It was when he was being helicoptered onto one of his Victorian sea forts in the middle of the Solent that entrepreneur Mike Clare felt what he describes as ‘a James Bond moment’.

Even arriving by boat, as the guests who use this luxury-accommodation-with-a-twist tend to do, you know exactly what he means. As you step off onto the gangway, there is a sense that you’ve left the hum-drum world a long, long way behind.

Above: One of the Solent Forts which have been developed into luxury accommodation

Built more than 150 years ago to fend off a Napoleonic invasion that never materialised, the Solent Forts are now more are more likely to be inhabited by wedding parties, team-building groups and people who fancy something a little different from your run-of-the-mill five star hotel.

An eye for the unusual 

Their reincarnation was the brain child of Mike who, since selling his Dreams beds empire for over £200m in 2008, has developed a habit of buying and rescuing what he calls ‘unique and unusual‘ properties. Besides the forts, he also owns a Benedictine abbey, several castles and a chateau in Wales.

“We carried out a money-no-object restoration of two of the three forts,” he explains. “We created an eight-bedroom luxury retreat and a 23-bedroom hotel, complete with bars, restaurants, hot tubs, saunas and sun decks. The third fort has been preserved as a living monument with original gun carriages and armour-plated walls.”

After a spend of £8m bringing 21st Century comforts to these historic structures, the business is now generating £4m in turnover even with a limited opening schedule – Mike expects the new owner to extend it to a year-round operation. 

The next Alcatraz?

The Solent Forts are ready to go as a turn-key operation, but as Mike runs through the ideas he and his team initially brainstormed, it’s clear that there is no shortage of options.

“We discussed casinos, spas – with seaweed treatments, naturally – high-end restaurants and nightclubs. Even turning it into the UK’s answer to Alcatraz – which is the most visited attraction in the US, believe it or not.”

As is the nature of a serial entrepreneur, Mike now has his eye on the next challenge. It will be water-based, coincidentally, but much more contemporary.

“Houseboats,” he says enthusiastically. “How great to be able to move your house every few months – and who doesn’t love a water view?”

The Solent Forts are on the market for a combined cost of £11m, and can be purchased along with another property from Mike’s Amazing Venues collection – the £3.9m Ackergill Tower Hotel, a 3,000-acre private estate with a 15th Century castle at its heart.

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