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Venue Type
Castle
City
Torpoint
Region
South West
Standing
100
theatre
100
dinner
100
bedrooms
8
About
Polhawn Fort
Polhawn Fort is a spectacular historic coastal venue set into the cliffs at Rame Head near Torpoint in Cornwall. Built in 1867 and overlooking Whitsand Bay and a secluded cove, the former Napoleonic fort provides a completely private setting for weddings, corporate events, retreats, celebrations and residential gatherings.
Available on an exclusive-use basis, Polhawn combines the Grand Napoleonic Hall and Ocean Room with a cliffside Summerhouse, lawns, roof terrace and private access to the beach. The Fort also has 8 bedrooms, a professional kitchen and accommodation for up to 24 guests, making it particularly well suited to multi-day and residential events.
Event Spaces
Grand Napoleonic Hall
The principal indoor event space at Polhawn Fort, the Grand Napoleonic Hall combines exposed Cornish stone walls with vaulted historic interiors and can accommodate up to 100 guests seated or standing. It provides a distinctive blank canvas for dinners, receptions, presentations, celebrations and corporate events.
Ocean Room
A smaller and more intimate room within the Fort accommodating up to 30 guests. It is particularly suitable for meetings, private dining, breakout sessions and smaller gatherings alongside events taking place in the main Hall.
Summerhouse & Lawn
The oak-framed Summerhouse sits between the Fort and the ocean and benefits from extensive natural daylight and panoramic coastal views. The venue specifically promotes it for meetings, drinks receptions, art exhibitions and wellness events, while the adjoining lawn can accommodate larger receptions, dinners and marquee events for up to 100 guests.
Roof Terrace
The Fort's roof terrace provides an impressive outdoor entertaining space overlooking the coastline. Its stretch-tent configuration offers several seated layouts for 64–80 guests, with standing receptions for up to 100. Use can be weather dependent because of the exposed coastal location.
Gardens & Grounds
The cliffside gardens and lawns provide additional space for outdoor receptions, dining, team activities and private events, with marquee installation possible on the lawn.
Private Beach
A private pathway leads from the grounds to the secluded beach below the Fort, providing an exceptional additional feature for residential events, retreats, photography and informal activities.
Facilities and Services
Polhawn provides exclusive use of the Fort and grounds, tables and chairs for 100, crockery, cutlery and glassware, WiFi, a professional kitchen, car parking and onsite accommodation. Clients are free to appoint their own caterers, while the venue also provides a recommended supplier network.
Ideal For
Corporate Retreats
Private Events
Weddings
Corporate Parties
Residential Events
Meetings
Private Dining
Wellness Retreats
Filming & Photography
Exclusive-Use Events
Key Features
Historic Coastal Fort
100 Guest Capacity
Exclusive Use
8 Bedrooms
Sleeps Up To 24
External Catering
Private Beach Access
Panoramic Sea Views
Historic Coastal Fort
100 Guest Capacity
Exclusive Use
8 Bedrooms
Sleeps Up To 24
External Catering
Private Beach Access
Panoramic Sea Views
Why Hire
Few UK venues offer a setting quite like Polhawn Fort. Its clifftop position, historic architecture, private beach and complete exclusivity create a destination-style environment particularly suited to events where privacy and atmosphere matter.
It is also more flexible than its wedding-led branding initially suggests. Polhawn specifically accepts corporate events, private celebrations and wellness retreats, while the Summerhouse is promoted for meetings and exhibitions. Dry hire and external caterers are permitted, allowing organisers considerable control over the format of their event.
Capabilities
Venue Features
Venue Tech
Venue Catering
Venue Gallery
Location
Location and Access
Polhawn Fort is situated at Rame Head near Torpoint, overlooking Whitsand Bay on Cornwall's Rame Peninsula. The secluded coastal position provides considerable privacy while Plymouth is accessible via Torpoint and the Tamar.
The venue has its own car park and accommodation onsite, making residential events particularly practical. Guests also have direct private access from the grounds to the beach below the Fort.
Plymouth Railway Station | 12 miles
Saltash Railway Station | 13 miles
Cornwall Airport Newquay | 45 miles
VENUE INFO
Event spaces
6
meeting rooms
3
bedrooms
8
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