A new study examining paranormal occurrences, hauntings, and tales of UFOs has named Manchester one of the most haunted places in the UK.
From a phantom man in a dark suit seen carrying a briefcase down halls at night by inmates at Strangeways before vanishing before the condemned cell, to a house with a 381-year-old skull boarded up inside its walls, Manchester certainly has some horrifying tales to tell.
Now our haunted status has been confirmed by new research conducted by caravan rental platform PaulCamper, which named Manchester the fifth most haunted city in Britain after looking at a range of different sightings of ghosts, vampires, and poltergeists, as well as tales of UFOs, fairies, and mythic legends.
Manchester has been named one of the most haunted places in the UK / Credit: Pxfuel
55 different reports of paranormal activity in Manchester contributed to the ranking, including 43 reports of “haunting manifestations”, two poltergeist sightings, two UFO reports, and even an evil curse.
These included a story about Brannigan’s nightclub (now Albert’s Schloss), where staff report being pushed down the stairs by an invisible ‘force’ that also causes trouble behind the bar; sightings of a white (or grey) lady, thought to have drowned in a pond that once stood at Picnic Corner on Broadoak Road after escaping from a castle; and numerous sightings of different specters at Elsham Gardens, a private residence in Gorton.
Sand Street, Harpurhey / Image: Peter McDermott via Geograph
Of course, we already know that Manchester is hardly short of haunted locations like Ordsall Hall and Barnes Hospital – but even some of these stories had previously slipped us by.
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The study also widens the net by including Manchester in Lancashire (wrong, we know), naming this as the third most haunted region after Yorkshire and Greater London, with a total of 585 paranormal sightings.
Including 32 poltergeists, 24 legends, 16 UFOs, 14 fairies, five curses, a dragon and even a wereworlf, it seems we certainly live in the most intriguing area when it comes to exploring paranormal fantasies of all persuasions.
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Beating Manchester to the top spot was Brighton, followed closely by York and then Bristol.
Want to find out a little more about some of the most haunted places in Greater Manchester? We’ve rounded up the spooky haunts here.
Police pursuing civil action after reports of women being filmed without consent on nights out in Manchester
Emily Sergeant
Civil action is now being pursued after a police investigation into reports of women being filmed on nights out in Manchester.
Greater Manchester Police (GMP) has confirmed in a statement that it is ‘exploring’ civil action in connection with ‘several’ reports of women being filmed without their consent on nights out in Manchester city centre, particularly around the Deansgate and Peter Street areas, following an investigation which began after social media videos of this nature were brought to its attention.
The police‘s subsequent public appeal lead to multiple women coming forward to report the impact finding themselves in these videos, and the commentary by the public, had on them.
GMP says it had to conclude its criminal investigation ‘due to limitations within the current legislation’, which is why it working with Manchester City Council to look at other routes of taking action.
“We took the reports from women who came forward, as well as the public feeling towards this behaviour, really seriously,” explained Superintendent Nicola Williams, from GMP’s City of Manchester district.
“The arrest of an individual in November 2024 was the first in the country and was our commitment to acting on all the information we have received.
“Throughout our investigation, we explored all lines of enquiry thoroughly, including digital forensic examination of various devices. The investigation was also reviewed by an experienced, senior detective to ensure no stone was left unturned.
Police are pursuing civil action after reports of women being filmed without their consent on nights out in Manchester / Credit: GMP
“Predatory behaviour is completely unacceptable, and tackling this has been a priority for our night time economy policing operation.”
GMP says it encourages anyone who experiences anything that ‘makes them feel unsettled or unsafe’ on a night out to report it, as all information received helps build a picture of the issues, allocate our resources effectively, and take action under our the dedicated nighttime policing operation, Op Safer Streets.
Reports can be made to GMP via 101, or on the website or Live Chat service, but you should always call 999 in an emergency.
Featured Image – GMP
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Entertainment union Equity makes £1 bid for Manchester Pride to protect workers from ‘further exploitation’
Emily Sergeant
Performing arts and entertainment trade union Equity has made a £1 bid for Manchester Pride.
You may remember that, back in October last year, Manchester Pride – the charity / organisation that ran the Manchester Pride Festival – entered into voluntary liquidation, and news emerged last week that the assets were being sold off to the highest bidder by liquidators.
By offering a ‘symbolic’ £1 for the assets – which include the Manchester Pride brand name and associated domain names – Equity says its bid has been made to give workers the opportunity to ‘decide the future’ of the event.
The bid is also said to have been made to prevent a repeat of 2025 – which apparently left Equity union members more than £70,000 out-of-pocket in unpaid fees.
Equity’s variety organiser, Nick Keegan, warned that selling the Manchester Pride brand to a commercial buyer risks ‘undermining the values’ of the event and the community that built it.
He worried it could also leave performers and workers ‘vulnerable to further exploitation’.
“Manchester Pride is not just a city-wide party,” Mr Keegan explained. “Its roots in protest are as important today as then.”
He added: “Manchester Pride was built by the LGBTQ+ workers of Canal St and beyond who provide a space and a community for LGBTQ+ people all year round. The event should not be treated as a commodity to be bought and sold off to the highest bidder.
“The cultural workforce are at the heart of Pride, without them, there is no festival.
“After what happened in 2025, with members left tens of thousands of pounds out of pocket, we don’t want to see history repeat itself.”
Equity says that if its bid is successful, the workers will have control over who the ‘asset’ goes to.
“Our bid is about protecting Pride as a community asset, not a commercial one,” the union’s statement continued.
“Allowing the people whose labour was used to build this ‘asset’ to decide how the trademark of Manchester Pride is used in the future will help protect them from further exploitation, as well as preserve the values and the longevity of the event itself.”
Georgina Pellant -
26th October 2021 
