The Boogaloo

The Boogaloo in Highgate is a relative newcomer to London’s haunted pub scene, having opened in its current form in 2006. However, the building itself is much older and has a history as a drinking establishment. The pub became famous as a favorite haunt of musicians and artists, most notably Shane MacGowan of The Pogues, who lived nearby and was a regular patron. Since MacGowan’s death in 2023, staff and regulars have reported paranormal activity they attribute to the legendary musician’s spirit.

Witnesses describe seeing a figure resembling MacGowan sitting at his favorite spot at the bar or in the corner where he would hold court with friends and fans. The apparition appears most commonly during the evening hours when MacGowan would typically have been drinking. Some report hearing his distinctive voice singing or making sardonic comments, and the smell of cigarettes and whiskey appears in concentrated areas despite modern smoking bans. The jukebox has allegedly played Pogues songs without being activated, and glasses have been found arranged in patterns at MacGowan’s favorite spots.

Staff members report unusual activity including lights flickering during Pogues songs, bottles moving on their own (particularly Irish whiskey), and the sound of laughter and Irish music coming from empty areas of the pub. Some witnesses claim to have felt a presence sitting beside them at the bar, accompanied by the smell of smoke and alcohol. The phenomenon is very recent, and skeptics argue it may be wishful thinking or the power of suggestion among grieving fans. However, those who have experienced the manifestations insist there is something genuinely paranormal occurring. The haunting, if genuine, would be unusual for its recency and the contemporary nature of the spirit. Regulars who knew MacGowan in life say the activity, particularly the mischievous moving of drinks and the occasional burst of Irish song, is entirely in character with the man himself.