The Storyteller: Inside Paignton’s most haunted spots

With the launch of my Paignton Ghost Walks rapidly approaching at the end of the month, I’m putting together the locations and stories, that I want to share along the way.

To that end, last month, I hosted a free Evening of Storytelling at The Esplanade Hotel, on the seafront. Several interested parties turned up and many tales were told, but the ones that caught my attention the most were the ones concerning another local ghost hunting group.

They had been granted permission to explore the hotel itself, not just once, but twice, two weeks running, because they picked up so much of interest, the first time, they just had to go again, as soon as possible. 

Intrigued by this, I had to give the mediums in my group, TIP (Torbay Investigators of the Paranormal) a go, if, for no other reason, than to add to my repertoire of tales at the end of my walk, on the seafront. 

Our chance came the other weekend, but, in-between times, we had our first visit to the old Paignton Monastery, which I wrote about in my article the other week. What I didn’t include in that piece, was the fact that we then spent the afternoon at the Parker’s Arms, in their Cattleman’s Restaurant, where, during their frequent visits, some members of the group have become aware of some spooky activity, throughout the premises, and, as it holds a special place in my affections, I felt it was only right that we checked it out too.

The Parker’s Arms is where TIP was born. It’s the pub where, Dave, Adrian and I, used to go, every Monday night, to play pool and darts, and chat spooky stuff. Then, in 1995, after a slightly disappointing weekend in London, attending a series of training sessions, and an overnight investigation, for wannabe paranormal investigators, we decided to do our own thing, in a more official capacity, and gave ourselves the name Torbay Investigators of the Paranormal.

During those formative years, I was also running quiz nights there, and setting up a quiz team to compete in the local league...happy times, even if a bit stressful, trying to maintain an unbeaten record in the fast half of our first season.

When we went public, in 1999, we moved our base of operations to Churston Court, but I still have fond memories of our time at the Parkers. Who knew, that whilst we played our games, and chatted, in the older part of the building, stuff was going on in the newer area, and was only brought to our attention, recently, when our friends became regulars in the new restaurant. 

During their Sunday lunches there, they would often sense figures, in spirit, watching them from the carvery area, and feel an odd atmosphere in the ladies’ loos. At the same time, members of staff were also experiencing odd activity around the building. It was so noticeable, and regular, that the manager set up his own camera to try and capture it...with a little bit of success, so I’m led to believe, which is why, when it was suggested, we pay them a visit, the other week, I was up for it.

As we sat and debriefed over the morning’s visit to the monastery, the girls tuned in to the atmosphere of the restaurant, and all agreed it was “busy”, in a spooky way, literally bustling with activity. There was even speculation that witches might have visited the property, for ritualistic purposes. Again, activity was sensed in the toilet area, but this is quite common as spirit is attracted to water sources.

When we had an opportunity to chat with the manager, he turned out to be a mine of information. He actually lives on the premises, which is why he’s able to set up his camera, now and again, especially when activity seems strongest. He told us that the oldest part of the building used to be a farm, now the main bar area, whilst the restaurant, where we were sitting, sensing activity, was built on barns and storage areas, with a main thoroughfare running between them, hence the bustling sensations.

It had been a stop off point for coaches and horses, with stables out the back. There are stories of highwaymen being active in the area...one of the mediums picked up on this...whilst another story, involves a gentleman being killed by a hansom cab, outside the pub, as he rushed to get on it...the sensations of running, as picked up by another sensitive.

The farm had once had orchards surrounding it, as well as open fields to house livestock in. The general consensus, was that any witchcraft activity was centred around the times of the year when crops needed blessing, like wassailing, they didn’t appear to have actually entered the buildings...no drinking for them!

All this information was most intriguing, so much so, that we decided to visit again, this time to eat, on the day we were visiting the hotel at night...making it quite a busy double investigation for my team, something we haven’t done in a while. Again, like buses, you wait for one to come along...and then you get two! As it turned out, neither location disappointed...

We arrived at The Cattleman’s Restaurant, at five in the afternoon, to find the place already heaving! Fortunately, our table was booked, and, once we were seated, we didn’t have to move a muscle as it was full table service. This gave us the opportunity to get our bearings on anything other worldly, and, even though the place was rather noisy, and a bit smoky from sizzling meat, the mediums still managed to pick up on a few things, including the same energy from the toilet area, and the fact that dogs don’t like that part, most choosing to avoid it, some barking at entities unseen by their owners.

Having enjoyed our meals, making way for the next batch of diners, eager to take our place, we moved on to the main event.

The weather that particular evening wasn’t great. It was misty and drizzling, so we were glad the investigation was all indoors. We were given access to the communal areas, including restaurant/breakfast room, games room, bars, and function room, as these were the areas looked at by the previous investigation group. They had reported hearing a knock on the door to the function room, and the presence of an angry soldier...this could be explained by the fact the hotel (originally known as the Hydro Hotel...the original Esplanade Hotel is now known as the Inn on the Green...keeping up?) was used as a nursing home during both world wars. We were hoping for more of the same, much more...

Sarah, and I, had actually attended a 60th birthday party there at the end of last year. It was odd seeing the space empty and in semi-darkness, but the mediums were still aware of past celebrations being held there, over the years, along with the sad passing of some of the wartime patients. 

In various areas, names were picked up, usually it might just be a Christian name or surname, which is not always easy to trace, but on this occasion, we got both, along with some interesting details about them, which could possibly be traced with a bit of research, and maybe by input from readers too...

There was a Stanley Weston, who was a sea captain, and took his boat to help with the evacuation at Dunkirk. He married a French woman, called Luisa, and had three children called Bertie, Teddy and Stanley junior. Interestingly, Stanley junior, born in 1942, went on to become a night porter at the hotel. He also had a son that he called Stanley junior junior! Obviously an in joke with the family. This Stanley junior was born in 1962, and sadly died from the flu in 1971.

A more recent addition to the spirits present, might be more recognisable by locals. This was a gentleman who died in 2021, from cancer, at the age of 41, possibly lost a leg. A Liverpool fan, and played darts in a league. The name Julie was important to him. The medium who was communicating with him, got the name Brian Chambers.

If any of these details mean anything to you, please get in touch via my email address davidtiptrips@gmail.com as corroboration of evidence is valuable when investigating a haunted property. 

As well as the mediumship connections made that night, we had a fair bit of physical activity as well, which was most interesting. We had odd voices, possibly from a radio or tannoy system no longer present. I spread out some little bells and tambourines to see if spirit could manipulate them, and, after we demonstrated the sounds, we got some faint replications of them. There were some soft tapping noises on walls when we respectfully asked for a sign, but when we asked for it again, there was silence...well, after all, if we didn’t hear it the first time, why would spirit bother again?

However, the best activity we got, was in the function room, and it was very definite. Firstly, we got a very loud knock coming from a storage cupboard, that I’d only just looked inside. I had to check again to make sure nothing had fallen over, but everything seemed in order since my initial look. 

The second bit of evidence occurred when two of the mediums decided to dance together, 1940s style. It seemed like music, and singing raised the energy, allowing spirit to interact with us. Whilst I was taking a loo break, they started to sing Teddy Bears Picnic, as they danced, and when I returned, they were adamant that they had heard a male voice humming along. I assured them it wasn’t me, and no other males were present on that level of the building at that time.

Encouraging them to continue with this level of activity, I started to play suitable songs from the war years, off Spotify on my phone. My first choice was Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy, by the Andrews Sisters, and as they continued to dance and sing along, we all heard a very loud whistle, almost a wolf whistle, cutting through the song. The girls felt it had definitely come from my phone, but when we played back the track, it wasn’t part of it...most curious!

Fortunately, a voice recorder was active throughout most of the night, which I haven’t heard played back yet, but hopefully it picked up all this impressive evidence. It definitely felt that spirit was with us on this occasion, and because of that we will be going back for more in the future. I will definitely be talking about it during my walks.