Two fortresses at the vanguard of Allsop sale
Two historic sea fortresses converted into hotels by Dreams founder Mike Clare will go under the hammer in the next Allsop residential sale, with guide prices in excess of £1m.
The vacant properties, both in the Solent, are No Man’s Land Fort off the Isle of Wight, guided at £1.95-£2.25m and Spitbank Fort, off Portsmouth Harbour, Hampshire, guided at £1.75m-£1.95m. Both have been on the private treaty market for some time.
Clare’s company, Clarenco, bought the Victorian forts in 2009 and transformed them into hotels. The entrepreneur, who founded beds retailer Dreams in the late 1980s, set out to target the exclusive-use market for private parties, weddings and corporate events. The 99,000 sq ft No Man’s Land Fort boasts two helipads as well as two boat landing stages, 23 suites and facilities including a spa and laser battle arena. A third fort was sold sold in 2021.
Two historic sea fortresses converted into hotels by Dreams founder Mike Clare will go under the hammer in the next Allsop residential sale, with guide prices in excess of £1m.
The vacant properties, both in the Solent, are No Man’s Land Fort off the Isle of Wight, guided at £1.95-£2.25m and Spitbank Fort, off Portsmouth Harbour, Hampshire, guided at £1.75m-£1.95m. Both have been on the private treaty market for some time.
[caption id="attachment_1210360" align="aligncenter" width="2048"] Spitbank Fort, which has been converted into a hotel, is guided at £1.75m-£1.95m[/caption]
Clare’s company, Clarenco, bought the Victorian forts in 2009 and transformed them into hotels. The entrepreneur, who founded beds retailer Dreams in the late 1980s, set out to target the exclusive-use market for private parties, weddings and corporate events. The 99,000 sq ft No Man’s Land Fort boasts two helipads as well as two boat landing stages, 23 suites and facilities including a spa and laser battle arena. A third fort was sold sold in 2021.
Both properties have existing planning for use as hotels and for private residence. Allsop’s catalogue says other potential uses, subject to planning, could include casinos, training centres or conversion to individual apartments.
The forts are among 390 lots at Allsop’s December residential auction, making it the firm’s largest in 14 years. The sale will be live-streamed on 14 and 19 December.
Other highlights include:
Lot 27: an 8,839 sq ft long leasehold commercial space in Brondesbury, NW6, with consent for 13 self-contained flats – the highest value lot guided at £3.5m-plus
Lot 70: a Grade II listed 17th century building in Suffolk with consent for a 72-bedroom boutique hotel, guided at £1.75m-plus
Lot 17: a 1,467 sq ft long leasehold self-contained two-bedroom, ground-floor flat in Chelsea, SW3, guided at £1.6m-plus
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