Haunted Montreal Pub Crawl

Montreal’s Haunted Pub Crawl mixes ghost stories, dark local history, and three old drinking spots into one easy afternoon. You hear about the ghosts of Griffintown, the McTavish legend, a supposed vampire serial killer, and Hurley’s burning lady, all while sitting inside working pubs.

I like the short walking distance, which makes this a good choice when you want a spooky experience without marching across the city. I also like the strong storytelling element. Hosts such as Jason, Max, Anton, Cara, and Donovan have different styles, but the best sessions turn the tales into a small piece of theater.

The main thing to understand is that this is a storytelling tour held inside bars, not a walking ghost hunt. You may spend close to 45 minutes at each pub, and the group can reach 25 people. If you expect constant movement, cemetery stops, or a drink included in the price, this may not be your ideal afternoon.

Key points to know before you book

• Three pubs, about 45 minutes each: McKibbin’s, Sir Winston Churchill Pub, and Hurley’s Irish Pub form the basic route.
• Little walking between stops: You start on Bishop Street and finish on Crescent Street, with the pubs doing most of the atmospheric work.
• Stories range beyond the buildings: Expect ghost lore, crime tales, gruesome deaths, and dark Montreal history connected to places around the city.
• Drinks cost extra: You buy beer or other beverages directly from each bar at regular prices, with no special tour discount.
• Groups may be fairly large: The stated maximum is 25 people, so the personal feel depends partly on the day and the host.
• Stairs can be an issue: The old pubs are not recommended for people with serious mobility limitations.

What kind of haunted tour is this?

I would describe this as a pub-based ghost storytelling session with a crawl built around it. You move through three bars, but the main event at each stop is the guide telling stories while the group sits and orders drinks.

That distinction matters. In cities where open-container rules allow a guide to walk from bar to bar with a drink in hand, a pub crawl can feel like a moving party. Montreal’s format keeps the stories inside the establishments. You get less street atmosphere, but you also get a seat, shelter from poor weather, and time to hear the tales without trying to keep up on a sidewalk.

The tour begins at 3:00 p.m. at McKibbin’s, 1426 Rue Bishop, less than two blocks from Sherbrooke Street. It ends at Hurley’s Irish Pub, 1225 Rue Crescent. The entire experience lasts about two and a half hours, although your exact finish can depend on drink service and the pace of the group.

The price is $26.29 per person, which is fair if you want a guided activity rather than simply visiting three bars on your own. It is less compelling if you are mainly looking for cheap drinks, since alcohol is not included and there are no special prices for the group.

McKibbin’s and the first round of ghost stories

McKibbin’s sets the tone. You hear about the pub itself, the ghosts of Griffintown, and the famous McTavish ghost story. The material connects the bar to wider Montreal folklore, so do not expect every story to concern a spirit sitting in the room with you.

This first stop is also where the format becomes clear. The guide needs time to tell several stories, and you have time to order a drink. That can feel relaxed and social, especially if you are with friends or enjoy listening over a beer. It can feel slow if you arrived expecting a quick tale followed by an immediate walk to the next bar.

Jason has received especially strong praise for animated and detailed storytelling, while other hosts such as Anton and Donovan have been described as funny, energetic, and engaging. The company uses several guides, so you should expect the basic subjects to remain similar but the delivery to vary.

McKibbin’s is a good opening stop because the stories introduce Montreal’s darker side before the tour moves into more specific pub and crime lore. If you prefer short, punchy ghost stories, pay attention to the pacing here. The first 45 minutes can feel long for anyone who does not want much background.

Sir Winston Churchill Pub and the darker material

The second stop is Sir Winston Churchill Pub, often called Winnie’s in local conversation. Here you hear about the pub, Nick Auf de Mar’s ghost, and Montreal’s alleged vampire serial killer.

This part is likely to suit you if you enjoy true crime mixed with folklore. The tour is not limited to gentle tales about wandering spirits. Some stories involve violence, death, and the grim events that gave the legends their shape. The tone is generally suitable for a broad adult audience, but one review described it as roughly PG-13, with the guide able to trim the more graphic material.

The practical side of the second stop matters. You will likely sit while servers take drink orders, and you are responsible for paying for your own purchases. That is normal pub procedure, but it can slow the tour when a larger group arrives together. If you want to keep things moving, decide what you would like before the server reaches your table.

A past visit was disrupted when a pub closed unexpectedly during the pandemic, and the guide adapted the route. That is not a normal feature to expect now, but it shows why you should keep the day flexible. Bars can change their hours or operations, and the advertised sequence may need to shift.

Hurley’s and the final ghost stories

The last stop is Hurley’s Irish Pub on Crescent Street. The stories here include the burning lady ghost, tales from Club le Cinq, and the well-known Mary Gallagher ghost story.

Hurley’s gives the crawl a strong finish because it brings together a pub haunting and larger Montreal legends. You may also have more time to settle into the bar by this point. One account described the final stop as a place where people stayed to discuss their own paranormal experiences, though the official tour remains planned around roughly 45 minutes per pub.

The route ends here, so you can continue your evening in the Crescent Street area after the tour. That makes the timing useful. You begin in midafternoon and finish early enough for dinner or another downtown activity.

The final stop also reinforces the tour’s limits. You are not taken to cemeteries, abandoned sites, or every location mentioned in the stories. If a tale concerns a place elsewhere in Montreal, you hear about it from the pub rather than walking past the scene.

The guides make a real difference

The company uses professional actors and storytellers, and the guide is central to the experience. Jason is repeatedly described as animated, funny, and passionate. Max is praised for making the pub setting feel convincing, while Anton and Donovan are noted for lively delivery. Cara is described as friendly, energetic, and communicative.

That variety is both a strength and a small gamble. A good storyteller can make a familiar legend feel fresh. A slower or more lecture-like delivery can make 45 minutes at one pub feel heavy, especially when the group is waiting for drinks or sitting in a noisy room.

I would book this tour because you enjoy spoken storytelling, not because you want a fast-moving bar party. The most positive experiences come from people who want the dark history explained and are happy to give the stories time to develop.

If you prefer interaction, you may want to take an active part in the conversation. The guides can be personable, but this is still a performance led by one person. It is not a paranormal investigation where everyone searches for evidence or shares equal time.

The walking is easy, but the pubs are not fully accessible

The route involves minimal walking, which is useful after a long day of sightseeing or in poor weather. You start on Bishop Street and finish on Crescent Street, both in central Montreal, with the route passing between three bars.

The bigger concern is the interiors. Some pubs have stairs, and the old buildings were not designed with modern accessibility in mind. The experience is not recommended for people with serious mobility issues or anyone who needs guaranteed step-free access.

The meeting point is near public transportation. I would use transit or a ride service rather than drive. The starting address is important because McKibbin’s has more than one location, and entering only the pub name into a map can send you across town. Check that your map shows 1426 Rue Bishop before leaving.

Group size and the meaning of a personal experience

The maximum group size is 25. That is small enough for a guide to address the whole group, but it is not the same as a private or six-person tour.

Some older booking information apparently suggested a much smaller group, while the current stated limit is 25. I would plan for a medium-sized group and regard a smaller gathering as a bonus. Larger groups can make drink service slower and reduce the feeling of a personal conversation.

The group size also affects the atmosphere. With friends, a larger gathering can feel lively. If you are traveling alone, the bar setting gives you a natural place to sit among other people, but you should not assume a quiet, intimate session.

Is $26.29 good value?

At $26.29, the tour is reasonably priced for two and a half hours of guided entertainment in three established pubs. You are paying for the research, presentation, and organization, not for the drinks.

Your final cost depends on what you order at each stop. Three rounds can easily cost more than the tour itself, and there are no special discounts or included alcoholic beverages. You can keep the budget under control by ordering selectively rather than treating every stop as a full round.

The value is strongest if you would otherwise pay for a ghost walk and visit bars separately. You get a planned route, a dedicated storyteller, and a simple way to hear local legends while taking breaks indoors. The value drops if you do not drink, dislike sitting through long stories, or want a tour built around walking and photographs.

There is also no mention of included food. If you need a snack with your drink, plan ahead or ask the bar what is available. The tour itself is not presented as a meal experience.

What the stories are really like

The material combines three strands: ghost stories, crime, and Montreal history. You may hear about a spirit associated with a pub, a murder legend from elsewhere in the city, and the grim background that helped create the haunting.

That mix gives the tour more substance than a string of unexplained noises. It also explains why some people find the experience more like a history lesson than a conventional pub crawl. The guide may spend time explaining people, places, and events before reaching the supernatural part.

I think this format works best when you enjoy folklore as a story rather than expecting proof of ghosts. The tour presents legends and reported hauntings, not guaranteed paranormal encounters. If you want to investigate or test claims, this is the wrong activity.

The rainy-day atmosphere can help. You stay inside while the weather adds a suitably gloomy mood outside, but the experience does not depend on rain or darkness. The 3:00 p.m. start means much of the tour takes place in daylight.

Who should book it?

You should consider this crawl if you like:

• Local legends mixed with crime and history
• A low-walking activity in central Montreal
• Irish pubs and relaxed afternoon drinks
• Storytellers who perform rather than simply read facts
• A social outing with friends or a solo activity built around a group

You may want another tour if you prefer:

• A walking route through haunted streets
• Cemetery visits or specific paranormal sites
• Very small private groups
• Fast stops with only one short story per bar
• Included drinks, discounts, or food

The 91 percent recommendation rate and 4.7 rating suggest that the overall format works well for most people, but the lower scores point to a clear dividing line: some participants want detailed folklore, while others want a faster pub crawl. Know which side you are on before booking.

Cancellation and basic planning

You receive confirmation at booking, and the experience is offered in English with a mobile ticket. Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the 3:00 p.m. start time. Cancellations or changes made within 24 hours are not refunded or accepted.

The tour requires a minimum number of participants. If the operator cancels because that number is not reached, you are offered another date or experience, or a full refund.

Arrive with the correct starting address saved on your phone. The meeting point is McKibbin’s at 1426 Rue Bishop, not simply any McKibbin’s location in Montreal. Bring a payment method for drinks, wear shoes suitable for stairs, and leave enough time to reach the bar by public transportation.

Should you book the Haunted Montreal Pub Crawl?

Book it if you want ghost stories with a drink in hand, limited walking, and a guide-led look at Montreal’s darker folklore. The best guides bring real energy to the material, and the three-pub structure gives you a comfortable way to spend a midafternoon.

Skip it if you want a true walking crawl, a small private group, or a rapid sequence of spooky tales. The key question is simple: do you want to sit in pubs and listen to stories, or do you want to roam the city hunting for haunted places? For the first choice, $26.29 is a sensible price. For the second, choose a walking ghost tour instead.

FAQ

How long does the Haunted Montreal Pub Crawl last?

The experience lasts approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes. The planned itinerary allows about 45 minutes at each of the three pubs.

Where does the tour begin?

It begins at McKibbin’s, 1426 Rue Bishop, Montréal, Quebec H3G 2E6. The start time is 3:00 p.m.

Where does the tour end?

The tour ends at Hurley’s Irish Pub, 1225 Rue Crescent, Montréal, Quebec H3G 2B1.

Which pubs does the tour visit?

The planned stops are McKibbin’s, Sir Winston Churchill Pub, and Hurley’s Irish Pub.

Are drinks included in the price?

No. Alcoholic beverages are not included. You can buy drinks from the bars at their regular prices, with no special tour discount.

How much walking is involved?

The tour involves a short walk between pubs. It begins on Bishop Street and finishes on Crescent Street, with most of the storytelling taking place inside the bars.

Is the tour accessible for people with mobility issues?

Some pubs have stairs, and the old buildings may be difficult for people with serious mobility limitations. Most participants can take part, but the experience is not recommended for serious mobility issues.

What is the cancellation policy?

You can cancel at least 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the experience are not refunded or accepted.