GHOSTLY GATHERINGS

Once a humble farmhouse, this building was owned by John Thurloe, secretary to Oliver Cromwell. A foundation stone, dated 1667, still rests in the fireplace of Cromwell’s Bar, though much of the building’s history remains cloaked in shadows and unanswered questions.

For centuries, whispers of the unexplained have clung to these walls. Guests and staff have reported objects moving on their own, lights flickering in the dead of night, televisions switching themselves on, and hangers rattling as if unseen hands roam the wardrobes. Chilling drops in temperature, ghostly children’s laughter echoing through empty corridors, and mysterious noises from the cellar have all left even the bravest hearts racing. Some say the house remembers its past… and its past is far from at rest.

The experience begins at 7:30 pm and lingers until 1:30 am. Tea, coffee, and snacks will be available throughout the night—though no refreshment can ward off what may be waiting in the shadows.

The village of Abington first shivered into written memory within the ancient Domesday Book. But parchment cannot hold the secrets that seep through its stones.

Whispers tell of William Shakespeare’s own hand lingering here—his private writings, concealed in shadows, waiting for discovery. Yet beware… treasures buried in silence are often guarded by restless souls.

For centuries, the Bernard family held dominion over these grounds, their bloodline entwined with the earth until 1840, when the estate was surrendered to Mr. Lewis Lloyd. He transformed it into a house of madness—an asylum whose walls still echo with the screams of the forsaken.

Decades later, in 1982, a secret passage was unearthed, leading from St. Peter & Paul’s Church into the very heart of the museum. It is said that monks and priests once crept along its hidden path, fleeing persecution, their prayers curdled into whispers that still ride the draughts of the corridor.

The air within is thick with hauntings. A woman, pale and broken, drifts eternally through these chambers. Two centuries ago, she ended her life within the East Range, and now her sorrow stains every stone. She gazes from attic windows, lingers in the sanitation room, and trails the unwary with her scent of roses—sweet as the grave.

Screams slice through the night without source or mercy. In the East Range, heavy bangs reverberate as though unseen hands drag chains across the floor. The staircases groan beneath phantom weight, and shadow-figures coil in the corners of candlelight. The living have heard footsteps approach when none are near… voices call from the dark… and icy breaths coil at their necks.

This night, we step willingly into their domain. You are invited to join us, if courage permits, as we wander the haunted heart of Abington.

Gather at 7:30 in the evening. Our vigil will end at 1:00 in the morning—should we survive until then.

The Bell’s story begins in the year 1493, when weary travellers journeying between London and Norwich sought refuge within its walls. Though centuries have passed, the inn still breathes with its Tudor soul—its ancient timbers hiding secrets in every shadow, its faded wall paintings bearing silent witness to all that has come before.

Guests who have lingered here speak of strange visitations: unseen footsteps pacing the corridors, icy breaths against their necks, and scents of perfume drifting through rooms where no living soul resides.

Some whisper that these disturbances belong to Elizabeth Radcliffe—“Betty,” the landlady of The Bell in the 18th century. Her life was cut short in 1750, when she was murdered at the hands of her lover. Now her sorrow binds her to this place, and her spirit is said to roam the halls. The drawing room is where she is most often seen, her presence heavy in the air, as though she waits for something… or someone.

Yet Betty is not alone. A hooded monk has been sighted in the main suite, his face forever hidden, his purpose unknown. And from the windows, the pale figure of a young girl watches passersby, her hollow gaze following those who dare to look up.

On this night, when the restaurant closes and silence falls, we shall claim the run of The Bell Hotel—save for the cellar, which remains forbidden. From 7:30 pm until 1 am, we will walk among its restless spirits, listening for their whispers, feeling for their touch, and perhaps even glimpsing their mournful faces in the shadows.

Join us, if you dare, for our first haunted vigil at The Bell Hotel, Thetford.

The Bell Hotel

King Street

Thetford

IP24 2AZ

We have been summoned back… to a building where the walls remember, where laughter and sorrow linger, and where the spirits of centuries refuse to rest. This historic hotel in Hitchin is steeped in darkness, with countless reports of ghostly activity from staff, guests, and all who dare to walk its halls.

HertsLive once revealed chilling accounts of its hauntings:

“With not just one ghost said to linger here, the hotel seems to harbour many. Room 10 is whispered to be the most haunted—where a woman makes her presence known. One man awoke to the horrifying sensation of her pressing down upon his face, suffocating him. He fled in terror, unable to remain until daylight. In the 1800s, Lord Havisham, crushed by gambling debts, ended his life within these walls… but his restless spirit is said to wander still. Staff have even claimed to see a hooded monk drift toward the bar and pour himself a drink.”

My own encounter was no less unsettling. In one room, I heard the eerie laughter of a woman lingering in the air. In an en-suite bathroom, I watched a glowing orb shoot across the room. In the ballroom, the atmosphere turned heavy—an invisible presence pressing close. And in the bar beside it, I felt the sorrow of a young boy’s spirit, watching, waiting.

Years ago, during a Halloween investigation, our group experienced phenomena that chilled us to the bone. Room 10 and the ballroom erupted with activity—the Ouija board so restless we could scarcely keep up. We believe we reached a jealous spirit, a man fiercely guarding his “lady” from others even in death.

Now, we return… and you are invited to walk beside us into the shadows.

🕖 Arrival: 7:00 pm

🍽️ Dinner: 7:30 pm (please choose your meal when booking)

The question is—will you join us in the darkness, and face those who never left?

Fish and chips

Chicken in a basket

Butternut 

Our investigations will begin at 9:00 pm, after we’ve introduced you to the equipment that will help us connect with the spirits. Before we step into the shadows, we’ll place a protection prayer to ensure a safe passage through the night.

As the witching hour approaches, you’ll have the chance to take our equipment into your own hands and wander the darkened rooms alone—seeking answers from those who linger in the unseen.

Throughout the night, Izzy, our gifted tarot reader, will be available for personal readings (additional cost).

We intend to close our vigil at midnight. 

Long before it became The Harvester in Hemel Hempstead, this building was a bustling posting house, first recorded in the 1851 census. Horses were kept here, ready to carry mail and travelers alike—much like the mail services of today. By 1861, it had been renamed The Railway Hotel, with stables for seven horses, and for decades the Dunning family tended to its affairs, leaving traces of their lives behind in the walls, floors, and hallways.

Over the years, whispers of the unexplained have haunted the building. Current staff have reported eerie happenings: the ladies’ hand dryer turning itself on in the dead of night while the restaurant is locked, and mysterious footsteps captured on CCTV in the car park, only to vanish before anyone can be seen. During our last investigation, the building proved intensely active—EMF meters spiked without cause, ouija boards responded with unsettling messages, and one investigator felt an invisible hand tug at their hair. Some say the house remembers its past… and those memories are not at rest.

Tickets for this chilling night include a buffet supper. Drinks will be available from the bar, but the food is included in the price.

Buffet food includes.....

Spicy crackerjack prawns             Chicken breast goujons

Prime chicken wings                     Nachos

Breaded mushrooms                   Garlic bread

Jalapeno poppers                          Chips

Tomato & penne pasta                 Potato salad

Mixed salad                                    Coleslaw

Arrival time is 8 pm and we hope to get started with our investigation by 9.15 pm. Finishing time will be around 1 am. 

Tea and coffee will also be available throughout the night.

The Mallard

507 London Road,
Hemel Hempstead,
HP3 9BQ

Secure your place in our eerie events with a deposit… but beware. The remaining balance must be settled 10 days before the gathering. A reminder—sent from the shadows—will creep into your inbox with the details you’ll need to complete the payment by bank transfer.

But take heed: should you fail to pay the balance in time, your deposit will be lost… claimed by the darkness forever.