The Canterbury

Posted: 01.30.2020 | Updated: 07.07.2025

Seattle is home to every kind of drinking establishment imaginable. There are fancy cocktail bars in Ballard, dive bars in Belltown, and speakeasies scattered around the city. However, there is also another kind of drinking scene in Seattle — one whose patrons are less chatty and more transparent.

If stopping by a haunted bar (or three) sounds like your idea of a good night, book a spot on Seattle Terror’s haunted pub crawl. You never know who (or what) you might see in between pints. 

Who Haunts the Canterbury?

Of all the haunted bars in Seattle, one has a particularly well-known spectral reputation: the Canterbury Ale House. This is because The Canterbury has not one, but three resident spirits. 

Spirits of the Canterbury 

• Greg, a former cook
• A man who was shot and killed in the bar
• An unknown woman’s spirit, who also died within the building

The History of the Canterbury Ale House 

The Canterbury Ale House wasn’t always known as the place to grab a beer and see a ghost. The building has housed several different kinds of businesses over the years since it was built in 1907, including Swift Cleaners in the 1930s and Gaslight Cafe in the 1960s, which transformed into Gaslight Tavern in the 1970s. 

However, the Canterbury that people know and love was first opened in 1972. The bar became a fixture in Capitol Hill, though it wasn’t exactly known as the finest drinking spot around. Instead, the place developed a name as the go-to dive bar for the neighborhood. 

With that said, the bar did do more than just serve cheap drinks. The large tavern also served as a music venue, with the band Soundgarden even playing at the joint in 1987.

Yet, the area of Capitol Hill started changing, and by the 2000s, not everyone wanted a dive bar in a prime location at 534 15th Ave E. In the early 2010s, the owner of The Canterbury told a news station that they sold the bar because “basically, Capitol Hill Housing wants a yuppie place.” 

This led to another round of owners of the bar, who decided to really pay homage to the place the tavern is named after: Canterbury, England, a historic small town in the county of Kent known for its stunning medieval architecture. The Canterbury Ale House reflected this English style with coats of arms on the walls, a suit of armor, and even a large drawbridge-looking door that greeted patrons as they entered. 

The Canterbury was once again a destination in Capitol Hill, and it was becoming known as being one of the longest-operating bars around. Yet, it wasn’t without its controversy. 

The Canterbury and Protests of 2020

Like many restaurants and bars, The Canterbury struggled during the pandemic in 2020 and after, when they could no longer fill their large rooms. Tensions were further agitated in mid-2020 when businesses were being vandalized and had their windows broken during protests. 

At the height of the Black Lives Matter movement and anti-police protests, the owner of the tavern, Ryan Lewis, posted messages on social media saying that “Looters should be shot.” Not surprisingly, this invocation of violence (which Lewis later said he regretted) made the bar the target of far more vandalism than it had been previously. This may have also contributed to the decline in business that later led Lewis to sell the bar in 2022, putting an end to the tavern’s 46 years of operation. 

However, the bar’s ties to spirits — and spirits — didn’t end there. 

The Upscale Cocktail Bar

In mid-2023, The Canterbury was reinvented into a fine cocktail establishment known as Meliora. While the restaurant kept some of the famous aspects of The Canterbury, like the stained glass window, suit of armor, and stuffed animal heads on the walls, they renovated the space to have a more luxurious vibe. 

This restaurant iteration of The Canterbury made the most of the 5,000 square feet of space, with 150 seats available throughout the large building. 

Yet, this vision was short–lived, as Meliora closed in February of 2024. City records showed that the owners were over $40,000 behind on rent. With these rumors came whispers of a new developer coming in to transform The Canterbury into its next iteration of life. However, currently, the bar/restaurant sits empty. Well, empty of human customers, at least. 

The New and Old Spirits of the Canterbury

Throughout its storied history as a dive bar, The Canterbury was also known for its spectral activity. Regulars would often experience otherworldly phenomena that they couldn’t quite explain, which only added to the charm of the old place. 

All the spooky encounters at the tavern are attributed to one of three ghosts. 

The Murdered Man

The oldest tales about the haunted bar involve a male spirit who took his last breath within the tavern. This unknown man was said to be enjoying a drink at the property in 1978. 

What happened next has been lost to time. Perhaps the man said the wrong thing to the wrong person. Or perhaps someone hunted him down. Regardless, while near the fireplace, the man was shot point-blank in the face — killing him instantly. 

It’s said that if you look in the mirror near the fireplace for long enough, you’ll see the reflection of a man looking down at the floor. However, this man is not seen out on the floor. 

If you’re brave enough to keep looking at this phantom’s reflection, he’ll slowly raise his head. Only then will you see that the spirit’s face is gone completely — a hole being in its place. 

Greg, the Former Cook

While the faceless man died 50 years ago, the next ghost is a much more recent addition. In 2010, a man named Greg was serving up the dishes at The Canterbury. He apparently loved his place of work so much that he never wanted to leave (literally). 

After passing away, the owners still often saw Greg hanging around the bar. They assure everyone that Greg is a very friendly spirit, and one can’t help but wonder if they enjoyed still getting to see their old employee around. 

The Unknown Woman 

While there are plenty of stories about the murdered man and Greg the cook, the woman’s spirit who haunts the bar is more mysterious. Is she who is responsible for turning the jukebox back on after it’s been turned off for the evening? Choosing songs like The Beatles’ “The End” to terrify the remaining workers?

Or perhaps she’s behind the pentagram that was found drawn on the floor in the basement, which is one of the most active spectral areas in the whole building. 

Shadowy figures have often been seen wandering around The Canterbury, and many believe it could be any of the three resident spirits roaming the halls. 

Haunted Seattle

While The Canterbury may be one of the most haunted bars in Capitol Hill, there are plenty of other haunted bars, restaurants, and buildings around Seattle. To see some of the most haunted sites for yourself, book a ghost tour with Seattle Terrors.

To learn about more cursed taverns and dive bars around the United States, follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. Read about other phantom-filled locations in Seattle, by checking out our blog. 

Sources:

• https://hauntedseattle.wordpress.com/2011/09/04/the-canterbury-haunts/
• https://seattleterrors.com/
• https://hauntedseattle.wordpress.com/2011/09/04/the-canterbury-haunts/
• https://www.capitolhillseattle.com/2022/03/after-46-years-the-canterburys-capitol-hill-reign-is-ending/
• https://seattle.eater.com/2023/6/12/23758190/canterbury-capitol-hill-seattle-reopens-as-meliora
• https://www.thestranger.com/food-and-drink/2011/10/26/10479666/the-haunted-bars-of-seattle