City centre bar presented with 'most haunted' award

A city centre bar has scooped a gong for serving up spirits – of the paranormal variety.



The Establishment bar and grill, in the Old County Hall, Bayley Lane, has been presented with a haunted location award from a city-based ghost-hunting group.

A team of paranormal investigators from Spook Hunters toured the medieval courthouse to scour the venue for paranormal activity this week.

They were called in by spooked out bar staff with tales of strange goings-on in the venue since it opened last year.

Their stories of the unexplained include moving objects, escape doors mysteriously opening and closing and the appearance of ghost-like figures.

After a thorough three-hour investigation of the site, the spiritualist mediums came away convinced it is haunted with ghosts, from court officials to prisoners.

Phil Travers, from The Establishment, said: “We are working closely with Spook Hunters because there is a lot of history to the building and the medieval Cathedral Quarter.

“People have experienced the unexplained here.

“It is fantastic to receive an award like this and it will be great for us from a tourism point of view.”



The old courthouse building dates back to 1783 when it formed part of a jail, gallows and cemetery complex spanning Bayley Lane and the area now covered by Cathedral Lanes shopping centre.

Among those to be publicly hanged near the premises was Mary Ball – the last woman to be hanged in the city.

A staggering 20,000 people watched the public execution in 1849 after she admitted murdering her husband. Cells with prison doors, the judge’s seat and dock are among original features.

Dave Eaves, owner of Spook Hunters and spiritualist medium of 13 years, said: “The award proves we have investigated the stories and confirm there is evidence for paranormal activity.

“There is definitely something there that warrants further investigation.”

The bar is the latest recipient of the Spook Hunters Haunted Location Award, which has also been presented to 21 locations across the country including Coventry’s Golden Cross pub, Drapers Hall, and St Mary’s Guildhall.

Members of the public are invited to a paranormal tour of The Establishment bar on May 19.

Tickets include a four-course meal before the ghost hunt begins. For information and tickets call The Establishment bar on 024 7622 2727 or e-mail spookhunters@live.com