Colchester, Essex
This centuries-old inn claims several resident spirits. Staff and guests often see a little elderly woman in black attire wandering from the bar toward reception – a figure fondly nicknamed “Val”. Another prominent ghost is the mysterious “White Bride” – a woman in a white wedding gown who has startled employees by appearing and vanishing in hallways. Apart from these apparitions, many strange phenomena plague the hotel: televisions turning on by themselves, unexplained footsteps echoing in empty corridors, sudden cold drafts, and even instances of objects (like confetti) manifesting without explanation. The mix of friendly and mischievous ghosts has earned the Rose & Crown a reputation as Colchester’s most haunted hotel.
“Val” the Lady in Black (ghost of an old landlady) a White Lady bride apparition; plus various unseen presences causing poltergeist-like activity
The White Lady Bride: In the 1950s, a night porter (Frank) sitting at reception felt a chill and looked up to see a young woman in a flowing white lace wedding gown standing on the staircase. She wore a red flower in her hair and pearl jewelry, and glided closer as Frank sat frozen. In a blink, she drifted down the hall and disappeared. A decade later, another porter who knew nothing of Frank’s story saw the exact same bride, detail for detail. She is often sensed near Room 204 (the Honeymoon Suite). Some speculate she’s a bride who died of heartbreak – her sorrowful, curious apparition suggests she’s still searching for her groom.
Other Phenomena: During a 2021 staff stay, a team member in Room 201 experienced an unseen visitor tucking her bed sheets in tightly while she slept – she awoke to find the covers mysteriously rearranged. In that same room, a couple touring the hotel felt a sudden cold touch and found a handful of wedding confetti inside the gentleman’s collar – despite no recent weddings or any logical source. Throughout the hotel, guests frequently report TVs that switch on at random hours (an occurrence ongoing for 30+ years across different TV sets), lights flickering, and disembodied footsteps pacing the upstairs corridors at night. These incidents, while less visible than Val or the Bride, add to the hotel’s haunted character.
The spirit of an elderly former landlady, affectionately nicknamed 'Val', is often seen in her black attire, moving between the bar and reception. She is considered a kindly presence, believed to have died in the hotel in the early 1900s and continues to watch over it.
A mysterious woman in a white wedding gown, known as the 'White Lady Bride', startles staff and guests by appearing and vanishing in hallways and on the staircase. She is thought to be the sorrowful spirit of a 19th-century bride who died tragically.
Portions dating back to c.1400 AD (over 600 years old)
Coaching inn for travelers on the London–Harwich road (medieval tavern and lodging)
Colchester’s oldest hotel, standing since the 15th century. It survived an 18th-century town fire and even tremors from the 1884 Colchester earthquake. In its cellar, actual 17th-century prison cells were discovered – the inn once held prisoners destined for Colchester Castle via a secret tunnel. Over centuries it hosted countless traders and even soldiers during the English Civil War. The building’s endurance through wars and disasters is a testament to its sturdy medieval construction.
Timber-framed Tudor coaching inn, later updated with Georgian and Victorian touches. Its facade features exposed wooden beams and leaded windows, while inside boasts low ceilings, oak rafters, and an original inglenook fireplace – all carefully preserved to honor its listed status.
Common reports include inexplicable electrical disturbances (the “haunted TVs” that turn on by themselves at all hours), lights dimming or brightening without cause, and soft knocks on doors when no one is there. Guests sleeping in various rooms (notably Room 201 and 204) have felt someone sit on their bed in the night or have woken to their tucked-in bedding – as if a spectral housekeeper checked on them. In quiet hours, staff have heard the sound of an unseen person walking along the wooden hallway towards them, yet upon looking up, no one is present. Sudden temperature drops are frequently felt on the main staircase, where the bride was seen. A few brave guests also mentioned faint feminine humming late at night near the old pantry – a sound believed to be “Val” contentedly inspecting her domain.
Room 201 (a hotspot for pranks and odd encounters) and Room 204 (the Honeymoon Suite associated with the bride’s presence) are highly active. The bar and front reception area are where the Lady in Black is seen and felt most. The grand staircase and upstairs landing have hosted multiple sightings of the White Lady. Additionally, the basement (site of the old cells) has an oppressive feel – while not open to casual guests, several paranormal teams noted strong EMF readings and recorded muffled voices there during overnight investigations. Overall, the oldest portions of the building – the bar, cellar and original guest rooms – see the most frequent supernatural activity.
The hotel openly embraces its ghost stories, and many witness tales have been shared. Besides Sue’s personal sighting of Val and Frank’s famous encounter with the bride, a former chef recounted how he once chased what he thought was a stray cat in the cellar only for it to vanish at a solid wall – he firmly believes it was a spirit. A guest from London wrote in the guestbook about waking up to a kindly old woman in black hovering by the foot of the bed, who smiled then faded away (the guest later recognized Val’s description). During COVID-19 lockdown, a staff member (Steve) living on-site reported seeing fleeting movements out of the corner of his eye and experienced the TV flickering whenever he felt the sensation of not being alone. Dozens of reviews and interviews over the years consistently mention these ghostly encounters, painting a picture of a hotel where the past is very much present.
Paranormal groups frequently visit – nearly every investigator who has stayed has claimed to capture some evidence. The Rose & Crown was featured on the local TV series *Ghostly East* in 2019, where investigators recorded unexplained footsteps and a voice whispering “leave me” in an empty hallway. The hotel has hosted public ghost hunts; participants often use K2 meters and dowsing rods in the oldest rooms with notable responses. In 2022, the Essex Ghost Hunters society conducted an overnight vigil and allegedly made contact via Ouija board with a spirit calling herself “Elizabeth” (possibly the bride). While results are anecdotal, the sheer volume of investigations – and the hotel’s willingness to share their findings on their blog – underscores the Rose & Crown’s standing in the paranormal community.
📅 Sample dates:2025-06-06 to 2025-06-08 • 2 adults
Dates and guest count can be changed on booking sites
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Paranormal Tip: Book rooms room 201 (a hotspot for pranks and odd encounters) and room 204 (the honeymoon suite associated with the bride’s presence) are highly active. the bar and front reception area are where the lady in black is seen and felt most. the grand staircase and upstairs landing have hosted multiple sightings of the white lady. additionally for the best chance of supernatural encounters!
Historic character rooms (e.g. Four-Poster Room) are available; occasionally offers dinner + accommodation deals. While no explicit “ghost package,” the hotel sometimes runs spooky storytelling evenings around Halloween given its reputation. It also hosts regular events (tribute nights, holiday dinners) in its period function rooms.
Free on-site parking (35 spaces, including disabled bays). Some ground-floor areas (bar, restaurant) are accessible, but guest rooms are upstairs and *no elevator* is available in this historic building, so wheelchair access to rooms is not possible. Narrow stairways and low beams require caution for those with mobility or height issues.
Colchester Castle (0.7 miles away) – a Norman castle reputedly haunted by ghostly prisoners and a tragic monk – is a must-see. In town, the Dutch Quarter’s old cottages (0.5 mi) are steeped in legends, like the ghost of *Humphrey* (a 17th-c. plague victim) said to knock on doors on certain nights. The nearby **Red Lion Hotel** (another famously haunted inn just 1 mile away) offers a comparative haunting experience. Also within a short drive is **Layer Marney Tower** (8 miles), a Tudor palace with its own resident ghosts, adding further stops for a paranormal tour of the area.
Book your stay and experience Val, The Lady in Black and the other spirits firsthand. Many guests report paranormal encounters during their visits.