Whether you believe in ghosts or not, the spooky tales which have attached themselves to our pubs are a chance to reflect on the history of these wonderful buildings – and those who lived in the area in much older times.
Roman soldiers, old sailors and a conscientious cleaning lady still keeping things neat from beyond the grave are among the ghosts said to walk our haunted hostelries.
Sadly, many of the area’s historic pubs have closed in recent years, with the industry facing some tough challenges even before covid.
So we have also chosen a couple of closed pubs to include at the end. Do the ghosts linger there still?
5. The Wheatsheaf, West Boldon
The pub featured in a TV programme on the Discovery Channel in the 2000s, which saw psychic Suzanne Hadwin claim the building was haunted by a six-year-old girl called Jessica Ann Hargreaves, who was murdered there in 1908 by Joseph Lawrence.
Photo: The Wheatsheaf, West Boldon
6. The Look Out, Fort Street
There are tales of a Roman soldier appearing in the pub’s cellar, perhaps the ghost of one of the men who stood guard at Arbeia Roman Fort, which sits just across the street from the bar - a ‘look out’ from centuries ago.
Photo: The Look Out, Fort Street
7. The Steamboat, Mill Dam
A classic riverside pub sat on a cobbled street, a visit to The Steamboat feels like stepping into South Shields past. And, legend has it, spirits of the past linger there still. An old sailor who fell down the cellar hatch, and the ghost of a murdered Tyne pilot are both said to be behind the hauntings.
Photo: The Steamboat, Mill Dam
8. Barr Porter, Hedworth Hall, Dean Road
Owners were told the venue was haunted after taking it over in October 2020. A ghostly figure in a picture the function room prompted them to call in a psychic investigator, who reportedly found two friendly spooks. One is a woman called Margaret was in her 40s when she died in the 1900s, another is a little boy names James, said to be from an earlier time period. A third ghost, that of a monk from a time predating the building, was also detected.
Photo: Barr Porter, Hedworth Hall, Dean Road