The Bankes Arms

Nestled in the picturesque village of Studland, the Bankes Arms has been serving travelers since the 17th century, but it’s the otherworldly travelers that give this establishment its eerie reputation. Witnesses have reported the terrifying spectacle of a phantom coach and horses materializing on the old coaching road, charging at full gallop directly toward and through the pub before vanishing without a trace. The sound of thundering hooves, cracking whips, and the rumble of wooden wheels on cobblestones has awakened guests in the dead of night, only for them to look outside and find nothing but empty streets and silence.

The phantom coach is believed to be connected to the building’s history as a coaching inn on the route between Poole and Swanage. According to local legend, a tragic accident occurred when a coach lost control during a storm, resulting in the deaths of passengers and horses alike. Others claim the spectral coach is linked to smuggling activities that were rampant along the Dorset coast, with contraband runners using the inn as a stopping point. Staff members have reported hearing the sounds of horses being stabled in areas where no animals are kept, and the distinct smell of horse sweat and leather occasionally permeates certain rooms despite the building being thoroughly cleaned.

Beyond the phantom coach, the pub experiences other paranormal phenomena including the apparition of a man in period clothing who appears in the bar area before fading away, and the sound of raucous laughter and conversation coming from empty rooms. Glasses have been known to slide across tables on their own, and there are cold spots that move through the building as if something invisible is walking past. The Bankes family, after whom the pub is named, were prominent local landowners, and some believe members of the family may still be attached to the establishment, watching over the property they once controlled centuries ago.