Britannia Adelphi Hotel - Britain's Most Haunted Hotel The Adelphi Hotel stands on Ranelagh Street in Liverpool's city center, on the site of the original Ranelagh Gardens - Liverpool's first public recreation space. The first hotel was established here in 1826 by James Radleigh and was replaced around 1876 with a more luxurious second Adelphi featuring over 300 rooms and famous turtle soup prepared from live turtles kept in heated basement tanks. The Midland Railway purchased the hotel in 1892, and in 1911 began constructing the current building, which opened in 1914 and was regarded as "the most luxurious hotel outside of London." The hotel survived the Liverpool May Blitz in 1941 during World War II. Britannia Hotels took over in 1982, renovating and modernizing the property while preserving its grandeur.
Historical Significance
Famous guests have included Franklin Roosevelt, Winston Churchill (who reportedly chased a woman down the halls who disappeared into a wall), Frank Sinatra, Laurel and Hardy, Judy Garland, and Roy Rogers with his horse Trigger. The hotel has strong connections to the Titanic - many wealthy passengers booked rooms here before boarding the ill-fated liner in 1912. The Sefton Suite is a replica of the Titanic's First Class Smoking Lounge. The hotel also contains a hidden Freemason hall downstairs and a mysterious Room 666. The Resident Ghosts
- Raymond Brown - The Bellboy: A 15-year-old pageboy who died in August 1961 after becoming trapped in the baggage room lift. His ghost appears in full cap and uniform, picking up guests' luggage and carrying it to various rooms and corridors before vanishing into thin air.
- George - The Suicide Victim: A man in a tuxedo with a toothbrush moustache who took his own life at the Adelphi in the 1930s. He calls to passersby from a certain window on the Brownlow Hill side of the hotel and has been seen standing beside guests' beds at night, particularly on the fifth floor where he fell to his death.
- Captain Edward Smith and Titanic Crew: The captain of the Titanic, who went down with the ship in 1912, has been seen in the Sefton Suite along with two unknown crew members wearing naval uniforms. The three apparitions appear at the far end of the room before disappearing into thin air. Many Titanic passengers stayed at the hotel before their fatal voyage, and the captain is said to haunt the downstairs areas.
- The Female Pickpocket: An unidentified Victorian-era female thief who has been seen rifling through guests' clothes and belongings in the early hours of the morning. She always disappears into thin air when challenged.
- The Victorian Lady: A woman in grey who bustles about in the basement, going about her mysterious business in the lower levels of the hotel.
- The Whistler: An unknown presence in the hotel lift who whistles, breathes down guests' necks, and sometimes taps them on the shoulder.
- The Demon: A malevolent entity reported specifically on the third floor, known for causing violent illness in guests and investigators. Paranormal teams have reported hearing growls and disembodied voices in this area.
Paranormal Activity
- Third Floor Phenomena: The third floor is considered the most haunted and allegedly possessed. Guests report falling violently ill during their stays, overwhelming feelings of being watched, seeing people standing by their bedsides, and experiencing demonic presences. Many cannot complete their stays on this floor.
- Elevator Disturbances: The lift exhibits extreme paranormal activity - it travels to floors guests didn't select, doors open spontaneously to startle visitors, and the whistling presence makes itself known. Three people have reportedly died in the lift. The elevator has a mind of its own, skipping floors and refusing to go where commanded.
- Physical Manifestations: Random handprints appear throughout the hotel. Guests wake to find George or other spirits standing beside their beds. Objects move on their own, and the female pickpocket is caught searching through belongings. Doors swing open without cause.
- Auditory Phenomena: Opera singing at 3am that fades away. Hard knocking from inside walls. Unusual noises throughout the building. The whistler in the lift. Ghost boxes produce clear responses from spirits - investigators have even been sworn at by entities saying "you b******."
- Phantom Smells: The scent of burning buildings (linked to a WWII bomb in the street) appears for seconds then vanishes. Sea air smells pass by and disappear within seconds. These transient scents are unexplainable.
- Environmental Anomalies: Electrical disturbances with lights switching on and off repeatedly. Bathroom areas feel oppressively cold. Shower curtains move dramatically on their own. Temperature drops and cold spots throughout the property.
- Oppressive Atmosphere: An overwhelming "feel" to the place that guests can't explain. The sensation plays on minds throughout entire stays - constant questioning of shadows in mirrors, bumps in the night, unseen presences. Guests report exhaustion from the psychological toll, unable to sleep, and feeling the need to keep lights on all night.
- Shadow Figures: Dark shadows seen by doors in silent corridors. Figures that make guests walk quicker. Shadowing presences in bathroom corners that loom over people.
- Communication Evidence: Using electromagnetic frequency devices, investigators have held conversations with suspected paranormal figures. Ghost hunting equipment captures extensive evidence. Paranormal teams regularly report detecting more activity than expected.
Most Haunted Areas
Room 105 has documented paranormal activity. Room 666 exists but its experiences remain mysterious. The third/fifth floor (reports vary) is considered possessed with the most intense activity. The Sefton Suite where Titanic crew appears. The basement where the Victorian lady bustles. The lifts with the whistler and multiple deaths. Corridors where shadows appear and Churchill's ghost chase occurred.
Modern Day
Now operated by Britannia Hotels, the Adelphi features 402 en-suite bedrooms with modern amenities. Multiple dining options include Cromptons French Restaurant, Jenny's Carvery, and Jenny's Bar. Leisure facilities include a gym, sauna, Jacuzzi, steam room, solarium, and heated marble swimming pool. The hotel hosts regular ghost hunts and paranormal investigations, having been proclaimed by supernatural investigator Tom Slemen as "the most haunted hotel in the UK." Its reputation attracts ghost hunters and paranormal groups from across Britain, making it a premier destination for those seeking authentic supernatural experiences in Liverpool.