Britain’s pubs are full of spirits – and not just ones you drink!
This week we revealed how one of Kent’s most haunted hostelries, the George Inn, near Canterbury, is up for sale. It’s known for its phantom knights and a spectral black dog.
But the nation boasts hundreds of spooky watering holes, as our inn-spectre James Moore reveals…
BEDS…
King’s Arms, Bedford: The figure of an old man lurks in the cellar of the pub, believed to have been built on the site of a morgue.
BERKS…
The Ostrich Inn, Colnbrook: Legend has it that a former landlord was a serial killer at this 12 th century pub. Staff report seeing ghostly visions.
BUCKS…
The Royal Standard of England, Penn: The 800-year-old pub has two Civil War ghosts – a drummer boy and a disappearing Cavalier.
CAMBS…
The Old Ferry Boat, St Ives: It’s said to contain an unmarked stone grave of a girl who drowned herself and rises from the river to return to it on the anniversary of her death.
CHESHIRE…
The Pied Bull Pub, Chester : A 17 th century staff member, John Davies, who fell downstairs and accidentally stabbed himself is still seen.
CORNWALL…
Jamaica Inn, Bolventor : Set on lonely Bodmin Moor it’s known for the clatter of hooves from phantom horses and a man in a tricorn hat who walks through doors.
CUMBRIA…
Kirkstone Pass Inn : England’s second highest pub sports the ghosts of a young mother who froze to death and a mysterious floating grey lady.
DERBYSHIRE…
Ye Olde Dolphin, Derby: Dating back to 1530, it’s said to be haunted by a nurse who tended to plague victims.
DEVON…
Pilchard Inn, Burgh Island: Notorious pirate Tom Crocker is seen wandering the corridors of this old pub, still searching for his lost treasure.
DORSET…
The Smugglers Inn, Osmington Mills : Strange entities wearing seafaring clothes, hark back to the smuggling past of this pub.
DURHAM…
The Dun Cow: Reputed to be haunted by 19 th century serial killer Mary Ann Cotton, objects appear to move by themselves in the bar.
ESSEX…
The Red Lion, Colchester: The ghost of a woman, believed to be Alice Katherine Miller, murdered at the inn in 1638, is seen near her old room.
GLOS…
Black Bear Inn, Tewkesbury : Among the ghosts encountered at this 1308 pub are a headless man in military uniform, dragging chains around.
HANTS…
Eclipse Inn, Winchester : Strange banging sounds and apparitions have been put down to Lady Lisle, executed opposite in 1685.
HEREFORDSHIRE…
The Queens Arms, Hereford: The ghost of an Anglo-Saxon warrior appears in the pub with a shield and spear.
HERTS…
The Brocket Arms, Welwyn: Dating to the 14 th century, a monk can still be seen walking around while the ghost of a girl sings in the loos.
LANCS…
The Sun, Chipping: This 17th-century pub is haunted by Lizzie Dean, a Victorian scullery maid who hanged herself in the attic.
LEICS…
The Belper Arms, Newton Burgoland : This 13 th century pub is haunted by ‘Five to Four Fred’, named after the time he appears, often to pinch the bottoms of unwitting customers.
LINCS…
Blue Bell Inn, Tattershall Thorpe: Near the former base of the famous Dambusters squadron, the ghosts of former World War Two air crew pop up here.
LONDON…
The Grenadier, Belgravia: The ghost of a soldier nicknamed ‘Cedric’ who was beaten to death after cheating at cards, is said to be behind unexplained footsteps and ghostly clouds of smoke.
MANCHESTER…
Ye Olde Man & Scythe, Bolton: At least 25 different spirits are believed to haunt the pub from an executed Earl to a phantom dog, while shadowy figures have been seen on TV.
MERSEYSIDE…
Ye Hole in Ye Wall, Liverpool: The city’s oldest pub is plagued by the spectre of a sailor wearing a long wax coat.
NORFOLK…
Adam & Eve, Norwich : The 1249 pub’s resident ghost, dubbed ‘Sam’, taps people on the shoulder and runs his fingers through their hair.
NORTHANTS…
The Talbot, Oundle: Legend has it that Mary, Queen of Scots, who was executed nearby, still haunts a staircase.
NORTHUMBERLAND…
The Dirty Bottles, Alnwick: Two bottles are carefully sealed up between windows in the pub. A former landlord dropped dead when he touched them. They’re now said to be cursed.
NOTTS…
Ye Olde Salutation Inn, Nottingham : Built over creepy 9 th century caves, the ghost of a girl called Rosie lingers, as do those of three ex-landlords who throw things.
OXON…
The Trout Inn, Wolvercote : A floating woman is believed to be the restless spirit of Henry II’s mistress, Rosamund, buried nearby.
RUTLAND…
Blue Bell Inn, Belmesthorpe: Said to be on the site of an old monastery, a hunched figure is seen gliding towards a well at the pub.
SCOTLAND…
The Drovers Inn, Loch Lomond: The hostelry is believed to be haunted by the ghost of a drowned girl and a family frozen to death nearby.
SHROPSHIRE…
Nag’s Head, Shrewsbury : It has a painting in a cupboard, said to be of the Devil, that curses customers who gaze on it. Three former guests allegedly met an untimely end.
SOMERSET…
George & Pilgrims, Glastonbury : The 500-year-old inn boasts a love-sick monk and a lady in white among 30 different ghosts.
STAFFS…
The Dog & Partridge, Tutbury : Cheerful resident ghost Gracie is often heard laughing, skipping and bouncing invisible balls.
SUFFOLK…
The Nutshell, Bury St Edmunds: Britain’s smallest pub is one of its spookiest, said to be inhabited by the ghost of a boy. Visitors report being grabbed by unseen hands.
SURREY…
The Punchbowl Inn, Dorking : An ex-landlord who bangs on pipes and a strange, bearded man wandering the rooms are among its ghostly goings on.
SUSSEX…
Mermaid Inn, Rye : At the 15 th century pub, figures in historical dress have been reported perching at the end of guests’ beds.
TYNE & WEAR…
Marsden Grotto, South Shields: A host of ghouls apparently inhabit this seaside pub including a smuggler locked in a cave, who is knocking, still trying to escape.
WALES…
Skirrid Mountain Inn, Abergavenny : The 900-year-old inn is reckoned to be haunted by the spirits of convicts once hanged over a beam in its stairwell.
WARWICKSHIRE…
The Blue Lias, Stockton : Legend has it that the canal side pub is haunted by a red-haired farm labourer, killed by his employer who found him in bed with his missus.
WEST MIDS…
The Old Crown, Birmingham : At this 1368 pub bottles move mysteriously along the bar and a ghostly woman looks for her lost child.
WILTS…
Red Lion, Avebury : Located inside a Neolithic stone circle, the pub’s most famous ghost is of a girl called Florrie, said to have been thrown down its well, by her husband, for cheating.
WORCS….
The Fleece Inn, Bretforton: A 15 th pub, loved by singer Taylor Swift, where the ghost of ex-landlady Lola Taplin is said to rock in a chair by the fire.
YORKSHIRE…
Golden Fleece, York : The spectre of a Canadian airman who fell to death out of one of the 500-year-old inn’s windows appears in its rooms.