A pub in Andover that’s spooked its owners on numerous occasions is attracting a lot of attention, and not just from ghost hunters.

The White Hart on Bridge Street in Andover dates back to the 17th century and was a popular overnight stop for stagecoaches on the busy Exeter to London route when up to sixty coaches passed through the town daily.

Today Dan Cutts, 33 and his partner Jade, 41 manage the 24-room Inn and live in part of the hotel.

Jade said she wasn’t aware that the pub had a reputation for being haunted, and the first few days tested her nerves: “During my first week working here, I sensed shadows behind me and my mobile was flung across the room. I’ve never witnessed anything like it before, then about four months ago a cat suddenly appeared and tried to head-butt me.”

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Dan continued: “I love the quirkiness and the history, a lot of guests say they can feel an aura.”

Rebecca Bushell, 51, has been investigating the paranormal for 15 years and runs ‘spectral nights’ for people interested in the paranormal. She said: “There’s such a lot of residual history, all those layers of time, it’s quite incredible what we can detect. I’ve researched the White Hart and I would love to invite participants to walk around the Inn and address the spirits, to let them know we’re here. It would be very exciting.”

Dan remains cautious, but says guests and staff have witnessed a variety of ghosts: “They’ve seen a lady and a baby in one of the bedrooms and a woman in green in another room upstairs who floats around the corridors.”

Meanwhile, in the bar, ‘vague shapes’ have also been reported; one man described them as being like a semi-transparent man and woman. In an upstairs corridor, footsteps have been heard and years ago one frightened maid is said to have locked herself in a room to avoid them.

With Halloween approaching, interest in the White Hart is growing: “We had a couple of people here the other day, who said they were ghost hunters.” Jade said, “But they left before we could ask if they’d seen anything.”

One regular who didn’t want to be named shrugged his shoulders at the thought of the pub being haunted, “It doesn’t bother me, it’s an old place, what do you expect?”