The Haunted Blind Tiger Pub

Posted: 09.03.2024 | Updated: 09.03.2024

Do you want the ultimate Charleston dining experience while visiting South Carolina? Then look no further than the Blind Tiger Pub. Offering an array of brews and delectable seafood, burger, and barbeque entrees, this historic pub is a foodie's wonderland. Established in a 19th-century building that retains its dark wood paneling and pressed tin ceilings, it sets a historical tone. A patron in this bar is immediately immersed in the history of Charleston.Beside the gastronomical delights awaiting behind the doors of the Blind Tiger, a unique history is waiting to be discovered: a history of prohibition, bootlegging, and, of course, ghosts! So sit down and stay a spell. It is assured you won’t leave on an empty stomach or without a few thrills and chills!Next time you're in Charleston and looking for a haunted Charleston walking tour, join Charleston Terrors for a historically accurate and fun ghost tour! 

What Is The Story Behind The Blind Tiger Pub?

Charleston's Blind Tiger Pub opened back in the late 1980s. This haunted Charleston bar pays tribute to many of South Carolina's long-gone secretive speakeasies through its drinks, atmosphere, and, often, paranormal company. It is haunted by a destructive poltergeist and a mysterious woman in black, making it a favorite stop on many Charleston ghost tours and pub crawls.

The History of Blind Tigers

On July 1st, 1893, the South Carolina Dispensary system went into effect. This new system allowed the state to legally monopolize all liquor sales in South Carolina and would continue to do so until 1907. To further tighten its grip, the state issued a sealed alcohol policy, which meant that only one bottle of alcohol could be sold at a time, and drinking on premises was strictly outlawed.The state’s new system for selling and consuming alcohol was immediately met with resistance from the public. And, in cities like Charleston, speakeasies called “Blind Tigers” began operating in secret, outside the law.Dozens, if not hundreds, of these so-called Blind Tiger operations opened for business in Charleston, filled with illegally obtained booze, bootlegged in by trains. Of course, there was a concerted effort to halt the import of booze and shut down these Blind Tiger establishments.Charleston proved to be a hard nut to crack. It was a rebellious city that scoffed at the law. It is out of this spirit that the Blind Tiger Pub manifested. Housed in a building constructed in 1803, the Blind Tiger has been immensely popular since opening its doors in the late 1980s. After a series of renovations, the Blind Tiger Pub has become what it is today—a popular eating establishment and a cherished meeting place with an atmosphere reminiscent of a neighborhood bar.

The Ghostly Patron of the Blind Tiger Pub—The Woman in Black

Despite its nickname of the “Holy City,” Charleston has a less-than-sanctimonious history. This city is enveloped in a shadow, darkened with scandals, tragedies, and war. The Blind Tiger is no exception. Over the years, this pub has been host to a myriad of supernatural happenings, and witnesses have reported ghostly encounters.The most frequently seen ghost is the spirit of a woman. This ghost is an intelligent haunting wherein the phantom interacts with the living. Also referred to as a classic haunting, this ghostly woman is usually described as wearing a black dress with an inhospitable temperament. Some patrons of the Blind Tiger have claimed that this intelligent haunting has touched them, pulling people’s hair and scratching them.But mostly, this ghostly woman manifests without any interactions. A former manager of the Blind Tiger Pub reportedly encountered her late one night. The bar had just closed, and the patrons were gone. The former manager was closing the pub when she appeared as a full-bodied apparition. The manager was understandably shocked that he witnessed a fully formed apparition floating across the bar. He claims that the ghost stared him straight in the eyes, evaluating him in her cold and focused stare, before the ghost vanished into nothingness, leaving the bar so cold that the manager could see his breath.As to the identity of this angry spirit dressed in black, no one is quite sure who she may have been. Some claim that she knew this place when it was a speakeasy during the Roaring Twenties, but that is loosely based on her style of clothing. She is, in the end, a mystery, a figure who has stepped out of the timeline of history that makes up the story of Charleston.

A Pub with Poltergeists

A poltergeist, a “noisy ghost” in German, also claims this pub as its domain. Within the Blind Tiger, footsteps are often heard walking across the floor of the bar with no living being in sight. Sometimes, glasses have been defiantly thrown to the ground, and taps have been known to turn on by an unseen hand. While never appearing as an apparition, it could be surmised that this poltergeist originated during the dispensary laws that choked Charleston. This ghost disturbs the bar and seemingly is attempting to empty the pub of its inventory. But for now, the Blind Tiger is here to stay. Its loyal patrons refuse to be frightened off by a few glasses breaking.

Haunted Charleston

A visit to Charleston would not be complete without a visit to this iconic pub with the welcoming atmosphere of a neighborhood bar. Rub elbows with the locals and enjoy a cold one right out of the keg, all while keeping an eye out for the ghostly lady in black who may float right by you. Take a Charleston Terrors ghost tour in Charleston, SC, and meet us at the Blind Tiger Pub in person! Grab a drink before the tour; you may need it.Also, don’t mind the glasses breaking on the floor from time to time. Or if a chair at your table moves on its own. That is all part of the ambiance here at the Blind Tigers Pub.Continue reading our blog for more information on haunted Charleston, and follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok for more spooky content!Cheers! 

Sources

www.afar.comwww.blindtiger.comwww.charlestonlivingmag.comwww.counton2.com www.discoversouthcarolina.com