Eastchurch, Kent
The Shurland Hotel is known for an unseen prankster entity, nicknamed Fred by staff, that enjoys tampering with lights, door locks, and electronics, particularly in Room 1 and Room 2 of the older wing. There are also rare reports of a monk apparition, possibly linked to nearby ruined priory history, and sightings of a young girl spirit seen standing at the foot of beds. The hotel has a general eerie atmosphere in certain parts, suggesting residual energies from past patrons or events. Famous CCTV footage from 2011 captured a glass moving across a table on its own.
Fred (Unseen Prankster Entity, Poltergeist-like), Hooded Monk (Apparition, Residual), Young Girl (Apparition, Child Spirit).
The most consistently documented paranormal occurrences at The Shurland Hotel revolve around mysterious electrical disturbances and pranks attributed to 'Fred,' the hotel's resident poltergeist. Lights in Room 1 are notorious for turning themselves back on shortly after being switched off and the room locked. In Room 2, the door lock has been reported to unlock and open on its own, even after being firmly secured. The most famous evidence is CCTV footage from October 7, 2011, showing a pint glass sliding across a table during a staff meeting before falling and smashing. Staff have also reported being hit by thrown toilet rolls and experiencing touch lamps activating spontaneously. Adding another layer to the hotel's haunting is a shadowy monk figure, glimpsed near the back stairwell at dusk, possibly connected to local Benedictine monastic history. This figure appears as a fleeting, residual image in a hooded robe. The hotel also has reports of a young girl, around 7-8 years old, seen standing at the foot of beds, described as a sad and silent apparition. A former manager's partner witnessed this child spirit directly in their private accommodation.
Meet 'Fred,' the infamous prankster poltergeist of The Shurland Hotel. From flipping light switches in Room 1 to unlocking doors in Room 2, this unseen entity's playful yet persistent antics have been documented for years, making him the hotel's most notorious spectral resident.
A rarely sighted apparition of a figure in a dark, hooded robe, seen for a few seconds near the back stairs of The Shurland Hotel. Believed to be a residual haunting, possibly linked to Eastchurch's medieval priory history. This monk does not interact and is considered a fleeting, atmospheric presence.
A young girl, around 7 or 8 years old, has been seen standing at the foot of a bed in The Shurland Hotel. This sad, silent apparition is one of the hotel's more poignant and mysterious hauntings, her story lost to time.
Built in the early 19th century (circa 1830s), likely on the site of an older inn.
Established as a village inn and hotel for Eastchurch, named after the nearby historic Shurland Hall.
The Shurland Hotel has served as the primary hostelry in Eastchurch on the Isle of Sheppey for over 180 years. It notably served RAF aviators from the nearby Eastchurch airfield during World War I; Eastchurch is recognised as a birthplace of British aviation. The building has changed hands multiple times, including a period as a pub known as the Shurland Bar. Its history is intertwined with local military heritage and smuggling lore, as the Isle of Sheppey was rife with smugglers in past centuries. This varied past contributes to its character and paranormal tales.
The hotel presents a Georgian/Victorian inn style at its front facade, with some modern extensions added over time. It is a brick building with sash windows facing the High Street. While the interior has been remodeled to suit modern hotel standards, it retains a few older features, such as a cellar and thick original walls, hinting at its 19th-century origins and earlier iterations on the site.
Primary paranormal activity includes electrical disturbances, such as lights in Room 1 turning on by themselves after being switched off. Door locks, particularly in Room 2, inexplicably unlock and open. Small objects like keys or cleaning supplies disappear and reappear. Famous CCTV footage captured a glass sliding across a table on its own in 2011. Staff have been hit by thrown objects including toilet rolls. A shadowy monk figure has been sighted near the back stairwell. A young girl apparition has been seen standing at the foot of beds. Cold spots are felt on the 2nd-floor landing. The reception area occasionally experiences phone calls from vacant rooms or the sound of someone walking in the empty lobby. Touch lamps activate spontaneously in the manager's flat.
The older part of the hotel, specifically Rooms 1 through 7, is considered most active. Room 1 is known for its self-activating light, and Room 2 for its self-unlocking door. The 2nd-floor landing often has a cold spot and a feeling of being watched, particularly near an old mirror. The staircase leading to the cellar/gym area is where the monk silhouette was reportedly seen. The reception area has also experienced unexplained phenomena like phantom phone calls.
A long-time housekeeper, Tracy, documented experiences of lights in Room 1 repeatedly turning back on after she switched them off and locked the room, exclaiming, “I swear to god this place is haunted, stupid light!” She also personally witnessed Room 2's door unlocking itself moments after she had secured it. Guests have commented on review sites about “odd noises in the night,” and one claimed their laptop started up on its own at 3 am. Another TripAdvisor guest noted feeling “a presence” and an inexplicable cold breeze in an otherwise warm room. A bartender once heard someone whisper “hello” when he was closing up alone.
The Shurland Hotel has documented paranormal activity for over a decade. In 2014, a small paranormal team conducted a night investigation, reportedly experiencing the light phenomenon in Room 1 firsthand and capturing an audio recording of a door slam with no apparent cause. They also claimed a spirit box session yielded the name Edward, which some believe may be Fred's real name. The hotel once maintained a ghost blog detailing monthly paranormal incidents and maintained a log of strange occurrences, showing clusters of incidents often in winter. The famous CCTV footage from October 2011 showing a glass sliding across a table remains one of the most compelling pieces of visual evidence. After temporary closures in 2011 and 2019, reports upon reopening suggested paranormal activity often resumed or increased, with Fred remaining active. Management has historically been open about the phenomena, treating them as part of the hotel's character rather than something to hide.
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📅 Sample dates:2025-08-30 to 2025-09-01 • 2 adults
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Paranormal Tip: Book rooms near the older part of the hotel for the best chance of supernatural encounters!
Address:
79-81 High Street, Eastchurch, Isle of Sheppey, Kent, ME12 4EH
Phone: +44 1795 881100
Status: Open. A village hotel on the Isle of Sheppey, offering accommodation, a bar, and sometimes spa/gym facilities. Known for its local hauntings.
The hotel does not offer specific ghost packages. It primarily markets itself with spa and weekend getaway deals. Around Halloween, they have previously hosted fancy dress parties, which naturally encourage ghost story swapping among attendees.
The hotel has some ground-floor accessible rooms and a ramp at the entrance, benefiting from modern refurbishments. Upper floors are accessible by stairs only (no elevator/lift). The spa facility is located on the ground level. Compared to older inns, it offers relatively good accessibility in parts, given its partial modern construction. Guests with specific needs should inquire directly.
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