Greene King’s most haunted: UK pubs with ghosts to visit this Halloween
Looking for a pint with a side of the supernatural?
If you’re a history buff, thrill-seeker, or just like a good old-fashioned ghost story, then you’re in the right place. And just in time for Halloween, too! We’ve rounded up our favourite UK pubs where you might just bump into something that goes bump in the night... that’s right: we’re talking haunted Greene King pubs.Whether you’re an unshakeable sceptic or a Ouija board-carrying believer, we think a pint tastes just that little bit better over a great story, especially at the spookiest time of the year. And trust us, these pubs have got plenty.
Ghastly galleons and lingering landlords
Ye Olde Trip to Jersualem, Nottingham
Built in 1189, and named after Richard the Lionheart stopped off for a few pints before his crusade, this pub serves a lot of spirits – and we don’t mean vodka. Built into the side of Nottingham’s sandstone caves and rumoured to be the oldest surviving inn in the country, Ye Olde Trip has seen a lot of gaffers come and go.
Though one in particular hasn’t, in fact, gone! George Henry Ward (‘Yorkey’ to regulars), was landlord of the pub between 1894 and 1914. The story goes that he loved his job so much that he never really retired, and continues to hang around, haunting the pub and playing tricks on both staff and customers.
But that’s not the only connection this centuries-old inn has to the spiritual realm. If you head up into the Rock Lounge on the second floor, you’ll see a glass case with a galleon inside that looks like it needs a bit of a clean. Legend has it, this was a gift from a travelling sailor and hung downstairs in the ship for many years, collecting a ridiculous amount of dust.
An staff member was tasked with cleaning and repositioning the galleon... which was, unfortunately, one of the last things he would ever do. After several more would-be cleaners met grisly ends, the ‘haunted’ ship was placed behind glass to keep future visitors safe. So, don’t be tempted to get your duster out – even if it is Halloween.
A flint-fronted pub with resident ghosts
The Druid’s Head, Brighton
Named after a druid stone circle that existed nearby, this 16th century building is absolutely brimming with history. The tunnels underneath, connecting the pub to the Brighton coast and Royal Pavillion, have said to be used for important Royal business and secretive smuggling alike. It’s also right in the middle of the original town centre of old ‘Brighthelmstone.’
It’s also believed to be one of the most haunted pubs in Sussex, so it’s a great Halloween spot for ghost hunters. Staff and customers alike have reported supernatural activity, from bottles, glasses and even picture frames flying around to mirrors suddenly misting over.
But there’s more than the odd poltergeist – it’s believed to be home to several ghosts. One of whom is a figure known as ‘the Blue Nun’ who can be spotted haunting the pub’s cellar – but has also been seen wandering The Lanes (maybe looking for a vintage shop bargain?).
Visitors and landlords have also reported cold spots, sudden drops in temperature and ghostly figures seen only out of the corner of their eyes. But if you visit on a Sunday, you may enjoy a drink with the Lady in Red – who can sometimes be seen waiting to place an order at the bar.
A place to ‘paws’ for a spooky drink
Ye Olde Starre Inne, Yorkshire
Built in the 1600s (and being used as an inn by 1644), Ye Olde Starre Inne may be the oldest public house in Yorkshire – but it’s not always been a boozer! In fact, it was used as a hospital (and mortuary) during the English Civil War, so don’t be surprised if you catch a glimpse of the ghostly shadows of soldiers if you pop in for a drink this Halloween.
Although the Grade II listed building itself dates back to the mid-1600s, many historians reckon the cellar underneath is much older – and it’s from there that the spectral screams of Royalist soldiers can be heard, drifting up into the pub.
Higher up, the ghost of an older woman, dressed all in black, is said to be seen descending the stairs. Locals aren’t quite sure who she is, but she can be seen heading down from the upper floor – maybe to tell patrons to keep it down.
But the most unusual ghosts at Ye Olde Starre Inne aren’t even human. If you bring your pup in for a pint, don’t be surprised if they’re a little suspicious of one particular spot of the pub. Legend has it that two black cats were bricked up in the pillar between the door and bar to protect the building against fire and ill luck, an old superstition. A sad, grisly end for the two moggies, and a very Halloween-appropriate sight.
Patrons have reported dogs growling, barking and even leaping towards the pillar – so it might be worth bringing a packet of treats if you visit this haunted pub.
From DNA to ESP
The Eagle, Cambridgeshire
The Eagle is most famous for its regulars, Watson and Crick – the scientists who won the 1962 Nobel Prize in Medicine for their discovery of the structure of DNA, even first celebrating the breakthrough in this Cambridgeshire pub in February 1953.But when a pub’s been pouring pints since 1667, it’s bound to have a few more stories within its walls. For instance, the Eagle was a popular watering hole for servicemen during World War Two, and you can find a wall covered with the names and squadron numbers of troops who wanted to make sure they’d never be forgotten.
The Eagle’s also got a rather interesting clause on its lease. Legend has it that if a window above the beer garden ever closes, then strange and unusual things start to happen in the pub – reportedly down to the ghosts of three children. So, it’s part of the pub’s lease that it must remain open to allow them to come and go as they please.
Some accounts have reported a feeling of suffocation throughout the whole pub whenever anyone’s attempted to close the window – so if you’re visiting some haunted pubs this Halloween and feeling a little chilly, you’re probably best off just putting your jumper on.
Not your average London cab
The Coach and Horses, Mayfair
A pub with a very appropriate name – since this Mayfair pub has its own resident driver. During the 1770s, the inn was a place of rest for locals and travellers alike, and a coach and horses was not an unfamiliar sight.Though one account tells a story of a more unusual coach driver altogether – witnesses reported seeing a headless horseman, driving a black coach driven by four pure white horses. Other accounts report that the passengers inside had skull-like faces, staring out the windows as they passed the Tudor pub.
It’s certainly one way to get home after a night out – but you’re probably better off sticking to a black cab, Halloween or not.
Haunted by an infamous highwayman?
Chequers, Bromley
Finally, we come to the Chequers in Bromley. This pub – and its ghost – are so well-known that they’ve made their way into more than a few UK guides to haunted buildings and the paranormal. While ‘the Blue Nun’ and ‘the headless horseman’ are a little vague, you’re probably more likely to know this resident ghost.
Several decades ago, a barmaid claimed to have seen the ghost of none other than infamous outlaw, Dick Turpin! According to some, he haunts this 16th century pub – so keep your wallet close when you go to order.
Elsewhere in the pub, there have been reports of a mischievous poltergeist, a French police officer, and a woman whose footsteps can be heard prowling through the halls. So even if you haven’t brought a friend, you’re never eating or drinking alone at the Chequers.
Brave the paranormal at a haunted Greene King pub
So, are the hairs on the back of your neck prickling? Could you swear there’s a sudden cold spot in the room? If this blog hasn’t scared you off, pick a haunted pub near you and come and investigate for yourself. Even if you don’t spot one of our resident ghosts, you’re sure to leave with a full belly and some new stories to share.