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| Pembrokeshire's Thorne Island fortress turned into £3m party space | Pembrokeshire's Thorne Island fortress turned into £3m party space |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| The fortress did not even have running water when Mike Conner took it on | The fortress did not even have running water when Mike Conner took it on |
| Many dream of taking on a renovation project, something to transform and make your own. | Many dream of taking on a renovation project, something to transform and make your own. |
| But for one former software company owner, the opportunity to bring back to life a derelict 19th Century Napoleonic fort brought with it more challenges than he had ever anticipated. | |
| Mike Conner, 52, snapped up Thorne Island near Milford Haven in Pembrokeshire for £555,000 in May 2017. | Mike Conner, 52, snapped up Thorne Island near Milford Haven in Pembrokeshire for £555,000 in May 2017. |
| The building, which was known for its parties under a previous owner, had been empty for 17 years, taking him about a year to bring it to a habitable state. | The building, which was known for its parties under a previous owner, had been empty for 17 years, taking him about a year to bring it to a habitable state. |
| Now equipped with 40 beds, four en-suite bathrooms and its own night club, the historic building has come a long way from having no running water, and is back on the market for £3m. | Now equipped with 40 beds, four en-suite bathrooms and its own night club, the historic building has come a long way from having no running water, and is back on the market for £3m. |
| "Many have described it as a midlife crisis," Mr Conner joked. | "Many have described it as a midlife crisis," Mr Conner joked. |
| "I really didn't know what I was getting myself into." | "I really didn't know what I was getting myself into." |
| Layered with history, the 100-man fort was originally built in the 1850s to protect the busy port of Milford Haven from French naval attacks. | Layered with history, the 100-man fort was originally built in the 1850s to protect the busy port of Milford Haven from French naval attacks. |
| A proposal was first made in 1817 to fortify the island but it was not implemented until sometime after 1852. | |
| A date of 1854 has been carved above the island's entrance, according to the island's website. | |
| It was converted into a hotel in 1947 and hired out for birthday parties, weddings and stag parties, before being sold in 1999. | It was converted into a hotel in 1947 and hired out for birthday parties, weddings and stag parties, before being sold in 1999. |
| By 2001 the building was bought by the Von Essen hotel group who intended to spend £4m to re-open the hotel, equipped with a cable car to allow access from the mainland. | By 2001 the building was bought by the Von Essen hotel group who intended to spend £4m to re-open the hotel, equipped with a cable car to allow access from the mainland. |
| But it was largely abandoned when Mr Conner purchased the listed building, with the once-bustling party island left to grow over. | But it was largely abandoned when Mr Conner purchased the listed building, with the once-bustling party island left to grow over. |
| Mike Conner bought the island back in 2017 and has devoted years to bringing it back to life | Mike Conner bought the island back in 2017 and has devoted years to bringing it back to life |
| "There was no electric, no water, and any food or waste needed to come back off," he said. | "There was no electric, no water, and any food or waste needed to come back off," he said. |
| "My wife was pretty cross when I first said I bought it, she said she would stay once it had a flushing loo, which is pretty reasonable." | "My wife was pretty cross when I first said I bought it, she said she would stay once it had a flushing loo, which is pretty reasonable." |
| But Mr Conner did not anticipate the first flush would require cutting through 16ft (5m) of rock to get to the biodigester pump, ultimately costing him £200,000. | But Mr Conner did not anticipate the first flush would require cutting through 16ft (5m) of rock to get to the biodigester pump, ultimately costing him £200,000. |
| "Wales has got some absolutely fabulous historic buildings that are in really sad states," said Mr Conner. | "Wales has got some absolutely fabulous historic buildings that are in really sad states," said Mr Conner. |
| The whole Thorne Island renovation process took nearly five years to get over the line, with six men living on the island for about four years while work was ongoing. | The whole Thorne Island renovation process took nearly five years to get over the line, with six men living on the island for about four years while work was ongoing. |
| Much of the equipment was brought in via helicopter, Mr Conner said, a process he described as "incredibly hard" given its location. | Much of the equipment was brought in via helicopter, Mr Conner said, a process he described as "incredibly hard" given its location. |
| He added getting materials was extremely difficult, but it was also a challenge for those who agreed to work on the project and live on site. | He added getting materials was extremely difficult, but it was also a challenge for those who agreed to work on the project and live on site. |
| "Most people who joined the project, I still work with now," said Mr Conner. | "Most people who joined the project, I still work with now," said Mr Conner. |
| "You just couldn't predict how many people want to help you." | "You just couldn't predict how many people want to help you." |
| The men working on the island would spend stints of about two weeks on the island, unable to shower and covered in dust. | The men working on the island would spend stints of about two weeks on the island, unable to shower and covered in dust. |
| "They would charge their phones with a generator, and would have to have a dip in the sea for a wash. It was tough living," said Mr Conner. | "They would charge their phones with a generator, and would have to have a dip in the sea for a wash. It was tough living," said Mr Conner. |
| The island hosted its own festival for Mr Conner's 50th birthday, complete with a tight-rope performer | The island hosted its own festival for Mr Conner's 50th birthday, complete with a tight-rope performer |
| Mr Conner, who trained as a design and technology teacher, said the design process excited him the most. | Mr Conner, who trained as a design and technology teacher, said the design process excited him the most. |
| He said he could not believe the Victorians could build something so magnificent, inspiring him to keep going. | He said he could not believe the Victorians could build something so magnificent, inspiring him to keep going. |
| He added: "A thousand men were working on it for two years, it was built in the same way as Stonehenge." | |
| "I felt my task was really modernising it," Mr Conner said, adding the renovation was a task of figuring out how the new would work with the old. | "I felt my task was really modernising it," Mr Conner said, adding the renovation was a task of figuring out how the new would work with the old. |
| "It almost feels like a tribute to their hard work and you're just really building the last little bit on top of what was already an awesome, bomb-proof construction." | "It almost feels like a tribute to their hard work and you're just really building the last little bit on top of what was already an awesome, bomb-proof construction." |
| The island has "seen everything", according to Mr Conner, from 80-people parties to "millpond serenity". | The island has "seen everything", according to Mr Conner, from 80-people parties to "millpond serenity". |
| With "no neighbours to upset", the island hosted its own festival for Mr Conner's 50th birthday, complete with a tight-rope performer across the picturesque courtyard. | With "no neighbours to upset", the island hosted its own festival for Mr Conner's 50th birthday, complete with a tight-rope performer across the picturesque courtyard. |
| "People who come for a weekend are surprised when I hand them a bin liner and say it needs to come back off with them - but no-one comes here to collect the bins." | "People who come for a weekend are surprised when I hand them a bin liner and say it needs to come back off with them - but no-one comes here to collect the bins." |
| The fortress, built in the 1850s, was intended to protect Pembrokeshire from French naval attacks | The fortress, built in the 1850s, was intended to protect Pembrokeshire from French naval attacks |
| As a former CEO, Mr Conner described his time on the island as "incredible" as he had to let go of everyday routines. | As a former CEO, Mr Conner described his time on the island as "incredible" as he had to let go of everyday routines. |
| "We all often live by a calendar of scheduled meetings, but the island is the complete opposite - it's off grid. It feels real time, it feels like living." | "We all often live by a calendar of scheduled meetings, but the island is the complete opposite - it's off grid. It feels real time, it feels like living." |
| Time stops on the island, Mr Conner said, adding that with something always going on, people tended to put their phones away. | Time stops on the island, Mr Conner said, adding that with something always going on, people tended to put their phones away. |
| "I think that's what makes Thorne a special place, that people are present." | "I think that's what makes Thorne a special place, that people are present." |
| Thorne Island operated as a hotel from 1947 to 1999, hosting weddings, hen and stag parties and birthdays | Thorne Island operated as a hotel from 1947 to 1999, hosting weddings, hen and stag parties and birthdays |
| Originally from Gloucestershire, Mr Conner does not live on the island but as the primary contractor spent a lot of time there during the renovation process. | Originally from Gloucestershire, Mr Conner does not live on the island but as the primary contractor spent a lot of time there during the renovation process. |
| He initially juggled running his business alongside the venture, but sold his software company two years ago. | He initially juggled running his business alongside the venture, but sold his software company two years ago. |
| "It was quite cathartic for me to have this parallel life of complete chaos, which particularly through Covid was quite awesome." | "It was quite cathartic for me to have this parallel life of complete chaos, which particularly through Covid was quite awesome." |
| The project also lifted the lid on Mr Conner's personal heritage too, as it was not until he got the keys did he discover he is in fact a quarter Welsh, as his mum grew up at Upton Castle, Pembroke Dock. | The project also lifted the lid on Mr Conner's personal heritage too, as it was not until he got the keys did he discover he is in fact a quarter Welsh, as his mum grew up at Upton Castle, Pembroke Dock. |
| The island can host about 800 people, Mr Conner said | The island can host about 800 people, Mr Conner said |
| Speaking of the island's future, Mr Conner said he hoped its new owner enjoys it as much as he has, but that it also has huge potential to operate as a tourist attraction, or play host to "the most unbelievable raves". | Speaking of the island's future, Mr Conner said he hoped its new owner enjoys it as much as he has, but that it also has huge potential to operate as a tourist attraction, or play host to "the most unbelievable raves". |
| Mr Conner said he envisaged the site offering an "unbelievable 24-hour experience", with the potential to host about 800 people. | Mr Conner said he envisaged the site offering an "unbelievable 24-hour experience", with the potential to host about 800 people. |
| "I think that would be great for Wales, but I'm not in that industry and I don't know how that works. | "I think that would be great for Wales, but I'm not in that industry and I don't know how that works. |
| "If it was generating revenue, and creating jobs and sustaining itself, that would be a great outcome. | "If it was generating revenue, and creating jobs and sustaining itself, that would be a great outcome. |
| "The more people who could use it the better, as it's got to be one of the most interesting buildings in the area," he added. | "The more people who could use it the better, as it's got to be one of the most interesting buildings in the area," he added. |
| Mr Conner said more people needed to come to Wales and see what is there. | Mr Conner said more people needed to come to Wales and see what is there. |
| "It's a blank canvas, and the next owner can work out what it's for," he said, speaking of the island. | "It's a blank canvas, and the next owner can work out what it's for," he said, speaking of the island. |
| "But if there are any events there, I would crawl over broken glass to get there." | "But if there are any events there, I would crawl over broken glass to get there." |