London's most haunted pubs have been mapped out for Halloween, offering ghost hunters and curious drinkers a chance to combine a pint with a paranormal experience. Many of these establishments have stood for centuries, accumulating tales of spectral figures, flickering lights and unexplained noises.
Historic Pubs With Ghostly Reputations
The Bow Bells on Bow Road, with over 150 years of history, is known for a mischievous spirit that flushes the toilet in the women's bathroom when a visitor enters. A sign above the door warns pubgoers to 'beware of the ghost'. The phenomenon dates back to 1974, when a landlord held a seance to rid the bar of the 'phantom flusher'. During the seance, the ladies' toilet door reportedly flew open with such force that it shattered a glass window.
The Viaduct Tavern near St Paul's, dating from 1875 and one of London's last traditional Victorian gin palaces, was once a jail. In 1996, a manager found himself trapped in the cellar when the door slammed shut and the lights went out; his wife opened the door from outside with no difficulty. In 1999, two electricians working upstairs felt an icy tap on the shoulder and saw a rolled carpet lift from the ground and drop, prompting them to return only after being told the phantom, known as Fred, was harmless.
Soldiers, Murderers and Restless Spirits
The Grenadier in Belgravia, built in 1720 as a mess hall for military officers, is said to be haunted by Cedric, a young soldier beaten to death by comrades after being caught cheating at cards. His spirit reportedly haunts the cellar, with ghostly activity peaking in September. Patrons have stuck banknotes to the ceiling to pay off Cedric's card debt, though the sum has not been enough to ward off the ghost.
The Ten Bells in Spitalfields is linked to Jack the Ripper, said to be the last place visited by Mary Kelly, his final victim murdered in 1888. The pub was renamed 'the Jack the Ripper' in 1976 before reverting to its original name in 1988. Staff in the 1990s reported seeing the ghost of a Victorian man. The pub also has its own dark history: one Victorian landlord, George Roberts, was murdered with an axe, as shown by press cuttings from the 1900s found in the cellar.
Breweries With Centuries of Lore
The Volunteer near Baker Street, named for its role as a recruiting station during the Second World War, stands on the site of a 17th-century house destroyed by fire in 1645. The ghost of Rupert Neville, the former master of the house, is said to stalk the cellar, flicker light switches and stomp across the floor. The pub has featured in an episode of the show Most Haunted.
The Spaniards Inn in Hampstead, immortalised in Charles Dickens' The Pickwick Papers, is said to be haunted by robber Dick Turpin, who roams the upstairs rooms making noise at night. Another ghost, Black Dick, reportedly haunts the downstairs after being run over by a horse and cart, while Turpin's horse is said to haunt the parking lot. The Flask in Highgate is reportedly haunted by a Spanish barmaid who killed herself in the cellar in the 18th century after discovering her landlord boyfriend's infidelity, with staff and guests reporting strange reflections and icy chills.
Burial Grounds and Restless Priests
The Hoop & Toy in Chelsea, standing since 1760, was built on top of a burial ground. During construction of a nearby Tube station, workers broke through the basement wall and discovered the bodies of priests who had been bound and entombed by local churches. The spirits are thought to be trapped and restless, wandering the pub since being disturbed by the underground works.
