Amazon Prime begins filming at Chester's most haunted hotel
Filming has begun for a brand new Amazon Prime TV series, based on Chester's most haunted hotel.
For Harry Achilleos, landlord of Ye Olde King's Head, this project has been ten years in the making, and attributed the history of the building as its appeal in the first instance.
At over 400-years-old, the building has had over two thousand eye-witness accounts and 'reports of paranormal activity' spanning over decades.
It is now the focus of a brand new 'docu-series' set to land on the streaming platform early this summer.
Chester Nub News spoke to Sarah Gibbs, project manager for 'My Haunted Hotel', to understand a bit more about the upcoming series and what viewers can expect.
She explained after closing the hotel for standard use in 2019, the entire place was rigged with cameras, including night vision and thermal imagery to capture footage of hauntings.
For the first time, guests could book 'overnight investigations' at the former hotel.
It offered guests an immersive experience in Chester, where they could take part in their own 'ghost-hunt' with live cameras recording the whole thing.
Two years later, a Youtube series based in Chester's Ye Olde Kings Head was born, exposing a series of seemingly unexplainable events happening in the 17th century inn, including those from these investigations.
Explaining the concept of 'My Haunted Project' , Sarah said: "The whole thing for us is research: it's seeing the psychological effects of these things on people, it's seeing if there are potential hauntings attached to objects."
Sarah clearly outlined that her belief in the paranormal was not absolute, but some aspects of her work within the former hotel often challenged this scepticism.
She added: "We've had guests sat there and a lit candle has moved about three inches in front of them, just moved across the table. We can't explain that.
"In the pub, glasses move or fly off the shelf. We had a blackboard that flung itself off the shelf just this week.
"Sometimes it can be explained, we do look at those cases. It's not just a case of us all screaming and running around, going 'oh my god, everything is paranormal'.
"I think that's why people like it; they can have their experience validated, which is a big deal and it has not been done before, not for the general public."
The new series will first introduce the team as they each come on board, showcasing stand out moments, combined with first-hand narratives and the paranormal elements of the team's work.
Many former guests have returned to tell their stories for the programme.
Sarah said: "One of the ladies that has been interviewed for Amazon Prime, her experience goes back to 1974. She's an old lady that came in and told us all about the things she experienced when it was a normal hotel.
"We've also had previous landlords in for filming. They experienced things back in the 80s that are now documented, which are the same experiences we get today. It's just fascinating how similar they are."
Also home to a 'haunted museum', where items are kept in glass containers and under constant surveillance, the King's Head has a rich collection of allegedly paranormal objects, each with their own history and stories.
Sarah shared that people often leave items at the hotel's door, as she said: "We had a doll dropped off the other week with a note attached saying, she's your problem now.
"We have not thought of a name for her yet. We like getting things like that where there's no story attached, because there's no narrative. We literally have something from scratch.
"So far there has not been a peep out of her."
The Lower Bridge Street building is steeped in history. Underneath the floorboards of room four, a sword and a pair of slippers were found tucked away during a renovation in 1924.
Dating back to 1645, the items remain on the premises today; just hanging above the bar.
Regarding the adjustment to filming for a new platform, Sarah highlighted the differences in production.
She said: "Filming is very different because we're not used to behaving ourselves. There's a certain criteria with filming for Amazon Prime that you have to follow, like no swearing, which isn't easy for us.
"I'm known for using a certain phrase when I ask for something paranormal to happen and it actually does.
"It is a lot of work but we're really excited for it."
With the Youtube channel now boasting well over one million views, the team have grown by opening their doors to the public in order to document their eye witness accounts.
At the heart of the project, Harry Achilleos, Danny Moss and Brett Jones are focused on capturing 'true evidence on camera as well as providing a healthy scepticism'.
Differing from their existing Youtube channel, this 'docu-series' will feature reenactments from the 1600s, when the pub was built.
Sarah added: "His sort of vision was to make sure that this was documented, that they weren't just stories. It was backed up by something else."
The team are due to open their next location in February, at the notorious Pendle Hill, where they will be the first group to get a place in the area best known for the Pendle Witch Trials.
You can follow their social media or visit the website to keep up to date with all things 'My Haunted Project'.
New chester Jobs Section Launched!!
Vacancies updated hourly!!
Click here: chester jobs
Share:
