Weymouth, Dorset
The Golden Lion Hotel in Weymouth is renowned for its collection of five distinct ghostly inhabitants, each representing different aspects of the building's rich maritime and social history. The most frequently encountered spirit is the spectral fisherman, a phantom figure who manifests in the bar area, standing silently as if waiting for his companions to return from the sea. This apparition, often described as wearing period maritime clothing, appears to be a residual haunting connected to the inn's long association with Weymouth's fishing community. On the upper floors, two mysterious ladies have been repeatedly sighted walking the corridors and landings, their identities lost to time but their presence deeply felt by guests and staff alike. These female spirits are often seen in Georgian or Victorian-era dress, moving purposefully through the building as if attending to forgotten duties. In the bar area, witnesses have reported the extraordinary sight of a pair of ladies engaged in what appears to be a card game, their translucent forms hunched over an invisible table, playing out an eternal hand in the afterlife. Perhaps most atmospheric of all are the phantom sounds that emanate from the hotel's courtyard - disembodied whispers and gentle laughter that seem to echo from another era, creating an otherworldly ambiance that has both charmed and unnerved visitors for generations. These manifestations appear to be harmless, representing the lingering essence of the countless souls who found respite, companionship, and refuge within these historic walls.
The Spectral Fisherman, The Two Upper Floor Ladies, The Card-Playing Ladies, The Courtyard Whispers
The spectral fisherman is perhaps the most poignant of The Golden Lion's resident spirits, described by witnesses as a weathered figure in traditional maritime garb who appears suddenly in the bar area before vanishing just as mysteriously. Staff members have reported the distinct sensation of being watched whilst working alone, only to turn and glimpse this solitary figure standing by the bar, his eyes fixed on some distant horizon that only he can see. The apparition never speaks or interacts with the living, leading paranormal researchers to classify him as a residual haunting - an emotional imprint left by someone whose life was so deeply intertwined with this place that his spirit cannot fully depart. The two ladies of the upper floors present a different type of supernatural encounter entirely. Guests staying in the hotel's period rooms have awakened to the sound of footsteps in the corridors, followed by brief glimpses of two female figures in flowing period dress moving with purpose through the building. These spirits appear to be checking on the welfare of guests, much as they may have done in life, their caring nature transcending death itself. The card-playing ladies offer perhaps the most remarkable paranormal experience at The Golden Lion, as several witnesses have described encountering them during quiet evening hours in the bar. The spirits appear as translucent figures seated at a table, their hands moving in the familiar motions of dealing and playing cards, though no physical cards are visible. The scene plays out in complete silence, offering observers a window into the social life of a bygone era when such games were a common evening entertainment. The courtyard whispers and laughter create an atmospheric backdrop to these more tangible apparitions, with the phantom sounds seeming to emanate from the very walls themselves. These auditory phenomena are often reported during twilight hours, when the boundary between the physical and spiritual worlds seems thinnest, adding to the hotel's reputation as one of Weymouth's most authentically haunted locations.
Two spectral ladies eternally engaged in a phantom card game, representing the social traditions of Georgian inn life.
A weathered maritime spirit who stands silently in the bar, forever waiting for companions who will never return from the sea.
Two female spirits who roam the upper corridors with caring intent, believed to be former innkeepers or staff maintaining their eternal watch over guests.
Late 18th century (rebuild of 17th century inn)
Coaching inn and public house
The Golden Lion Hotel stands as a remarkable testament to Weymouth's maritime and coaching heritage, with its origins tracing back to the 17th century. Listed as a Grade II building on 12 December 1953, this historic inn represents a late 18th-century rebuild of an earlier 17th-century establishment, demonstrating the evolution of English hospitality architecture. The building showcases distinctive Georgian architectural features, including painted Flemish bond brickwork, elegant glazing-bar sashes, and the magnificent carved and gilded lion that crowns the edifice. Located at the intersection of St Edmund Street and St Mary Street, the hotel occupies a strategically important position in Weymouth's old town, having served travellers for over three centuries. The substantial return wing extending into St Mary Street reflects the inn's expansion during the Georgian period to accommodate the growing coaching trade. Its proximity to Weymouth Harbour made it a natural gathering place for sailors, fishermen, and merchants, cementing its role as a central hub in the town's social and commercial life. The architectural details, including the central wide 6-panel door with panelled reveals and dentilled entablature, speak to the prosperity and importance of this establishment during the height of the coaching era.
Georgian with painted Flemish bond brickwork, featuring original sash windows and carved gilded lion
Apparitions of fisherman in bar area, footsteps on upper floors, phantom card games, disembodied whispers and laughter in courtyard, cold spots, sensation of being watched, unexplained shadows
Main bar area (fisherman sightings), upper floor corridors and landings (two ladies), courtyard (phantom voices), guest rooms (general paranormal activity)
Staff members consistently report encounters with the fisherman spirit during quiet periods, with multiple independent sightings occurring over decades. Guests have documented experiences of the upper floor ladies through written testimonials, describing the profound sense of being cared for rather than frightened. The card-playing ladies have been witnessed by both patrons and staff, with some accounts dating back several generations within the same families.
While formal paranormal investigations have been limited, the hotel has attracted the attention of local ghost hunting groups and paranormal enthusiasts. The consistency of reports over many years, combined with the hotel's historical significance, has established it as a recognised haunted location within Dorset's supernatural community.
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📅 Sample dates:2025-08-28 to 2025-08-30 • 2 adults
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Paranormal Tip: Book rooms near main bar area (fisherman sightings) for the best chance of supernatural encounters!
Historic inn experience, traditional pub dining, ghost stories upon request
Ground floor restaurant and bar access, limited wheelchair access to upper floors due to historic building constraints
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