place! On one such visit in June I called into to Chateau Denmark and told them about my interest about the specific apartment and why I wanted to book. Luckily ‘Strikes Apartment’ was empty at the time, so I managed to bag a tour and then, of course, I was sold and had to book! A quick check with Badly_Wired to make she was on board with my plans and a flick of the credit card--I closed my eyes--and it was all done and dusted. We were going to spend two nights in STRIKE’S ATTIC FLAT!

In the lead-up to September 2nd, we started to make more detailed plans, like what will we request as our riders--we did have butler service in the apartment after all! Perhaps a fish tank and a charm bracelet should have been on the list! It was idle nonsense, but it did entertain us. Of paramount importance was from where would we purchase the book--Foyle's on Charing Cross Road was decided upon--and also where we should stay the night before. We both had trains to catch that didn’t get into the Capital until 11am, so we definitely needed accommodations for September 1st. We had to be waiting for Foyle's to open at 9am on the morning of the 2nd; that wasn’t up for debate.

We hit upon the plan of staying in the Z Hotel in Soho. After all, that’s where Strike and Robin had stayed after the office bombing and following the shock of finding the corpse of Vikas Bhardwaj in his rooms in the Stephen Hawking Building in Cambridge. Our room at the Z Hotel was definitely bijou--if I dare use that word--and I can understand why Robin described it as claustrophobic! The dimensions and layout of the room would have made it great for Strike, though; he could have easily hopped to the bathroom. However, the bathroom is surrounded by a glass screen that, while providing a basic degree of privacy, still leaves a somewhat blurred outline of the person visible within. Therefore, the toilet arrangements and the bed pushed up against the window didn’t make it the best experience for two people sharing a room! On a plus point, we were next to The Cambridge and had an excellent view of The Spice of Life from our window – small pleasures!

We were up early--not sure about bright though after a night in the Z Hotel and an interesting bathroom experience! We were very excited, as we had a cunning plan to be first in the queue for Foyle’s opening and then intended to hit the Montagu Pyke for a Wetherspoons breakfast and to take some location pictures.

Nine AM came around agonisingly slowly, but at last we spotted someone coming to the door of Foyle's and winding up the shutters. We dashed in like the dynamic duo we are, me scouring the ground floor whilst Badly_Wired leapt up the stairs to the Crime section like a gazelle--that may be a slight exaggeration for effect; she’s actually more like Bambi on ice! No sign of The Hallmarked Man on the ground floor, boo! So I bounded up the stairs to find Badly_Wired had asked,  and there was our knight in shining armour ripping open a box containing exactly what we were seeking! As we walked proudly towards the till, the manager shouted, "Ah early Galbraith appreciation, I like that!" We should have saluted him!

Books purchased and lovingly placed in the canvas Foyle's bags that took our fancy, we skipped off to the Montagu Pyke, stopping of course to take the obligatory photos of us beaming and holding the book with various backdrops. I don’t know whether it’s just me but when I have a new Strike book, a part of me wants to dive straight in and another part wants to savour the moment and have yet another long satisfying muse about what delights await me. As we had already decided to have breakfast, grab our bags to leave at the Chateau Denmark reception and then head over to The Freemasons Hall on Great Queen Street, my first option was ruled out, so we chatted and speculated over our breakfast how the Montagu Pyke would feature. Would it be Strike and Robin alone? Unlikely,  as The Flying Horse was closer and was their go -to pub. So, maybe meeting a witness and just one of the Detectives? Only a fellow Strike fan understands the joy of these chats, which usually veer nto wild and crazy theories involving shrieks of laughter but occasionally hitting the nail on the head.

So, with breakfast finished and bags safely stored by the very lovely receptionist at Chateau Denmark and after we took our book photos on Denmark Street, we walked towards Covent Garden and the magnificent Freemasons Hall, which soon loomed in front of us. Naturally, we took placement shots outside whilst we were praying that the Hall would be open, as occasionally it is closed for members-only meetings. The gods were smiling down on us and we were in luck so,  after a quick bag check by security in the reception, we made our way to the café.

Drinks purchased, comfortable seats located and, after a cheesy excited grin at each other,  it was heads down and we were into the book. I think it was clear after only a few chapters we would need to buckle up for this rollercoaster ride! After another coffee and a couple of hours at The Freemasons Café, we decided it was time for alcohol; the anxiety levels were high! Now, there is actually a bar within the café at the Freemasons, but legs needed stretching and, anyway, the Prince of Wales was almost next door and also features in the book,  so it seemed churlish not to raise a glass in there. So, we decamped and again found a nice table. Feeling slightly less anxious after the ingestion of alcohol, and getting more eager to get to that Attic Flat, we decided the time had approached when we could check in. We picked up food from Pret on the way, as we knew that nothing short of another bomb in Denmark Street would get us out of that flat for a good few hours!

The hotel, reception and lobby for Chateau Denmark is set back from Denmark Street but with access from it. They have hotel rooms in addition to the apartments above the shops on the street but, for obvious reasons, it was always No. 26 we were interested in. The receptionist advised that the apartment was ready and that our cases had already been taken up by our butler, who would now also take us up to our rooms and give us a tour of the apartment. I couldn’t help but smile at this, thinking that Strike could have done with some help lugging his belongings up all of those stairs; although, of course,  pride would make him refuse, even though he seemed to want help with his "imaginary luggage’ at the hotel in Whitstable in The Ink Black Heart.

So this is it. We stood outside the front door of No.26, with its now-ornate door knocker, the anticipation intense even though we have both been lucky enough to walk up the stairs before. Who knew that climbing up six flights of stairs would be so exhilarating--enough to take your breath away, and I mean that literally (poor Strike!)

There is a key pad entry to get into No. 26  onto which you just tap your key card, but there are also buzzers for the apartments for guests and deliveries. I was thinking of Robin's first visit and 

The name on the paper beside the outside buzzer was engraved on the glass panel: C. B. Strike, and underneath it the words Private Detective. It felt like a wink from God. -The Cuckoo's Calling. 

We were led through the short hallway with a snake emblazoned on the tiled floor, giving the place Harry Potter vibes! The staircase is dark, walls painted in dark blue, in keeping with the "rock and roll" theme,  with a light pattern carpet. It's not the old-fashioned metal staircase spiraling around the antiquated birdcage lift described in the book, but the stairs do spiral around and have their own charm. We came to the first landing and passed what I like to think of as Crowdy Graphics; I am even hoping he pops out to see who is walking up the stairs!

We approached the second landing with trepidation, half expecting sixteen stone of disshevelled male to slam into us, but then, lightening doesn’t strike twice, does it? (Excuse the pun!). Mind you,  Pat brandishing a fruit cake to welcome us would have been a welcome sight! There is another door on each landing and I immediately thought of the first description of the tiny, dank toilet, with its cracked and grubby sink and where pride stopped Strike leaving his toothbrush in an attempt to dispel the illusion that he was not, in fact, living in the office.

Onwards and upwards to the top floor with me thinking of The Silkworm where we first learned that Strike was now renting the two-and-a-half rooms on the third floor of 26 Denmark Street. 

Up past the graphic designer on the first floor, past his own office with its engraved glass door on the second; up to the third and smallest landing where his home now lay. 

We are outside the Apartment door now. There is a neon sign to the left of the door and a keypad with the Chateau Denmark logo and the name of the apartment emblazoned on it: "No Way To Heaven." Time to take a moment, breathe and pinch ourselves. We have two nights here and the rest of the book to read. What a magical time; not quite in the realms of Robin's first visit but, hey, it felt like that for us!

Our butler showed us through the door. I knew what to expect from my tour in June, but it was good to find out that we had a full bar at our disposal, although sadly not a free bar! I wasn’t sure about the glass shower in the room and the leather bench. As Badly_Wired said, "I think this apartment was designed for something different than two middle-aged women reading a book!" Bijou Watkins would have fitted right in! The room is decorated in dark shades of brown and gold with dim lighting and ornate fittings. I couldn’t help but compare with the first description we get from Strike. 

The space under the eaves was small by any standards, and especially for a man of six foot three. He scarcely had room to turn around in the shower; kitchen and living room were uneasily combined and the bedroom was almost entirely filled by the double bed.  -The Silkworm

I am sure Strike would have appreciated and taken full advantage of the well-stocked bar and the stand-alone glass shower in the room would taken both Strike and Robin's imaginations to a different level whilst trying to dispel thoughts of the other in it!

Everything in the room was controlled by panels located either on the large television screen or on the light panels in each room. The butler explained them to us, but I think we were too exited to take everything it so we weren’t really listening to him. We wished we had listened more when we were struggling to turn on the lights later. Ladies of a certain age need a certain level of light when reading don’t they? So we had the layout of the room now; the entrance door led into a good-sized room which seemed, to us, rather oddly laid out with its full bar to the left of the door, a large glass shower in front of us and a leather bench that looked like it belonged in a gym in the middle.

The separate toilet (thank God for some privacy!) was in a room off this one, and with a welcoming heated floor. Badly_Wired and I would have preferred a separate shower and a nice comfortable sofa but you can't always get what you want!

The bedroom was to the right of the entrance, but there was no door to separate the two rooms, so you could lie on the bed and watch the other take a shower. I think, as I have alluded to above, that the room was designed as a getaway "shag-pad" so sharing the shower was probably the intention. No wonder I got strange looks when I specifically requested that apartment!

The bed was at one end of the room with a large television screen, with a large wardrobe to the left which housed a coffee machine and a hairdryer. A round table with two chairs stood between the bed and TV and provided a lovely view of St. Giles Church which, strangely, hasn’t yet been mentioned in the books. The building is very old and the rooms had a listing, so it was like being on the deck of a ship and gave us a weird feeling, like walking up- or downhill, when walking from the toilet to the bedroom area.

So, with tour over, it was time to get to the business of what we were here for, reading the book! Badly_Wired chose to read the book whilst laying down on the bed with a pile of post-it stickers, notebook and pen by her side. From here she had a great view of St Giles Church. I had the same equipment but chose to sit at the table; I could also see St Giles Church from my position and a little bit of Denmark Street below. Badly_Wired said it looked like I was studying for an exam, and it certainly felt like that! We were both transfixed but would occasionally look up and gasp and, I tell you, more than a few "for f*ck's sakes" were uttered.

We did stop at intervals, making sure we had reached the same chapter to discuss what we had read. I have never before been so anxious as I was reading this book--far more than I was when reading The Running Grave, so we had to have frequent breaks to console each other.

On one break, we were disturbed to find that the apartment had no kettle, so we requested one (might as well make use of the butler service!) and it was delivered with a jug of milk, too. We were then equally dismayed to find there was a dearth of plug sockets unless we wanted to buy their £6 adapter. We ended up plugging it in on the floor, but it boiled over, That when the uneven floor came into its own, as we had a little river running through the bedroom!

I popped out to the local convenience store located a few yards away, next to The Angel pub, later in the evening to buy some alcohol to sustain us. I know we had a full bar, but the prices were a little eye-watering, and you had to have the full bottle or nothing. Tempting as it was to down a bottle of whisky between us and recreate Chapter 58 of Troubled Blood ("My best mate……is you"), we thought we had better resist! 

Anxiety levels at fever pitch, we were having conversations about whether we would read all night or try and get some sleep. Finally, we reached Part 7 at 3.45am and both agreed that would be a good place to stop and sleep a few hours and start again in the morning. Friendship seemed to have been restored with Strike and Robin. and we could sleep easy. I think I fell asleep as soon as my head hit the pillow, dreaming of Silver Nefs and trips to Sark.

We were both awake surprisingly early on Wednesday and decided we would venture out to grab a takeout coffee and breakfast roll at Rosie and Joe’s pop-up café located at the front of St Giles Church. I am sure Strike would find it a godsend and much better that a McDonalds breakfast that he is often known to partake in. We can thoroughly recommend it if you are ever in the vicinity. This do a lovely toasted sandwich, too, and the coffee is very good, 

Then it was back to the apartment to eat our rolls and get back into the book. It felt really authentic that it was such a miserable day, and the old windows had loose frames that let in water, so thoughts of Strike going about his tasks with rain speckling against his windows were never far away:

His rain-speckled windows rattled in their loose frames as he sorted carefully through the receipts in his wallet for those he needed to submit to the accountant. -Troubled Blood.

We read through without another break, pausing only to utter an expletive or exchange a gasp or too and occasionally a quick chat about Ryan F*cking Murphy! I was just sorry we didn’t take more advantage of the Butler service, only calling him to replenish our toilet rolls, since we only had one in the room to start with, and to bring the kettle. We must have been their easiest guests; I think they expected to be busy booking theatre tickets and restaurants for us. Badly_Wired finished about half an hour ahead of me; I finally completed it at 6pm. It felt like a marathon! I loved it but was emotionally and physically drained and needed some time to get my head around it and process it all, I knew before long I would be thinking about what Books 9 and 10 had in store for us. I was also marveling at the brilliance of JKR to make me feel like this. What a talented writer she is!

I asked Badly_Wired what had been her best and worst bits about the apartment. She said the best had been looking out of Denmark Street and St Giles Church and looking up from the book to see me reading at the table and the worst how dark the room was both lighting and décor! My thoughts echoed hers. Being actually in Strike’s two-and-a-half rooms and looking down on Denmark Street were wonderful: a real pinch-me moment. The lack of plug sockets and subdued lighting were a pain, but a small price to put up with. Thankfully, we didn’t experience the gut churning moments that Strike did so we were able to shield each other from any such delights. 

And as he hobbled into Denmark Street, he felt only relief at the prospect of being able to sit down for an hour or so with a strong mug of tea, in close proximity to his own bathroom where, if necessary, he could fart as loudly as he pleased. -The Ink Black Heart.

We repacked our suitcases and reluctantly said goodbye to our home for the last two days. It had been a blast and I couldn’t think of anywhere else I would rather be, encased in our Strike and Robin bubble with no space for thoughts of anything else. We checked out and walked past the apartment suddenly remembering we had said we would take a photo from Denmark Street of each other waving through the window. Duh! Well, we will just have to go back for another visit, wont we?

Badly_Wired and I were in London until Friday. We both love visiting locations and taking photographs, both for our own pleasure and for the StrikeFan.Com web site. We managed to fit in a number of site visits: some from previous books, some new, including, The Vintry, the Z Hotel Soho, The Montagu Pyke, The Freemasons Hall including the café, museum and Wild Court, The Connaught Rooms, The Prince of Wales, Ye Old Cheshire Cheese, the St. Martins Lane Hotel and the Blind Spot, Tottenham Court Road (searching for computer shops) High Holborn, Holborn Station, Camden Town Station, The Engineer and the two bridges (one road one rail), The Craft Beer Company, plus a Lebanese restaurant (with flats over!) Bar Italia, The National Theatre, and The Prospect of Whitby. Badly_Wired also managed Harrods and the Alfred Tennyson Pub.

To summarise, we had a fantastic experience the whole week, and I am so glad we booked the two-and-a-half rooms in Denmark Street. Yes, it was expensive, but would I do it again, definitely, in a heartbeat!