By Mal Butler
The museum and gift shop at Fort Victoria has closed shortly after being asked to repay the IW Council back rents of between three and four years.
As reported by the IW Observer last week, the businesses including Cafe Verdi, Planetarium, Reptilarium, Imaginarium and museum and gift shop have been sent back-dated rent rises, in some cases being asked to pay back thousands of pounds.
It proved to be the final straw for the museum and gift shop, with a spokesman saying: “Sadly, we had made the decision that this year would be our last at the museum, increasing costs and dwindling tourists meant it’s no longer viable; we planned to see the season out but Easter figures showed we didn’t have that luxury.
“So, if anyone wants a 9ft dragon, fibre glass pirates, a steampunk man, a tarot reader, a mermaid, vintage penny-arcade machines, etc, the quirky nonsense is all being auctioned off on the May 19 by HRD Auction Rooms”
Isle of Wight Observer