RESIDENTS who live in a beautiful village with just 200 people and the UK’s “BEST” pub have revealed it’s hiding a dark secret.

Cholmondeley in Cheshire boasts the late Queen and Princes William and Harry as visitors after they stayed in its 19th century castle.

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However villagers say that Cholmondeley Castle is haunted by someone smoking a cigar.

Jean Fox, 73, who has lived in the area for 45 years, was a maid to Lady Cholmondeley at the country house.

The mum-of-two said: “I used to work at the castle until a few years ago.

“I did Lady Cholmondeley’s laundry and then packed her suitcases for when she was going away.

“I loved it. The castle is magnificent however there was a lot of talk about a ghost.

“People had mysteriously smelt burning in the corridors as if someone was smoking a cigar or cigarette.

“But no-one ever saw anyone smoking so people thought it was a ghost.

“Mind you I never came across it so who knows if it was just one of those tales.”

Jean continued: “People either work at the castle or on the farms. It’s a great place to live even though there’s not a lot here.

“The main problem is that people drive too fast down the roads as there is nothing to stop them and there are all long and straight.

“We are worried someone could get killed or a child knocked down.”

Another villager said: “The Queen stayed at the castle when she was doing visits in the area but I don’t know if she ever came across the ghost.

“Prince Harry and William also stayed as well as Andrew.

“There was talk of one of the young princes speeding along the roads in Land Rovers.”

Famed baker Mary Berry and TV host Chris Tarrant have also stayed the night in the village.

Barman Barney Hill, 22, who grew up in the village, said: “I saw Guy Martin who does the driving shows on the telly turn up with two broken arms as well.

“So we have a few famous faces around here. A lot of the horse people also drink in the pub.”

Barney works at the Cholmondeley Arms, which last month was named best Rural Pub 2023 at the Great British Pub Awards in Manchester.

He said: “It’s a great pub and we get a great mix of locals and people who travel here for the food.

“This is a great place to live. It is a bit isolated but we do have a bit of a problem with speeding drivers.

“There’s been a few accidents outside the pub on the A49.”

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