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A 19th-century Napoleonic fort off the coast of Wales, complete with 40 beds, four en-suite bathrooms and even its own nightclub, has gone on the market for £3 million. Thorne Island, near Milford Haven in Pembrokeshire, was bought in 2017 by former software company owner Mike Conner for £555,000.

The 52-year-old admitted he had no idea what he was taking on when he decided to restore the abandoned site, which had been left derelict for 17 years. "Many have described it as a midlife crisis," he joked. "I really didn't know what I was getting myself into." The Grade II-listed fort was originally built in the 1850s to protect Milford Haven from French naval attacks. It was later converted into a hotel, hosting weddings, parties and even stag dos, before falling into disrepair in the early 2000s.

When Conner bought it, the island had no running water or electricity.

The first flushable toilet alone required cutting through 16ft of rock to install a biodigester pump, a job costing £200,000.

The project took nearly five years to complete, with teams of workers living on the island for weeks at a time, without showers and relying on the sea to wash.

"It was tough living," Conner said, recalling how equipment and supplies often had to be flown in by helicopter.

Despite the challenges, the results are striking. Today, the fortress boasts 40 bedrooms, a private nightclub, and wide open spaces that have hosted everything from serene weekends to raucous 80-person parties.

For his 50th birthday, Conner even staged a festival complete with a tightrope walker performing across the courtyard.

"It almost feels like a tribute to the Victorians' hard work," he said. "They built something bomb-proof, and I was just adding the last layer."

Now back on the market, Conner believes the site has huge potential, from an exclusive retreat to a tourist attraction or even a venue for large-scale events.

"It could host about 800 people," he said. "It would be great for Wales if it generated revenue and created jobs."

But for Conner, the island has been more than an investment. "Life there is off-grid, in real time. People put their phones away. That's what makes Thorne special, people are present."

As he prepares to hand over the keys, Conner hopes the new owner will cherish the fortress as much as he has. "It's a blank canvas," he said. "But if there are any events there, I'd crawl over broken glass to get back."