At quarter to two on the afternoon of Monday, 19th December, Strike leaves the office to meet Jim Todd, the cleaner at Ramsay Silver. Todd has chosen to meet Strike at Craft Beer Co, a pub in Holborn.
As he approaches Leather Lane he speaks to Robin on the phone, who notes that Leather Lane is ‘Mucky Ricci’s old place’ (Chapter 28).
Leather Lane is described as a ‘narrow street lined with shops, fast food restaurants and market stalls’ (Chapter 28).
‘The Craft Beer Co, the pub Todd had chosen for this interview, stood on a corner, was decorated with hanging baskets and a three-dimensional model of the royal standard over the door. Strike glanced up at the harp, the lion rampant, and the three lions passant as he entered the wooden-floored space.’ (Chapter 28)
Entering the pub, he recognises Jim Todd from Ramsay’s camera footage. He is sitting on a leather bench with a full pint in front of him.
Strike buys half a pint of IPA and sits down opposite Todd.
Although it isn’t mentioned in the text, this branch of the Craft Beer Co has a fully mirrored ceiling, making it a grimly appropriate place for a man such as Jim Todd to frequent.
You can find Craft Beer Co here: