‘It’s exactly how we wanted to see the place – used, appreciated and loved’
Fort Paull was taken over by the ‘Two Nicks’ – Nick Taylor, right, and Nick Moore – in 2024 as a heritage and events venue(Image: fortpaull.org)
A former artillery battery taken over by two friends with the aim of turning it back into a visitor attraction has seen a busy year, and with a packed autumn season still to come, Fort Paull has something going on for families to enjoy right up until Christmas. This coming weekend (Sunday, September 13) sees Fort Paws taking place, a day that’s all about dogs but the Holderness site will really come into its own over the following weekend as a multi-period Living History Weekend sets up camp.
It will enable visitors to look back over many eras, including the Vikings and Romans, the American Civil War, and the First and Second World Wars. Highlight of the weekend is expected to be a flypast by a Spitfire from the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight (BBMF)
Nick Taylor is one of the “Two Nicks” who took over an overgrown Fort Paull five years after it closed as a museum. Seeing the chance to save an important part of local history, the pair have worked together to restore the site and bring it back to life as a heritage and events venue.
Nick (he is partnered in the venture by Nick Moore) said: “Last year we held 16 to 18 events; this year it will be 26. The Living History festival we have coming up is a combination of periods of history – last year, we had a Lancaster flying over on the same weekend but I believe it’s grounded for repairs at the moment.
“We have got a Spitfire doing a flypast on the Sunday, at about 2pm but the time is to be confirmed. The Lancaster drew a lot of interest last year and it’s nice to be doing something else this year – we expect the Spitfire will do three passes.
“It’s such a big thing and when we have got the kind of event that we have on that weekend, it suits that type of flight perfectly – you have to get your bid in to the BBMF by the November of the year before you want them, and we got confirmation two or three weeks ago.” Nick said the Living History re-enactors and their tent village left “no blade of glass spare” in 2025, and he felt the same buzz would be created this year with hundreds of people expected to attend.
“It’s fun for the kids but they are gleaning information too. We had 600 to 700 people last year and hopefully we’ll get the same again.
“With all the visitors and the Living History groups, it takes over the whole of Fort Paull and it’s fantastic. It’s exactly how we wanted to see the place – used, appreciated and loved.”
Nick said a popular steam rally that started the year was returning and the steam engine owners were lighting them up – “something for the night-time and an event for the kids” – over the weekend of October 2 and 3. “We’ve got Oktoberfest on October 9 and 10; our Halloween event on October 30 and 31 and fireworks night on November 1 – we have low-noise fireworks to music and it means people who struggle with loud noises can enjoy it and we are also next door to a nature reserve and are mindful of that.”
On a practical note, Fort Paull has been busy installing new toilet facilities and in winter will be building a music stage. “We are hoping to have our first Fort Fest music festival in August next year – when we first announced it, the post reached 173k people and I don’t think we can fit that many in!
“We bit the bullet, started the ball rolling and we have got a few artists booked already.” Among the autumn events coming up at Fort Paull are:
- Fort Paws dog show and festival – A fun dog show, dog trade stalls and a training display. Sunday, September 13, 10am to 4pm.
- Multi-period Living History Weekend – A look back throughout the years, with a multitude of living history elements from all backgrounds, including Vikings, WW1, WW2, cowboys, Napoleonic and civil war. Saturday and Sunday, September 19 and 20, 10am to 5pm.
- Car boot sale – Saturday, September 26.
- Classic American and Hot Rod Car Show – Back for a fifth time, the ever popular Classic American car show, hosted by YANCS. Sunday, September 27, 10am to 4pm.
- Steam Rally Light Up – A new event added to the calendar, the steam engines will be back to put on a light display at night within the Fort. Friday and Saturday, October 2 and 3, 5pm to 9pm.
- Oktoberfest at the Fort – A night for Bavarian beer, lederhosen and a party band bringing the party to Friday night and an oompah band bringing the party on the Saturday night. With camping available. Tickets available via https://www.fortpaull.org/tickets. Friday and Saturday, October 9 and 10, 6pm to 11pm.
- Halloween event – October 30 and 31.
- Fireworks night – Low-noise fireworks display set to music, Sunday, November 1.
- Christmas Market – Saturday and Sunday, November 14 and 15; Saturday, December 19 (final event of the Fort Paull season)