The Punchbowl Inn is a historic public house nestled in the picturesque village of Okewood Hill, Surrey, dating back to the 15th century. The location was featured in the Domesday Book. Over the years, The Punchbowl Inn has gained a reputation as one of Surrey’s most haunted establishments.
The primary supernatural resident is an older bearded male spirit believed to be a former landlord from the late 19th century. He exhibits remarkably specific behaviours, wandering deliberately throughout the pub and seemingly believing he is still managing the establishment. Witnesses report he frequently ‘calls time’ at the end of the night and shows a particular interest in barmaids, often touching them with unseen hands.
A spectral dog accompanies the landlord’s spirit, observed lying by the pub’s fire during cold evenings. The apparition growls at approaching guests before vanishing suddenly into thin air, creating an unsettling atmosphere for those present.
A grey lady in a 17th-century crinoline dress appears periodically in the restaurant area, gliding silently across the room. The kitchen door opens independently with such frequency that regular customers barely react to its movements.
Unexplained phenomena include persistent jiggling door handles, creaking floorboards, heavy footsteps in unoccupied upstairs rooms, mysterious cold spots, and sudden temperature drops. These experiences occur with remarkable consistency, suggesting a complex environment.
The paranormal activity extends beyond the pub’s interior, with reports of supernatural occurrences in the field opposite the pub and the former pig sty behind it, further cementing the Punchbowl Inn’s reputation as one of Surrey’s most haunted locations.
