Chester is home to its fair share of paranormal activity and Northgate Street’s Pied Bull Hotel & Pub is no exception!
Legend has it that the ghost of a man named John Davies, who fell down the cellar stairs with a knife and accidentally stabbed himself in the 17th century has been haunting the building ever since.
According to employees, the spirit is particularly active in the cellar, where people have been almost knocked off their feet by an unexplainable blast of freezing cold air. A couple who stayed at the hotel (in Room 9, for any thrill seekers out there) also reported spotting a peculiar figure on their photographs once they’d had them developed.
The spirit of Mr Davies has also been sighted in the Residents Lounge of the hotel, reading a book – so be sure to keep your eyes peeled when checking in!
The building’s history dates back to 1155 and is thought to be the oldest continuously licensed premises in Chester. The building was originally used as a coaching inn and in 1533 was transformed into an elegant mansion residence named the “Bull Mansion” and has stood as a hotel ever since.
With centuries of history behind its walls, it’s not surprising that the Pied Bull has so many supernatural stories to unearth.
Although the story behind the ghost of John Davies is one of the most popular tales amongst staff and locals, there have also been other ghostly sightings reported through the hotel.
Back when the building was a coaching inn, it is said that a stable hand burnt to death when he dropped a lantern on a bale of hay. His spirit now haunts the corridors of the hotel, as does the spirit of a chambermaid, dressed in an apron with a frilled hat. She has been sighted in rooms 7, 8 and 9 at the hotel.
This Halloween, will you be paying a visit to the many ghostly residents of the Pied Bull and will you be brave enough to stay the night?
For more information on all the Halloween activities in the city centre, visit http://www.experiencechester.co.uk/events/halloween2017 or follow @CH1Chester or @CH1Spooktacular on Twitter.
