If you are looking for somewhere iconic and unusual for the best day of your life then Amazing Retreats has a stunning collection of venues to choose from for your special day.
If you are planning a corporate function and are looking for a venue with a bit of a difference - something that will inspire and invigorate? then why not consider an Amazing Retreat.
- Spitbank Fort
Redevelopment Works
Since the fort was purchased in November 2009, Amazing Retreats have commissioned a large amount of redevelopment work with the help of several specialist organisations.
When the fort was purchased, there were two major problems; the first was physically accessing the Fort. The old landing stage was deemed unsafe for normal boats. The team had to moor up alongside the fort and drop the crane to pick up Fortess, the boat which has become the backbone for the project including, getting contractors, architects and our management team to and from the fort on a daily basis.
Although the new landing stage has been built, we still use the crane to hoist Fortess out of the water, to prevent it hitting the fort and damaging the boat in poor sea conditions.
The second major headache for the team was the large amounts of damp which overwhelmed the property. Some estimates had suggested that sea and rain water had been trapped in the roof for over 40 years; an issue which involved a long wait for the property to properly dry out before works could commence.
Take a look at the pictures below to see how works have progressed. We will continue to update this page, so please check back regularly.
November 2009
Outer Walls and Access
The outer walls and armour plating were showing signs that they were fighting a losing battle against the sea. The rust from the outer platforms was a key historic feature that we had to keep in place.
- Spitbank Fort in 2009
The back of Spitbank Fort (South facing), showing signs of age.
- Back of Spitbank, showing signs of age
Roof Level
The top deck was the main culprit for the damp issues that surrounded Spitbank Fort, with visible signs of years of ongoing decay.
Somehow grass was growing on the top of the fort through the cracks, clear evidence that water was being caught in the roof.
- Grass growing on the top of Spitbank Fort
Years of rubbish and waste were stored on top of the fort
The view east, towards Portsmouth and Gosport from one of the old gun decks with a view of the safety railings in the foreground.
The existing lighthouse building with the red lighthouse on top was the most modern feature of the fort. This was removed in favour of replacing the lighthouse with a larger lighthouse. The red lighthouse was put in storage and reconditioned and will be re-united with the fort upon the new lighthouse being built.
- Existing lighthouse building
Upper Deck
Despite the leaking roof, some areas of the upper deck were still in good condition, with the old gun rooms previously used as dance floors, restaurant seating and also a bar.
The DJ booth and dance floor.
Seating looking out to the central courtyard
The fort as many will remember it; complete with its own beer on tap.
- Beer taps at Spitbank Fort
The historic washrooms were dirty but not beyond repair. They will be restored for future visitors to view.
- Historic washrooms as used by soldiers
One of the windows looking out from the upper deck with 2 of the original rounds fired from the 12inch breech loading guns alongside.
The forts electricity had been provided from two old converted tractor engines, which will be replaced with newer, more efficient generators.
- The old generators at Spitbank Fort
The courtyard provided a great location for communal chats and a great break out area in the summer.
Despite the previous owners best efforts, damp and signs of disrepair were starting to show
The painted walls with original hammock hooks have been shot blasted to reveal their original detail.
Lower Deck
The lower deck showed a great deal of damp throughout.
- Damp walls at Spitbank Fort
The yellowing of the paintwork and rust on the walls is clearly evident. Shot blasting on these walls will reveal the original brickwork, allowing the brickwork to show or to be painted.
Damp on the floor and walls, caused the paintwork to perish.
September 2010 - May 2011
Rendering was a slow and pain staking progress, not helped by the ever changing conditions.
It was no wonder that the ceiling was leaking with cracks showing all over the roof.
- leaking roof spitbank fort
Weather, sea and light conditions have provided challenges to the project team throughout the refurbishment.
- Dark clouds over the Solent
The outer broken concrete shell reveals the underlying bricks that cover the property.
- Exposed brickwork on the roof of the fort
Every bag of materials had to be craned onto the fort, a very slow and painstaking process.
- Bags of materials on the top of the fort
November 2010
With pneumatic jackhammers, over 250 tonnes of rubble were removed from the roof alone, again with each 1 tonne bag being removed using the crane.
January 2011
A view from the top of the blast wall showing the base for one of the new sun decks and to the left the fire pit
May 2011
Works on the lighthouse building commence, with the team initially removing the 2nd floor.
June 2011
Now in June, large amounts of progress have been made particularly on the roof and outside of the fort; meaning all hands on (the upper) deck.
Outer Walls and Access
A view from the South, the new waterproof concrete composite roof and underneath the re-coated armour plating that has been brought back to its original glory.
The first part of the new landing stage has been installed. Works to implement the rise and fall staircase will commence shortly. To the far right, the old landing stage will be removed.
The entrance into the fort showing the top of the new landing stage. Some light restoration to the front plaques will be undertaken before the fort opens.
The new roof, just visible from the top of Spinnaker tower. Note construction for the new lighthouse building has not yet got underway.
A wide view looking east from Spinnaker Tower towards Spitbank Fort, No Mans Fort and Horse Sand Fort. St Helens Fort is just out of view.
- View of Spitbank from Spinnaker Tower
Roof Level
The old gun emplacements will now house the new 10 person hot tub
- The base for the hot tub
One of the old ammunition hoists that will be left as a historic feature
Scaffolding covers the housing area that will house the fire pit with surrounding American style bleachers. Underneath the cubby holes will house logs, towels and storage.
- The housing for the new fire pit
Upper Deck
The fort is still attracting a lot of attention from local yachtsmen and thrill seekers.
Mike Clare, the owner even decides to join in on the action, helping clear the decks after the shot blasting.
The ceilings have been shot blasted and primed with a rust resistant coating, ready for painting. The shot blasting removed 5mm of old and rusted steel work. The final coat will be the 10th coat of paint applied to the ceilings.
The central staircase and handrails are prepared for painting
- The central staircase
Despite the ever changing weather conditions, painting is nearly complete with one of our contractors touching up the final details, taking the rails back to their original glory.
- Full painted central staircase
The thick concrete floors have been channelled out to accommodate the plumbing and electrical services. Here a waste pipe is checked for depth.
The waste pipe, taking waste back through the old ammunition tunnels. A cunning way to prevent cutting holes through many layers of bricks.
The entrance into one of the bedrooms on the upper deck.
The floor area for one of the en-suite bathrooms is marked out with studwork.
Lower Deck
The fuel storage rooms are still showing some signs of damp, which will shortly be rectified now the roof works are completed
July 2011
The fuel tanks are installed which will run the generators to power the Fort.
- Fuel tanks at Spitbank Fort
Visible mould and brick discolouring are evident on the lower level. This will be cleaned in September using a specialist cleaning method.
- Lower level walls
The frames for the en-suite bedrooms go up
- En-suite bedrooms at Spitbank
The two parts of the sewage treatment plant are hoisted into the central courtyard using the crane
- Sewage treatment plant lifted into courtyard
It's a narrow fit through the doors to lower corridor, with just 2cm to spare
Finally, the sewage treatment plant reaches its destination
- Sewage treatment plant in place
The rotted window frames will be restored piece by piece, keeping as much of the original frame as possible.
- Rotting window frames at Spitbank Fort
August 2011
The carpenters begin work on restoring the windows
- Restoration of the window frames on the upper level
One down, another five to go
- Completed window frame at Spitbank Fort
A major development in the project is complete with the installation of the rise and fall staircase
- Rise and fall staircase at Spitbank Fort
The staircase will lower to the water level, allowing access to the Fort by guests own boats
- Lowered staircase
September 2011
Cleaning of the central courtyard beings, using a two phase cleaning system
- Cleaning central courtyard
Studwork around the dining rooms is installed. The studwork will have LED lighting on the top level, creating a stunning light effect
- Studwork in the dining room
The new windows are installed to the upper level, ready for painting
- Windows on the upper level
Work on the bedrooms is progressing at a rapid rate. The rooms will be finished with carpets on the lower level and oak flooring on the raised level.
- Bedrooms at Spitbank awaiting flooring
In the bathrooms, taps and pipework is nearly complete, awaiting second fix finishes
- En-suite bathrooms at Spitbank
Works on the well room have not yet commenced, but are due to start shortly
- Well Room at Spitbank
The steel frame around the lighthouse and function rooms are now up giving a sense of the size of the structure
- Function room construction
Another view of the lighthouse building from one of the sun decks
Another piece of machinery taken off the fort, this time a cement mixer that has to be taken back to the mainland by Fortess
- Cement mixer craned off of the fort
