The Three Mariners

General information

The Three Mariners is a Grade II listed building and is widely rumoured to be the oldest pub in Lancaster, dating back to the 15th Century. It has seen much of Lancaster's rich history, from the closure of the Castle Priory by Henry VIII in 1539, to the Jacobite uprisings in the 1700s.

It has also played a part in the city's history, with numerous ties to Lancaster Castle throughout its 600 year occupancy. Built into the side of Castle Hill, prisoners were brought here for a 'last drink' with their families, lead from the castle dungeons through a rumoured hidden passage.

Lancaster played an important role in the Pendle Witch Trials of 1612, where it earned the nickname 'The Hanging Town'. At times when the dungeons of Lancaster Castle were overflowing, The Three Mariners, then known as The Red Lion, would even hold those awaiting trial in its first floor cellar.

All of this history has been absorbed into the very building itself, with numerous sightings of ghosts and paranormal experiences reported frequently. A blonde woman in a large dress has been sighted around the ladies toilets and objects have moved by unseen hands within the cellar; the ghost of a Jacobite man, apparently murdered in the pub in the 1700's, has been sighted on multiple occasions, wandering about the pub and outside along the cobbled remnants of Bridge Lane.

These events have ensured a continued interest in The Three Mariners, with the pub even featuring on an episode of the popular television series 'Most Haunted'.

Today, The Three Mariners provides a time tested offering of specialist craft ales and traditional home cooked food, all with the intention of giving our guests a truly unique glimpse into the days gone by in this beautiful city.