Kells Irish Pub – Haunted Pub in Seattle, Washington

Nestled in Seattle’s historic Pike Place Market district sits Kells Irish Pub. This atmospheric establishment has served patrons since 1983 in a building with much darker origins.

The structure housing Kells dates back to 1903 when it served as a mortuary. For decades, the basement functioned as the embalming room and body storage area.

Employees and guests report numerous paranormal encounters within these walls. The pub’s haunted reputation has grown steadily over its four decades of operation.

Staff members often refuse to venture into certain areas alone after dark. The combination of Irish pub atmosphere and genuine supernatural activity creates an unforgettable experience.

Kells has become one of Seattle’s most documented haunted locations. Paranormal investigators and curious visitors flock here seeking encounters with the other side.

Historical Background

The Butterworth Building was constructed in 1903 at 1916 Post Alley. Edward R. Butterworth established his mortuary business in this strategic location near downtown Seattle.

The Butterworth & Sons mortuary operated continuously until the early 1900s. The business handled thousands of Seattle residents’ final arrangements during its operational years.

The basement served as the primary embalming and preparation area for deceased bodies. Cold storage rooms lined the underground space where corpses awaited funeral services.

In 1926, the mortuary relocated to larger facilities on nearby First Avenue. The Post Alley building changed hands multiple times over subsequent decades.

Irish immigrant Tom Cogley transformed the space into Kells Irish Pub in 1983. He imported authentic materials from Ireland including the bar itself from County Kerry.

The pub’s renovation uncovered remnants of the building’s mortuary past throughout construction. Workers discovered old embalming equipment and mysterious stains in the basement areas.

Cogley embraced the building’s eerie history rather than hiding from it. He incorporated the paranormal reputation into the pub’s unique character and charm.

Paranormal Activity Summary

Kells experiences an extraordinary range of documented supernatural phenomena daily. Activity occurs throughout operating hours but intensifies during late evening and early morning.

Glasses and bottles mysteriously slide across bars and tables without human contact. Staff members witness these movements multiple times per week during slow periods.

Disembodied footsteps echo through empty rooms and hallways throughout the building. The sound of heavy boots walking on hardwood floors continues when no one is present.

Electronic equipment malfunctions frequently without logical explanation at Kells. Credit card machines, cash registers, and sound systems experience sudden unexplained failures.

Cold spots appear randomly throughout the pub despite consistent heating systems. Patrons report sudden temperature drops of twenty degrees in localized areas.

Shadow figures dart through peripheral vision in multiple locations simultaneously. These dark shapes move purposefully through the pub rather than drifting aimlessly.

The overwhelming scent of flowers appears without any floral arrangements present. This perfume smell matches descriptions of funeral home odors from the early 1900s.

Staff members report feeling unseen hands touching their shoulders and backs. These physical contacts occur most frequently when employees work alone in isolated areas.

Ghost Stories & Reports

The primary spirit haunting Kells is believed to be a young woman. She died tragically during the building’s mortuary days under mysterious circumstances.

This female entity appears wearing period clothing from the early twentieth century. Witnesses describe a woman in her twenties with long dark hair and pale skin.

She manifests most frequently on the upper floor near the women’s restroom. Female patrons report seeing her reflection in mirrors when no one stands behind them.

Some researchers believe she was a mortuary employee who died on site. Others theorize she was a grieving family member who suffered a breakdown here.

A male presence haunts the basement areas where embalming once occurred. This spirit exhibits more aggressive energy than the upstairs female entity.

Employees describe him as territorial and protective of the lower levels. He reportedly shoves people on the stairs and locks doors from inside empty rooms.

Kitchen staff witness pots and pans flying off hooks without explanation. This activity escalates when new employees enter the basement without proper introduction.

A child spirit plays pranks throughout the building during daylight hours. Bartenders find toys and small objects moved into impossible positions overnight.

This juvenile ghost giggles audibly when people search for misplaced items. Staff members hear a young boy’s laughter echoing from empty corners and closets.

Multiple spirits of deceased individuals processed through the mortuary remain attached here. Their energy collectively creates the intense paranormal atmosphere permeating every floor.

Former mortuary director Edward Butterworth himself may still oversee his old establishment. An authoritative male figure appears in vintage funeral director attire near the main entrance.

Local legend claims a woman’s body went missing from the mortuary in 1918. Her restless spirit supposedly searches the building eternally seeking her physical remains.

Most Haunted Spot

The basement represents Kells’ most intensely active paranormal location without question. This underground space housed embalming tables and body storage for decades.

Staff members experience overwhelming dread when descending the narrow staircase to lower levels. Many employees refuse basement assignments regardless of job requirements or consequences.

The men’s restroom in the basement triggers extreme reactions from sensitive individuals. Patrons frequently exit quickly reporting feelings of being watched and trapped.

One specific corner near the old cold storage area radiates palpable negative energy. Temperature readings in this spot consistently measure fifteen degrees colder than surrounding spaces.

Employees witness full-bodied apparitions in this basement corner regularly during closing procedures. A tall dark figure stands motionless facing the wall before vanishing completely.

The area directly beneath the main bar experiences poltergeist activity almost nightly. Stock bottles arranged perfectly before closing appear scattered across the floor by morning.

Can You Visit?

Kells Irish Pub welcomes visitors during regular business hours seven days weekly. The establishment operates as a fully functional restaurant and bar serving authentic Irish cuisine.

No entry fee exists beyond purchasing food or beverages like any pub. Paranormal enthusiasts can explore freely while respecting the operating business and other patrons.

The pub does not offer formal ghost tours or paranormal investigations currently. However, staff members willingly share experiences when asked during slower business periods.

Photography is permitted throughout the public areas of the establishment without restriction. Many visitors capture unexplained anomalies including orbs and shadow figures in their photos.

Standard operating hours run from 11:00 AM until 2:00 AM Monday through Sunday. Late night visits between midnight and closing offer the highest probability of experiences.

The upstairs area closes earlier than the main floor on certain weeknights. Visitors should inquire about upstairs accessibility when planning their paranormal investigation visit.

Best Time to Visit

Paranormal activity at Kells occurs throughout the year with remarkable consistency. However, October through January shows statistically higher supernatural encounter rates according to staff.

Late evening hours between 11:00 PM and 2:00 AM produce the most dramatic manifestations. The spirits seem emboldened when fewer patrons occupy the space during closing time.

Tuesday and Wednesday nights experience less customer traffic and more spiritual activity. Staff members specifically mention midweek overnight shifts as particularly active for unexplained phenomena.

Anniversary dates connected to the mortuary’s operation may trigger increased supernatural events. Historical research suggests visiting during dates significant to the Butterworth business operations.

First-Hand Accounts & Eyewitness Reports

Former bartender Michelle Torres worked at Kells for seven years before transferring locations. She documented over thirty separate paranormal encounters during her employment tenure there.

Torres reports seeing the female spirit reflection in bar mirrors at least twice monthly. The apparition appeared so realistic she initially mistook it for an actual customer.

Long-time manager David O’Brien refuses to enter the basement alone under any circumstances. He witnessed a beer keg slide fifteen feet across the floor by itself in 2015.

Seattle paranormal investigator Ross Allison conducted multiple overnight investigations at Kells during 2018. His team captured Electronic Voice Phenomena recordings of a woman saying “help me” repeatedly.

Customer Jennifer Walsh posted her experience on social media following a 2019 visit. She photographed a clear apparition of a man in vintage clothing standing behind her friend.

Kitchen employee Marcus Chen quit after three months due to escalating paranormal encounters. He reported being physically pushed down the basement stairs by an invisible force.

Regular patron Scott Henderson visits weekly hoping to witness supernatural activity firsthand. He has personally experienced glasses moving and unexplained cold spots on multiple occasions.

Local historian Patricia Danvers researched the Butterworth mortuary extensively for her 2016 book. She interviewed numerous former Kells employees who independently corroborated identical spirit descriptions.

Paranormal Investigations & Findings

The Seattle Paranormal Research Group investigated Kells Irish Pub extensively throughout 2017. Their findings documented electromagnetic field anomalies concentrated in the basement and upper floor.

Investigators recorded unexplained footsteps on their audio equipment during overnight empty building sessions. Analysis revealed the sounds matched period-appropriate shoes from the early twentieth century.

The Washington State Ghost Society conducted thermal imaging studies revealing cold spots. These temperature anomalies appeared and disappeared without correlation to building ventilation or climate systems.

Spirit box sessions produced multiple intelligent responses to investigator questions about identity. One session captured a voice claiming to be “Edward” when asked for names.

Motion sensors placed throughout the building triggered without physical presence multiple times nightly. Video footage showed no visible explanation for the sensor activations during these incidents.

A psychic medium named Sarah Chen visited in 2020 and immediately sensed three distinct spirits. Her descriptions perfectly matched reports from staff members who never shared details with her.

Local Legends & Myths

Pike Place Market vendors share stories about the “Mortuary Ghost” wandering Post Alley. Legend claims the spirit searches for her lost wedding ring taken during embalming.

Some locals believe the building sits atop forgotten burial plots from Seattle’s earliest days. This theory attempts to explain why so many different spirits haunt one location.

An urban legend circulates about a cursed mirror brought from the original mortuary. Staff supposedly covered this mirror after it showed disturbing images unrelated to current reflections.

Market workers claim the female ghost appears outside Kells searching for her missing child. This tale originated from one witness claiming the apparition seemed desperately lost and confused.

Safety Warnings & Legal Restrictions

Visitors must remember Kells operates as an active business serving alcohol daily. Paranormal investigation should never interfere with normal pub operations or disturb paying customers.

The basement remains off-limits to general public access for safety and insurance reasons. Only authorized staff members may enter these areas during their official work duties.

Stairs throughout the building are steep and narrow following early 1900s construction standards. Visitors should exercise caution when moving between floors regardless of supernatural distractions.

Management reserves the right to remove guests behaving inappropriately during paranormal investigations. Respectful conduct ensures the location remains accessible to future enthusiastic researchers and visitors.