Vying for the unofficial title of the 'most haunted' pub in the UK — and emerging as a strong contender — is a quaint Cambridgeshire gem.
From the outside, it's a picture-perfect British pub with white exteriors, hanging baskets, and stunning riverside views. Step inside, and it's a whole different story altogether.
The pub's haunting history becomes immediately apparent as soon as you spot the grave under the bar. This isn't just any old pub, it's a supernaturally charged wonder.
The tavern is rumoured to be haunted by a jilted lover from the 11th century whose gravestone lies within the bar and whose spirit is said to linger inside its four walls. A spine-tingling story surrounds this St Ives treasure — the spirit of a teenage girl who died about 900 years ago is said to haunt its corridors.
Staff claim she won't let them turn off the lights until someone wishes her 'goodnight', and reports of rogue menus randomly appearing strewn on the floor are aplenty. In fact, customers have reported strange goings-on at this St Ives pub - from not being able to get a good night's sleep in the pub's premises, feeling sudden chills and temperature drops, to hearing strange noises at night.
The charming pub, known as one of the 'most haunted' in Cambridgeshire, rivals The Eagle in Cambridge. Not only does it offer standout Sunday roasts and a gorgeous beer garden, but it also carries a chilling reputation to match — one that puts it on the map as one of the 'most haunted' watering holes in the county. And once you hear the spine-chilling tale of the tavern, it's easy to understand why.
The story goes, a heartbroken young woman, Juliet Tewsley, was hopelessly in love with a forester named Tom Zoul. Unfortunately, her feelings were not reciprocated in a classic case of unrequited love. Crushed, the 17-year-old is believed to have ended her own life on March 17, 1050, by hanging herself from a tree close to the Inn so Tom would discover her body on his way to work (or she drowned herself in the River Ouse on the same date in 1078, the details are a little muddled).
Due to the stigma surrounding suicide in the 11th century, Juliet was laid to rest in unhallowed ground near the Inn, her grave marked only by a simple stone slab. Over the years, the pub has been expanded and renovated, and the teenage girl's grave is now marked by a flagstone on the pub floor in the bar, having become an integral part of the interior.
Legend has it that her heartbroken spirit continues to haunt the historic inn at midnight each year on the anniversary of her passing. A range of unexplained occurrences are linked to her presence, including lights that refuse to turn off until someone says 'Goodnight Juliet', mysterious sounds in the darkness, and one night in the year when customers claim they couldn't sleep owing to the paranormal activity they feel, thick in the air.
Speaking to Cambridgeshire Live in 2019, Jamie Toms, former team leader and duty manager at The Old Ferry Boat Inn, talked about some of the eerie encounters he has experienced whilst working - and residing above the establishment.
He said: "There's a lot of things which go on at the pub, which people can't really explain. Like sometimes the lights just won't go out unless you say 'goodnight Juliet'. Or menus will just appear on the floor.
"Sometimes when you're here on your own you'll hear things too like bangs and noises of doors opening. We've never seen an apparition but some guests and customers have said they've felt someone watching them in the bar or have felt very cold even when the heating is on full. Sometimes it can make you feel nervous but I'm pretty chill about it, we know we've got to respect the building and remember that it's her building."
Discussing Juliet's death, Jamie noted the week beforehand proves more challenging than the anniversary itself. During those days, lights frequently flicker or brighten inexplicably. "Guests will come down in the morning and say they've had a really bad night's sleep — if that happens we always ask if they've walked over the grave which is in the restaurant." Jamie, who had managed the establishment for eight weeks when speaking to the publication in 2019, admitted he avoids crossing the grave himself.
The St Ives establishment, like numerous pubs, proclaims itself England's oldest. Dating from 560 AD, it purports connections to Anglo-Saxon England. The Old Ferry Boat Inn sits merely four miles from St Ives and today, the venue maintains its heritage through its bar, traditional pub fare, and seven guest bedrooms.
Both residents and walk-ins can savour classic British cuisine beneath the alehouse's low timber ceilings or within its delightful beer garden beside the River Ouse. The riverside establishment provides a dog-friendly setting in a warm atmosphere, while the on-site lodgings offer visitors the convenience of staying overnight whilst leaving their vehicle parked outside the premises.
So, if you're a lover of the macabre looking for a good time this spooky season — The Old Ferry Boat Inn might be just the place for you.
