The Leas Pavilion - A History

historic architects drawing of the leas pavilion

The Leas Pavilion is a rare example of a Grade II listed purpose-built Edwardian Tea Rooms instigated by Frederick Ralph with six other shareholders in December 1901.  The Pavilion opened in 1902 at a time when Folkestone was becoming a fashionable and desirable coastal town.

The Architect; Reginald Pope, who also designed the waiting rooms for the Leas Lift was instructed to construct it partially below ground by The Earl of Radnor to stop the obstruction of light to his nearby buildings. The Contractors were Castle & Son who removed 5000 loads of sand & soil whilst erecting strong brick retaining walls.

the leas pavilion shop front & entrance

The decoratively detailed front façade with shops on either side was constructed from highly moulded terracotta made by the Doulton Company with Art Nouveau features such as the incorporation of ironwork grills, an attached veranda and stained glass.

The most significant surviving feature due for specialist refurbishment is the internal main body of the building with its ornately moulded ceilings, galleries and centrally-placed grand imperial staircase as well as its sprung dance floor. 

the ornately decorated leas pavilion hall with stage & seating arrangement

Concert Parties were introduced in 1906 on a makeshift platform and were followed by popular vaudeville acts; in 1928 alterations were carried out to convert the Leas Pavilion to a 200-seat theatre & concert hall with the removal of the northern gallery in order to introduce space for a stage.

The theatre was forced to close between 1940-1945 during the Second World War. Despite the improvements to seating and lighting in the theatre, over the few next decades audiences dwindled with the advent of television.

The Pavilion was brought back to life in the late 1980s thanks to the deter­mination of the Warburton family, who transformed it from a derelict vandalised build­ing into what was known as the Leas Club which finally opened in 1987. Upon opening it boasted a snooker room with panelled walls, pool tables, darts, two American-style ten­pin bowling lanes, and a popular bar. Unfortunately, the Club closed in 2010 and the building has been disused ever since.

Come 2022, An ambitious planning application designed to breathe new life into the neglected Leas Pavilion and create a nine-storey 'luxury' apartment block above it, has been submitted & approved for go ahead.

The Leas Pavilion, front facing facade render image; an Ant Yapi UK Construction Project

The original proposal sought permission to restore the run-down Leas Pavilion, also known as the Leas Club, to its original 1902 layout when it was first opened as an Edwardian tearoom.

But with the rescue plan estimated to cost £4m, the two adjacent car parks along The Leas will be transformed and developed into a nine-storey, glass fronted block of flats, which will fund the restoration project.

In total, 91 flats were proposed - 16 one bed, 65 two bed and 10 three bed - plus 39 car parking spaces and 91 cycling spaces. All flats will have a balcony & a sea view. The three top floors of the new build will be tiered, creating a step-like effect.

The Leas Pavilion; a top 100 construction company project

The parking level will be 'partially sunk into the ground' and will be accessed from Longford Terrace and Longford Way whilst the entrance to the flats will be through the Leas Pavilion, which is expected to be returned to its one-time glory with its former columns to be re-instated and improvements made to the gallery & main hall. The residents will also have access to a concierge service to be situated in the pavilion, which will be used as a lounge and storage space for residents.

However the pavilion is also to be made available for community use - and will be hired out to local groups and clubs.

The original application noted: "The community use of the main hall will provide opportunities for local groups to utilise the historic building for what is envisaged; to be small musical, theatrical or spoken word performances, or weekly clubs." But what the application also showed was the true extent of the damage that has over taken the beloved building.

We’re pleased that Ant Yapi ; a Turkish Construction Company consortium here in the UK has now received the pre-commencement approvals for the Leas Pavilion, Ant Yapi (a top 100 uk construction company) have been authorised by Gustavia to begin works on safeguarding heritage artefacts ahead of the building’s structural safety programme.

Preservation work will initially involve the pavilion’s distinctive terracotta outer façade, with each stone being painstakingly removed and transported off-site for cleaning and refurbishment.

An iron gate and stained-glass windows which form part of the pavilion’s distinctive entrance will also be subject to the same restorative process. Where original features cannot be removed, moulds and samples will be taken of ceilings, walls and arches around column crowns to recreate original interior designs.

Stay with us on this journey and see this historic building return to its former glory!

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