The British pub is one of the great institutions of civilised life. Good beer, good company, a warm fire and the occasional disembodied voice coming from the cellar. The UK's oldest pubs have witnessed centuries of human drama, tragedy and the kind of behaviour that tends to leave a mark on a place. Many of their former regulars, it seems, simply never left.
Here are the most haunted pubs in the UK. We would recommend a stiff drink before reading.
1. The Ancient Ram Inn, Wotton-under-Edge, Gloucestershire
No list of haunted pubs in the UK would be complete without the Ancient Ram Inn, widely considered the most haunted building in Britain, let alone the most haunted pub. Built in 1145 on the site of a pagan burial ground where evidence of child sacrifice has reportedly been found, the Ancient Ram Inn makes your average haunted pub look positively cheerful by comparison.
Former owner John Humphries, who bought the property in 1968 and lived there for decades, claimed he was dragged from his bed by a demonic force on his very first night. He spent the rest of his life attempting to rid the building of its many unwanted residents, with limited success.
Paranormal investigators have documented an extraordinary range of activity here including full bodied apparitions, objects flying across rooms, unexplained voices and the alleged presence of a succubus in the Bishop's Room, considered the single most haunted room in Britain. Guests on overnight stays have reportedly fled in the middle of the night. Several have refused to ever speak about what happened.
The Ancient Ram Inn is no longer a working pub but accepts visitors and overnight ghost hunting bookings. It is not, we cannot stress this enough, for the faint hearted.
Visiting: Wotton-under-Edge, Gloucestershire. Overnight ghost hunting experiences available. Bring a friend. Bring several friends.
2. Ye Olde Man and Scythe, Bolton, Lancashire
Ye Olde Man and Scythe in Bolton is one of the oldest pubs in the UK, with records dating back to 1251. It has witnessed more than its fair share of history, most notably the English Civil War execution of the Earl of Derby, James Stanley, who was beheaded outside the pub in 1651 after the Battle of Bolton.
Stanley's ghost is said to haunt the pub to this day, most frequently seen sitting in the chair in which he allegedly spent his final hours before his execution. The chair itself remains in the pub and is something of a local landmark. Staff have reported seeing his apparition late at night and the feeling of being watched in the upstairs rooms is apparently a permanent fixture.
In 2016 the pub made international headlines when CCTV footage appeared to show a ghostly figure moving through the bar after closing time. The footage was widely shared online and brought a whole new wave of paranormal enthusiasts through the doors. Whether that was good for business or not rather depends on your perspective.
Visiting: Bolton, Lancashire. A working pub and well worth a visit, ideally during daylight hours for your first time.
3. The Ten Bells, Whitechapel, London
The Ten Bells in Whitechapel is one of London's most infamous pubs, inextricably linked to the Jack the Ripper murders of 1888. Several of the Ripper's victims are known to have drunk here in the hours before their deaths, and the pub stands just yards from the sites of some of the most notorious murders in British history.
The most frequently reported apparition is that of an old man in Victorian clothing who appears in the upstairs rooms, staring silently before vanishing. Staff have reported glasses moving on their own, unexplained cold spots throughout the building and the persistent feeling of being watched, particularly in the cellar.
The Ten Bells is still a working pub and makes no attempt to hide its dark history. It draws a fascinating mix of history enthusiasts, paranormal investigators and tourists, all united by a shared appreciation for a good story and a cold pint. The Ripper tour circuit passes the door regularly, which does wonders for passing trade.
Visiting: Commercial Street, Whitechapel, London. A working pub open daily. One of the most atmospheric pubs in London by a considerable distance.
4. The Jamaica Inn, Bolventor, Cornwall
Immortalised by Daphne du Maurier in her 1936 novel of the same name, the Jamaica Inn on Bodmin Moor is one of the most famous pubs in England and one of the most reliably haunted. Built in 1750 as a coaching inn, it served as a base for smugglers moving contraband across the moor and has witnessed more than its share of violence and sudden death over the centuries.
The most frequently reported ghost is that of a mysterious man seen sitting on the wall outside the pub, staring into the distance before vanishing without trace. Guests staying overnight have reported waking to the sound of horses' hooves and carriage wheels on the cobbles outside, only to find nothing there when they look.
Inside the pub, staff and guests regularly report unexplained noises, doors opening and closing on their own and the overwhelming sense of a presence in the older parts of the building. The moor itself adds considerably to the atmosphere, particularly on a foggy night when the isolation of the location becomes very apparent very quickly.
Visiting: Bolventor, Bodmin Moor, Cornwall. A working pub and hotel with accommodation available. The museum dedicated to Daphne du Maurier is worth a visit while you are there, assuming you make it through the night.
5. The Viaduct Tavern, London
The Viaduct Tavern in the City of London is one of the capital's last surviving Victorian gin palaces and sits directly above the cells of the old Newgate Prison, which was demolished in 1904. The pub itself dates from 1869 and its ornate Victorian interior is spectacular, though some of its less welcome features come courtesy of the prison beneath.
Staff have reported seeing a man in Victorian clothing in the cellar, which incorporates one of the original Newgate Prison cells. The figure appears briefly before vanishing, and the cellar is said to have a consistently oppressive atmosphere that makes even the most sceptical staff member reluctant to spend time down there alone. Footsteps, unexplained banging and sudden drops in temperature are regularly reported throughout the building.
The Viaduct Tavern is a working pub and one of London's hidden gems, both architecturally and paranormally. If you are visiting the City of London it is absolutely worth stepping inside for a drink and a look around.
Visiting: Newgate Street, City of London. A working pub open Monday to Friday. Closed weekends, which is either a relief or a disappointment depending on your disposition.
6. The Golden Fleece, York
York is widely considered the most haunted city in the UK, with more documented ghost sightings per square mile than anywhere else in the country. Given that, it should come as no surprise that its most haunted pub is genuinely terrifying.
The Golden Fleece on Goodramgate dates back to the 15th century and has accumulated an impressive roster of ghostly residents over the years. The most famous is Lady Alice Peckett, wife of a former owner and Lord Mayor of York, whose apparition is seen throughout the pub. A one-armed drummer boy has been reported in the cellar, a Canadian airman named Geoff Monroe who died in the pub during the Second World War is seen in the upstairs rooms, and a small child has been reported on the stairs.
The Golden Fleece regularly appears on lists of the most haunted pubs in England and offers ghost hunting evenings for those who want a more structured paranormal experience. Regular customers apparently just get on with their pints regardless, because this is Yorkshire and it takes more than a ghost to interrupt a good evening.
Visiting: Goodramgate, York. A working pub offering ghost hunting evenings. York itself is an extraordinary city for paranormal enthusiasts and the Golden Fleece makes a perfect base for an evening's exploration.
7. The Plough Inn, Whitchurch, Shropshire
The Plough Inn in Whitchurch is less famous than some of the pubs on this list but arguably more consistently haunted, with decades of documented paranormal activity reported by staff, landlords and guests. The building dates back to the 17th century and sits on land with a considerably older history.
The most reported apparition is that of a woman in period clothing seen in the older parts of the building, particularly near the fireplace. Staff have reported glasses moving on their own, bottles falling from shelves with no apparent cause and the sound of footsteps in empty rooms above the bar. Several landlords have reported the persistent feeling of being watched while working alone in the pub after closing time. Most have eventually got used to it, which says something either about human adaptability or about the relative harmlessness of Shropshire ghosts.
Visiting: Whitchurch, Shropshire. A working pub and a genuinely atmospheric place to spend an evening.
8. The Cock Lane Ghost, Smithfield, London
Strictly speaking Cock Lane in Smithfield is not a pub but a street, though it earns its place on this list by being the site of one of the most famous paranormal cases in British history and being surrounded by establishments where the story has been discussed and debated for over 250 years.
In 1762 the Parsons family reported extraordinary poltergeist activity in their home on Cock Lane, including knocking sounds, scratching noises and what appeared to be communications from the spirit of a woman called Fanny who claimed to have been poisoned by her husband. The case became a national sensation, attracting thousands of visitors to the street and even being investigated by Dr Samuel Johnson. It was eventually exposed as a hoax, though believers have always disputed that conclusion.
The pubs surrounding Cock Lane, particularly those on nearby Giltspur Street, still carry the atmosphere of that extraordinary period. And if you visit on a quiet evening and hear an unexplained knocking from somewhere nearby, well, it is probably just the pipes.
Visiting: Cock Lane, Smithfield, London. The surrounding area is rich in history and well served by excellent pubs that are entirely definitely not haunted.
9. The Black Bull, Haworth, Yorkshire
Haworth in Yorkshire is famous as the home of the Bronte family, but the Black Bull pub at the top of the village's cobbled main street has its own dark claim to fame. It was the favourite drinking establishment of Branwell Bronte, the talented but troubled brother of Charlotte, Emily and Anne, who spent much of his short life drinking himself to death here. He died in 1848 aged 31.
Branwell's ghost is said to haunt the Black Bull to this day, most frequently reported in the older parts of the pub where he used to sit. Staff have reported unexplained cold spots, the feeling of a presence near the bar and occasional glimpses of a figure in period clothing that vanishes when approached.
The Black Bull is a working pub and makes a wonderful stop on any visit to Haworth, which is one of the most atmospheric villages in England. The Bronte Parsonage Museum is just up the road if you want to round off a genuinely literary and paranormal day out.
Visiting: Main Street, Haworth, Yorkshire. A working pub in one of England's most atmospheric villages. The cobbled walk up to the pub alone is worth the trip.
10. The Skirrid Mountain Inn, Abergavenny, Wales
The Skirrid Mountain Inn in Abergavenny is widely considered the most haunted pub in Wales and one of the oldest in the country, with a history stretching back over 900 years. Its dark past is rooted in its former use as a court of law, where Judge Jeffreys, the notorious Hanging Judge, is said to have presided over trials during the 17th century. More than 180 people were allegedly hanged from the staircase beam of the inn, and the rope marks are still visible in the wood today.
The most frequently reported apparitions include a woman in Victorian dress seen in the upstairs rooms and the overwhelming sense of a malevolent presence near the staircase, particularly after dark. Staff have reported unexplained cold spots throughout the building and the persistent feeling of being watched in the older parts of the inn.
The Skirrid Mountain Inn is still a working pub and restaurant and offers accommodation for those brave enough to stay overnight. It is without question one of the most atmospheric pubs in the British Isles and an essential destination for any serious paranormal enthusiast visiting Wales.
Visiting: Llanvihangel Crucorney, Abergavenny, Wales. A working pub and restaurant with overnight accommodation. One of our absolute favourites on this entire list.
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