The Volunteer

The Volunteer pub on Baker Street has a long association with military personnel, and it seems some soldiers never truly left their favorite watering hole. The establishment has been haunted by the ghosts of soldiers from various eras, with sightings dating back over a century. The pub’s name itself refers to volunteer soldiers, and the building served as a meeting place for military men throughout the Victorian era and both World Wars.

Multiple witnesses have reported seeing uniformed figures from different military periods, including Victorian-era soldiers, World War I doughboys, and World War II servicemen. These apparitions are most commonly seen sitting at tables or standing at the bar, appearing solid and real until they suddenly vanish. Some witnesses have reported making eye contact with these phantom soldiers, only to have them disappear when approached. The ghosts seem unaware of the living patrons around them, caught in some eternal moment of camaraderie.

Staff members have experienced unexplained phenomena including the sound of marching boots on the upper floors, military songs being hummed when no one is present, and the distinct smell of tobacco smoke from old pipes, despite the smoking ban. Glasses have been known to raise themselves as if in a toast before crashing to the floor. Some patrons have reported feeling invisible hands on their shoulders and hearing whispered conversations in accents from bygone eras. The haunting is considered benign, with the spectral soldiers seeming to be simply enjoying their eternal rest in familiar surroundings.