Ghost hunter's bid to create first for Portsmouth with Haunted Curiosity Museum
Plan to make museum “real destination” for city
He’s had spirits talk to him, caught a ghost on camera, seen black shadows and heard footsteps when no one is there.
Now Portsmouth paranormal hunter Barry Depp wants to use his experiences to create a Haunted Curiosity Museum alongside co-founder Dr Iain Lightfoot, an ex-Royal Navy officer.
With no other such venues in the south, they believe there is a gap in the market and high demand for a spooky museum.
“We’re creating something Portsmouth has never seen before, a Haunted Curiosity Museum filled with the strange, the unexplained, and the truly spine-tingling,” Barry said.
“Imagine Victorian oddities, local ghost lore, maritime mysteries from our historic dockyard, genuine haunted artefacts, and interactive exhibits that will make the hairs on the back of your neck stand up…all while celebrating the rich, eerie history of this incredible city.
“This isn’t just another museum. It’s a place where curiosity meets the unknown, a space for locals, visitors, families, and true believers to explore Portsmouth’s darker, stranger side in a safe, immersive, and unforgettable way.”
A site in Southsea, complete with a “Witches Den” cafe, is being eyed up with a view to open next summer. The museum will feature skeletons, mummified bodies and artefacts with people encouraged to donate any items - with the only condition being there has to be “evidence it is haunted”.
Barry, who has worked in the industry since 2005, started Paranormal Hunters UK in 2018 and has gone on to build a “good reputation”. Barry and Iain host medium nights, ghost walks and provide home visits to establish any paranormal activity, as well as having established an academy.
Named Supernatural Research Organisation of the Year at the Prestige Awards 2026/27 Barry said he is proud to have grown his following to include celebrities while also having appeared in newspapers and on television and radio. He has also written a book called Ghosts on Tap about the most haunted pubs in Hampshire.
The “scientific” approach to demonstrating paranormal phenomena has helped his brand build credibility in an industry of “fake” hunters, Barry says.
Speaking of his haunting experiences, he said: “I’ve been in buildings where there are black shadows, voices, things moving, footsteps and banging - all of which are trying to get your attention.
“I’ve had a voice whisper in my ear: ‘Can you hear me?’ I’ve had a boy say to me ‘what are you doing?’ which has been picked up on a recorder. It sets you back for a few seconds.”
At Lymington pub the Fleur De Lys he captured a ghost on camera. “There was a woman trying to manifest herself. She was moving slowly and then disappeared in a flashing light on the wall,” Barry said.
Plans for the new museum include creating “atmospheric, interactive displays and lighting that bring the stories to life” in a safe environment “so everyone can experience the wonder”.
Barry wants the museum to become a “real destination for the city” and has launched a fundraiser to help bring the idea to life. He added: “We’ve poured our passion, research, and countless late nights into this project. Now we’re asking the community to help us take the final leap.
“Whether you donate £5 or £500, share this page, or simply spread the word you become part of the story. Thank you for believing in the strange and the wonderful.
“Together, let’s open the doors to Portsmouth’s most curious new museum…if you dare.”