Corrections, additions and new ghost reports for "UK Haunted Hospitality volume 1":

The following establishment did not make "the final cut" of the book because, in its incarnation as the ATIK nightclub in Halifax, it had been closed for some time. Now it is due to re-open as the Switch nightclub in mid October. To mark this occasion, a local paper described employees previous brushes with the supernatural. The ghost supposedly dates from the time that the building was a cinema and the phantom is described as having "tousled hair and dressed in black trousers and a crumpled white shirt." He has been tentatively identified as 25 year old projectionist Raymond Farrar who died in a fire here on April 9 1948. The press reports that there have been loud banging sounds, hand driers turning on and off and the feeling of a presence in the building, and that the ghost would sit and watch players when the premises housed a bingo hall. A ghost hunt was organised in the mid 1960s but was curtailed after people fled when a large bang was heard. One of those involved said, "It was well known among staff that there was a ghost there but you didn’t say anything except to each other. You didn’t want to be ridiculed."

Reading through my book, there is an establishment that I missed but is included in another one of my publications. It is the Maltings QClub in King's Lynn; the downstairs portion is a bar while upstairs is a snooker hall. The manageress of 20 years informs me that in all her time running the club she had never experienced anything but knew of experiences by her staff. Two of them, both of them previous employees, told me of their own recollections: one of them who left in September 2020 said that when they were cashing up, they heard sounds like snooker balls being dropped on the floor upstairs. Naturally, an investigation revealed nothing, but "the atmopshere felt kinda different" compared to previously. The staff became so used to the sounds that in the end they ignored them. Another ex-employee also described sounds from upstairs, but she says that they were footsteps.

The Lyceum theatre in Crewe has many ghosts (as many as 6 if reports are true), and one of them - a monk - has apparently been seen in the nearby pub "The Cheese Hall" (previously known as "The Three Lamps.")

The Ham&High website lists a few pubs in the Hampstead and Highgate area of London, some of which have additional information and one of which is new. "The Spaniards" is "...said to be haunted by a previous landlord Juan Porero, who fought a fatal duel with his brother Francesco after falling in love with the same woman. Juan is buried near the pub, which he haunts to this day." "The Flask" in Highgate is noted thus, "The ghost a man dressed as a cavalier has been spotted in the bar of this Grade II listed pub which has stood on the site since at least the 1660s. He is said to suddenly appear and look out of the window as if watching for someone. He then turns and vanishes through a pillar in the middle of the room. Another story tells of a Spanish barmaid who hanged herself in the pub’s cellar when her romance with the landlord ended. Modern day punters sitting down there have reported feeling someone blowing down their neck, glasses moving mysteriously, lights swaying and the temperature freakishly dropping." The new pub is "The Old Bull and Bush" in North End Way which has "hair-raising bumps, bangs and footsteps which have been heard by staff over the years." A skeleton discovered in the cellar during a 1980s refurbishment is perhaps connected to a Victorian figure that has been seen in the bar or in the grounds. The remains of the man were buried but the phantom persists in making an appearance.

The Worcester News website mentions The King Charles House [aka the King Charles II] pub on New Street: "Darren Yong, manager of the pub, previously told the Worcester News about ghosts in the pub. He said: 'I was told there were two girls seen running around in the cellar, one is called Charlotte and she is from the Georgian era because she is wearing a traditional head cap. She is nine years old and she died of a heart condition.'"

The Hartlepool Mail mentions a few pubs in the area in its write-up. For the Blacksmith's Arms in Stranton, we have "Snooker balls [have] been heard clacking together with no-one playing. The figure of a policeman has been seen in the back room. Toilets flush on their own and whooshing sounds heard." The Jacksons Arms in Tower Street says that, "Bottle-men reportedly refuse to go down in the cellar at this traditional pub in Tower Street. There have been reports of classes being thrown from rubber mats over the bar onto the public side. Spectres sighted include the ghost of a child and a woman sitting in a corner and can knock drinks over." We have the following addition details for The Ship Inn on Middlegate, "Doors open and close and conversations heard when no one there. A frightened soldier in cellar is said to come out when the pub is closed." The Pot House, we are told, has two male spirits; the previously reported "Alfred" who likes to sit "in a particular area" and another who has been observed moving from one area to another. The Raby Arms snippet has a few more details; the ghost is "an old-fashioned nurse with a bed pan at the toilets and it becomes very cold [in her presence]". Furthermore, it is also noted that people have been prodded and unknown voices heard. A new pub in the article is The Duke of Cleveland on Church Walk; "Reported activity includes strong smells of ground coffee, strange mists have been seen disappearing and a gentleman in top hat and tail frequents this Headland pub. A woman has been seen at a window and electrical equipment has gone missing. Also rustling sounds like paper mâché on the landing have been heard." Another newcomer is the Rossmere on Owton Manor Lane ("Strange activity has included pipes loosening when they have been tightened and chairs moved").

The Bristol Post has a small feature on The White Hart on Lower Maudlin Street: "The pub's website states that one of the brothers - believed to be named George - was killed by the other in a dispute over land, with his spirit said to still haunt the premises to this day.
His body is thought to have been hidden in the cellar of the pub, following the brutal murder, which is accessed via a trap door behind the bar. Since then, landlords and customers alike have reported experiencing a rather otherworldly presence of George, in various shapes and forms.
For decades, landlords have left a vase of flowers on the bar, as it is believed this helps calm George down and fends off any unwanted supernatural activity. Back in 2017, the pub's landlord at the time, Phillip Nash, recalled witnessing "quite a few spooky incidents" as well as hearing tales from the past involving George.
He said: "On several occasions bottles of alcohol that were firmly in place on the shelf behind us have fallen off for no reason whatsoever, which always gives us quite a fright. And an old landlord once came in and told me how a barrel of Fosters kept disconnecting itself in the cellar despite the fact he was making it tighter and tighter each time, and there was nobody down there.
"I’ve also seen the figure of an old man wearing a tweed suit and red V-neck jumper sitting by the women’s toilets in my peripheral vision, but there was nobody there. And no, I hadn't been drinking."

Sussex Live provides a small tidbit on a pub new to this author; The Royal Oak in Hooksway, near Chichester: "As well as being a country-style pub near the South Downs, The Royal Oak is perhaps one of the most haunted in and around the Chichester area. According to owners Dave and Sarah, who have run the pub since 1990, the pub is haunted by the ghost of someone who was believed to be a sheep rustler who operated on the South Downs in about 1680, going by the name of William "Shagger" Shepherd. Rumour has it he was pursued across the Downs by a group of angry farmers and was eventually shot after taking refuge in the Royal Oak."

The Nottingham Post provides fragments on local pubs. We have The Angel Microbrewery in Nottingham, and now we can add some flesh to the bones of the story of spectral singing: "The property has stood in the Lace Market since at least the 1600s. The Grade II Listed building, on Stoney Street, has a long and colourful history as both a brothel and a chapel, as well as a possible pitstop for highway man Dick Turpin. Deep below the beer cellar are caves, hollowed out of the sub-soil in the shape of a crucifix. The pub is said to be haunted after a chimney collapsed in 1801, killing a policeman. A prostitute was murdered there and the ghostly strains of her singing have been heard when the pub is empty." A new pub is The Crown Inn in Beeston; "A phantom cavalier, complete with plumed hat and cloak, is said to haunt the Grade II listed building in Church Street. The pub, with its cosy snugs, began life as a cottage alehouse before it became the Crown in the 1830s, when it was bought by a retired army captain - but there's no explanation why a 17th century military man would be roaming the bar." Another new addition is Rutland Arms Hotel in Newark: "...Stories have been passed down about a monk, who went by the name of Cuthbert, who used to wander a secret underground network of tunnels beneath the inn."

Another new pub is The Three Tuns in Coppergate, York. A number of paranormal claims have been made for this pub, including devices moving from one place to another unassisted, things constantly flying off the shelves and off a table, the door to the men's toilets opening and closing by itself (despite being very heavy) and "a little old guy sitting in the corner smoking a pipe."

The Daily Star adds a few more details to a pair of London pubs: "Another poltergeist-plagued property in London is The Ten Bells pub in the capital's East End. Over the years the Shoreditch boozer is said to have been haunted by three separate ghosts. The first is a Victorian man who is said to regularly climb into bed with staff who sleep on the upper floor. When they wake he allegedly grins with vile teeth and then vanishes. The pub is also said to be plagued by the cries of a baby in distress while the third is said to be the spirit of Jack the Ripper victim, Annie Chapman. She was murdered near the 10 Bells, had her last drink there and is said to still drink at the bar.
Another boozer across town, the Viaduct Tavern in Holborn, is said to be haunted by a refreshingly friendly ghost who likes to have a pint with the locals. “Fred” is said to be a mischievous chap and has even been known to neck patrons’ drinks when they’re not looking. The mystical minesweeper is also said to have a taste for turning on the hand dryers and tapping people on the shoulder."

The Bucks Free Press tells us of another new pub, The Kings Head in Aylesbury; "...a Grey Lady who is thought to have fallen down a staircase at the pub during the 18th century [is] often spotted at the base of the establishment’s steps." Another newspaper gave details of other phenomena; "Staff have regularly reported spooky goings on at Aylesbury's oldest pub. Sightings include a tall figure appearing inside the locked pub wearing a black hat and black coat, and a tendency for clocks and watches to stop on the stroke of midnight in the Great Hall – the oldest part of the building."

The Norfolk Live website gives us a few more details on Norwich pubs: firstly, we have The Adam and Eve which "...gained notoriety as the final resting place of Lord Sheffield, a fighter for the crown who was fatally stabbed during the rebellion. His spirit is said to haunt the pub, but he is not malicious. Instead, he rings the pub’s bell when its quiet, hoping to attract more customers." Then there is the Lamb Inn; "John Aggas, a former landlord of this pub, met a tragic end in the 1700s. He tried to intervene in a fight between his sister and her abusive husband, Timothy Hardy, who fatally stabbed him. Aggas, a friendly and amiable ghost, is known to hang out in the pub, occasionally having a drink with patrons, However, he is most often seen by children staying at the inn, where he tells them bedtime ghost stories." Finally, we have the Coachmaker's Arms, where "rumours circulate that this pub was built on the grounds of a former mental asylum, and it is home to two distinct spirits. One resembles a brash highwayman, often mistaken for a living patron. The other is a woman in black, who seems to enjoy pushing things off shelves and tables. Some suggest that these ghosts provide a convenient excuse for staff when things go missing in the pub."
Although most of these details are mentioned in my book, there are a few extra stray snippets of information in the above summaries.

Glasgow Live says of the Platform in Glasgow that, "the venue has a rich history of hauntings with the ghost of a 'young girl in antiquated clothing', who was spotted by actors who once performed here. It got so bad that some actors who played hardened marines in the Alien Wars event back in 2009 were spooked by the spectre with several having spotted her around the halls." It is not known if the premises still has sightings in its new guide as a pub and restaurant. A few more details were provided about The Auctioneers, namely, "Staff and customers have told stories of items falling off shelves and glasses mysteriously tumbling from tables with no explanation."

The Daily Echo tells us of a new pub, The Ferryman at Walhampton (though the article gives it by its old name, "The Waggon and Horses"); "[the pub] is haunted by a double tragedy. In 1893, the body of a farmer was discovered in a nearby field - he had been shot in the back with his own shotgun without any known enemies or motive for suicide. The Walhampton gamekeeper Henry Card then made an unfortunate demonstration to prove how easy such an accident could be, and fell victim to the same fate; he was killed instantly by his own gun. His spirit has supposedly been seen in the bar of the Wagon and Horses repeatedly."

The Bucks Herald says that, "In 2000, there were reports of a crying child and a female organ player seen at the Partridge Arms [in Aston Clinton]. There are reportedly several ghosts that haunt this pub." Please note that I am not sure if the pub is now called "The Partridge" or "The Partridge Arms" (whatpub.com favours the former). NB This is a new entry.

The Manchester Evening News comments on a pub new to this researcher, The Crown Inn in Lower Peover, Cheshire; the landlord suffered a bleed on the brain when an iron bar on a hook over a doorway smashed into his head when he was in the beer cellar. Other phenomena mentioned talk of a stool that he was standing on collapsed underneath him, a TV remote control that went flying across the bar, chairs moving by themselves, "shh shh" noises when they go through doors and glasses swaying without human cause. A possible culprit for the ghostly activity was provided when the landlord found out that an 8 year old girl named Maria Rathbone died nearby in December 1821 when she sent to the shop and got lost. She was found dead 400 yards from the pub with bacon under her arm. A gentleman found her and had this dream that a girl was found under a holly bush. They found her, they had the inquest and wake for her in this pub.

The Shropshire Star talks to a new pub: states that, "According to ghostly folklore in Ludlow ever since Price Rupert died in 1692 his ghost has been a regular visitor to the Old Street Tavern ... and 'local legend' has it that [his] ghost always appears outside the premises shortly before midnight on the date of his death, November 29, sitting proudly in full armour aboard his trusty steed Diabolo."

A random check of Lincoln, revealed that The Jolly Brewer is now open. I omitted it from my book as there was no indication at the time (summer of 2023) whether it would ever re-open. It had gone by this name previously and was then known as Bentley's Bar, I had the following notes on the alleged spooks: "the spectre would manifest as a voice that called out the name of the pub's staff," but when I contacted them in March 2022, they had no knowledge of this phenomena.

There is also some news on The Crooked House in Himley which burnt down and was then demolished under very suspicious circumstances. The owners are said to be amenable to rebuilding the bar (albeit in a new location), but whether the old ghosts will re-manifest is an open question. I had the following notes; "The spectre of a short old man, in his 60s or 70s has been seen here in the bar before disappearing. A girl in a maid's outfit and cap has been observed by the fireplace, and in the fields behind the building, children have been seen dancing in a circle."

Unfortunately, sad news to report on The Chiltern Taps in High Wycombe, which has now closed for good.

Coventry Live informs us of a new pub; the Rose and Crown in Ratley, but it tells us little other than the place is 'reputedly haunted' by a Roundhead from the nearby Battle of Edgehill.

History.co.uk gives us a few extra details of the The Castle in Great Leighs, Essex. It was mentioned that before the 1970s, "over a hundred people bravely tried to spend a night in its infamous ‘haunted room’. The numerous reports from those who spent the night in the room read like an A-Z of poltergeist activity, including furniture being dragged across the room, curtains violently ripped off and clothes scattered about the floor. Frightened guests have also described the tortured cries of a female spectre preventing them from sleeping at all." There have been many apparitions associated with this pub, like a ghostly cat and a young woman in a wedding dress, but the most famous spectre is a witch named Anne Hughes, whose ghost is held responsible for many strange (but unspecified) phenomena over the years. The pub's website says that she was burned at the stake and buried beneath a stone at the nearby crossroads which is located in the entrance to the car park.

The EDP recently ran a small feature on The Adam and Eve in Norwich. The relevant portions says that the pub is haunted by the "friendly ghost" of Lord Sheffield, nicknamed Sam, who is thought to have been killed there during the 1549 Kett's Rebellion. Landlady Rita McCluskey said: "Some regulars claim Sam makes off with coats and scarves (usually returned the next day)."

A few weeks ago, I received an email from Simon Baxter who runs The Lion in Clifton upon Teme. I first tried to contact him 18 months previously without a reply (beating the 16 month delay in communications from the Royal Victoria and Bull hotel in Dartford). Simon said, "the building definitely possesses more than one spirit and has a wealth of history and I myself have encounter a number of experiences. Let me know what you think as other people have there own stories too. Sorry it’s taken so long but it may be the most haunted pub in the uk. All friendly though, (in my experience)." He seemed keen to chat but avoided fulfilling his promises to talk on the phone. The "most haunted pub" claim is of course, bunkum.
Incidentally "The Lion" does not appear in my book because I had it listed as offering accommodation and this is no longer the case. My original write-up for the establishment, written some time ago says, "A lady in a Victorian dress was seen seated at a table; later licensees reported that their dog would "go nuts", obviously affected by something. A spectral man was also observed a few times; he was described as being about 55 and thinning on top. His clothing made the witness think he might have been a gardener. Although not completely transparent, he was said to be "not solid." He walked round the back of the fireplace but was no longer there upon investigation - and there was no other way out. However, it would seem that the building is quiet - for the time being anyway."

There are details of two old pubs in The Worcester News. The first one is Ye Olde Black Cross in Bromsgrove; "Ye Olde Black Cross is a historic pub which dates back as far as 1640; It used to be a holding pen for criminals who were sentenced to death and hung. The ghosts of the criminals are still said to lurk in the pub, along with the spirit of a little girl and a cavalier soldier who is often spotted walking to the bar." The Mug House in Claines Lane, Worcester has the following information, some of which is new: "A ghost called Bert is said to haunt the hallways and visitors might hear him wandering around the upper parts of the building. Customers at the pub report seeing pint glasses swinging like a pendulum. Judy Allen, landlady at the pub, said glasses have even smashed with no logical explanation as to why. She told Worcester News back in 2002: 'We had friends round that afternoon and as we came behind the bar we heard the crashing of glass. We went behind the bar and one tumbler fell about two inches on to the floor and it broke into pieces. The noise was unnaturally loud considering it fell two inches on to lino."

The Forteana Website features a new pub ghost: "[My sister] was having a pub lunch with a friend, when she caught a movement out the corner of her eye. A woman with no legs below the knee walked past her , vanishing just before reaching the door. My sister said she was wearing a navy blue three quarter length coat ,with patch pockets and the collar turned up. She had brown hair , in a princess Diana style and looked to be in her 50's . She had a very determined look on her face, like she was on a mission . My sister noted that although she could see that the coat was navy and the hair was brown , the colours looked, kind of muted, compared to the rest of the surroundings. She asked one of the bar staff if the pub had a ghost and the bar person replied , yes, describing exactly the woman my sister had seen. Apparently she has made regular appearances to both staff and customers alike. The pub is called The Angel, in Beverley, East Yorkshire." In later posts, the witness's sister said that the ghost seemed to be from the 1980s judging by the hairstyle and coat.

Ghost enthusiast Carla Staton provided the following report that she obtained from a Facebook post in March or April 2024; "Yesterday I went for lunch to the abbey inn at kirkstall Leeds. It is Leeds most haunted pub. Although I didn't see anything the landlord and I had a good chat. Even as close as last week he said a glass had flown into the bar area when no one was in the bar serving. He spent much of the afternoon trying to replicate it's landing position and came to the conclusion it could only have been placed. He told me the blueprint of the pub and that customers staff and himself only see things in the original areas. He said that the most reported sightings are an old woman with a screwed up face always in the ladies toilet. A very tall man in the Bar area that is disappears up stairs that no longer exist and a pair of boots that stand alongside people like the rest hasn't my manifested. He said that if he changes the bottles around he will come down next day and they will have swapped back. It was [a] very interesting afternoon."

My friend Alan Cassify-Bishop told me of a new location, the Rock and Heifer in Thornton, Bradford. He gleaned this story from an ex-barman but seems to be a one-off (my attempt to find about any other experiences at the pub have proved fruitless so far): "[My friend] was just coming on duty and his mate told him that the landlady was out for the day. At the bar, to the right, were the open stairs leading up to the landlady's flat. He saw a movement up there and looked. Because of the ceiling height, you could only see about 2 foot above the landing. He clearly saw a woman's legs - dark shoes, white stockings and the hem of a dark skirt moving from right to left across the landing. He mentioned this to his workmate "I thought you said XXX was out. I've just seen someone moving about up there!" She suggested he goes up and investigate. He did, searching the whole flat but no one was there. As he was coming down, his mate told him to stand on the stairs, roughly where he'd seen the legs. When he did so, she just said "Now look to your right and left." To the right was a brick wall and to the left was a bricked-up doorway! No one could've passed that way. But once upon a time, they could ..."

Another new pub, the Hunters Inn in Swanmore, was revealed in an article to have a ghostly lady dressed in white. Staff believe that she is the spirit of a young lady killed by her jealous sister in a row over a potential suitor.

The Salutation Inn in Nottingham was mentioned in a newspaper article in May 2024. It notes that a landlord claimed that he had witnessed 89 ghosts, and these are noted on an information board in the pub; this is a ludicrous claim given the size of the building and far outweighs the previous record holder of spectral squatters. In addition to the ghosts noted in my book, the article also makes mention of a pirate who fell into the well and drowned whilst hiding in the caves. More details on Rosie have been offered, including the tidbit that she was carried down to the caves after the accident to keep her cool but she passed away before the doctor could arrive to tend to her. Soon afterwards, customers started to be exhibit four small scratch marks, as if left by a child. After two weeks, the landlord took a doll down to the caves and the scratching stopped. When the toys in the cellar/caves are removed, mischief ensues, such as the beer going off until the items are replaced. The current events manager has talked of his own experiences; he was pulled backwards by his belt loop, and another time he saw a pure white shape, about 3 feet tall, run into the boss's flat but it was gone when he checked. A local historian claims that the caves date back to the 15th century along with the rest of the pub and that claims of people buried in pits in the cellar after being sacrificed during Satanic rituals are bunk. One must ask how Roman soldiers can appear in caves that were constructed many centuries after their occupancy ended. Another point to ponder is that "Rosie's" spectral mischief was claimed to have lasted only a brief period apart from her tantrums when her toys are removed. This doesn't jibe with claims that she is active (and seen) to this day.

The alleged ghosts at The Ship Tavern in Gate Street, Holborn were briefly referred to in a newspaper article in June 2024 which said, "It has long been rumoured to be haunted, with staff and customers claiming to have seen mysterious figures sitting at tables after hours, and glasses swinging unaided."

Researcher Greg Hardman visited the Thomas Wolsey pub in Ipswich on June 3rd 2024 and had a chat with a few of the staff; one of them reported being touched on the back upstairs but there was no-one there. The head staff member was in the main bar looking for a Guinness pump attachment which was usually behind the bar in a glass but unable to find it she went upstairs to look for a replacement. She was unsuccessful and as she went back down to the bar it rolled down the stairs after her. People have reported seeing a young boy in the courtyard and also a man seemingly sitting in a desk in one of the 1st floor rooms; this is thought to relate to the time that the room was an office in the building's former guise as an old antique shop.

Researcher Greg Hardman visited the Choughs Hotel in Chard in June 2024. As he says, "[he] spoke to the landlord and the barman...both are adamant that the place isn't haunted having not experienced anything themselves in the last 2yrs since moving in."

On June 30th 2024, I visited the Minster Tavern in Ely and inquired of the landlady of anything paranormal. She knew of the stories, but said that in her five years of residency, she had encountered nothing. Incidentally, when I was conducting my ghost survey in 2020 I emailed the pub and asked them about their ghosts. They were puzzled and asked where I had heard this story. I told them I got it from an information board in their own pub two years previously! I noticed on my recent trip that this board had been moved (or removed).

On July 21st 2024, I visited the Golden Fleece in Wells-next-the-Sea and asked the staff on duty (three waitresses) if they had heard of anything paranormal at the property recently but they said there had been nothing. Incidentally, another of my pages has a few more details of past phantom exploits at this pub.

The Sunderland Echo recently mentioned The Havelock Arms in Washington, saying that there was the ghost of a tall man wearing a waistcoat.

Derby World recently ran a feature on The Jorrocks including a few details that were new to me; "[The pub] gained notoriety when a human skull was unearthed beneath it in 1994, leading to frequent reports of poltergeist activity. The pub is said to be haunted by a Victorian lady and features numerous accounts of glasses moving on their own. According to Discover Derby, the pub is said to be haunted by several ghosts including a long-haired man wearing a blue coat. Reportedly there have been many strange occurrences in the pub, crockery moves itself from the shelves in the kitchen but does not break, and a human groan has also often been heard."

The Weston Mercury tells of The Dolphin in Uphill; A child has been seen running across the seating area by the toilets, and a growling and banging has been heard coming from the bar while the proprietors were upstairs, but nothing was found upon investigation. Additionally, glasses have exploded, wine glasses rattle and fly off the racks and the gas taps in the cellar are turned off on a regular basis. The owner's five year old son has found an imaginary friend in "Little Timmy" who follows him around the pub - perhaps a ghost? Research has indicated that the building has had a troubled and varied past; there was a fire here in 1860, and it used to be a refuge for smugglers. The body of a man who committed suicide was found on Uphill Beach and his body was brought here.

The My London website gives us a few details about The Prospect of Whitby in Wapping, London; it is said to be haunted by several infamous ghosts, including Judge John Jeffreys, known as 'the Hanging Judge' (the pub's website claims that he was a former patron). The article goes on to say that, "Another famous spectre said to haunt the pub is Mary Frith, also known as Moll Cutpurse, a notorious 17th-century pickpocket and madame."

Greg Hardman visited The Three Fishes in Shrewbsury and had a chat with the landlady Haylie, who said that there was still phenomena occurring:
There is a little girl in the cellar who likes, specifically, Red Handled Screwdrivers...if someone takes one down there it will seemingly disappear? Haylie specifically mentioned one incident, in Nov/Dec 2023 when two workmen were working on leaking pump pipework between the cellar and the bar. They had opened up the floor in the bar to access the cellar with one of them below & the other in the bar with the landlady watching. The lad in the cellar asked his colleague to drop him down a screwdriver ..his colleague proceeded to drop it through the opening, only it didn't arrive in the cellar ..it disappeared?
5lt containers used for draining the pipes in the cellar are thrown across the cellar, sometimes at the landlady & other staff.
At closing time, a couple of months ago (July?), when the landlady was locking up, she saw out of the corner of her eye an old man sat in the corner of the bar. Thinking she had missed a customer she turned around to tell him the pub was now closed only for the old man to have disappeared. Haylie believes that this could be the ghost of the man who fell from the steeple of St Aulkmunds Church opposite who had apparently been drinking in the pub before climbing the steeple to get the weather vain.

A recent interview in the Bridport News with the proprietors of The George Inn in Chideock revealed that before a refurbishment eight years ago (c.2016) a phantom lady used to be seen here. The landlady said that she was the ghost of a woman shot at the entrance of the pub "hundreds of years ago," and they called her Judy. Out of hours things used to happen like glasses flying off shelves - and Judy had been seen at least once, by a guest in the cottages opposite who saw her in the window.

It is said that there are three ghosts at The Duke of Wellington in Southampton; one of them is called Bill and sits in the corner of the restaurant. A medium also claims that a young girl walks up and down the stairs. There have been other incidents, such as a lamp turning on and off even though it wasn't plugged in; and a faint ringing sound as if someone was tapping a bell, heard while a proprietor was doing paperwork in the cellar. He found that playing Harry Styles' greatest hits would cause this phenomena to stop!
Source: Yahoo News UK

There was an interesting anecdote regarding The Commercial Tavern in Spitalfields, on the Forteana Forums. Delivery men visiting the pub experienced a wine glass that was sitting on a table fly off toward one of their number, smashing on the wall behind him. Then, a pint glass on the same table was hurled towards him, landing on the floor a few feet from him, but not breaking. I contacted the pub to find out more and Jorge, the landlord (?) emailed me back on 5/10/24 saying that, "I have experienced the odd claps and things moving around, nothing to be concerned or scared about."

The Nottinghamshire Live website talks of a new pub, The Peacock Hotel, in Mansfield Road, Nottingham. An interview with the landlord says, "I have seen a short bloke in a flat cap with a dirty face crouching under a table. He's hunched up. I've seen him three times, normally when I'm cleaning. My partner saw [a ghost] upstairs in the flat. I was in the office and he came down here as white as a sheet and said he'd seen a man with a big Victorian collar put his head around the door." The article further says that, "There's obviously something in the lounge in the corner at the side of the fire as that's where the dog [a Doberman called Miss Tia] just sits in the door and stares."

The Blackpool Gazette reveals a new haunted pub, The Ship and Royal in Lytham which has had reports of strange noises and the shape of a man in the cellar. The ghost is nicknamed "Charlie", although it is said that Former Lord of the Manor John Talbot Clifton, who liked a tipple in the hostelry, also haunts the building. The noises are blamed on a mother and daughter who committed suicide here in the 19th century. Meanwhile, there is a mention of The Eagle at Weeton in the article; a newly reported ghost is the spirit of a young girl who died here.

The Eagle and Child in Leyland is a new addition thanks to the Lancashire Post. These premises, which date back to 1610, and was used as former court house, complete with holding cells in the basement, is replete with phantoms, and phantom activity includes objects moving by themselves and being thrown about.

The Lamb and Flag in Covent Garden, London is a pub new to me and was mentioned in London World; "This pub, known for its association with bare-knuckle boxing and violent brawls in the 19th century, has developed a haunted reputation. Apparitions and strange noises have been reported, particularly in the area that once hosted its violent events."

Two new pubs in Greenwich, courtesy of This is Local London: the first is The Trafalgar Tavern; "The ghost is said to be of a Victorian gentlemen seen wearing a hop hat and long tailed suit, and is said to be seen from behind standing at the bar. However, on every sighting of him, when staff attempt to speak to him to get his attention he vanishes, and due to his appearance he is believed to be the ghost of a former customer or manager back when the pub was built." The second pub is The Spanish Galleon and it's ghost is a little unusual; "The ghost said to haunt this particular pub is of a small, black terrier dog, believed to be the former pet of one of the victims who tried to protect his master from being taken. The ghost of this dog, who was allegedly kicked away by one of the press gangers, is said to still haunt the pub, with people claiming to have seen the shape of a small dog scuttling around the venue."

The Forteana Website has a few more details on The Trout Inn in Wolvercote. To summarise, "...the ghost is currently (2024) blamed for frequently knocking over glasses. A member of the forum provided excerpts from a 2006 book which had an interview with a former staff member. It reveals that in addition to walking on her knees, the "White Lady" was once seen to float through a wall, and then up the stairs. The ex-employee also said that she would detect a smell resembling heather and then said that when Rosamund died she was buried with a sprig of heather in her coffin."

There are a few more details on Ma Cameron's in Aberdeen, courtesy of The Press and Journal. To summarise, the manager Craig Mitchell, who had worked here for 13 years, was interviewed. He talked of a tap that was found to be still running in the Snug Bar despite nobody working on it, hearing knocks and bangs, drinks being tipped over and a dog bowl falling onto the floor on its own. These things happen at least once at month, according to Mr Mitchell. The newspaper article also mentioned a punter who talked of a staff member who came into the pub first thing in the morning to find all the windows open, even the ones that had been painted shut.

A new pub: The Fairfield Arms in Larkhall. As related to Somerset Live, a specific table in the pub is subject to the whims of a ghost that likes to hurl glasses about.

During a weekend trip to Colchester for my birthday, I visited The Fox and Fiddler and had a chat with staff and regulars. Everyone knew of "Sarah" in the cellar but it looks like she is relatively quiet as of late. An addition to the legend is that Sarah had a child and is looking for her. There were only a few stories here. The barman was in the cellar when he heard the latch on the door click behind him. Glasses have been flung off shelves, optics turned by themselves and a pack of cigarettes went flying off a table. Things seem to pick up at Halloween time. The landlady, Natalie, who had been at the pub for decades, also spoke of the gas pumps in the cellar being turned off (a usual complaint in haunted pubs!) I spoke to Natalie's husband, Chris and he mentioned that the had heard a female voice whisper in his ear and his long hair flicked (he couldn't make out what was said). He also talked about seeing an apparition, which was pre-Covid. He had returned from a gig after hours and was sat at the bar having a beer on his own, Natalie being upstairs cashing up. His vision was attracted to movement in his peripheral vision and he turned to see a figure. He called out that the pub was now closed - and then realised what it was. It was a hooded monk who walked across the passageway and then vanished behind a post. Chris was so excited he ran upstairs to tell his wife!

The Bristol World website talks of a new pub, The Stag and Hounds in Old Market. The article says; "The pub dates back to the 15th century and was originally used as a court of pie powder (a court held at markets to deal with disputes between traders and customers). There are legends that a room upstairs was used as a hanging room where those sentenced to death were hanged. Paranormal activity has been rumoured to have taken place in the building throughout the years, including sudden drops in temperature, particularly in certain parts of the building, such as the upper floors, disembodied footsteps and the sound of faint voices have been heard, especially at night when the pub is quiet and several people have claimed to see ghostly figures, including a man who appears to be dressed in period clothing. There have also been reports of objects being moved or knocked over without explanation, and some staff members have recounted eerie experiences where things would disappear only to reappear later in different locations. The most frequent sighting is the Grey Lady, a spectral figure dressed in grey who haunts the upper floors of the pub and has been spotted standing at the top of the stairs or moving silently through the building."

The afore mentioned Bristol World website also talks of the >Rummer; "One of the oldest Coaching Inns used to stand on the site during the 13th century. There have been two sighting of a male ghost in an ordinary shirt and pair of trousers in the cellar bar, as well as a women in white and a teenage girl with long dark hair by the main staircase. There was also a sighting of the torso of a man standing in front of the open fireplace in 2007 and sightings of a ghostly young girl."

Another entry from the Bristol World website regards The Castle (a.k.a The Black Castle); "The building was built in the 1700s as a novelty for the residents of the grand house that is now Arnos Manor Hotel. There have been multiple reports of poltergeist activity and some claim to have seen a headless nun roaming around the pub."

Another new pub from Bristol World talks of The Highbury Vaults; "Condemned criminals are said to have been taken to the pub for their last meal and kept in the vaults downstairs, before being executed at the top of the road (were the roundabout is today) in the mid to late 19th century. Pubgoers have claimed the pub is haunted by the spirits of the prisoners and their disembodied screams have been heard."

The Ipswich Star talks of The Woolpackand mentions a new ghost: "Admiral Edward Vernon who died in 1757 is also said to haunt the pub. Initially a Navy officer he later went into politics and earned the nicknamed ‘Grog’ after supporting legislation that watered down rum on navy vessels. His spirit is said to have been spotted in full 18th century Naval Officer uniform. Supposedly a number of the Woolpack's customers laughed at the idea of their favourite watering hole being haunted. However, their laughter turned to fear when the Admiral is said to have ripped a sign from the wall and hurled it to the ground in response to their scepticism." Fresh details on existing phantoms are mentioned; "The monk has been spotted next door to what was once a priest hole while ‘George’ was apparently killed for helping to conceal the monk. Sightings of a drowned sailor who is searching for 'Mary' have also been reported."

The Bristol World website tells us of a new pub, The Hatchet Inn; "Built in 1606, The Hatchet Inn is one of Bristol's oldest pubs, known for its notorious history of bare-knuckle boxing and violence. It is said to be haunted, with reports of ghostly figures and strange noises. Some even say the front door is lined with human skin..."

A new pub; The Finishers Arms, which was featured in The Bolton News. The ghost is nicknamed 'Martha' who was found drowned in the 1800s in a body of water after drinking here. She had been murdered. The ghost shows her discontent when there are changes in the pub, such as new owners taking over. Equipment is moved, glasses have flown off shelves, and loud banging has been heard on the floor above the bar even when it is empty. An exorcism was apparently attempted in the 1980s, unsuccessfully it would now seem. 'Martha' may have been seen, by a pub regular who said that he saw "a woman dressed in white 19th century clothing walk across the other side of the room and disappear through the wall."

Another new pub; The Navy Inn, reported in the Plymouth Herald. In the 19th century, the pub was a hotel for captains and one of their number murdered the young daughter of a woman who had rejected him. Then he killed the woman who had spurned him. The little girl, said to have been killed in the cellar, is reputed to haunt the pub, with "a ghost" appearing in a photo taken in the ladies toilets during a hen do; the girl appeared in the mirror and had "a blackness" around her eyes. Other eerie phenomena, including footsteps in the empty building have also been experienced.

Another new pub; Thunderton House in Elgin, reported in the Press and Journal. The paper reports, "Legends suggest that the ghost of Bonnie Prince Charlie himself haunts the building, as he once stayed there on his way to Culloden. In the late 90s, two bar staff were closing up on a Saturday evening after a Victorian-themed market in Forres ... It seemed normal to them when they saw an elderly lady in costume sitting alone at the bar. She was the last customer, so one of the men casually said, “Don’t be alarmed, but we’re locking the door while we refill from the cellar. When you’re ready to leave, just call down to us from the bar.” The woman smiled and nodded. But when the men returned, she had vanished without a trace. They searched the entire building, including the toilets, but found nothing. All the exterior doors were still locked, and her glass had disappeared as well ... over the decades, several women have reported hearing someone crying in the toilets when no one is around or seeing a lady in the mirror who isn’t in the room with them."

The LancsLive website has a small feature on Manchester's The Peveril of the Peak: "Patrons ... have reported uncanny incidents such as pint glasses mysteriously levitating off the bar and crashing into the glass wash, broken glass vanishing without a trace, and chairs shifting when no one is nearby. Some tipsy visitors even claim to have felt something kick them in the back - whether that's a ghost or just the effects of alcohol, we can't be sure ... Before leaving the pub, I queried the bartender about any spectral encounters she might have had. She admitted that while she'd heard whispers of the pub's haunting, she hadn't experienced anything herself."

Another new pub: The New Wellington in Newmarket, courtesy of UK Yahoo news. My summary is as follows: "CCTV footage taken in January 2025 showed a glass "exploding" as a worker went to tidy up following closing time. The table where the incident happened is known as 'the haunted table' as salt and pepper pots have been thrown off it."

Yet another new pub: The Castle Inn in Newport, which appeared in the UK Yahoo news; the function room, named The Stable Bar, is said to be the haunt of "the Stable Boy," who leaves 5p pieces on the floor. You are supposed to get bad luck if you don't say thank you when you pick it up. The current owners took down a bathroom light last year (2024) for the first time in all their years at the pub and inside was a year old old 5p.

Aberdeen Live informs us that The Old King’s Highway is going on the market and tells us that there are tales of flickering lights, strange whispers, and ghostly figures, and informs its readers of a few of these stories; 'One former employee recalled a chilling encounter from the 1990s: "I went into the upstairs toilet – what was strange was it was the middle of a blazing summer when I went in, warm as ever. I came out the cubicle, and I was suddenly freezing. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw a white shadow. I could have sworn it was a young girl – to this day, I never went back into that toilet." Another pub-goer shared a strange experience from just a few years ago: "One Sunday night, about five years ago, there were only three people plus bar staff. I was at the far end of the bar on my own, no one near me, and I felt a tap on my left shoulder. But when I turned round, no one was near me." Even recent staff members have reported odd occurrences. One said: "I have only worked at the Highway for a year. I’ve had a couple of weird things happen but choose to find an explanation because I get far too creeped out."'

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