All aboard for a Father’s Day treat

THINKING about a Father’s Day (June 15) treat that dad won’t forget? Spitbank Fort in the middle of the Solent might be answer.

Built in 1878, when it was armed with nine 12.5 inch muzzle loading guns, it’s now a restaurant serving lunches on Saturdays, Sundays, and Wednesdays.

The lunch experience begins at 11.30am with a pick-up from the Royal Clarence Marina in Gosport. After a 30-minute boat ride, guests are greeted with a glass of Champagne and a tour of the fort. There’s a three-course lunch in the Officer’s Mess, followed by teas and coffee in the Crow’s Nest, which has views of other Solent forts, the South Coast and the Isle of Wight.

The fort was declared surplus to Defence Department needs in 1962 – fears of a French invasion having been seen as no longer justified – and was sold by the government in 1982. It was bought by AmaZing Venues which, along with English Heritage, turned it into a unique venue for lunch and overnight stays.

For more information and bookings, go to www.amazingvenues.co.uk or call 0330 333 7222.

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