I tried a spooky, immersive Sherlock Holmes dining experience where you watch a recreation of Hound of the Baskervilles as you dine – and it was just as good as any theatre show.

I recently went to The Great Murder Mystery in West Kensington hosted by immersive dining company The Lost Estate.

Being a Sherlock Holmes fan, I adorned attire befitting for the occasion and prepared for an evening of intrigue and mystery.

You are invited to attend the ‘press conference’ held by Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson at 221b Baker Street, where the characters will recount the events of The Hound of the Baskervilles live as you dine.

Barking and Dagenham Post: You are invited to attend the ‘press conference’ held by Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson at 221b Baker Street.You are invited to attend the ‘press conference’ held by Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson at 221b Baker Street. (Image: Emily Davison)

We first began by entering the rather unassuming warehouse near West Kensington station where we were greeted, before heading through the door of 221b Baker Street and arriving in a room with tables decorated in the fashion of a Victorian home.

Barking and Dagenham Post: We arrived in a room with tables decorated in the fashion of a Victorian home.We arrived in a room with tables decorated in the fashion of a Victorian home. (Image: Emily Davison)

There were so many little touches everywhere you looked, from the shelves of bottles on the walls to the press conference passes with a looping handwritten message from Mr Holmes himself.

Barking and Dagenham Post: There were so many little touches everywhere you looked.There were so many little touches everywhere you looked. (Image: Emily Davison)

We were sat at a table with views of the stage and the seating area for Holmes and Watson and enjoyed live music performances from a violinist as we began with cocktails.

We began with a complimentary cocktail where you get to choose from a wide range of themed cocktails with names like “Livener” and “Nightcap”.

I went for the Sling, consisting of sour cherry liqueur and rhubarb, whilst my dad went for the Swizzler, which was a punchy mix with pineapple.

Barking and Dagenham Post: I went for the Sling cocktail, consisting of sour cherry liqueur and rhubarb.I went for the Sling cocktail, consisting of sour cherry liqueur and rhubarb. (Image: Emily Davison)

The food is inspired around a Victorian menu, with dishes taking inspiration from the food that would have been served at the time of Sherlock Holmes.

We began with a starter of duck and eggs, which consisted of toasted brioche, duck ham with pickled tomatoes and egg yolk bearnaise, before it was time to begin with the performance.

Barking and Dagenham Post: The food is inspired by the food that would have been served at the time of Sherlock Holmes.The food is inspired by the food that would have been served at the time of Sherlock Holmes. (Image: Emily Davison)

The performance takes place around the room, where a small group of actors dressed in Victorian garb assume a number of roles from journalists to Devonshire folk, except for the actors who assume the roles of Mr Holmes, Dr Watson and Lady Henry.

Barking and Dagenham Post: The performance takes place around the room, where a small group of actors dressed in Victorian garb assume a number of role.The performance takes place around the room, where a small group of actors dressed in Victorian garb assume a number of role. (Image: Emily Davison)

The performance itself was incredible and was like watching a piece of theatre acted out around you, with the actors walking around the tables as you sip on drinks.

The special effects and props really added to the spooky ambience of the evening, from thick clouds of fog that engulfed you to the misted windows to give the appearance of being in a house surrounded by foreboding moorland.

Barking and Dagenham Post: The special effects and props really added to the spooky ambience of the evening.The special effects and props really added to the spooky ambience of the evening. (Image: Emily Davison)

Mains was a serving of truffled chicken, black truffle mousse, crispy potato and a spring tea tart along with another round of cocktails.

The food is very traditional, offering a classic palette of flavours for anyone who prefers traditional British food.

Barking and Dagenham Post: The food is very traditional, offering a classic palette of flavours for anyone who prefers traditional British food.The food is very traditional, offering a classic palette of flavours for anyone who prefers traditional British food. (Image: Emily Davison)

After food the performance resumed for another scene as the climax reached its peak, with Holmes, Watson and Lady Henry searching the dark and sinister moors with only lanterns to light the way.

The third and final course was a strawberry cheesecake served with vanilla mousse, Devonshire strawberries and champagne sorbet, which was definitely my favourite course out of the three.

Barking and Dagenham Post: The final course was a strawberry cheesecake served with vanilla mousse, Devonshire strawberries and champagne sorbet.The final course was a strawberry cheesecake served with vanilla mousse, Devonshire strawberries and champagne sorbet. (Image: Emily Davison)

The performance ended on a cliffhanger that had me wanting to return home and read further Sherlock Holmes books to learn more.

All in all, I think this was an incredible experience with ambient surroundings, incredible acting and good food that really made me feel as if I had been sucked into the world of Sherlock Holmes, a bucket list activity for any literary lover in London.