Sea fort set to host ghost hunts and other events

The new owner of a Victorian sea fort in the River Medway says he wants to transform it into an events space.

Mick Jennings recently bought Fort Darnet, near Hoo, in Kent, and is considering using it for everything from ghost hunts to wellbeing events.

Jennings said he fell in love with sea forts after visiting one in the Solent, adding: "I said to my wife 'we've got to have a fort - it's something we have to bid on'. We did and were successful."

Medway Council said it backed proposals to develop the island for tourism if they were carried out in a sustainable way that protects its wildlife and environment.

Jennings said his "immediate priority" was to make the structure safe before any long‑term plans could be realised.

He said: "We are going to drain the water out and get some safety features in place. There are some massive holes. It is a dangerous place at the moment.

"The magical thing is when you come here - you can't get that feeling until you are on an island. The views, eerie, magical, it's got all those things."

Jennings called the acoustics on the island "fantastic" and said musicians had already approached him about filming there.

Simon Curry, Medway Council's portfolio holder for climate change and strategic regeneration, visited the island with Jennings.

He said: "This is all about eco-tourism. It is an amazing site going back to the Victorian era.

"The new owner wants to bring people out to hold events. There is a lot of potential for that, but it has to be done in a sustainable way, protecting the wildlife and protecting the river habitats. It is very exciting."

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