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Public houses and inns have been an integral part of the UK for over a thousand years, with many of today’s favorite watering holes housed in buildings that are centuries old. It’s no wonder that these ancient establishments are often some of the most haunted in the country, each with its own eerie legends and ghostly apparitions that continue to haunt their corridors.
10. The Spaniards Inn: Once a Hideout for the Infamous Dick Turpin
What sets The Spaniards Inn in Hampstead Heath, North London, apart from other haunted pubs is the ghostly presence of the notorious highwayman Dick Turpin. Legend has it that Turpin’s father once ran the inn, and the highwayman himself used it as a hideout. Visitors have reported sightings of Turpin’s spectral figure roaming the upper floors, and some even claim to have seen his ghostly horse walking around the pub's parking area.
The Spaniards Inn’s chilling history goes back even further. Established in 1585 by Spanish brothers Francesco and Juan Porero, the pub started with a peaceful atmosphere. However, things took a dark turn when both brothers fell in love with the same woman, resulting in a deadly duel that left Juan dead. Francesco is said to have buried his brother's body on the pub’s grounds, and witnesses have reported seeing the ghost of the former owner wandering the land ever since.
Staff members frequently report being prodded or having their clothing tugged by an unseen force, as if an invisible pair of hands were at work.
9. The Grenadier: Among the Most Haunted Pubs in London
The Grenadier, located in Wilton Mews, is considered one of the most haunted pubs not just in London, but across the entire United Kingdom. While strange happenings occur throughout the year, it's said that the paranormal activity peaks during September. According to a local tale, a soldier who had cheated at cards met his grisly end at the pub—he was beaten and thrown down a flight of stairs, where he died.
Both customers and staff have reported hearing footsteps seemingly out of thin air, as well as witnessing furniture—tables and chairs—move without any apparent cause. Even more unsettling are the eerie, unexplainable cries coming from the cellar, despite no one being present. Adding to the strange occurrences, some rooms experience sudden, dramatic drops in temperature, remaining freezing for several hours. Many have also claimed to see smoke appear from nowhere, only to vanish just as mysteriously.
8. The Volunteer: Erected Over the Charred Remains of the Neville Family’s Estate
The Volunteer, located on Baker Street in London, stands on the former grounds of the Neville family’s home, which tragically burned down in 1654. After the pub was built atop the ruins, patrons began reporting sightings of a “well-dressed man” wandering through the building’s cellar. This spirit is believed by some to be Rupert Neville, a wealthy businessman and possibly a member of the ill-fated Neville family.
There have been numerous other accounts of strange happenings at The Volunteer, including lights flickering unpredictably and eerie sounds emanating from nowhere. The pub also served as a recruiting post during both world wars in the early twentieth century, a dark chapter that may contribute to its eerie atmosphere of sadness and fear.
7. The Drovers Inn: A History Steeped in Tragedy That Lingers in the Present
The Drovers Inn, located in Loch Lomond, Scotland, sits on grounds with a long history of tragic events, which likely account for the haunting activity reported over the years.
One of the most prominent spirits at the Drovers Inn is that of a young girl, said to have drowned in a nearby river. After her body was brought to the pub and laid in a room until her family could retrieve her, visitors to the room have claimed to see the child’s ghost, while others report the temperature in the room dropping to freezing levels.
Another apparition reportedly seen at the Drovers Inn is that of Angus, a cattle drover who met his tragic end when rival drovers hanged him from a tree near the pub. His spirit is frequently spotted wandering the pub grounds, and some even claim to have seen him inside the pub itself.
6. The Ostrich Inn – One of the UK’s Longest-Standing Drinking Establishments
Located in Berkshire, England, The Ostrich Inn holds the title of one of the oldest public houses in the United Kingdom, dating back to 1106, making it the fourth oldest. Throughout its long history, the inn has witnessed multiple murders, including a series committed by the inn's landlord in the seventeenth century, Mr. Jarman, who, alongside his wife, murdered several wealthy guests to steal their fortunes.
Beyond its bloody history, The Ostrich Inn is another location where the notorious highwayman Dick Turpin is said to have frequented during his criminal escapades. Local lore suggests that Turpin shot and killed the inn’s landlord following an argument before making his dramatic escape through one of the pub’s windows.
Numerous visitors to the Ostrich Inn report feeling an unsettling and eerie presence within the building, often claiming to have been pushed or prodded by unseen hands.
5. The Golden Fleece: Haunted by More Than a Dozen Spirits
Regarded as the most haunted pub in York, The Golden Fleece dates back to 1503 and is home to over a dozen spirits. Among these ghostly figures is Lady Anne Peckett, the wife of the former York mayor, John Peckett. Visitors have reported hearing her footsteps echoing through the building, often at night, while others claim to have seen her wandering the corridors.
The pub is also haunted by a grumpy old man who frequents one of its bars, as well as a young boy who is often spotted in the other. Perhaps the most intriguing apparition is that of One-Eyed Jack, a figure seen walking through the pub while carrying an old-fashioned pistol. Strange figures and eerie sounds are common, reinforcing The Golden Fleece’s reputation as one of the most haunted places in York.
4. The Snickleway Inn: A Home to Numerous Spirits
Parts of The Snickleway Inn, also located in York, date back to the fifteenth century, and its long history is reflected in the spirits that are said to inhabit its walls. At least five different ghosts have been reported, including the most sinister—a mysterious old man who has been repeatedly seen in the pub’s cellar. Along with the ominous presence this spirit exudes, some witnesses have claimed to have had tools and other objects thrown at them by this malevolent entity.
There have been reports of a young girl appearing on the stairs, who seems to vanish as quickly as she is seen. One of the most famous apparitions in this historic pub, however, is that of a lady believed to be Mrs. Tulliver. She has been spotted on several occasions, and many patrons and staff members have experienced the sensation of her cat brushing against them unexpectedly.
3. The Flask: Renovations Uncover Ghostly Activity
The Flask, a pub in London dating back to 1663, is said to be inhabited by several spirits. Over the years, the pub has been renovated many times, particularly in recent years. One of these refurbishments involved transforming the old cellar into a seating area. Almost immediately, customers began reporting sightings of a strange woman dressed in old-fashioned clothing walking through the area before disappearing. Some patrons, though they did not see the ghost, claimed to feel cold breath on the back of their necks.
The apparition is believed to be that of a young Spanish barmaid who became involved with the pub’s landlord. When he ended the relationship, she was heartbroken and took her own life by hanging herself in the very cellar where she had once worked.
She is not the only ghost to haunt The Flask, however. Many customers and staff have reported seeing a soldier in Cavalier uniform appear in the main room of the pub. The ghost is only visible for a brief moment before walking past one of the pillars and disappearing.
2. The Ancient Ram Inn: Built on Ancient Pagan Burial Ground
The Ancient Ram Inn in Gloucestershire is notoriously haunted, perhaps due to its construction on an ancient Pagan burial site. Dating back to 1145, the building is said to be home to over 20 spirits. Among them is a young girl named Rosie, who is believed to have been murdered at the pub and now roams from room to room, making her presence felt. Some people report seeing her move furniture, while others have described the chilling sensation of a cold hand pressing against them. The most disturbing reports are from those who claim to hear her screams coming from nowhere.
Local legends say Rosie was murdered at the pub, and her restless spirit now haunts the building. Visitors have reported eerie occurrences, including her seemingly moving furniture or a sudden coldness as though someone is pressing their icy hand against them. The most unsettling of all, however, are the screams of a young girl heard echoing from nowhere, further adding to the pub’s terrifying reputation.
Adding to the mystery, one of the spirits at the Ancient Ram Inn is said to be a demonic presence rather than that of a human. Many have reported feeling a heavy sense of being watched within the pub, with some even claiming to have been physically pushed by this malevolent entity.
1. Ye Olde Man and Scythe: A Ghostly Manifestation Captured on Video
Undoubtedly one of the most eerie manifestations in a British public house can be found at Ye Olde Man and Scythe in Bolton, one of the oldest pubs in England, established in 1251. While many spirits have been reported in the building—including a young girl and a woman who was hanged outside the pub—there is one manifestation that is particularly well-known and attributed to a specific historical figure.
Historical records state that James Stanley, the seventh Earl of Derby, a Royalist officer during the English Civil War, was held in this very pub before his beheading in 1651. Stanley was executed for his involvement in the infamous massacre that took place outside the pub in 1644. Even more unsettling, the chair he sat in while awaiting his execution is still kept in the pub today.
The pub made headlines in 2014 when security cameras purportedly captured footage of the ghostly presence of the executed Royalist officer. On the morning of February 14, the landlord, Tony Dooley, found several glasses shattered on the floor and checked the security footage to uncover the cause.
To his astonishment, the footage showed a faint shadowy figure of a man walking near the bar at 6:18 am that morning. The video then inexplicably stopped. The eerie footage quickly spread across social media.
