Description of Area

Ground Floor Layout

• Entrance: Entry is through the front door on Looe Street, which leads directly into the main bar area.

• To the Right of the Entrance: A stained-glass window bearing the emblem of the Octagon Brewery—a former owner of the inn—is immediately visible.

• Main Bar Area: In front of you as you enter is a curved wooden bar, serving a variety of real ales and beverages.
  To the right is a shelf-style drinks bar with stools, offering additional seating.

• Seating: The main room contains tables and chairs dotted throughout, allowing for small group gatherings and a cozy, communal atmosphere. The ceiling is low, and the floors are slightly uneven—typical of Tudor-era buildings.

 

Back Room (Right of the Main Bar)

Walking to the right of the main bar, you enter a back room that features:

• Two tables with chairs

• A two-seater sofa

• A piano

• An original fireplace

• Decorative elements including historic naval prints, and a floating lifebuoy ring inscribed “GMS Minerva”

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Connecting Arch & Rear Features

Through a connecting archway with a slight slope, you'll find:

• Access to the toilets

• The cellar entrance

• A small outdoor courtyard, offering fresh air and occasional live music during warmer months

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Reported Possible Activity

Henry – The Screaming Man - One of the most frequently reported apparitions is a ghostly figure known as Henry. Witnesses have described him appearing on the first floor, walking through the bar, and then emitting a blood-curdling scream before vanishing. 

The Victorian-Era Girl - Another commonly sighted spirit is that of a young girl dressed in Victorian clothing. She has been seen entering the bar area through a wall, drawing water or beer into a bucket, and then disappearing. 

Phantom Prostitutes - The pub's history includes serving sailors who frequented the establishment centuries ago. Reports have surfaced of five ghostly women, believed to be former prostitutes, appearing under the dartboard near the original entrance. They are often seen sitting at a table, engaging in conversation and occasionally interacting with unseen patrons.

Eddie Blake – The Smuggler - Local lore speaks of a 17th-century smuggler named Eddie Blake, who reportedly died within the inn. His spirit is said to haunt the establishment, with some accounts suggesting he was involved in violent altercations, including pushing a patron down the stairs. During a paranormal investigation, a spirit identifying as Eddie claimed to have died accidentally in the 1750s and hinted at hidden contraband within the pub. 

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Beyond these apparitions, the Minerva Inn has been the site of various unexplained activities:

• Levitating Objects: Patrons and staff have witnessed spoons lifting off tables without any apparent cause.

• Electrical Disturbances: The jukebox has been known to play music even after being turned off, and the gas supply in the cellar has inexplicably shut off on multiple occasions.

• Sensory Experiences: Some visitors have reported sudden drops in temperature, feelings of unease, and even nausea in certain areas of the pub, particularly during paranormal investigations.

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Brief Summary of History or Legend

The Minerva Inn, located at 31 Looe Street in Plymouth's historic Barbican area, is widely recognized as the city's oldest serving public house, with origins dating back to around 1540 . Named after Minerva, the Roman goddess of wisdom and warfare, the inn has a rich maritime heritage and has been a central part of Plymouth's social life for centuries .
 

Originally, the building served as the home of an Elizabethan sea captain . In the 17th century, it became notorious for its association with the Royal Navy's Press Gangs. These groups would forcibly recruit men into naval service, often by slipping the King's shilling into an unsuspecting patron's drink. If the patron drank from the mug, it was taken as acceptance of naval service; those who resisted were often taken by force .
 

The Minerva Inn's architecture reflects its storied past. Notably, it features a spiral staircase constructed from the mast of a captured Spanish Armada galleon, and much of its timber is believed to have been sourced from Spanish ships . The inn also houses a stained-glass window bearing the emblem of the Octagon Brewery, which owned the pub in the 19th century .