Free punch and a free bar tab are up for grabs this coming weekend at a pub's Halloween party which might even produce a few extra spirits too.
The Maltings in South Shields will be hosting its annual 'spooktacular' fancy dress party on Saturday night and, given that it's said to one of the town's most haunted pubs, customers may well be in for an extra-chilling time.
Staff in the past have reported several spooky happenings on the premises, from hearing eerie noises - such as footsteps following them - to seeing shadowy figures, especially around the area of the gents’ toilets.
In 2017 barmaid Emma Hadaway told how she and customers had regularly sensed a presence and seen the likes of moving menus and flying pump badges.
And on one particularly disturbing occasion, she had been upstairs one night after closing time when she heard the sound of people charging up the stairs after her.
Thinking it was intruders, she braced herself, she said, adding: "But when I turned around there was nobody there. And the noise just stopped.”
The creepy stories are well known to customers of the pub in Claypath Lane who are unlikely to be too spooked to attend Saturday's party, especially as there will be free Halloween punch on arrival for all those who come in fancy dress before 9pm.
There also will be a £75 bar tab prize for the best fancy dress outfit; a £50 tab for the person in second place and £25 for third, alongside games and entertainment.
Before that the pub will be hosting a Rock Night Halloween Special on the big night itself - October 31 - which will feature rock anthems throughout the night.
Again there will be similar bar tab prices for fancy dress costumes plus a free shot on arrival.
