If you’ve had a late enought night in Brisbane, chances are you’ve ended up at one of the city’s phew 24-hour spots: the iconic Pancake Manor.
Although the stunning Romanesque architecture may have tipped you off, what you may not know about this beloved local spot is that it started out as St Luke’s Church of England back in 1904! That’s right: the place where people nurse hangovers, close out a wild night, and kids have funny face pancakes, used to be a place of worship.
It wasn’t any ol’ church either: for a good 6 years it actually served as a provisional cathedral, between the demolition of St John’s Pro-Cathedral and the opening of St John’s Cathedral in 1910. Consequently, the building served its intended purpose as headquarters for the Anglican Church Mission, providing space for several community groups and doing charitable work for the disadvantaged.
Starting in 1979, it became the Pancake Manor we all know and love, open every single day — except Christmas Day — around the clock. With such a long, storied life, it’s no wonder people have claimed for decades to hear echoes of the dead in the building.
Known as the most haunted spot in the Manor, the tower, the entry to which has been restricted for decades, is where most paranormal acitivity has been reported. Strange sounds, cold chills, mysterious noises, you name it, people have experienced it in its vicinity.
On the other hand, the building’s downstairs area — the Knight Bar until 2018, now Little Red Dumpling — is also known for being ghostly, to the extent that staff would try to avoid going downstairs after closing time. Plates inexplicably crashing to the floor, sounds of footsteps, doors opening and shutting on their own, and even the feeling of someone breathing on your neck would make most people hesitant to go there after dark!
So, next time you find yourself at the Pancake Manor after a night out, get yourself some boo-berry pancakes, and try not to think about what may be lurking in the gloom.
