Have you visited BarBarella, and did you have an experience you could not explain? Click “Add Your Experience” and share your story.
Originally known as The Gateway Inn, BarBarella can trace its roots to 1698. Now a popular student haunt (sorry), in the 17th century it would be soldiers who were propping up the bar.
A former manager once recounted how he had closed the bar for the night and was cleaning up when he noticed an old man sitting in the corner with a pint. He acknowledged the man and went to put his cleaning materials away. When he returned just a moment later, the man had vanished. The pub had been locked and there was no way that he could have got out without the manager opening a door for him. Motion detectors have also been triggered in the pub when there has been nobody around and objects have been moved around by unseen hands.
It should be noted that the area surrounding the pub has a long and varied history dating back to the Viking era. Public executions took place in the vicinity of the pub and a plague hospital and pit were located nearby too.
If any users have shared their own paranormal experiences of BarBarella, these will be shared here. To add your own, click “Add Your Experience” below.
All experiences are, of course, open to interpretation. While entries are reviewed before publication to ensure they are relevant to the focus of this website, specific details cannot always be verified. I reserve the right to decline submissions or to redact sensitive information where necessary.
Visitors should confirm opening hours and access before travelling to BarBarella or any location listed on this site. Information was last updated on March 31, 2026 – if anything has changed, you can suggest an amendment here.
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