STAFF at Halifax nightclub Liquid claim the former cinema is haunted – by the ghost of a projectionist who burned to death during a horror film showing in 1948.
Raymond Farrar was just 25 when he perished while an audience of 600 people watched The Ghost Of Frankenstein unaware a blaze had broken out upstairs.
"I think it's the same guy," said manager Neill Maguire, lowering his voice.
"It was 4am on Sunday, I was doing the stock take upstairs in the Maine Street bar when I saw a someone.
"I thought it was a customer who'd got lost because downstairs was still open.
"I said 'excuse me, you're not supposed to be up here,' and he ignored me.
"So I walked towards him and that's when he... walked through the wall."
Now research has revealed Mr Farrar died in the building 60 years ago.
Reporting the incident on April 9 1948, The Halifax Daily Courier and Guardian said an audience saw a flash of red rip through the film before the reel cut out and they realised the building – then simply called The Picture House – was on fire.
Attempts to rescue Mr Farrar, the father of a seven-week-old baby, were in vain.
Mr Maguire, who only started at the club in March, says it has left him scared to go upstairs by himself.
"I'm a sceptic but that was freaky – although I'm quite sure Raymond means no harm."
And he isn't the only one to be confronted by the ghost, who has tousled hair and dresses in black trousers and a crumpled white shirt.
Barman Philip Pearcy said: "I saw him a few weeks ago but I thought I was going mad and didn't say anything.
"He was stood watching me but when I went over to speak to him he disappeared and all the fridges started shutting."
It is the first time anyone has reported a spectre at the building, which opened in 1913.
