The Savoy Hotel

The Savoy Hotel opened in 1889 as the first luxury hotel in Britain, introducing electric lights, lifts, and en-suite bathrooms to London hospitality. Built by Richard D’Oyly Carte with profits from his Gilbert and Sullivan productions, the hotel quickly became synonymous with elegance and innovation. Among its many traditions, one stands out as both charming and macabre: Kaspar the Cat, a three-foot-tall wooden cat sculpture that attends dinner parties of thirteen guests.

The Curse of Thirteen

The tradition of Kaspar the Cat originated from a tragic dinner party at the Savoy on January 14, 1898. South African mining magnate Woolf Joel hosted a party of fourteen people in a private dining room. When one guest cancelled at the last minute, Joel found himself dining with thirteen people—considered deeply unlucky.

Fellow diners urged Joel to find a fourteenth guest to break the curse, but Joel laughed off their superstitions. “It’s ridiculous,” he said. “Nothing will happen to any of us.”

Within weeks, Woolf Joel was shot and killed in his office in Johannesburg. The tragedy sent shockwaves through London society and reinforced the ancient superstition about dining in groups of thirteen.

Kaspar’s Creation

In response to this event and the superstition it seemed to confirm, the Savoy commissioned a solution. In the 1920s, designer Basil Ionides created Kaspar, a sleek Art Deco cat sculpture carved from plane tree wood and standing three feet tall.

Since then, whenever a party of thirteen dines at the Savoy, Kaspar is seated at the table as the fourteenth guest. He receives:

• A full place setting of silver and crystal
• A napkin tied around his neck
• Each course of the meal served to him
• The same attentive service as human guests

Staff treat Kaspar with complete seriousness, and guests who dine with him often report feeling oddly comforted by his presence.

The Ghost Connection

Over the decades, Kaspar has acquired his own supernatural reputation:

Protective Presence

Guests who have dined with Kaspar report feeling protected, as if the wooden cat genuinely wards off misfortune. Several parties of thirteen have noted that their events proceeded without incident, whereas previous attempts at business deals or social gatherings had been plagued by bad luck.

Movement

Staff members working late in the private dining rooms have reported finding Kaspar in different positions from where he was left. His head seems to turn slightly, or his tail shifts position. While this could be explained by cleaning or movement during storage, the consistency of reports is noteworthy.

The Purring

Multiple guests and staff have reported hearing a sound like purring when near Kaspar, particularly during dinner parties. The sound has no identifiable source and stops when people move away from the sculpture.

Other Savoy Hauntings

Beyond Kaspar, the Savoy has its own collection of ghosts:

The Victorian Theatre-Goer

The hotel was built on the site of the medieval Savoy Palace and later the Savoy Theatre. A figure in Victorian evening dress is occasionally seen in the Strand lobby, looking around in confusion before fading away. He appears to be searching for the theatre entrance that once occupied this location.

The Pianist

Late at night, staff report hearing piano music from the American Bar when the room is closed and empty. The music is from the 1920s-30s era, when Carroll Gibbons led the Savoy Orpheans orchestra. Some believe Gibbons himself still plays occasionally.

Room 306

This particular room has a reputation for paranormal activity:

• Guests report sensing a presence
• The television turns on and off by itself
• Cold spots appear suddenly
• Some visitors report seeing a shadowy figure by the window
• The room overlooks the Thames, and witnesses describe the figure gazing at the river

The Kaspar Incidents

Several notable incidents involve Kaspar:

Winston Churchill insisted on Kaspar’s presence at many of his wartime dinners at the Savoy, regardless of the actual number of guests. Churchill was deeply superstitious and believed Kaspar brought good fortune.

Naval Officers, 1940s: During WWII, a group of naval officers dined without Kaspar despite being thirteen in number. Their ship was torpedoed three days later. Surviving officers insisted on Kaspar’s presence at all subsequent meals.

Modern Theft: In 2008, Kaspar was stolen from the hotel. The Savoy refused to hold any dinners for thirteen people until he was recovered. The sculpture was found several weeks later and returned, though the circumstances of the theft and recovery remain mysterious.

The Tradition Continues

The Savoy maintains the Kaspar tradition with absolute commitment. A second Kaspar has been created as backup, ensuring that no party of thirteen ever dines without their feline guardian. The tradition has become so famous that guests specifically request to dine with Kaspar, booking parties of thirteen just for the experience.

Paranormal researchers note that traditions involving protective talismans can develop their own energy over time. Whether Kaspar genuinely wards off misfortune or whether the belief in his protection creates a psychological effect, the results seem real to those who dine with him.

Historical Resonance

The Savoy stands on land with dark history. The medieval Savoy Palace was burned during the Peasants’ Revolt of 1381, with many deaths. The area has seen centuries of drama, tragedy, and human emotion. Some researchers believe this history creates a receptive environment for paranormal phenomena.

The combination of genuine tragedy (Woolf Joel’s death), established tradition (Kaspar’s role), and historical significance (the Savoy’s cultural importance) creates ideal conditions for what paranormal researchers call “belief manifestation”—when collective belief and ritual potentially create or strengthen supernatural phenomena.

---

At the Savoy Hotel, Kaspar the Cat remains on duty, attending dinner parties of thirteen guests and ensuring that the curse of thirteen claims no more victims. Whether his protection is symbolic or supernatural, the Savoy takes no chances. Kaspar receives impeccable service, his napkin is tied just so, and his place at the table guarantees that dinner parties proceed without mishap—as they have for nearly a century.