Arnos Manor Hotel

A newspaper article in 2024 gave some details on the phantom nun claimed to haunt this property: "The building dates back to 1760, and had a chapel run by nuns as a local school. It is said that one of the nuns fell pregnant and committed suicide. To conceal the scandal, her body was bricked up in an alcove by the other nuns. The hotel was damaged by a bomb in WWII, and her skeleton was discovered by workmen who were carrying out some repairs. The bones were hid elsewhere and since, a figure in brown is said to roam the hotel, especially room 160." Other apparitions include a ghostly maid in "old fashioned clothing", an old man in a tweed suit [possibly the 'figure in brown' above?] in the cellar and, in guest rooms, figures in grey habits have been seen; another (?) figure is said to rise "as if climbing stairs that don't exist." Scratching and whispering sounds, a door being rattled, guests feeling as if they are being pinned down and a basket of toiletries being hurled into the air have also been experienced. Most of the reported phenomena are said to occur in the afore mentioned room 160.

Update 23/2/20: Staff member Livia replied to my email, telling me, "I personally do not now [sic] any stories to help you."

Further Update: in late 2021, Arnos Manor’s general manager, Kamil Karys, and group sales manager of parent company Crest Hotels, Sarah Tunnadine were interviewed by the press. Sarah said, "We have visitors frequently to investigate any paranormal activity that takes place. That doesn’t mean anything is proven 100 per cent of the time. But everyone thinks they’ve seen something in the corner of their eye. Even my employees have that feeling more than anyone else." Kamil added, "We have the ghost of a little boy, a little girl, a priest and a nun. We have the presence of four ghosts in the hotel. But is it true or is it not? Personally, I’m not a believer. But the one story that stands out the most was something that happened to one of our employees that no longer works here. She was finishing her shift at 11 o’clock at night and while she was heading to clock out with a machine and a female voice whispered in her ear, 'here, here'. She came back shaking and her face was so pale because she was frightened. We had to walk with her back home." The article further said that the two managers 'have emphasised that the staff do not have any involvement in the discussions that others may have about Arnos Manor’s spooky background.' It is clear that the hotel does not seem keen to encourage or report any ghostly sightings.

Link: Bristol 24/7

Link: Bristol Live

Link: Bristol World

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