The Swan Hotel, Stafford, Staffordshire

This 400-year-old hotel has seen a lot happen over the years – including drowned witches, thefts and mysterious tunnels linking the hotel to Stafford castle and St. Mary’s Church. The site of the hotel used to be a drowning pool, whereby women who had been charged with witchcraft were drowned. A priest hole was also built at the site at the time of the Jacobean revolution and when it was excavated, numerous bones and skeletons were found.

Poltergeist activity is rife at the hotel and a number of ghostly goings-on have been reported, including locked doors opening and closing, lights being flicked on and off and personal belongings being moved around the hotel.

The hotel is also said to be haunted by the ghost of a jilted bride who supposedly hung herself in one of the rooms. She’s known as the White Lady and has been seen regularly by both staff and guests. One time, she gave the manager of the hotel the shock of his life when she was seen standing at the end of his bed. One of the chefs at the hotel was said to be so disturbed by the White Lady’s presence that he left his job at the hotel.

Brief History

The Swan Hotel is thought to have been built on the site of an old monastic college. The site used to be home to two houses, one of which was called The Swan. The houses were converted in the mid-18th century into an inn to accommodate the travellers who were travelling between the Black Country and Lancashire for the growing industrial trade. The hotel was used as a coaching inn in the 19th century and business was booming, but when the town’s railway was built in 1837 there was a dramatic decline in business for the inn. The hotel was bought by the Lewis Partnership in 2002, which also owns the nearby Moat House in Acton Trussell. They restored the hotel to its former glory and it is now a stunning place to be.

About

The Swan is located in the heart of Stafford town centre and boasts 31 en-suite bedrooms, many of which have a number of period features including open stone fireplaces and wooden beams in the ceiling. The 31 rooms at the Swan are compromised of a mixture of singles, doubles, family rooms, heritage rooms and suites and all room rates include a full English breakfast.

The restaurant at the hotel offers fresh, local produce, reasonably priced at a rate of £17.95 for a three-course meal. There is also a bar and coffee shop at the hotel offering you a more informal way to eat and drink at the Swan. The Swan has been given a number of awards and accolades, including a three-star AA award, recognition by the BII and the Academy of Food and Wine and a Certificate of Excellence from Trip Advisor – so you know that you’ll be in excellent hands at the hotel. There is also space at the hotel for conferences and business meetings, as well as weddings for up to 70 guests. Wedding receptions and civil ceremonies can take place at the hotel – just contact them for more details.

Features

• Private bathroom
• Freeview television
• Free to use Wi-Fi
• Tea and coffee making facilities
• Direct-dial telephone
• Trouser press
• Hairdryer
• Restaurant, bar and coffee shop
• Ideally located in the heart of Stafford
• Period features in many of the public areas
• Disabled access
• Wedding and conference facilities

Things to do

There are plenty of things to do in Stafford and it is a bustling, vibrant town. There are plenty of shops, as well as a number of boutique stores. Nightlife is in abundance as Stafford is a student town, so there are lots of bars and clubs as well as plenty of restaurants and cafes. Travel slightly further out from Stafford and you could visit art galleries, museums and other places of interest such as Dudley Zoo.

Room Tariff

• • Single rooms available from £85.00 based on one person staying in the room, breakfast included
  • Double rooms available from £105.00 based on two people sharing, breakfast included.
  • Family rooms available from £125.00 based on two people sharing, breakfast included.
  • Heritage rooms available from £125.00 based on two people sharing, breakfast included.
  • Executive Suites available from £125.00 based on two people sharing, breakfast included.
  • Suites available from £135.00 based on two people sharing, breakfast included.

Related Pages: The Most Haunted Places in Staffordshire