Five of London’s most haunted pubs to visit this Halloween

The Spaniard’s Inn is one of London’s most famous haunted pubs: its very name allegedly refers to the chilling legend of two Spanish brothers, Juan and Francesco Porero, who fell in love with the same woman and fought a duel over her. Juan was killed and his tormented, lovelorn spirit is said to terrorise the pub. Over the years, a woman in white has also been said to lurk in its shadows, as has the ghost of highwayman Dick Turpin. These days, however, for All Hallows, the pub embraces its scary reputation in a particularly wholesome way: with a yearly Hampstead Heath Howloween dog walk that begins and ends at the pub, culminating in a canine costume contest – complete with an official Spookiest Dog category.

The ghost at The Bow Bells has a bit of a sense of humour – the spirit is known as the Phantom Flusher, and puts the frighteners on users of the ladies’ toilets, by pulling the lever when they’re not expecting it. The spirit was most active during the 1970s, and at a 1974 séance (an attempt to get rid of the problem), when it was asked to introduce itself, a door slammed with such force that it broke a window. Clearly, the ghost didn’t take kindly to being bothered at home...

The story of The Grenadier’s resident ghost is quite a grizzly one, so maybe skim over this if you’re squeamish. On one September night in 1818, a young Grenadier Guard was caught cheating at cards and was given his comeuppance by being brutally beaten to death by his fellow players. Ever since, the ghost of this unnamed soldier has been said to walk its corridors, crying into the ears of unsuspecting patrons and moving objects around the pub unexpectedly.

The Viaduct Tavern claims to be the most haunted pub in the City of London. Its cellars are comprised of rooms which previously served as cells for Newgate Prison from the twelfth century until 1904. It wasn’t until the 1970s, however, that rumours of the pub’s hauntedness began to circulate, with the ensuing decades chequered by various paranormal encounters. Throughout the 90s, the ghost was known to switch lights on and off, and swipe drinks from unsuspecting punters – he became known to locals as ‘Fred’.

You can’t really mention London’s haunted establishments without talking about The Morpeth Arms. Found opposite the old Millbank Prison, its underground tunnels served as the final walk for prisoners before being deported to Australia. Built in 1845 to serve the guards of Millbank, the pub is apparently haunted by the ghosts of those who didn’t make it to the crossing, along with a few wardens or two, presumably trying to escape its hallowed halls…

Book your ticket now for Beavertown presents ‘The Lost Dimensions’ at Kachette, Shoreditch from Friday October 31 to Sunday November 2.