The Castle Hotel: Manchester’s Victorian Pub with a Haunted Aura
The Castle Hotel, perched on Oldham Street in Manchester’s Northern Quarter, first opened its doors in 1776 as a coaching inn. Rebuilt in the Victorian era, its red-brick facade and compact, beamed interior—holding just 60 people—reflect the city’s 19th-century industrial buzz. Once a stop for travelers, it later became a music hall, hosting performers amid Manchester’s textile boom. Today, it’s a quirky pub and live music venue, but its long history fuels Manchester ghost stories that whisper through its snug rooms.
This tiny pub has seen the city evolve from market town to industrial giant. Its stage once rang with song, and its bar served weary workers. Refurbished yet steeped in the past, The Castle Hotel merges Manchester’s heritage with an eerie edge, making it a hotspot for those chasing haunted Manchester pub tales.
Alleged Ghost Stories
One tale features The Singing Showgirl, a music hall star from the 1880s who collapsed on stage, heartbroken by a lover’s betrayal. Her faint, lilting tunes drift from the performance area, and a shimmering figure in a feathered dress sways briefly before fading away. Another story tells of The Weary Coachman, a driver who froze to death outside in 1801 after a brutal winter shift. His heavy boots thud upstairs, and a cold draft sweeps the bar, carrying the scent of damp wool. These Manchester ghost stories give The Castle Hotel a spectral charm.