The owner of a popular pub in Trafford has said she fears that a recent six-figure refurbishment may have disturbed its resident ghost.
The Volunteer pub, on Cross Street in Sale, has just reopened following a major £350,000 renovation which has included a host of upgrades and new features to the Joseph Holt venue including a new interactive darts area, new TVs for live sports screenings, and a refurbished function room.
But landlady Ocean Johnson said she fears the upgrades, which also includes a revamped bar space, may have now ‘disorientated’ the pub’s well-reported paranormal activity.
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The Grade II-listed property was originally built in 1897 as a coaching inn and opened a year later. It is thought to have taken its name from the local defence unit known as the Ashton-on-Mersey cum Sale Loyal Volunteers who were formed to respond to the threatened invasion of England by Napoleon.
In recent years, the pub has become a focal point for the Sale community for its live music, sports screenings and hosting of events for local community groups, but Ocean says there have been countless reports of unexplained activity at the venue and she is concerned the revamp may put some of its haunted punters off.
“The renovations have been fantastic and really transformed the Volunteer which opens for business again this week,” she says. “My only concern has been that we have a resident ghost at the pub and that after this lovely revamp our spirit friend might find the new look too unfamiliar and stop paying us a visit.
“I like the idea of having a spirit around the place, it adds to the sense of history and intrigue about the pub. That`s why I was worried – as were some customers who posted to this effect on social media – that our ghostly friend might disappear during all the upheaval.”
With the pub reopening for business this week, Emma Wright, who works behind the bar, said she doesn’t mind that the pub is supposedly haunted – and has some of her own experiences to match the reports too.
“It has never bothered me knowing that the pub is haunted,” Emma explained. “I’ve had so many experiences here – from hearing unexplained noises in the cellar to seeing someone walk through the door, which happened right in our memory corner, where we display cards dedicated to regulars who have sadly passed away. I’ve even had my bottom touched in the cellar when I was the only person in the pub!
“I’m very excited about the reopening of the pub and the bright future ahead after the refurbishment. I just hope our ghost doesn’t feel too disorientated and decides to leave the Volunteer. It would be such a shame for it to miss out on this exciting new chapter for the Volunteer.”
The pub’s revamp also includes a new opening out of its bar and lounge area to create a new free-flowing space and a revamp of its outside area with a landscaped seating space for up to 50 people along with Chablis umbrellas.
As part of the changes, the pub will also welcome new community hubs into the area including what is thought to be one of the first SEN-friendly groups of its kind to be hosted in a pub in the UK.
Sean Parker, area manager for Joseph Holt, said: “The Volunteer has always been a very well-liked pub and with so much history. And after the latest renovations it`s likely to prove even more popular.”
The Volunteer is on Cross St, Sale M33 7HJ.
