Description of Area
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The Minerva Inn is a historic Tudor-era public house located at 31 Looe Street in Plymouth's Barbican area. Entry is through the front door on Looe Street, leading directly into the main bar area.
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The ground floor features a curved wooden bar serving real ales and beverages, with a shelf-style drinks bar and stools to the right offering additional seating. Tables and chairs are positioned throughout the main room. The ceiling is low and floors slightly uneven—typical characteristics of Tudor-era construction. A stained-glass window bearing the emblem of the Octagon Brewery, a former owner of the inn, is immediately visible to the right of the entrance.
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To the right of the main bar, a back room contains two tables with chairs, a two-seater sofa, a piano, and an original fireplace. Decorative elements include historic naval prints and a floating lifebuoy ring inscribed "GMS Minerva."
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Through a connecting archway with a slight slope, there is access to toilets, the cellar entrance, and a small outdoor courtyard.
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During our investigation we were granted access to the main bar area, back room, and connecting areas.
Reported Possible Activity
Henry – The Screaming Man – One of the most frequently reported apparitions. Witnesses describe him appearing on the first floor, walking through the bar, then emitting a blood-curdling scream before vanishing.
The Victorian-Era Girl – A young girl dressed in Victorian clothing has been seen entering the bar area through a wall, drawing water or beer into a bucket, then disappearing.
Phantom Prostitutes – Five ghostly women, believed to be former prostitutes who served sailors centuries ago, have been reported 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 who reportedly died within the inn. His spirit is said to haunt the establishment, with accounts suggesting involvement in violent altercations including pushing a patron down the stairs. During a previous paranormal investigation, a spirit identifying as Eddie claimed to have died accidentally in the 1750s and hinted at hidden contraband within the pub.
Additional Reported Phenomena:
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Levitating objects—patrons and staff have witnessed spoons lifting off tables without apparent cause
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Electrical disturbances—the jukebox has played music after being turned off; gas supply in the cellar has shut off unexpectedly on multiple occasions
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Sudden temperature drops, feelings of unease, and nausea reported in certain areas, particularly during paranormal investigations
Brief Summary of History or Legend
The Minerva Inn is widely recognised as Plymouth'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 central to 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—groups who forcibly recruited 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 inn's architecture reflects its storied past. The spiral staircase was constructed from the mast of a captured Spanish Armada galleon, and much of the timber is believed to have been sourced from Spanish ships.