A disused Portland hotel was given ‘a new lease of life’ when it was transformed into an outdoor activity centre.

Portland Outdoor Centre in Castletown is now open for business and it is hoped it will help towards the regeneration of the area.

Directors Rob Crates and Matt King took over the Roads Hotel in May last year and less than 12 months later the derelict Victorian building has been transformed into a residential centre complete with dining room, dorm bedrooms and even a common room.

The new centre sleeps up to 70 people and will accommodate visitors from around the UK for adventure activities and field studies on the Jurassic Coast.

Mr Crates said: “It’s great to be able to open the doors at Portland Outdoor Centre to the public after working so hard to develop a dream that has been in the pipeline for such a long time.

“The centre is looking great and we intend to continue to develop it so it can become a real part of the island and something the locals of Portland can be proud of.”

The centre is now bringing in bookings for both residential programmes and day sessions for both adult and youth groups and will cater to a wide range of clients including school trips, business trips, birthday parties and even stag and hen dos.

It is the first residential outdoor centre on Portland and will offer coasteering, climbing, kayaking and canoeing and are the only centre in the UK to offer ‘big canoeing’ to guests. Centre manager Tom Watson said having an outdoor centre on Portland was a ‘no-brainer’ as it was the perfect spot for adventure activities.

“Apart from coasteering, all the activities are in walking distance and we organise it so groups will walk at least one way to each activity,” he said.

He added the locality of the centre is not only great for guests but helps the centre keep costs down.

Tom said he was passionate about making the centre a “great place for everyone to visit”.

“I’m really proud of how the centre is developing and excited to be a part of this great project.

“We are getting a lot of positive feedback from people around the area who remember the hotel from its previous life and are pleased it’s been given a new lease of life,” he said.

Tom added the centre is working with the Castletown D-Day Centre, Osprey Leisure Centre and other businesses to promote Castletown and encourage growth in the area.