Plans to restore historic concert hall return

Canterbury City Council has now set aside £2m to rejuvenate King's Hall in Herne Bay

Plans to rejuvenate a historic concert hall have returned following a major setback.

King's Hall, which opened in 1913, is one of Herne Bay's most famous landmarks and has hosted a variety of shows and concerts over the years.

In 2022, Canterbury City Council (CCC) bid for £13m levelling up money, which would have been partially spent on renovating the building - but it was unsuccessful.

CCC has now set aside £2m for the building, which councillor Chris Cornell, said shows the council will "ensure the success of the hall whatever the rumours".

CCC said King's Hall has been running at a loss in recent years, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

The council has now put a "nominal estimated investment amount of £2m in the capital budget to carry out some improvements and essential works", it said.

But it added: "This is for the financial year 2026/27, so it is not for the forthcoming year for which we are currently finalising the budget."

Mr Cornell, cabinet member for coastal communities, said the venue's problems are "no secret" as it is "too small for larger touring productions and too large for some community theatres".

"It takes a lot of the council's time, resource and cash which could be arguably spent better across the town as a whole," he said.

CCC said it will not carry out the project set out in the original levelling up fund bid but it is "revisiting" the plans.

Mr Cornell said there are "several ways of solving the problems that have beset the venue and we haven't decided on the best option just yet".

He added: "We know just how much the Kings Hall is loved and will be involving the community in its regeneration soon."