RESTLESS SPIRITS AT THE REGENCY TAVERN

The Regency Tavern, that stands in Russell Square, a stone’s throw from the bustling Churchill Shopping Centre, has had a long-established reputation for being haunted.

The building dates from around 1870, but had extensions added in the 1930’s to include number 32, which had once been a boot and shoemaker’s shop founded in the late 19th century. The bar area has recently undergone refurbishment and is decorated in a mock-Regency style with gilt cherubs on the walls, chandeliers and a grand piano.

One of several ghosts said to haunt the pub is thought to be that of the shoemaker’s disabled daughter. By all accounts, the young girl had been shut in her bedroom and, smelling what she thought to have been gas, had leapt from the first floor window. Shortly after giving an account of her actions the poor girl died from her injuries. From time to time her distressed figure had made an appearance on the first floor of the building.

It is widely believed that many spirits linger in this life due to a sentimental attachment to a place or building. This could well be the reason for another spirit that has been seen about the place. This is thought to be the ghost of Mrs. Edlin, a former landlady who was the pub’s only woman licensee. In its early years she presided over the pub’s fortunes from 1894-1902 after her husband had died. Her spirit is still said to make its dramatic appearance from time to time.

Some years ago, the son of a newly appointed landlord, had seen a woman on the first floor. The lad was surprised that his father had already arranged to take paying guests so soon after their arrival. He therefore approached him on the matter. To his utter surprise his father assured him that there were no paying guests on the premises.

The pub had also witnessed poltergeist activity. Quite often ornaments and items of furniture were found to have moved around of their own volition. Chairs that had been placed on tables after closing time were often found back on the floor in the morning.

Staff were frequently overcome with a feeling of unease about ascending to the second floor. A barman often reported that a kettle and crockery were often moved around in one of the second floor rooms when the room was locked and unoccupied.

However, perhaps the most disturbing ordeal was witnessed by Mr. Smiles, a part-time barman at the Regency. One day, while in the cellar fitting a beer line to a fresh barrel, he had the disquieting feeling that he was not alone. On looking up he was startled to see the strange, glowing figure of a woman. Seized with fear, Mr. Smiles was frozen to the spot and stood aghast looking at the unearthly entity that presented itself. Most disturbing was that the spectre seemed to exude a greenish luminosity and that her gruesome form began moving towards him. As she approached Mr. Smiles was able to observe that she was wearing a long, old-fashioned dress. It was as if slivers of ice had passed through his body, he described later. Within seconds the icy tension that had filled the cellar had passed and the apparition had gone.

Still shaking with fear, Mr. Smile fled the cellar. On seeing the ashen-faced barman the landlady offered him a whisky to steady his nerves as she was, no doubt, aware of what he had encountered in the cellar.