Yesterday (Tuesday) saw the sale at auction of two forts in the Solent with vastly reduced price tags compared to a year ago.
Both No Man’s Fort and Spitbank Fort were owned by Mike Clare, founder of the bed company Dreams, who in 2020 had hoped they would fetch £8 million together.
This week the sale of both fetched £2,130,000.
No Man’s Fort
It was almost ten years ago that No Man’s Fort — originally built between 1867 and 1880 to defend Portsmouth against a Napoleonic invasion — underwent a serious transformation.
The Solent fort, which sits between the Isle of Wight and Portsmouth, was previously best-known for being one of the locations in the 1972 BBC Doctor Who series, ‘The Sea Devils’. After being converted into a luxury venue, it featured 23 bedrooms, a lighthouse, laser battle play area and spa.
In March 2023, OnTheWight reported that its £4.25 million original price tag had been reduced to £3.6 million. 15 months later it was sold for just £1,120,000.
Spitbank Fort
At the beginning of the last decade, Spitbank Fort which sits in the mouth of Portsmouth Harbour – also underwent a major makeover, completing in 2012 and going on to win Isle of Wight RIBA award in 2013.
It is a private dwelling boasting nine guest suites, staff accommodation and event spaces over three levels. Sale particulars from Savills reveal a 60 covers restaurant, Crows Nest function suite, a wine cave, roof terrace, hot pool sauna, fire pit and of course, sun decks which fantastic views across the Solent.
Last year Spitbank Fort was put up for sale again, for £3 million, with the possibility it could become a home or a hotel. This week it was sold for £1,010,000.
Here’s No Man’s Fort featured in Doctor Who ..
