THE GRENADIER

One of the most widely known haunted pubs in London is the Grenadier in Wilton Row, a short distance from Hyde Park Corner. This Georgian inn was originally built in 1720 as the officers’ mess for the senior infantry regiment of the British army, the 1st Regiment of Foot Guards, and located close to their barracks in Old Barrack Yard. It was opened to the public in 1818 as The Guardsman, renamed in honour of the Grenadier Guards’ actions at the Battle of Waterloo.

Many officers frequented the Grenadier, not only to slake their angry thirsts, but to gamble beyond discretion. The present bar area acted as a dining room for the officers. It was there where many drunken and reckless actions frequently led to quarrels and brawls with players often being accused of cheating.

On one such occasion an officer had been suspected of cheating and a skirmish ensued. In their drunken and embittered state, the other officers were prompt in metering out rough justice to the accused. He was strung up and brutally flogged on the spot. By all accounts, the beating had been so fierce that the abused officer crawled away more dead than alive and tumbled down the cellar stairs where he expired. To this day his spirit is said to haunt the pub during the month of September, which was when he met his inauspicious end.

This would fit neatly into the type of ghost often referred to by some researchers of the paranormal as a recording ghost, as it tends to perform identically at each appearance. Many successive landlords, and customers, have spoken of an indefinable atmosphere amassing in the pub as September draws near.

Roy Grigg, a former landlord, had no doubt about the recurring haunting at the tavern. He also noted that his German Shepherd dog would begin growling and snarling during this period for no apparent reason. This is particularly interesting as it is widely believed that animals, certainly cats and dogs, have an extra-sensory perception, in that they can sense things that humans cannot. However, as the month progressed, the dog would start become more settled once more.

Mr. Grigg and other family members recalled encountering ghostly apparitions at the pub. His young son spoke of seeing a shadowy figure on the landing outside of his room. The poor lad was seized with fear as the vague figure seemed to grow in size before disappearing.

A short time later, and still in September, Mrs Gregg was alone in the pub in her bedroom. She was startled to suddenly see a man mounting the stairs and making his way towards her bedroom. As she was only partly dressed, she quickly covered herself. However, in that instant, the ghostly intruder simply vanished.

The visitation of this ghostly figure was also witnessed in the same spot the following year. A visitor was taking a drink in the bar when he noticed a man go up the same stairway that led to Mrs. Gregg’s room. The man was suddenly startled to see the figure vanish just as Mrs Gregg had.

A friend of Roy Gregg came to stay the following year at around the same time in September. Having heard of the ghostly goings-on he adorned his bed with a set of rosary beads in the hope it might ward off any bad spirits and afford him a good night’s sleep. This was not to be. The man was awoken in the night by an indistinct figure hovering at the side of his bed before vanishing.

Apart from these shadowy apparitions many other unexplained things have gone on at the Grenadier: knocks, raps, objects moved, lights switched on and off by unseen hands and taps turned on.

Nevertheless, for ghost hunters, and those who enjoy a good pint from a well-kept cellar, you might like to seek out the Grenadier. However, should you plan a visit during the month of September, prepare yourself for a few surprises.