Sheffield is one of the UK’s most haunted cities - at least according to a study of 1,300 ghost sightings by print suppliers Where The Trade Buys.
Our city's haunted watering holes are steeped in eerie tales, from ghostly landlords and sobbing women to phantom highwaymen and spectral Roundheads.
Maybe you’ve stopped in at the grounds of the former Carbrook Hall Pub - which is now a Starbucks on Attercliffe Common - but did you know it was once known for phantom children, monks and a shadowy figure known for throwing objects across the bar?
Or there’s the Old Queen’s Head, Sheffield’s oldest pub, where drinkers have reported a ghostly regular sitting by the fireplace clutching his beer, while an unseen child is said to tug on visitors’ hair.
Meanwhile, The Three Tuns is said to be home to a sobbing woman heard weeping in the cellar, and animals are said to refuse to enter.
To say nothing of Ye Olde Harrow, once said to be Sheffield’s most haunted pub, where tenants reported self-closing doors, vanishing objects and a dark silhouette appearing in the bar.
Emma Thompson, Marketing Director at Where The Trade Buys, said: “Our research shines a light on the incredible history and individuality within the UK’s hospitality scene. From centuries-old pubs to seaside hotels, each venue has its own story, and for some, that story comes with a spine-tingling twist.
“Seasonal moments like Halloween are a chance for businesses to celebrate that character and engage new and existing customers in creative ways."
Take a look at our gallery below for more chilling tales from around Sheffield to share this Halloween.
5. A Highwayman in the Shadows at The Mail Coach Pub
The Mail Coach pub, on West Street, pictured here in 1979. In 1984, a highwayman reportedly wearing the clothing of a robber was seen lurking in the shadows - before mysteriously disappearing. | Picture Sheffield/Douglas Edward Axe/Brian Douglas Stevens Photo: Picture Sheffield/Douglas Edward Axe/Brian Douglas Stevens
6. A man drinking by the fire at The Old Queens Head
You should hope to see a few 'beer drinkers' at The Old Queens Head on Pond Hill pictured here August 1978. However, there are reports of the phantom of an aging patron sitting by the stone fireplace holding jugs of beer. A ghostly child is also said to pull people's hair. | Sheffield Newspapers Photo: Sheffield Newspapers
7. Phantom Horse & Carts at The Ridgeway Arms, Mosborough
The Ridgeway Arms, formerly known as The Crofts, in Mosborough. Reportedly in the 1980s, a phantom horse and cart would be seen in the car park and were frequently mistaken as being 'real'. When a pond on the grounds was filled in, the apparition never returned. | Google Maps Photo: Google
8. The sound of a sobbing woman at The Three Tuns
Heard but never seen, a crying woman reportedly haunts the cellar of The Three Tuns - it is said that no animal has the courage to go down there. Patrons have also reported being prodded by an unseen finger. | National World Photo: JPI