Phantoms at the Phil is a now-traditional event organised by Chaz Brenchley, an opportunity to hear new ghost stories read by their authors in the atmospheric surroundings of Newcastle's extraordinary private library, the Literary and Philosophical Society. It is held twice yearly, once during the traditionally haunted Christmas season and once at midsummer. The next proceedings will be held on Twelfth Night (6th January 2010, at 6.30 pm) at the Lit & Phil in Newcastle's Westgate Road (map). Refreshments will be provided and tickets cost £5 (£3 for members). There will be only one performance, so make sure you reserve your seat: telephone the Lit & Phil on 0191 232 0192 or e-mail: .
For a flavour of the event, read an account in The Supernatural Tales blog of the Twelfth Night Proceedings (January 6th 2009),at which Gail-Nina Anderson read a new story The Cauld Lad of Hilton.
Buy the Book
The stories from years two and three are now available in book form, in a numbered limited edition from Northern Gothic / Side Real Press.
The book of The Third Proceedings (published in December 2007) contains two stories by Gail-Nina Anderson, the much-praised The Parasol and A Garland with Gloves. The other stories are The Cricket Match at Green Lock and In the Silence Room by Sean O'Brien and Summer's Lease and The House of Mechanical Pain by Chaz Brenchley.
Phantoms at the Phil: The Third Proceedings is available from Northern Gothic, price £10.
Phantoms at the Phil: The Second Proceedings is still available from the same address: it contains six previously unpublished ghost stories (both as printed text and on audio CD read by their authors) including Gail-Nina Anderson's The Chapel of Saint Thomas.