James Bond star Daniel Craig has discovered his new London pub is haunted by the ghost of a hangman. The former 007, 58, has been left shaken and stirred by the spooky spectre said to lurk in the cellar of his local, the Horseshoe pub in Clerkenwell.
The actor became co-owner of the historic watering hole and was told about the ghost, named Gilbert, after taking over. Landlady Pauline Tucker, who is retiring after 36 years, revealed the ghoul was once the local hangman and is still said to haunt the building. She warned: "You don't see him. You feel him."
A pint for the phantom punter
Joking that nobody had mentioned the ghost when he bought the place, the Hollywood star said: "I don't know what he drinks but we might have to leave a pint down there. 'Here you are Gilbert.'"
Craig, whose parents and grandparents ran pubs, has teamed up with hospitality bigwigs including Soho House founder Nick Jones to take over the pub. He hopes the place will be packed with living customers as well as its resident spirit. Daniel added: "You will see me here on a Friday night."
Fond memories and a new lager
The star grew up surrounded by pubs and fondly remembers boozy nights at his grandparents' watering hole. He said: "There were lock-ins and things, especially on New Year's Eve. People used to party quite hard."
Craig, who played the martini-loving spy in five Bond films, has also launched his own lager brand, Bad Belze. But unlike his famous alter ego, he prefers a few pints of something cold. He said: "I don't like complicated beers. I don't like fruity. I like something that is cold and you can drink three or four - or more, if you are in the mood."
Craig joins a list of celebrities who own pubs, including Jeremy Clarkson, Guy Ritchie, Sir Ian McKellen, James Blunt, and Jodie Kidd.
