We caught up with Alan Sharpe, founder of London Locksmiths Ltd and a veteran of more than 35 years in the trade, who is speaking out against the rise of so-called “£49 locksmiths”, rogue operators scamming customers and ruining the trade’s hard-earned reputation. Alan told us that trust and transparency are everything and that’s exactly that’s why he’ll never shut-up shop.
Starting out in the Trade
My first job back in the ’80s, during the Brixham riots, was at a shop called Armour Lock & Safe, in Brixton, run by a legend named Terry Evans. I was 18 at the time, just starting out, and all I wanted was a job, I was very grateful that Terry took me under his wing, and I owe everything to that start.
Fast forward nearly four decades, and I’m still in locksmithing – picking locks, running a shop, and helping people out of all sorts of scrapes across London. But I’ll be honest: it’s not the same trade I fell in love with. These days, I spend just as much time undoing the damage of £49ers locksmiths as I do unlocking doors.
The £49 Trap
You’ve probably seen the ads: “Locksmith from £49 – 24/7 Emergency.” Sounds great, doesn’t it? Until a customer ends up with someone in a designer tracksuit, no ID, no van, demanding £800 at 11 pm to open a front door. Week after week, I get emails and calls from people in tears. “Was that you who came out? I’ve just paid £300 for a lock!” It’s not us, but because we’re called London Locksmiths Ltd, people assume it is.
A SEO Tactic Turned into a Nightmare
These cheap ‘callout a locksmith’ outfits flood Google with paid ads, fake reviews, and spoofed locations. Meanwhile, traditional locksmiths – the ones who know what a mortice lock is, who carry the tools, who rather pick non-destructively than drill out a cylinder, are being pushed off page one.
London Locksmiths Ltd was such a great SEO friendly name to have for my business until this lot came along, now I wish I could change my business’s name. The worst thing about it is that those ripped off think it was my business and ring to complain.
It’s devastating. Not just for business, but for the reputation of our trade. People now assume all locksmiths are cowboys. They won’t call a locksmith again most probably just try to do the job themselves.
That’s why I’ve created a new business name: Vauxhall Locksmiths to be one step ahead as I don’t see this situation improving any time soon, unfortunately.
Why I Keep My Shop
We’ve had our shop on Wilcox Road, Vauxhall, for over 20 years. People say, “Why not go fully mobile like everyone else?” But, having a physical shop matters, not just to me, but for business, as it makes you accountable and visible. It’s where we cut keys, meet customers, and build that all-important trust. It’s why we’re still getting calls from churches, estate agents, and restaurants – like the Royal Albert Hall, where we fitted a full master suite system. The £49ers couldn’t do real locksmithing jobs.
Nurturing Talent
I took on an apprentice 22 years ago named Dimitri Spyrou and he still works for me. He started young, with a background in carpentry, which proved invaluable, and I’ll tell you this: he never says no to a job! He fits fire doors, security grilles, panic bars – it’s the way to be. That’s what locksmithing is now, it’s about: diversity, skill, knowledge, and trust. You can’t survive without all these things.
Doing it Right
We offer high-security cylinder systems, stocking Kaba, Abus Zolit, the new Anchor Infinity with magnetic key shafts. Different jobs need different key profiles. We’ve built up our stock, suppliers, and product knowledge over decades. That’s why we’re trusted with things like Chipotle restaurants, Lambeth churches, and high-end apartment blocks.
The problem is that scammers don’t care about repeat business. They’re in, they take your money, and you never see them again. We’re the ones customers come to for help afterwards. We fix the mess. That’s why I still love this work, unlocking someone’s front door on Christmas Eve, seeing that relief in their face. That’s real locksmithing.
Doing the right thing also extends to charity. My granddaughter was born with an illness that caused her to lose 90% of her sight, so I sponsor Dogs for the Blind – they even named a dog after me!
Advice to New Locksmiths: Differentiate Through Diversity
If you’re new to this, don’t just buy every pick and tool on eBay. Don’t blow your savings on all the gear before the calls come in. Instead, be diverse and pick-up lots of trades and learn as quickly as you can. Don’t just be a locksmith, look at other complementary trades like auto locksmith, uPVC repair, carpentry, safes, or fire doors. Be flexible, open to learning as much as you can, and get experience with a reputable firm if you can. Remember that you’ll be up against Google, not just locks, so don’t rely solely on the internet to bring you work.
What Needs to Change
The Master Locksmiths Association is trying to get UK regulation, like they’ve done in Ireland. They’re lobbying Parliament and even Google. But let’s be honest, Google’s too busy raking in ad money to care.
Joe Public doesn’t know what the MLA is. They don’t think to check for credentials in a panic at 1am and that’s why education is key. That’s why I speak out, I’m 61 now and I’ve got 8 years left on the lease of my premises and, I tell you what, I plan to stay put. Because we still believe in doing it properly, we may not the cheapest, but we’re the ones who come back, year after year, to keep people safe.
Factoring in the Fines: Working in London
Travel across London is one of the biggest daily challenges. I used to be able to cross London in a day, that’s impossible now – the sheer volume of traffic and 20mph zones dominating main roads, empty segregated cycle lanes, and a maze of restricted access routes, clear air zones, driving in London has turned into a gamble with penalty fines. I get two to three parking tickets a week, especially in Camden and Islington, there’s just nowhere to park for tradesmen. The cost? Taken out of the week’s earnings. When the post arrives, it’s usually a fine of some kind. Despite it all, I continue to serve customers across the city, but I do have to weigh up whether a job is worth it – time, travel and fines! I drive a Corsa to make travel easier. Sadiq Khan, Mayor, needs a strategy that helps tradespeople travel as we still need to do our jobs.
Join the Petition for a Regulated Industry
Help raise awareness of the MLA petition to collect signatures to change the law and make locksmithing a regulated industry. If only homeowners asked for a locksmith’s credentials or went to a local shop, asked if they pick or drill the lock, or if £49 is the true cost.
www.londonlocksmiths.com
07771 707887
londonlocksmiths@hotmail.co.uk
London Locksmiths Ltd is a trusted, traditional locksmith company based in Vauxhall, South London. Established in 2002 by Master Locksmith Alan Sharpe, the business has over three decades of experience in securing homes, offices, churches, and heritage sites across the capital.
With a physical retail shop at 14A Wilcox Road, London SW8, the company offers a face-to-face, reliable service in a world increasingly dominated by faceless, online-only operators.