Six Pence Pub – Haunted British Pub in Savannah, Georgia

The Six Pence Pub is a lively British-style establishment where patrons drink, dine, and occasionally encounter spirits who prefer their ale from beyond the grave. Located in Savannah’s historic district, this popular pub occupies a building with a dark and disputed past—some claim it was connected to underground tunnels used for body smuggling and illegal activities, while others suggest it sits atop burial grounds or was the site of violent deaths that left supernatural imprints strong enough to persist through the noise and energy of a busy modern bar.

Historical Background

Year Built: The building dates to the 1800s (exact construction date varies by source)

Original Purpose: The structure served various commercial purposes throughout its history before becoming a pub

Significant Events: Local legend claims the building was connected to Savannah’s network of underground tunnels that were allegedly used for smuggling goods, Shanghai operations (kidnapping men for forced ship service), and during yellow fever epidemics for transporting bodies to avoid panic. Some versions of the pub’s history suggest violent deaths occurred in the building or on the property—murders during robberies, fatal fights between drunk patrons, or deaths related to the tunnels and illegal activities that supposedly took place beneath the streets.

Paranormal Activity Summary

Glasses and bottles move on their own with startling frequency—bartenders and servers report placing drinks on the bar or tables only to find them relocated moments later, sometimes sliding across surfaces with no apparent cause or falling from shelves despite being stable. The apparition of a man in dark, dated clothing is seen throughout the pub, particularly near the bar and in back areas, appearing solid and realistic until he walks through walls, locked doors, or disappears mid-stride.

The sounds of footsteps, voices, and activity echo from the basement and storage areas when no one is down there—staff members heading to the cellar for supplies report hearing what sounds like a busy tavern in full swing, only to find the space empty when they arrive. Cold spots move through the pub despite the heating system, and patrons occasionally report feeling invisible hands touching their shoulders or tugging their clothing, as if unseen entities are trying to get their attention.

Ghost Stories & Reports

The primary spirit seems to be a male entity who frequented or perhaps worked at the location during its earlier incarnations—witnesses describe him as appearing to order drinks at the bar before vanishing, or standing in corners watching the modern patrons as if bemused by how the place has changed. Some staff members believe he’s protective of the establishment, a former patron or owner who liked the place so much in life that death couldn’t make him leave.

A female spirit has been reported in the upstairs areas and restrooms, described as a woman in period clothing who appears distressed or frightened—her presence is accompanied by sudden temperature drops and feelings of sadness or anxiety. Some psychics who’ve visited suggest she may have died in the building under tragic circumstances, possibly violence or during a yellow fever outbreak when she was trapped inside.

Shadow figures are frequently seen moving through the pub, particularly during slower business hours when there are fewer living patrons—these dark masses slide along walls, move between tables, and occasionally seem to sit in chairs or at the bar as if they’re phantom customers enjoying an eternal night out. Some witnesses report these shadows respond to being acknowledged, either retreating when noticed or seeming to move closer with curiosity.

The sounds of a violent altercation—shouting, furniture breaking, physical struggle—sometimes echo through the building when it’s closed or during quiet afternoon hours, possibly a residual haunting replaying a fight that ended in death. Staff opening or closing the pub have reported hearing these sounds coming from the main bar area, only to find everything orderly and undisturbed when they investigate.

Most Haunted Spot Inside

The basement and cellar areas where alcohol and supplies are stored are considered the most intensely haunted locations, where staff members report the strongest feelings of being watched, the most frequent encounters with apparitions, and where audio phenomena like voices and footsteps are most commonly heard. Many employees dislike going to the basement alone, particularly during opening or closing procedures when the pub is otherwise empty and the supernatural activity seems most pronounced.

Can You Visit?

Open to the Public? Yes—it operates as a popular pub serving food and drinks

Entry Fee: Free to enter (you purchase food and beverages)

Tour Availability: The Six Pence Pub is included on some Savannah ghost tours, with guides sharing stories from outside or sometimes bringing groups inside during slower business hours; the pub doesn’t offer official ghost tours but staff members are often willing to share experiences with interested customers. Several paranormal tours stop by the pub as part of their routes through the historic district.

Photography Allowed? Generally yes, though it’s courteous to avoid disrupting other patrons or using flash photography excessively

Visiting Hours: Typical pub hours, usually 11:00 AM-2:00 AM daily (hours may vary; check current schedule)

Best Time to Visit

For paranormal experiences, visiting during slower afternoon hours or very late at night near closing time seems to produce the most encounters—staff report increased supernatural activity when the pub is less crowded and the energy is calmer. However, the spirits seem present during all hours, and patrons have reported strange experiences during busy Friday and Saturday nights when the living crowd apparently doesn’t deter the ghostly regulars.

First-Hand Accounts & Eyewitness Reports

Bartenders have countless stories to share, with one reporting in 2018 that he watched a pint glass slide across the bar approximately three feet, stop, then fall to the floor and shatter—security camera footage allegedly captured the incident, showing the glass moving with no visible cause and no one near enough to have touched it. A server in 2019 reported that while restocking the basement, she clearly heard someone call her name in a male voice, followed by footsteps approaching her position—when she turned around, no one was there and she was still alone in the locked basement.

Customers frequently share experiences on social media and review sites, including a couple in 2020 who photographed their table and later noticed a translucent figure of a man standing in the background that wasn’t visible when they took the picture. A regular patron reported in 2021 that he’s witnessed the same male apparition on at least five separate visits, always standing near the end of the bar watching the crowd, and each time the figure faded away when directly acknowledged or approached.

Paranormal Investigations & Findings

Several paranormal investigation teams have visited Six Pence Pub during after-hours investigations, documenting significant evidence throughout the building. Investigators have recorded numerous EVPs including male voices ordering drinks, someone saying “get out,” and what sounds like glasses clinking together in a toast—audio phenomena that suggest both residual energy and intelligent haunting.

EMF detectors show unusual spikes in the basement and near the bar, readings that fluctuate dramatically and sometimes respond to investigators’ questions, suggesting intelligent entities capable of manipulating electromagnetic fields. Thermal imaging cameras have detected human-shaped cold spots moving through the pub, particularly in the basement where temperatures drop suddenly by 15-20 degrees in concentrated areas.

Full-spectrum cameras have captured shadow figures, unexplained mists, and what appear to be partial manifestations of people in period clothing near the bar and in seating areas. One investigation team recorded video showing a bar stool rotating slowly on its own, captured from multiple angles that rule out vibration, drafts, or other natural explanations—the stool made approximately three complete rotations over the course of two minutes before stopping.

Local Legends & Myths

The most persistent legend claims the pub sits directly above or near entrance points to Savannah’s alleged underground tunnel system, and the spirits are connected to the dark activities that occurred in those passages—smuggling, Shanghai kidnapping operations, body disposal during plagues, and other illicit business that left traumatic energy soaked into the very foundations. Some versions suggest that people died in the tunnels beneath the pub and their spirits rise up through the building seeking escape or acknowledgment.

Another popular tale involves a murder that occurred in the building during its earlier days—stories vary about whether it was a robbery gone wrong, a fight over a woman or gambling debt, or violence related to criminal operations. The victim’s spirit supposedly haunts the location, either seeking justice for his death or simply unable to move beyond the traumatic moment that ended his life.

Local storytellers speak of a “phantom regular,” a man who died with a drink in his hand and loved the place so much that he returns nightly to enjoy one more pint—staff members joke about setting aside a drink for him, and some swear that when they do, the level of liquid in the glass decreases overnight despite the pub being locked and empty. This legend paints the haunting as friendly and nostalgic rather than frightening.

A darker legend suggests the building was once used to temporarily store bodies during yellow fever epidemics before they could be properly buried, and the spirits of plague victims remain trapped in the structure, confused about why they’re no longer sick but unable to leave. This would explain the female spirit who appears distressed and the overall sense of unease some patrons report feeling in certain areas of the pub.

Safety Warnings & Legal Restrictions

Six Pence Pub is first and foremost a business serving alcohol, and visitors should drink responsibly and follow all establishment rules—the combination of alcohol consumption and ghost hunting can be dangerous. The basement and storage areas are restricted to staff only for safety and liability reasons, and customers should not attempt to access these spaces even if paranormal activity is rumored to be strongest there.

While the haunting is generally considered more mischievous than threatening, flying or falling glasses and bottles could potentially cause injury—patrons should be aware of their surroundings and report any safety concerns to staff immediately. The pub operates in accordance with local health and safety regulations, and paranormal enthusiast visitors should avoid disrupting normal business operations or making other customers uncomfortable with aggressive investigation techniques.

Cursed or Haunted Objects

An antique mirror behind the bar is said to show reflections of people who aren’t physically present—numerous patrons have reported seeing faces or figures in the mirror that don’t correspond to anyone in the pub, and some photographs show anomalies in the mirror’s reflection that weren’t visible to the naked eye. Staff members have mixed feelings about this mirror, with some wanting it removed and others insisting it’s part of the pub’s haunted charm.

Certain bar stools seem to be preferred by the spirits, with staff and regular patrons identifying specific seats that remain inexplicably colder than others or where people consistently report feeling watched or touched. One particular stool near the end of the bar is known to move or rotate on its own, and some patrons refuse to sit in it after experiencing uncomfortable sensations or seeing it spin slowly when unoccupied.

Original brick and timber from earlier structures incorporated into the building are believed to carry residual energy from centuries of human activity—touching these exposed historical elements allegedly allows sensitive individuals to receive impressions or visions from the building’s past. Some psychics claim they can sense the energy of everyone who ever touched these materials, creating an overwhelming psychic impression that can be difficult to process.

The basement’s old stone foundation is said to be particularly charged with paranormal energy, possibly because it’s closest to the alleged tunnel system or because it’s the oldest part of the structure. Staff members working in the basement report that certain stone walls feel warm to the touch despite the cool cellar temperature, or that placing their hands on specific stones triggers feelings of dread, sadness, or occasionally brief visions of shadowy figures moving through underground passages.