Sherlock & Co. - The Copper Beeches - Part One

Episode Date: August 4, 2026

BAD HAIR DAY - Mariana had known Violet Hunter for years, as her client. It wasn't until strange goings-on in her own life turned the relationship around. Violet became our client. Her situation was 'weird' by her reckoning. Just how we like it.Part 1 of 3This episode contains swearing, references to sexListener discretion is advised.A new clothing store has opened: www.sherlockwear.comFor merchandise and transcripts go to: www.sherlockandco.co.ukFor ad-free, early access to adventures in full go to www.patreon.com/sherlockandcoTo get in touch via email: [e-mail] me @DocJWatsonMD on twitter and BlueSky, or sherlockandcopod on TikTok, instagram and YouTube.This podcast is property of Goalhanger Podcasts.Copyright 2026.SHERLOCK AND CO.Based on the works of Sir Arthur Conan DoylePaul Waggott as Dr. John WatsonHarry Attwell as Sherlock HolmesMarta da Silva as Mariana AmetxazurraEzra Saifie as Violet HunterLauren Ingram as Juniper RocastleAdditional Voices:Darcey FergusonAdam JarrellWritten by Joel EmeryDirected by Adam JarrellEditing and Sound Design by Adam JarrellProduced by Neil Fearn and Jon GillExecutive Producer Tony Pastor Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

For just six pounds a month, binge ad-free adventures in full and have access to so much more over at patreon.com forward slash Sherlock and co. Hello there, take a seat. Let's have a look at you. Ah, yes, I can see the problem. It's a good job. You came to the doctor. I'm going to prescribe you with an adventure to be consumed audibly over three courses. The adventure of the copper beaches should get you back to full health. Right, I'm going to stop that there. because I've just remembered I did that last time around. Yes, swearing, coming at you. Everything else is in the episode description, so bugger off and enjoy yourself.

See ya. Delivering excellence for over four decades. Direct from the heart of Hampshire. Copper beaches. Surprisingly English, sparkling wine. Right, this shot means I am the deciding vote in Movie Night for the next two months. Two months? Two months?

Fine. No, no, no. You can't just skip it for two months. Yeah, you can't do that, Sherlock. Movie Night is sacred. Yeah, but just think, mate, it's going to stop her getting away with Disney picks. A bit of Disney is fine. I'm not like a Disney fanatic. Sherlock, come on, agree to the terms of the throw.

If I make this binball throw... But you always win binball. Because you practice binball all the time. I don't have time to practice binball. I'm very busy. Yesterday you walked from Acton to Baker Street just to count the steps. That's incorrect. I aimed to do it in 4,000 steps, and I did.

It's a game of discipline. Yeah, as is binball, mate. Binball is a game of throwing a balled-up piece of paper into a bin. Of which, I am the very, very best. I am the dog's bollocks. No offence, Archie. He doesn't have any? Exactly.

Here we go. Oh, yes. Oh, yes. Baker Street binball champion reigns supreme. My name is Dr. John Watson, once of the British Army Northumberland Fuselier Regiment. Now, a true crime podcast that are based in central London. I don't have much experience in criminology. So this is mostly a record of how I met possibly the most brilliant.

and bizarre person I have ever and will ever know. Join me as I document the adventures of Sherlock Holmes. Hello everyone, listen to that and guess where I am. Guess which county? Hmm. To everyone that said Somerset, Devon, Wiltshire, Surrey, Hertfordshire and Buckinghamshire, you're wrong. Cornwall, I hear you say. Wrong, fools. Who said Kent? You are also wrong. It's clearly Hampshire. Okay. So, yeah. Currently in very sunny Hampshire. I am sat in the grass with my lovely dog friend, Archibald Archington of Baker Street. Around me, green rolling hills, gorgeous red and amber clusters of beech trees, blue skies, you know the drill. So, this is going to feel like a typical introduction, but it's not. Actually, this is.

is a little continuity thing as some of the events were a few weeks apart. So basically, this story starts with a very silly Spanish woman by the name of Marianna Something. Now, Senorita Mariana Something was going to the hairdressers one day. I forget which day, she had the mic for that, so that was handy. And she found herself a client. You'll hear all this. We hear up the client's problem, but we then had to wait a couple of weeks before she could get to the next step. This will all make sense, I promise. But yeah, I'll rejoin in the gap and tell you what has happened and blah, blah, blah, whatever, just listen to the show, okay? Hi, appointment for Amitathurra? For... Amitazurra?

Mariana. Yes, yes. With... Violet? Yeah, with violet. Always with violet. Not that I don't trust anyone else. I'm just going to sit here. Hey, so where are you?

Hairdresser. Oh yeah, you're getting a haircut. No, not really. It's for a baliage. What? I just want a balliage touch-up. Am I having a stroke? What are the words coming out of your mouth?

I am getting my hair done. Thank you. Whereabouts is it? It's a cherry wood on Montague Place? Right. Okay, I've got to grab lunch first If it's that far, I'm starving Hey, it's your mic, dude

Yeah, just hold on to it for now We'll do Mariana Hi, um, okay, bye, bye John Do you think I should get a sandwich from the shop Or go all out for a... Oh, I love your glasses Oh, thank you, you're the only one, but...

Sure, right And you get? Can I get your tea or coffee or anything? Oh, no, no, no, don't be silly, Violet, I'm fine What are we thinking for today? I think we need a refresh. Balliage, sure. We can do that.

I love this length. Oh, that I like, but it is your area. What do you think? I think midlents and ends. I don't know if you want to brighten the face frame a little. I don't know either. Do I? If it was me, I wouldn't.

Because you've got great eyebrows, great eyes, and I think that contrast is working really nice. nicely. So it's more maintenance. Great. Keeping the dimension, but bring that brightness back up a little around here and here. Amazing.

Lovely, lovely. Okay. Let me just get myself all set here. What? No, I've had a picture. Oh, yeah, Rapunzel. A client brought her daughter in and gave me that picture. She thought I'd like it. Being a hairdresser.

Aw, that's sweet. I don't know if I'd like a bloke climbing up my hat. Don't care how handsome he is. But he's royally, isn't he? Maybe she had to. Or get a head chopped off or something. How's work then? Um, yeah, good.

Busy. Good busy or bad busy? Well, we are our own company, so I shouldn't complain. Good busy. What is it, Ken? It's a detective consultancy. Of course. Yes, it is. Oh my God, so amazing.

It can be. Got any good stuff for me? Um, well, two cases that I can't talk about. That bad? No, not so much bad as currently in court. Oh, of course. The others are kind of people's sort of, um, personal problems. Not crimes? They can be, sure.

But a lot of people just have... Well, they need Sherlock's brain, basically. That's the detective guy you have. Yeah. And he just works out from... I mean, from the events and everything. But he will also kind of dig below the surface? Right. Right.

Do you have something? Pilot. So there is a weird thing, actually. But I can't really talk about it here. No? No, it's a job offer. But I, like, the only good thing about it is the money. Everything else is like weird.

Weird is good. We like weird. Balliage is the technique, like painting highlights on. than hours and hours in foil. Right. Right, you know your stuff then. But you don't fancy the job anymore? Don't know.

I really don't know. It's more of an avoidance sense for me, I think. Just completely disassociating with the whole team. Even my usual rituals. Oh, I think I can hear Sherlock coming up the stairs. Yes, Fab. Now, as I say, Violet, he will absolutely try his best, but he's a very very busy guy.

Hey, uh, Sherlock. No. Uh, what? Three, two, one. Excellent. Enormous success. Well done Sherlock Holmes. What have you done exactly?

I have, with rigorous pacing and self-control, once again, used exactly four thousand steps to get from the very center of Leicester Square to our kitchen table. When I said that he's a very busy guy, I didn't necessarily mean always in the professional scent. Sherlock, this is... I know who she is. You do? I do. But have we met? No.

Did Marianna say who I was? No. Do you know my name? Yes, but a name is not who you are. Is it, Violet? Right. And you know who I am? Yes, I do. Yep.

Do you... You don't want to... Maybe. Oh, I do apologise. You're a hairstylist. You went to university and studied psychology. You live in Earlsfield, South West London. You're recently single.

You should have run a half marathon this weekend, but you went to a music festival instead, where you drank, took some recreational drugs and had two separate romantic involvements. Oh, my God. Sherlock. You're behind on your rent payments. You have credit card debt.

You were late for work this morning, but fortunate that your first client was too. Mariana here. Exceptional balliage work. Thank you. Didn't want to brighten the face for you. a little. We decided not to. Mm, because of the

contrast with the eyebrows. And the glasses too, I thought. Oh, of course. You should probably tell her how you... Oh, forgive me. Yeah. Hair stylist, very straightforward observation. Look at the scissor ring compression on her

thumb and finger for a start. Bachelor's degree in psychology. First words I heard when coming up the stairs, avoidance, disassociation, rituals. Add to that, her expression when examining an atypical person like me, then multiply that by the pop socket on her phone. Kind to your mind. It has the Middlesex University logo faintly behind it, I see. Earl's field is easy. I can always tell a Baker-Lew line user and we'll be able to until the update

or at least clean their trains. You have a half-eaten pastry in your bag, the logo on the brown paper wrapping, says, under the arch. On it is a sketch, AI, I'm afraid, of a Victorian twin rail crossing with a domed facade at the middle point. That's Earl's Field. Railway Bridge. You have a small dusting of pigeon fecese on your shoulder, so I assume by that and the copystand's name, they are based under it. It also makes sense for the Bakaloo line as you get on at Earlsfield and Waterloo is only two stops later.

You have a notification on your phone to upload your marathon results. You also have notifications regarding your GoFundMe page, both outstanding. And we can see why, can't we? We have a festival band on your arm here dated this weekend, tut-tut. There's a hikki from bearded man on your neck and playful scratches from a woman, just here, around your waist. all of which suggest you didn't take part in the marathon. Those aforementioned observations, coupled with the under-hydrated oversland look you have this Monday afternoon,

there is also the tan line of what looks like a fitbit that was once on your wrist, that came off before the festival I see. Slightly bleaker observations here. You have multiple credit cards, none of which are brands I recognize, so you're clearly a credit risk. You also have noted down a number on your hand that you've labelled CAB, most likely Citizens' Advice Bureau. They are often the first port of call during tenancy disputes. And being late?

Hmm? You said I was running late for work this morning? Because Mariana was too. I was here when she messaged this morning to apologise. It's how I got your name. You replied to confirm that you were also running late. I did, yeah. Allow me to play the psychology student, if I may.

Please do. Yeah. You don't look particularly troubled, nor hounded, harassed? No. Rather, you are suspicious. of whatever it is, ambivalent about a recent event, possibly an offer that has emerged in your hectic life, it must be some sort of escape.

Some kind of social or financial salvation. Clearly not a romantic proposal, as we've seen. You remain ambivalent about those prospects too. Uh, financial. Yeah. In your professional field? Not really. It's something strange.

Um, it doesn't. Doesn't quite make sense. In this creaky old building halfway down Baker Street, we have an expression to describe such things. You do? We do. The game is a foot. If I had a roof terrace overlooking Marlebone and Regents Park, maybe I would have taken my tenants agreement a bit more seriously. Yeah, it's good stuff. It's good stuff. Pigeon shit aside, it's good stuff.

I've had plenty of that already today, apparently. Hmm, yes, apologies. I could have omitted that observation, as the others were enough, to form the deduction. He's, I always say it, a brilliant man. Right, Shells? We all have our own brilliances. John, for example, is excelling in this warm, pleasant conversation, whereas I am contemplating throwing myself off this roof,

if I have to hear any more about weather politics or where people grew up. Okay. I knew it. I have a bottle of it. See? Yes. That's it. Copper Beach is English sparkling wine. Hampshire. Oh, it's a big brand. They're in basically every shop here.

Are they actually? English wine. Who the hell bought you English wine? You did. Oh. God, I'm nice, aren't I? But seriously? It's good. They've got this super classy, like aesthetic. Just the whole brand is very appealing. I get their ads too.

Yeah, they've done a great job with it. It is certainly on many shelves. I do recognise the Copper Beach's logo. This is why I need to branch out from just lager. There's a whole world out there in Hampshire. You do branch out. I've seen you do cocktails and shots. Yeah, but that's only because of an abundance of lager.

That gets me to that point. Can we perhaps return to our work? Sure, yes, let's crack her open. For what purpose exactly? Roof terrors, sunny evening. Sets the mood. Oh, goodness. Oh yes, good stuff.

This is just their sparkling one. They have a white one that is really popular. Mm, Carol would like that. Carol does like that. How do you know that? It's on her Facebook. Right, I've told you not to go on there. Work, please.

Mm. Yeah, sorry. Right, Violet Hunter of Cherrywood Salon on Montague Place. Tell us the queer goings-on relating to this, delightful wine company. Oh, excuse me, bubbly. Yeah, so it's about a woman, a client of mine. So if you turn the bottle around,

you see that signature on the back? With the quote? Yeah, in 1981, I believe England was capable of competing with Sauvignon Blanc. Copper Beach's vineyard has now proven time and time again that it can. Juniper Roe Castle. Juniper Roe Castle, that is your client? Yeah. She was my mum's client first.

But then when my mum retired, she became mine. But my mum says that Juniper was never that rich before. Like, back then. She always had the wine, but, like, never sold any, or I don't know. Probably wasn't good enough for a while. She invested everything apparently Not just money But years and years and years

And husbands and partners And fighting off siblings Who wanted her to just give it up and sell the land But she didn't She cracked on with it Then The rest is history Great podcast, great wine

When Juniper and my mum would talk She'd always say that She'd compare establishing a vineyard to raising a child. How so? Well, for a long time, it's juvenile. It's not there to be, to sort of... To kind of carry itself. Yeah. But with every year, the soil gets more complex, and the profile changes from the year before, blah, blah, blah, blah, all this sort of poshie old and stuff. That was probably all said to my mum because I was not carrying myself, but whatever. You are still not.

Sherlock. I'm playing an alternate perception, that of a senior generation. He's right. She knew I was, yeah, not in the place I thought I'd be, or that my mum thought I'd be. But anyway, she becomes my client, and by that point, Copper beaches is everywhere. She kept using me. Still does. To be fair, she can be very nice. She would leave a hamper of their wines for me at Christmas in the salon and stuff.

Wait, so she'd go to London to get her hair done? She's in Hampshire, right? Yeah. And I thought I was particular about using you. But that's another level. Let us get to the weird, please. The weird thing. Yes.

The offer. the offer. Yeah. So last week, she says, I want you to come and work for me. Not the vineyard, the farm or the shop or anything like that, in the house. She has a big house on the property, as you can imagine.

She says, I know you don't want to work in this field anymore, so I want you to come and work around the house, but use the time to, you know, like study. Figure out what you want to do with your degree and stuff. No rent payments. Tell me what date you have and we can figure it out. Plus, I'll give you a salary. She goes, whatever you're getting now, I'll double it.

Okay. Now, that's no rent. That's debt help. That's double salary. Plus, you get to figure out how to get where I want to be. Yeah. Amazing. Incredible.

Then she says, I only ask that you cut your hair and that you wear the clothes that I have chosen for you. What? I ask why. She says, changing your environment will disrupt old habits. That's kind of judgy. The whole thing is weird. It's really, really weird. Do you believe her?

regardless of how you see it as being weird do you believe her do I believe that cutting my hair and wearing different clothes will change my life not the logic of the act no do you believe that she believes it no so we have an ulterior motive yeah

hmm yes it is rather curious she sees me like What, four or five times a year? Max? She has plenty of people that work for her. I get, I've taken a funny path, or am taking a funny path to getting on my feet or whatever. But I'm not a mess. I'm not a lost cause.

But like you say, you don't believe those are her motivations. That's right. So ask her. Say, why do you really want me to do that? Highly unlikely you'd receive an authentic answer. What's going on? Oh, he's just pacing. What's the dog going?

He is pacing over Sherlock's paces. Right. Did you find her strange? Like before this offer came up. I find her annoying. She's got this really, like, purest, Merry Poppins-type attitude. And I just...

That's dated. But... I have over the last couple of days that... Like, what if I just took it? Yeah. Because... Worst case. Money problems eased.

Exactly. And then best case, Juniper Roe Castle is a life coach genius that I just doubted and everything was... fallen into place and yeah, I don't know. Call her. Ask for three times your current earnings. Sherlock, wipe out my debt, house me for free, and pay me three times what I get paid.

Yes. But what if Violet doesn't want that? I don't want to see if Violet wants it. I want to see if Juniper wants it. I'm gonna do it. Good luck. Thanks. Bit nervous. I'm so crap with this sort of thing, obviously. So it's a garment debt. Yes, hello.

Juniper. It's Violet. On my mobile. Not at work. Oh, hello, my darling. Hello. Just, on your offer, I was... Basically, I think...

We maybe look at... three times my current salary. If that's okay, with you, to consider... Okay. What? Okay? Yes, that can work.

When can you start? I will, um, call you pack and, and figure out things, if that's okay. Just good to know exact figures. Of course. Great.

Great, darling. Lovely to speak to you. And very much looking forward to welcoming you to the Copper Beaches. Of course. Yeah. Bye, Juniper. Bye, darling. Does I answer your question?

It certainly does answer my question. And I'm delighted to say. It asks many, many others. Me again. See, I told you I would interject and sew the narrative back together. So, Violet took about 10 days to make a decision. I am, however, sad to say the decision was made a little bit for her. She didn't say in this, but her mum is actually not very well.

And then Violet herself got evicted due to unpaid funds. So sadly, yeah, she took the job in the building. up to her going, her correspondence got a little flaky. So, we, the nosy little detectives from Baker Street, discovered that the copper beaches has delightful little log cabin retreats that you can hire. I am speaking to you now from outside our one. We opted against, telling Violet, but we booked it out for a week. The week she started at the Copper Beaches, which is this week.

I know, sneaky. So everything now is now. Got it? Got it. Well, this is quaint as hell, isn't it? We believe hell to be quaint, do we? Oh, look, they left little wine bottle-shaped dog treats for Archie. Oh, and they left wine-bottle-shaped wine bottles for us.

Wee He! Oh, Christ, nearly smashed the window. This place is so cute. Yes, can you stop marvelling at its cute this and get to work, please? Ooh, they have puzzles. We are working. You are aware you're pouring champagne whilst saying that. It can't be champagne because it's not from the champagne region in France.

Bucker. Oh, ha ha ha ha ha! I did it! I did it! I corrected him on a thing that's not a stupid thing like footballer emotions! I did it on a real thing! Ha ha ha ha ha ha! Yes, you can stop dancing around.

No, this is the dance. This is the dance of intelligence, my friend. This is the dance of a superior intellect, being all superior. You're spilling the wine. Bowlocks. Right, bring your glass. No, here. Paper cups.

Why paper cups? Because we're taking it with us, if we must. Taking it with us through the delightful vineyard, the beach trees and nature walks? Fine by me. One Archie boy, get him. No chance. Yeah, it's not going to happen. These rural squirrels.

are in fantastic shape, not like the urban squirrels. Then don't feed the urban squirrels, if you fear for their weight. Look, they took my crisps. I don't give them to them. Gosh, it is a real summary time for Sherlock and Co, isn't it? I was just thinking that. We have been really spoiled by Greece and a wellness festival in Boscombe Valley. I mean, kidnapping and murder, but sure. Hey, works work, you know.

But you are so right. This is beautiful. It's just totally perfect Oh completely Now look at Sherlock Even he's just Staring into the The sparkles of the distant lake The vineyard beyond

The majesty of that Blushing gold beech tree forest Come No that's not the path Yes I know Then why are you going that way Because I see something Well what do you see

A new Do he say noose? He did say noose. Great, wonderful, wonderful, wonderful. The second, the second I point out how nice a place is, he ruins it. Why would somebody come to a log-caving holiday to hang themselves? Yeah, that is a very good question. Is there a creepier sight?

Well, yeah, it would be creepier if there was a body attached to it. Yes, yeah, correct, that would be. But, I mean, it doesn't actually mean that someone did that, does it? I hope that's the case. No, it could be teenagers, pissing about, could be anything. It doesn't actually mean that somebody hanged themselves. A 24-year-old woman could have done a year ago. Oh, for fun...

What? Look, cut into this tree. Read. Here lies... Alice. 2001 to 2025. To binge this adventure in full and without ads, go to patreon.com forward slash Sherlock and co.