Plymouth’s abandoned Drake’s Island to become a luxury resort

DRAKE’S Island will open to the public for the first time in 30 years as a businessman plans to turn it into a luxury resort.

The 2.5-hectare (6.5-acre) island, off the coast of Plymouth, has remained untouched since 1989, when Drake’s Is- land Adventure Centre closed down.

The island was bought last year by Morgan Phillips, a local businessman. His plans for a hotel include a glass elevator from the jetty for guests. The governor’s house, barrack block and “ablutions building” are to be linked to- gether with a “smart extension”.

But ahead of construction, people have been invited to buy tickets for tours of the island, with proceeds going to a local hospice.

There was a huge demand for the 210 tickets, with the two trips – one taking place tomorrow and a second in May – selling out in minutes. St Luke’s Hospice Plymouth said that its website received almost half a million hits during the sale period.

Robert Maltby, the head of communications and marketing at the hospice, told The Guardian: “It’s an intriguing place. If you’re a Plymothian, it is right there in front of you all the time. It’s a major piece of the city’s history and everyone wonders what it’s like. I was taken aback by how good a condition many of the buildings are still in.”

He added that the tunnels, used to store ammunition and other goods over the years, “were pretty amazing”.

Bob King, a historian, and the island’s warden, who will lead the two tours, said: “Although the fortifications and how they have been used and defended Plymouth over the centuries is fascinating, what brings the history alive are the personal stories of the people on the island.”

The island was initially known as St Michael’s – named after a 12th-century chapel built there. It is only in more recent times that it has been known as Drake’s Island, after the Elizabethan sea captain. During the Second World War it was used as a minefield control post and if there had been an invasion explosives would have been detonated from the island.

Mr Phillips also hopes to open up a heritage centre with the Plymouthbased Ocean Conservation Trust.

Roger Maslin, Trust chief executive, said he was delighted at the idea of children using such a facility.

“This is a great opportunity to get them out there in the field and learning with some first-hand experience of the ocean,” he said.