A pub located in the vicinity of an old slaughterhouse and hangman’s point has left staff dealing with a host of paranormal 'regulars'.

Adam Brooks, 34, purchased The Three Colts pub in Princes Road, Buckhurst Hill as his first pub in 2013 hoping to welcome a traditional public house to the town.

The corner build, that had been untouched for over 20 years, was said to have smelt, been left run down, quiet and without local interest, when the father-of-two decided to transform it in November as part of a £200,000 refurbishment.

The earliest recorded owner of the family pub was John Roberts in 1867.

It was used as part of a drover’s trail where farmers from Waltham Abbey would stop off on the way to London to sell their animals at market.

Sheep, Geese, Cows and even Turkeys were regularly walked into London through Epping Forest on the trail.

The pub, which retains many of its original fittings, became a halfway house where the farmers could rest on the journey into the markets in the East End of London.

The stairs in the newly refurbished dining area used to go down further to an area that was used as a animal slaughterhouse.

The cobblestone floor, which was used to drain the blood of animals killed, is listed, so as part of the planning application for the recent refurbishment the newly decked floor had to be built over it.

Staff members of the Three Colts say the dining area can still get unusually cold, even in Summer.

Barbara Brooks, mother of owner Adam, said she often feels an unexplainable presence in her son’s pub that she blames on a hangman’s point that operated near- by.

The hanging point, on the edge of the Epping Forest, saw many executions of thieves and robbers but has been transformed into a children’s play area to “bring joy to the area” according to Mrs Brooks.

She said: “I am quite a spiritual person and a firm believer that there is history everywhere you stand.

“I get chills especially in old places and things have a habit of getting moved around here for no reason.

“I was once in the cellar and I felt someone pushing to get past me, but couldn’t see anyone.

“I wasn’t scared because I know that anything paranormal cannot hurt me in the physical world.”

Derya Gokdemir, who has worked behind the bar since January, spoke of an incident he experienced in the downstairs store room, underneath the slaughterhouse floor.

He said: “I went to drop off some supplies and noticed it was absolutely freezing cold, despite the heating being on.

“I heard a muffled womans voice coming from the door behind me, I thought it was Barbara but when I came up there was no-one there.

“I couldn’t make out the words she was mumbling, but I heard it. I tried to answer but got no response. It was just so eerie.”

Mrs Brooks finished: “This is a lovely friendly pub that everyone is welcome to- even ghosts.”