Ep 29: Admiral Benbow Penzance: Haunted Pubs in Cornwall, Smuggler Tunnels & Peepholes

Grab your eye patches, hide your contraband, and try your absolute best to ignore the eyeballs watching you from the woodwork, because this week our paranormal and true crime podcast is heading straight to the southwest coast of England. We are doing a massive historic deep dive into one of the most famous haunted pubs in Cornwall: the legendary Admiral Benbow Penzance on Chapel Street.While literature nerds know this exact tavern as the iconic opening inspiration for Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic Treasure Island, we are looking at the building through a much more judgmental lens. We unpack the actual history of the "Benbow Brandy Men"—the local 18th-century criminal gang that utilized an extensive labyrinth of secret smuggler tunnels snaking entirely underneath Chapel Street straight to the Penzance harbour to dodge the tax collectors. We also break down the verified hauntings, the spectral activity, and the ghost of the lady in white roaming the property.But the absolute star of the episode is our official safety and privacy critique of the pub's interior architecture. We look inside the bar to investigate the historic, deeply unsettling lookout points—literal peepholes built directly into the walls so pirates could keep an eye out for the local authorities. We discuss the sheer psychological horror of trying to enjoy a quiet pint of cider while a sweaty, 17th-century criminal is hiding inside the actual drywall insulation, staring directly at the back of your head. Grab a drink, check the corners of the room, and join us for a wildly funny slice of haunted UK history!Share your stories with us so we can read them during Listener Week!  @[email protected] - The_Cold_Spot_Confessions https://www.instagram.com/the_cold_spot_confessions?utm_source=qr&igsh=aTBsejd2b3k2YnpvTiktok - The Cold Spot Confessions Podcasthttps://www.tiktok.com/@the.cold.spot.con.pod?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc Facebook - The Cold Spot Confessions Podcast https://www.facebook.com/share/1KjTVh7t51/Try London Nootropics 👇🍄https://londonnootropics.com/Use our code 'TCSCP' at checkout for £5 off your first order