Brown’s Hotel: Dylan Thomas’s Eternal Drinking Partner

Brown’s Hotel in Laugharne was Dylan Thomas’s favorite drinking establishment, a place he immortalized in his work and returned to throughout his life. Thomas died in 1953, but his presence—along with older ghosts—lingers in this 18th-century coaching inn. The poet who wrote “Do not go gentle into that good night” may never have gone gentle himself.

The History

Coaching Inn Origins

Brown’s dates from 1752, serving as a coaching inn on the road through South Wales. It has been a hotel and pub for nearly three centuries.

Dylan Thomas Connection

Thomas lived in Laugharne from 1938, and Brown’s became his regular haunt. He drank here, argued here, and drew inspiration from the town he fictionalized as “Llareggub” in Under Milk Wood. He died in New York in 1953, aged 39.

The Boathouse

Thomas’s famous Boathouse, where he lived and wrote, overlooks the estuary nearby. His writing shed still stands.

The Hauntings

Dylan Thomas?

The poet’s spirit has been sensed:

• The smell of tobacco
• A feeling of creative energy
• A presence at the bar
• His voice heard in conversation
• Staff believe he visits

Thomas famously said “I’ve had eighteen straight whiskies. I think that’s the record.” Perhaps he’s still trying to break it.

The Victorian Lady

A woman in Victorian dress:

• Walks through the hotel
• Most often seen on the stairs
• She seems to be searching
• Her identity is unknown
• She predates Thomas by decades

The Cellar Presence

Something lurks in the cellars:

• Staff feel watched
• Footsteps behind them
• Cold spots
• The sense of not being alone
• This may be connected to the building’s age

Poltergeist Activity

Objects move at Brown’s:

• Glasses slide
• Pictures fall
• Doors open and close
• The pub has its own energy
• Some attribute this to Thomas’s mischief

Thomas’s Inspiration

The town of Laugharne inspired Thomas’s greatest work:

• Under Milk Wood was written here
• The characters were based on locals
• Brown’s features in his writings
• The creative connection persists
• His spirit may be tied to these streets

Modern Activity

Brown’s Hotel welcomes visitors seeking Thomas’s legacy:

• Regular phenomena reported
• The Victorian Lady is most consistent
• The Thomas connection draws interest
• Ghost tours include the hotel
• Staff have many stories

Visiting

Brown’s Hotel is a working hotel and pub. Laugharne offers the Boathouse, Dylan Thomas’s grave, and the atmosphere he immortalized.

---

Dylan Thomas spent his best years drinking at Brown’s Hotel, finding inspiration in its atmosphere and characters. When he died young in New York, something of him came home. At Brown’s, the poet’s spirit may still be raising a glass—to art, to love, to rage against the dying of the light.