Fort Amherst Halloween Limited calls creditors on 5 November to pick a liquidator. This year's scare and grotto tickets were sold by other Fort Amherst bodies.

Fort Amherst Halloween Limited, a company owned by the charity that runs the Chatham fort, is heading for liquidation. Its directors have called a meeting of creditors for Thursday 5 November to nominate a liquidator.

The notice appeared in the London Gazette on Friday 30 October, the day before the last night of the fort’s Halloween season. (The Gazette, notice 5241586)

The company in liquidation did not sell this year’s Halloween or Christmas grotto tickets, according to the fort’s own booking pages. More on that below.

What the notice says

The meeting is virtual and starts at 3.15pm. The notice sets out:

  • creditors must send proxies and proofs of debt to Opus Restructuring LLP by 4pm on Wednesday 4 November to vote
  • the nominated liquidators are Adrian Dante, of Opus Restructuring’s Maidstone office, and Mark Boast, of its Croydon office
  • details of how to join come from cvlteam@opusllp.com, or Opus on 01908 087220

(The Gazette, notice 5241586)

A meeting of creditors to choose a liquidator is the route into a creditors’ voluntary liquidation. That is the procedure for a company that cannot pay its debts in full. The notice gives no reason, and the fort has published nothing about it on its website.

What the company is

Companies House shows the company was set up in May 2013 as Fort Amherst Weddings Limited and took its current name in April 2016. It lists its business as the operation of historical sites and visitor attractions. Fort Amherst Heritage Trust is recorded as the person with significant control. (Companies House: 08539599)

It is a small company. Its last accounts, for the year to 31 March 2025, were filed as micro-entity accounts and record:

31 March 2025 31 March 2024
Fixed assets £18,756 £15,990
Current assets £14,204 £18,547
Owed within a year £11,549 £13,556
Net assets £21,411 £20,981
Average employees none none

(Companies House: filing history)

Accounts for the year to 31 March 2026 are not due until 31 December 2026 and have not been filed. Two of its directors resigned on 14 April 2026, the filing history shows.

Who sold your tickets

Fort Amherst trades through more than one body, and the booking pages say which one you paid:

What you booked Seller named on the booking page
Halloween 2026: Operation Hysteria, Face Your Fears, Clown Chaos Fort Amherst Limited (company 02285121)
Santa’s Grotto 2026 Fort Amherst Heritage Trust

(Fort Amherst Halloween ticket portal; Fort Amherst Christmas ticket portal)

Fort Amherst Limited is a separate company, set up in 1988. Companies House lists it as active, with accounts filed up to 31 March 2026. (Companies House: 02285121)

On Saturday afternoon the fort’s website was still advertising Halloween, now in its 43rd year, and the Christmas grotto, which has been on sale since 25 August. (Fort Amherst: Halloween 2026; Fort Amherst: Santa’s Grotto 2026)

What it means for you

  • If you have grotto tickets, your booking page names Fort Amherst Heritage Trust as the seller, not the company in liquidation. Nothing the fort has published says the grotto is affected. Our Santa’s grottos in Medway page has prices and the other options.
  • If you went to Halloween this year, the ticket portal names Fort Amherst Limited, which is not the company in the notice.
  • If Fort Amherst Halloween Limited owes you money, you are a creditor. Send a proof of debt to Opus Restructuring by 4pm on 4 November if you want a vote on who the liquidator is.
  • The fort grounds stay free to visit, the fort’s website says. For anything about a specific booking, call the fort on 01634 847747.

We will add the liquidator’s appointment, and any statement from the fort, to this page.

Sources