Leas Cliff Hall facts for kids
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| Address | The Leas Folkestone, Kent England |
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| Coordinates | 51°04′33″N 1°10′25″E / 51.0758°N 1.17357°E |
| Owner | Ambassador Theatre Group (in partnership with Folkestone and Hythe District Council) |
| Type | Live Entertainment |
| Capacity | Seated 900 / Standing 1,500 |
| Opened | 13 July 1927 |
| Website | |
| http://www.leascliffhall.org.uk | |
The Leas Cliff Hall is a cool place in Folkestone, England, where you can watch live shows. It's right by the sea in Kent. This big hall can fit 900 people sitting down or 1,500 people standing up. Lots of different shows happen here, like concerts, funny comedy acts, beautiful ballet dances, and exciting wrestling matches.
History of Leas Cliff Hall
Before the Leas Cliff Hall, there was a smaller building called the Leas Shelter. It was built in 1894. This shelter had a concert room where about 200 people could enjoy music and shows.
People decided they needed a bigger, grander hall in 1924. Just 28 months later, the new building was finished. It was designed by a Norwegian architect named J. S. Dahl. The Leas Cliff Hall officially opened on July 13, 1927. Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester was there for the opening. The first concert was by the Folkestone Municipal Orchestra, and 1,000 people came to watch.
The hall closed for a short time in 1980 to get a modern makeover. It reopened on May 6, 1981, looking just like it does today.
In the late 1990s, different companies started helping to manage the hall. Since November 2009, the Ambassador Theatre Group has been in charge. The Folkestone and Hythe District Council owns and supports the hall.
Amazing Shows and Performers
The stage at Leas Cliff Hall is quite large. It is 48 feet wide and can be up to 27 feet deep. This allows for many different types of performances. The hall can hold about 1,000 people sitting or 1,500 people standing.
Over the years, many famous music stars have played here. Some of these include The Rolling Stones, T Rex, Thin Lizzy, Judas Priest, Paul Weller, Ozzy Osbourne, Status Quo, Motörhead, Kings of Leon, Stereophonics, Queens of the Stone Age, Kaiser Chiefs, Frank Turner, and Morrissey.
Many hilarious comedians have also performed at the hall. You might know names like Victoria Wood, Ken Dodd, Norman Wisdom, Lenny Henry, Brian Conley, Ross Noble, Frankie Boyle, and Russell Howard.
The hall has also hosted many classical music concerts. The famous singer Richard Tauber performed here five times between 1937 and 1947.
What's Happening Now
Besides the main hall, the venue has other cool spaces. There's the Channel Suite, a cozy Café, the Coasters bar, and the Foyer bar. These areas are used for different events and for people to relax before or after shows.
