A Night at The Jolly Sailor, Bursledon

The Jolly Sailor

There are some pubs that just sit in their history… and yet there are others that shout it out rather loudly. The Jolly Sailor in Bursledon is one of the latter, though until recently, it had done so only for the staff, locals, and those who chose to listen. With nothing written in the mainstream press or internet about paranormal activity here, it was a bit of a wildcard for the haunted Hampshire project. I’m very glad we trusted our instincts.

We arrived on what turned out to be the hottest day of the year. The air was still, and uncomfortably so. Yet both Barry and I experienced sudden chills, significant goose bumps, and even headaches, this is while sitting enjoying the ambience. These are classic signs that something is stirring, and in our experience, not just from the heat. It felt like the spirits were already watching, and the proof came quickly. As I began recording some initial footage, literally one of the largest string orbs I’ve ever seen drifted through the viewfinder, so clear, so deliberate, it was as if the night was officially beginning and yet I only captured the tale end of it. It felt that the spirit moved out of the way purposefully.

Three Screenshots - missed it! BUT there would be lots more.

The Staff’s Stories

Before we dive into the evidence, it's worth mentioning why we chose the Jolly Sailor in the first place. Staff had reported strange and unsettling activity: a hand dryer turning on by itself in the middle of the night 3am and this despite the burglar alarm being set and undisturbed. Items have been known to fly off the coffee bar with no warning.

Perhaps the most curious tale was from the daughter of a regular, who spoke of a girl named Erin who "lived in the wall" of the bathroom. That’s the kind of detail that sticks with you.

First Contact

We began in one of the older sections of the pub (though not the oldest) and were immediately greeted by proximity sensors lighting up, the music box playing, and a beautiful flurry of orb activity. We experienced EVPs and distinct voices... These weren’t just mutterings, these are real voices but no-one living or present at the time. The captured Orbs are not dust motes or reflections, most of the orbs were vivid, glowing, and pulsing with a sort of intelligent rhythm. Others were subtle, almost transparent, zipping through the air like shy guests trying not to be seen.

We did place cat balls, but at that stage, they weren’t giving us much to go on, although they were lighting, as if the spirits were curious as to these new additions. It's not uncommon, especially in a new location where the spirits aren’t used to being interacted with, and here at the Jolly Sailor this is indeed the case.

Into the Newer Areas

From in front of the fire place, we moved into the newer parts of the pub. While the energy changed, it didn’t disappear. One of our IR cameras recorded over 500 activations which is surely an impressive number. Yet visually, things were more subdued. A few minor orb manifestations, yes, but little direct communication. It felt like something was watching, observing perhaps, but not quite ready to come forward. One of the staff team had an SLS camera which was recording activity on the table next to the coffee station, was this why the camera is being activated and why items fly off the station?

This reticence was in stark contrast, however, to what happened next.

The Vicarage and the 1960s Spirit

The oldest parts of the building were far more active, and rich in character. While walking the space earlier, I had a very strong impression of a young woman from the 1960s. She wore a bright, letterbox-red miniskirt and a bucket-style hat to match. She struck me as social, musical, vibrant almost rebellious. In contrast, I also sensed an older male presence, likely a former vicar, who seemed deeply annoyed by noise, music, and merriment. Could this be an echo of tension past? The two spirits couldn’t be more different and perhaps clashing in the afterlife?

Interestingly, this part of the building reportedly has constant issues with the music system: turning up and down by itself, sometimes breaking entirely. Sabotage, or spectral censorship?

***UPDATE SINCE WRITING***

During our investigation, we encountered something quite rare, a tree elemental (Dryad). Elementals are spiritual beings connected to natural elements like earth, air, fire, and water, and in this case, we believe that the spirit was tied to one of the large trees on the property. It identified itself as an elemental, possibly agitated at first, due to the recent cutting back of the tree it was connected to. After offering a respectful apology for the disturbance, the energy softened, and the elemental accepted the gesture then appeared to quietly withdraw. Encounters with elementals are uncommon in paranormal investigations, making this moment a powerful reminder of the deep connections between the natural world and the unseen energies that dwell within it.

Full Manifestation

Back in the oldest room, the activity ramped up. Orbs of all types made appearances, some quick and darting, others slow and pulsating and, I thought, very beautiful. One spirit, communicating via the cat balls, kept the light on persistently, as if to say, "I’m still here. Don’t stop talking to me."

From our interaction, we believe there are five primary spirits residing at the Jolly Sailor. The spirit we connected via significant Spirit ball activity on request, most strongly had ties to the river / sea, not through ships or the nearby boatyard, but possibly someone washed ashore… a body, not a sailor. That impression was chilling and poignant.

We attempted some table tipping and glass movement, but it seemed there just wasn’t quite enough energy in the room nor maybe the spirits were still 'sussing' us out. This wasn't unsurprising following the human pendulum activity.

A Privilege to Investigate

Watchful Spirits

Throughout the night, both Barry and I felt that this may well have been the first ever full-scale paranormal investigation on-site. The spirits weren’t entirely sure how to react. Some of the orb activity seemed deliberately evasive moving just out of camera view, as if shy or unsure about being captured.

One staff member joined us with a mobile SLS app, and it repeatedly showed a figure standing close to our main camera. Did this correlate with what we were experiencing? Possibly. Spirit energy doesn’t always manifest in the way you expect, but when technology and intuition align, it’s worth noting.

Clairaudient Messages

During one of the spirit communication sessions, I began receiving a number of messages via clairaudience, essentially hearing them internally in a way that didn’t feel like my own voice or thoughts. I relayed them to the staff, and each one was acknowledged as accurate. This kind of validation is incredibly affirming, especially when the details are unknown to the investigator. The spirit confirmed it had been passed to me.

Final Stops: Smugglers and Spirits

We finished the night with two final areas: the boathouse and the rowing store. These had an entirely different energy. While much quieter than the main building, there was a faint sense that these spaces may have been used for smuggling in the past. An EVP recording seemed to support that possibility. History is written in the walls, sometimes, it speaks.

Of course, we had to stop by the second toilet, linked to the legend of Erin, the girl in the wall. The cat ball flickered once, and Barry captured an image where one guest appeared to partially transform, something that occasionally occurs in paranormal photography captures, when energy overlays physical form. It was subtle, but intriguing.

A Wildcard That Delivered; The Jolly Sailor

That marked the end of our brief investigation. It may have been short, but it was powerful and thoroughly enjoyable. We made contact, captured stunning visual evidence, and scratched the surface of what may be a complex, layered haunting. The Jolly Sailor surprised us. With no media attention and only a few passed-down stories, it turned out to be a genuinely active location.

We’re deeply grateful to the staff for their warm welcome and open-mindedness and perhaps even more grateful to the spirits who chose to engage. I believe that if we are able to return, with a little more trust built, they would be more confident in revealing their stories. Piece by piece, we might just be able to complete their puzzle.

It’s safe to say the Jolly Sailor has earned its place in Ghosts on Tap: Top 10 Haunted Pubs in Hampshire. Wildcard no more, it’s now a firm favourite.

Until next time…

When we will go and explore beyond the veil once again.

Wonderful Waterfront Location

Watchful Spirits