Historic spooky photobomb pub is 'haunted by TWO ghosts'
ByLorna Hughes
The eerie face was snapped at the grade II listed Lisbon bar in Liverpool by Rachel McKeown, but it was not until the day after that she spotted the ghoul
Liverpool Echo
Apparition: The ghost-like face appears in Rachel's night out photograph
A paranormal expert says a grade II listed pub is haunted by TWO ghosts after a spooky face appeared floating between a group of friends on a picture.
Rachel McKeown was looking through photos taken on a night out at The Lisbon bar in Liverpool when she saw an eerie face 'photobombing' one of the pictures.
She had performed in a production of Queertet at the Unity Theatre on Friday evening and joined fellow cast members for drinks at the bar afterwards.
It was not until the next day that she saw the spooky face in one of her pictures, reports the Echo.
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Old haunt: The Lisbon bar on Victoria Street, Liverpool
Tom Slemen, who has written more than 25 books on haunted Liverpool, says the Victoria Street pub has two ghosts – one an unknown woman and the ghost of its former manager and owner Sir Archibald Tutton Salvidge.
He said: “Salvidge’s story is very intriguing – he rose from humble beginnings in Birkenhead and ended up as a Tory firebrand speaker.
“After leaving Liverpool Institute he landed a job at the local Bent’s brewery and ended up as its managing director, and then he embarked on a political career – building up the Conservative Working Man’s Club – and then becoming an Alderman and later the leader of Liverpool City Council.
“Around 1907 something very odd happened; Salvidge’s admirers had tried to persuade him to become the Mayor of Liverpool for many years, and whilst enjoying a meal and drink at the Lisbon Restaurant and Public House one evening, Salvidge suddenly rose at the head of the table and announced that he was not only going to run for Mayor – he was also wondering if he should have a shot at becoming the Prime Minister in the 1910 election.
Close up: Rachel did not notice the ghostly face until the day after
“A prominent major and several magnates rose from the table and gave a toast – and the fire in the room suddenly flared up, throwing cinders all over the carpet.
"Salvidge seemed very nervous at this and later said perhaps it was an omen that he should not have political ambitions, but his influential friends said he was just being superstitious and backed his ambitions.
“A month later in the Lisbon, another toast was given to Archibald Salvidge’s political campaigns, and all or a sudden, three words written in what looked like blood appeared on the wall near the fireplace: Tell Them Archie.”
Salvidge backed out of the mayoral campaign the same night.
Tom says that since his death in 1928, his ghost has reportedly been seen many times in the Lisbon, along with the young woman.
Rachel said: “I saw the face but didn’t recognise it.
"At first I was trying to figure out if it was the light but it doesn’t look like a reflection and I don’t think there was anyone behind when it was taken.
“I do believe in the afterlife and I do think people can see spirits.”
