16 November 2023 , 11:05
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A couple reckon they may have taken the best ghost picture ever after an apparition of a "dead soldier" photobombed them in a famous London restaurant.
Ross Cheeseman says he was out for dinner with his partner Georgia Renshaw-Smith and her family, celebrating a birthday in the much-renowned Quaglinos – whose guests have included everyone from Queen Elizabeth II to Elton John.
But Ron and the rest of the family got a huge shock when they looked at a selfie he took of himself and Georgia, as a spine-chilling figure appeared to hover in the background and it looked like a translucent "military man in uniform".
Georgia Renshaw-Smith was snapped with a 'ghostly figure' behind her (Kennedy News and Media)The party had been happily sipping champagne and tucking into oysters during the get-together but when 35-year-old Ross snapped the selfie of himself and his girlfriend, 26, the mood changed.
Ross claims the snapshot left waitresses and the restaurant manager spooked as they'd never seen anything like it before – but the dad-of-one believes it to be a fitting place to encounter a ghost as the eatery has a long and storied history.
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The restaurant dates back to 1929, has been a favourite among celebrity A-listers as well as a string of royals, having played host to Judy Garland's wedding reception in 1969 and enjoyed Prince Harry as a regular in recent years.
The couple, who have been together four years, hope to revisit the restaurant again soon to try recapture another eerie photo. Ross, from Bristol said: "I flipped the camera on my iPhone to the front facing camera to take a selfie of me and my partner.
"I had taken one or two photos that my partner wasn't happy with so I took another, this was the picture that when we looked at it revealed what looks like a ghost in the background. I think the ghostly figure looks like some sort of ex-military man with broad shoulders in uniform looking over the shoulder of me or my partner.
"It looks see through as you can make out a spine and ribs, I think it also looks like he's got some sort of headband or hat on. I showed it around the family and we were all amazed by it. [Georgia's] family thought I had doctored the photo but then realised that's impossible given the time in between taking it and showing them.
"I have absolutely no explanation for what it is that's behind us. We then showed the waiters and waitresses and asked if they had ever witnessed anything else similar. All the waitresses and waiters were spooked. They even took my phone and showed it to the manager who came and spoke to us about how spooky it was."
People were amazed at Ross Cheeseman's photo (Kennedy News and Media)The image was posted online and has received more than 1,600 likes, 200 comments, and 144 shares, with many commenters saying they were amazed by the selfie. One person said: "Absolutely incredible picture [starry eyed emoji]." Another put: "It's a soldier. Can see the camouflage coat and backpack. Wow!" While another wrote: "Wow, amazing catch! A soldier with a beret and glasses," and another said: "This pic gives me chills."
Ross, a quality assurance inspector for an aerospace company, wonders if it's to do with the old location of the restaurant as there was a spooky cabinet next to them and said: "It's an old restaurant that's been around since the 1920s. We were sitting next to a cabinet with a glass front which contained multiple very old pictures of the founders of the restaurant.
"I've not done an extensive amount of research on the restaurant but I know it's very old and has housed guests such as the Kray twins and the Queen, so it's a very fitting place for a ghost."
Ross, who isn't even sure if he believes in ghosts, says the photo does make him question whether the paranormal does actually exist. Since capturing the image in 2021, he claims family members still bring it up today and many online have come to share their amazement at capturing "the best ghost picture ever".
Ross said: "I have shown various people and posted on various sites and only ever get the same response, that it's the most insane ghost picture ever captured on camera. My partner is still baffled by the photo, as is the whole family. It comes up in jokes all the time with people mimicking the ghostly figure.
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"I'm not even sure if I believe in ghosts but showing this picture to experts on the matter and hearing them say it's the most convincing ghost picture they have ever seen does certainly make me think 'what if?'
"At first I didn't really know what to do with the picture as it was so good, I assumed people would just think it's fake, it's not until I showed people in work and they insisted I get it out and about.
"Now I'm thrilled that this picture is getting seen by people because it really does need to be seen. Could I have accidentally captured the best ghost picture ever? Who knows?" Quaglinos were contacted for comment.