East London’s ‘most haunted’ pub where a ghost surprises guests on the toilet

With a bright orange exterior and a nostalgic 1980s feel, The Bow Bells is a pub that can’t be missed. Serving the East End community in Bow since 1860, the pub has a dark and mysterious past, and a so-called ‘phantom flusher’ is known to lurk in the ladies’ toilets.

The ghost is known to surprise women by flushing the toilet just as they are at their most vulnerable and has been frightening visitors for a number of years. Before patrons enter the toilet, they are warned about the mischievous spirit with a sign above the toilet stating “beware of the ghost”.

Manager Dean Beard said there are still mysterious goings on to this day. In fact, Dean said the toilet cubicle where the ghost is thought to reside has caused a long list of unexplained problems no plumber has been able to solve.

READ MORE: The eerie story behind the ghost that haunts Ickenham London Underground station

Dean also revealed members of staff feel a ghostly presence if they’re working around the pub alone or late at night. The mischievous poltergeist was causing so many issues that 10 years ago a local priest was invited to bless the pub.

However, the blessing didn’t do the job and a ghostly presence has been felt in the pub to this day. An old newspaper article from a 1989 edition of the East London Advertiser shows the ghost has been puzzling patrons for over 20 years.

The article states that there were multiple sightings of the spirit and an older gentleman was even “shaken from behind” by the ghoul.

The Bow Bells is a traditional family owned business, passed down from Dean’s family through the generations. Dean and his team are extremely proud of the historical legacy of their pub and love to serve an established customer base from East London and beyond.

Whether the spontaneous flushing can be put down to faulty plumbing or something more sinister remains open for debate. But if there is a ghost lurking in the walls of the Bow Bells, at least it has a sense of humour.

Have you ever felt a ghostly presence in a local pub? Share your experience in the comments below.

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