Weird goings-ons, ghoulish howling and the rattling of chains and bars are all part of London's pub culture -- and that's before "time gentleman" has been called!
The Spaniard's Inn, Hampstead
Built in 1585, this is a building that's steeped in history and has changed little during recent times. The wonky wooden floor still creaks and the main bar looks out onto a well-established garden.The pub is said to be haunted by more than one ghost, the one most likely to appear being that of Juan Porero who died in a dual over a woman and whose body is buried in the garden.The most famous ghost at the pub is that of highwayman Dick Turpin. He's said to have been born on the premises and although this has never been proven, his father was landlord at the time and what is certain is that he spent his early childhood years here. Two of his pistols were once displayed in an upstairs room but unfortunately somebody stole them. People just can't leave anything alone!
A third ghost is that of Jack Sheppard, petty criminal and multiple prison escapee. Even though a record 200,000 Londoners eventually attended his hanging at Tyburn, he still feels it necessary to make his presence known inside the pub.
The ghost of a horse haunts the car-park and quite often, overnight guests have said that they've felt pinned to the bed. An upstairs room turns icy cold for no apparent reason and drinkers sometimes feel somebody tugging at their sleeves. A woman in a white dress walks the garden and a male figure appears through the wall of the bar. In other words, if you're looking for a haunted pub, make sure you find time to pop into 'The Spaniard' for a pint or two.
The Grenadier, Belgravia
Said to be home to the ghost of a young guards officer who was flogged to death following the discovery that he had been cheating at a game of cards, The Grenadier is probably one of the most famous haunted pubs in the world.
The ghost is said to become particularly active in September, around the anniversary of his death, when plenty of poltergeist activity has been recorded. On more than one occasion, guests have been known to run from the pub, to frightened to go back inside.Just as a matter of interest, The Duke of Wellington mounted up on one of the mounting blocks that still exist outside the pub before leaving London for Waterloo.It's also worth noting that The Grenadier serves a legendary Bloody Mary!
The Gatehouse, Highgate
Although now part of the Wetherspoons chain, the pub originally dates back to 1306. The upper gallery is said to be home to one Mother Marnes, a lady who was murdered for her money. Evidently, she's a very nice lady and while she often appears before the pub's guests, she never turns up when either animals or children are on the premises.
The Trafalgar Tavern, Greenwich
Before the Trafalgar Tavern was built in 1837, the site was home to an old Waterman's pub called The George. It's from this pub that the resident ghost is said to originate. A man is often seen sitting in the bar or at the piano, wearing Georgian dress and drinking beer. As ghosts tend to remain in their own time, when he's finished drinking, he gets up and walks out through the fireplace, the location of the original pub door.
The Morpeth Arms, Pimlico
This attractive pub with its riverside views and idyllic beer garden hides a history that's less than pleasant. The pub was originally built in 1845 to serve the wardens of notorious Millbank Prison. One poor prisoner is said to have tunneled for months, hoping for escape, only to find himself trapped in the vaults beneath the pub. The prisoner perished and his ghost is said to haunt the cellars to this day.