Maxine was enjoying one of her many cherished visits to York yesterday (Monday), when something ‘unexplainable’ happened in the toilets of a café.
After visiting the Museum Gardens, embarking on a boat trip, and generally enjoying the city she ‘fell in love with’, Maxine and her partner decided to stop for a quick refreshment.
They chose The Earl Grey Tea Rooms, on Shambles.
After a bite to eat and something to drink, Maxine decided to visit the toilet before catching her train back to her home town of Newark.
However, much to her confusion, the ladies toilet door wouldn’t budge: “I tried to open it, so I pushed and pulled it quite hard and it wouldn’t open. I did it a couple of times and still couldn’t get in.” She tried it again at least five times, but with no luck.
Convinced the toilet was occupied or had a broken lock, Maxine made her way downstairs and explained the situation to her husband.
A longstanding member of staff overheard her toilet troubles and assured Maxine there was nothing wrong with the door – nor was there anyone who had locked it.
Maxine then headed back upstairs and pushed open the door to the toilets with total ease – much to her surprise. “I’m sure this place is haunted and someone was stopping me entering the ladies toilet,” she told YorkMix.
She added: “It didn’t scare me – because, I tell you what, I’d have been running down those stairs if I’d seen something! But it just seemed very, very weird.”
What’s even more bizarre is the fact Maxine, just one night prior, had been to an evening of mediumship. “I thought it was strange that this happened the next day,” she told us.
“I’ve never seen a ghost or had an experience like that before, but I do believe in the afterlife.”
Back in Newark, Maxine decided to research The Earl Grey Tearooms and its history. An article from YorkMix popped up, about a lady who had a similar experience in the toilets.
“I Googled how old the old tearooms were and it brought me a link where a lady in 2016 said that she’d felt something touch her when she was washing her hands, and how it felt like a child had pulled her leg.
“I said to my partner, oh my god, somebody else has had another experience!”
Spooky tales
YorkMix headed down to The Earl Grey Tearooms, to see their take on the paranormal claim. Mandy, who’s worked at the eatery for decades and who’d spoken to Maxine yesterday, was on hand.
Mandy said: “I just thought it was funny, I don’t think she pushed hard enough, I’m sure it’s that.”
However, Mandy told us of a few spooky tales at the Earl Grey Tea Rooms: “Back in the early 2000s there were a couple of customers that came purposely to go and sit in the alcove, because they thought they could feel orbs.”
Mandy also recalled a time in the café that she’s never fully explained.
“I thought I saw a customer sitting at a table downstairs before we were open… But I don’t know, I think it might have been just me catching the corner of my hair on my eye or something.”
Another waitress also joined in on the ghostly tales, revealing that she’s heard plenty of ghost stories during her time at the tearooms.
Despite the allegedly paranormal happenings, Mandy believes there’s nothing to be afraid of, and when asked what she’d say to any spooked customers, she joked back: “don’t be daft!”
Have you too seen a spooky sighting in The Earl Grey Tea Rooms? Let us know on [email protected]!