Plans to rejuvenate a historic concert hall have returned after suffering a setback.

The King’s Hall in Herne Bay has been running at a loss in recent years, with Canterbury City Council (CCC) hoping to turn around the fortunes of the ailing venue, which opened in 1913.

However these ambitious were dealt a blow in 2022 when the authority was unsuccessful in its bid for £13m from the goverment’s Levelling-Up Fund (LUF), to be spent on the town.

Part of the money would have been used to transform the venue into a “multi-purpose music development, production and performance and community space”, with improved capacity and better accoustics.

But, it appears CCC is perservering with improvements to The King’s Hall, with £2m now set aside over 2026 and 2027.

A council spokesman said: “We have put a nominal estimated investment amount of £2 million in the capital budget to carry out some improvements and essential works to the King's Hall.

“To give an idea on the timescale for this, it is for the financial year 2026/27, so not for the forthcoming year that we are currently finalising the budget for.

"This will not be the full project as set out in the LUF bid. We are currently revisiting those plans so that we can form an amended scope of work and establish exactly what is feasible within the revised budget and at today's prices.

"In terms of our now sole financing for this, it more than doubles the amount that we would have invested in the King's Hall had the Herne Bay LUF bid been successful, which was proposed to be £800,000 match funding towards the government's contribution to the project.

"We will keep people updated as this work continues."

Cllr Chris Cornell, cabinet member for coastal communities, said the town’s residents will be involved in the regeneration of the building, which has struggled in recent times.

He went on: “The £2m earmarked for Kings Hall is a statement of intent and our ambition for Herne Bay.

“It’s no secret that the hall has operated at a loss for many years - 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.

“The unsuccessful LUF bid proposed to expand the capacity of the venue on less than what we’ve earmarked but there are several ways of solving the problems that have beset the venue and we haven’t decided on the best option just yet.”

Cllr Cornell added: “Whatever we decide it is clear the council intend to invest to ensure the success of the hall whatever the rumours.

“We know just how much the Kings Hall is loved and will be involving the community in its regeneration soon.”