Sheffield woman shocked as boyfriend transforms home into spooky replica of Jamaica Inn from Daphne du Maurier's novel for her birthday

Steve Higgins, 40, spent two weeks and more than £350 on his project as a surprise for his Kerry Frost's 30th birthday.

The couple, who love the paranormal, were due to spend a weekend at the famous 18th century Jamaica Inn on Bodmin Moor in Cornwall.

But due to the coronavirus pandemic, their stay at the coaching inn - the setting for du Maurier's 1936 novel of the same name - was cancelled.

Steve therefore decided that if he couldn't take Kerry to the Jamaica Inn, he would bring the Jamaica Inn to Kerry, at their home in Bristol.

He converted his home into a replica of the famous inn, including a reception desk in the hallway, a Daphne du Maurier suite, and the inn's famous Smugglers' Bar.

Steve put the vast array of gin given to Kerry over the years to good use, and created an extremely well-stocked bar.

He also had Cornish chocolate delivered and a batch of Cornish pasties sent by post.

To make the Smugglers' Bar more authentic, he added wooden beams made from paper to the ceiling and a fireplace made of cardboard.

Steve, who runs the paranormal website Higgypop, said: "She doesn’t live with me but we’re in a support bubble.

"She had no idea what she was coming to. I revealed the place last Friday - she knew something was happening but didn’t know what.

"I even set up the reception desk to check her in. She was like: ‘what the hell have you done!"

Steve, from Bristol, couldn't see Kerry, who lives in Sheffield for 12 weeks during the first lockdown.

"During the first lockdown we had to go 12 weeks without seeing each other but that’s before the support bubbles were introduced - it was hard," Steve added.

"We've been to the Jamaica Inn a few times before. Its' quite touristy and a little gimmicky - but since were into the paranormal gimmicks we’re into it.

"The paranormal team who do the ghost hunts have seen it and they’re impressed."

Jamaica Inn is well known as the setting for Daphne du Maurier's novel of the same name, published in 1936.