The Dog and Duck

The Dog and Duck, built in 1734, is one of Soho’s oldest and smallest pubs, squeezed into a narrow corner building. The establishment has been a favorite of artists, writers, and bohemians for centuries, with notable patrons including George Orwell and Madonna. However, behind its Victorian tilework and ornate mirrors lurks something from the past that has never left—a presence that staff and sensitive visitors claim to encounter regularly.

The haunting at The Dog and Duck is unusual in that the primary entity has never been clearly identified. Witnesses describe a shadowy figure that appears in the mirrors, particularly the large ornate Victorian mirror behind the bar. This reflection appears as a person in period costume (variously described as Georgian or Victorian) who is not physically present in the room. When people turn to look directly at where the figure should be, nothing is there, but the reflection remains visible in the mirror for a few more seconds before fading away.

Staff members report a range of poltergeist activity, including glasses moving on their own, taps turning themselves on and off, and bottles rearranging themselves overnight. The upstairs rooms, which are rarely used, are said to be particularly active, with furniture being found moved from its usual positions and the sound of footsteps when the area is supposedly empty. Some visitors report feeling watched, particularly when sitting alone near the Victorian mirror. Cold spots appear inexplicably, even during summer, and there are occasional reports of whispered conversations in accents from bygone eras. A few psychically sensitive individuals have reported feeling overwhelming artistic inspiration or melancholy in certain areas of the pub, leading some to speculate that the ghost may be a tormented artist or writer who frequented the establishment in life. The presence is generally considered neutral, neither malevolent nor particularly helpful, simply a remnant of the pub’s long and colorful history.