The Holly Bush
Historic Hampstead pub haunted by the ghost of artist George Romney and other artistic spirits from its bohemian past.
The Holly Bush in Hampstead Village occupies a building with a fascinating history. Before becoming a pub in 1807, it served as the stables for the painter George Romney, who lived and worked nearby. The establishment sits on Holly Mount, one of Hampstead’s most picturesque and historically rich locations, and has attracted artists, writers, and intellectuals for over two centuries. According to numerous reports, some of these creative souls have never left.
The ghost of George Romney himself is said to haunt the building, appearing as a distinguished gentleman in late 18th-century attire, often seen near the areas that would have been his stables. Witnesses describe him as appearing contemplative, sometimes making gestures as if painting or sketching on an invisible canvas. The apparition is most commonly reported in the older parts of the building and occasionally outside in the courtyard area. Some artists who have visited the pub report experiencing sudden creative inspiration or seeing vivid mental images when in certain areas, which some attribute to Romney’s lingering artistic energy.
Beyond Romney, the pub is reportedly haunted by other figures from its artistic past. Staff and patrons have seen shadowy figures in Victorian and Edwardian clothing, heard the sound of animated discussions and laughter from empty rooms, and experienced the smell of oil paints and old canvas despite no such materials being present. Objects move on their own, particularly in the upstairs areas, and there are regular reports of footsteps in empty corridors. Some witnesses describe hearing piano music from the early 20th century, though no piano is present in the building. Cold spots form inexplicably, and doors open and close without physical cause.
The pub’s intimate rooms, low ceilings, and winding staircases create an appropriately atmospheric setting for these encounters. Some visitors report feeling watched by unseen eyes, and a few psychically sensitive individuals claim to have seen entire scenes from the past playing out like ghostly recordings—Romney tending his horses, Victorian artists debating aesthetics, Edwardian couples stealing romantic moments. The haunting is considered benign and is even embraced by the pub as part of its unique character and connection to Hampstead’s rich artistic heritage.