These lunches are held occasionally through the year, primarily to introduce possible guests to stay on the Fort for a few days in their recently adapted guest rooms. This Napoleonic fort was privately purchased, along with two others in the Solent, for a million pounds each in 2009 and another three million pounds was spent on bringing just this one fort up to standard as a luxurious hotel. A rooftop hot pool, sauna, fire pit, library, wine cave and bars were all introduced into the building.
As we entered the fort we were welcomed with glasses of champagne and then led through a historic tour of British military architecture and the most lovingly restored original artefacts; not to mention the stunning bedrooms with en-suites. We were also advised the fort had its own distinguished ghost, Henry. He was the only man to have died on the fort and that was when one of the original guns back-fired and the shell exploded in the breech. Apparently he is quite a cheery chap if you come across him!
And then it was on to lunch – and oh, what a delicious lunch. Canapes led to butter poached rabbit, then to crab and lobster, a main of roast sirloin, so tender it melted in the mouth, with its usual accompanients and followed by a raspberry torte. Tea and coffee was served in one of the lounges viewing Portsmouth and Isle of Wight.
All too soon it was time for those of us not lucky enough to be staying on the fort to clamber down the steps into the launch and be whisked back to Gosport in the growing dusk. While not an inexpensive trip out and the wine list will also vouch for that, if you can manage to do this just once in your lifetime go for it. Unfortunately a word of warning – this is not for the disabled and that is such a shame for the team running Spitbank Fort are justifiably proud of their product.
