Venue
The Leas, Folkestone CT20 2DZ
Leas Cliff Hall, Folkestone
Leas Cliff Hall is a clifftop entertainment and function venue on The Leas in Folkestone, looking out over the English Channel. Opened in 1927, it is a regular stop on the touring circuit, with a Grand Hall that seats 900 or holds up to 1,500 standing, so it can switch between a seated theatre show and a full standing gig. The programme mixes live music, comedy, tribute and ballet nights, family shows and pantomime. It is run by ATG Entertainment in partnership with Folkestone and Hythe District Council, and sits a short walk from the town centre.
Photos via Google. Attributions: Nixii9, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
City
Folkestone
Capacity
900
Venue info
Leas Cliff Hall is a clifftop entertainment and function venue on The Leas in Folkestone, looking out over the English Channel. Opened in 1927, it is a regular stop on the touring circuit, with a Grand Hall that seats 900 or holds up to 1,500 standing, so it can switch between a seated theatre show and a full standing gig. The programme mixes live music, comedy, tribute and ballet nights, family shows and pantomime. It is run by ATG Entertainment in partnership with Folkestone and Hythe District Council, and sits a short walk from the town centre.
History
The story starts with the Leas Shelter, built in 1894 on the same clifftop spot. It included a concert room that seated 200 people plus an orchestra, and it served Folkestone's visitors and residents until the town decided it wanted something considerably grander.
That decision came in 1924, and just 28 months later the new hall was complete, designed by the Norwegian architect J S Dahl. Leas Cliff Hall was opened on 13 July 1927 by Prince Henry, later Duke of Gloucester, with an opening concert given by the Folkestone Municipal Orchestra in front of an audience of around 1,000.
The hall closed for modernisation and refurbishment on 16 September 1980 and reopened on 6 May 1981, and that rebuild is essentially the venue audiences see today. Its guest list over the decades reads like a tour of British popular music, taking in The Rolling Stones, T Rex, Thin Lizzy, Judas Priest, Paul Weller, Ozzy Osbourne, Status Quo, Motorhead, Kings of Leon, Stereophonics, Queens of the Stone Age, Kaiser Chiefs, Frank Turner and Morrissey. Comedy has been just as well served, with Victoria Wood, Ken Dodd, Norman Wisdom, Lenny Henry, Brian Conley, Ross Noble, Frankie Boyle and Russell Howard all appearing. On the classical side, the tenor Richard Tauber sang here five times, in 1937, 1939, 1940, 1946 and 1947.
Management has changed hands several times in the modern era. In the late 1990s Folkestone and Hythe Council invited Apollo Leisure to run the hall, followed by Clear Channel Entertainment in 2001, whose theatre division became Live Nation in 2005. Since November 2009 the venue has been operated by Ambassador Theatre Group, now ATG Entertainment, with the building still owned and supported by Folkestone and Hythe District Council.
Transport
Train
Folkestone Central is the nearest railway station, roughly a 15 minute walk from the hall.
Bus
Folkestone Bus Station on Bouverie Square is about a 10 minute walk away.
Parking
The closest car park is Sandgate Road Car Park, Sandgate Road, Folkestone, CT20 2BY, operated by Folkestone and Hythe District Council. Pay via RingGo for the duration of your stay when you arrive. On show nights the car park stays open until midnight rather than its usual 9pm closing time, and a tunnel at the rear of the car park leads directly through to the venue entrance. Parking is available at theatre level, and there are roadside spaces along The Leas.
Seating plan and where to sit
Stalls
The main floor of the Grand Hall, closest to the flat 48 foot wide stage. For seated shows this is where you get the most immediate view; for standing gigs the Stalls floor is where the crowd gathers. Stalls level is reached by lift as well as on foot.
Dress Circle
Raised above the Stalls and also served by lift. A good choice if you want a clear, elevated sightline over the whole stage, which suits big touring shows, dance and pantomime where you want to take in the full picture.
Balcony
The highest level in the hall, giving a wide overview of the stage. Do note that there is no lift access to the Balcony, so it involves stairs.
Where to sit
Some events are sold as reserved seating and others as mixed admission with a standing area, so check the format for your show before you book. Central seats in the Stalls and Dress Circle give the most balanced view of a wide, flat stage. The venue offers an interactive view from seat tool on its seating plan, which is worth using before you choose.
Accessibility
Leas Cliff Hall aims to make live performance available to everyone, with staff on hand to help on arrival.
- Parking: parking is available at theatre level, and Sandgate Road Car Park has a direct entrance through to the venue. Roadside spaces can also be found along The Leas.
- Step-free access and lifts: there is lift access to the Stalls and Dress Circle levels. Please note there is no lift access to the Balcony level.
- Accessible toilets: located on the west side of the building at Grand Hall level, and also in the Channel Suite, which is reached by lift.
- Visually impaired audiences: details of audio description, touch tours and other visual services are listed on the venue's Visual Impairment Services page.
- D/deaf and hard of hearing audiences: the venue has the Mobile Connect hearing enhancement system, which works in any seat in the auditorium. Speak to staff on arrival and they will help you sign in and issue a headset. Signed performances and other services are listed on the venue's Hearing Impairment Services page.
- Relaxed performances: relaxed performances are scheduled at certain times of year, including during the pantomime season.
- Access Membership Scheme: ATG's free scheme lets you book accessible seats online, book an essential companion ticket if eligible, and receive news of access performances.
Accessibility assistance line
0333 009 5399. Typetalk users can call 1800 1 0333 009 5399.
Live venue listings
Frequently asked questions
What's on at Leas Cliff Hall?
The hall presents a varied touring programme of live music, stand-up comedy, tribute nights, ballet and classical concerts, family shows, wrestling and a Christmas pantomime. The latest confirmed dates appear in the listings on this page.
Where is Leas Cliff Hall?
The address is Leas Cliff Hall, The Leas, Folkestone, Kent, CT20 2DZ. It sits on the clifftop overlooking the English Channel, a short walk from Folkestone town centre.
How do I get to Leas Cliff Hall?
Folkestone Central railway station is about a 15 minute walk away, and Folkestone Bus Station on Bouverie Square is around 10 minutes on foot. Drivers usually use Sandgate Road Car Park, which has a tunnel at the rear leading straight through to the venue entrance.
Where can I park at Leas Cliff Hall?
Sandgate Road Car Park, CT20 2BY, is operated by Folkestone and Hythe District Council and is the closest option, with payment via RingGo on arrival. On show nights it stays open until midnight instead of the usual 9pm, and there are also roadside spaces along The Leas.
How many people does Leas Cliff Hall hold?
The Grand Hall seats 900 people and holds up to 1,500 standing, so the layout changes depending on whether the show is a seated performance or a standing concert.
Is Leas Cliff Hall accessible?
There is lift access to the Stalls and Dress Circle levels, though not to the Balcony, and accessible toilets are on the west side at Grand Hall level and in the lift-accessible Channel Suite. The venue uses the Mobile Connect hearing system and runs relaxed and other access performances; the accessibility assistance line is 0333 009 5399.
When did Leas Cliff Hall open?
It was opened on 13 July 1927 by Prince Henry, later Duke of Gloucester, replacing the 1894 Leas Shelter that stood on the same clifftop site. The building was designed by the Norwegian architect J S Dahl and took 28 months to complete.
Who runs Leas Cliff Hall and how do I book tickets?
The hall has been operated by Ambassador Theatre Group, now ATG Entertainment, since November 2009, and is owned and supported by Folkestone and Hythe District Council. Tickets should be booked through the venue's official box office, which opens 90 minutes before each performance.
What's on at Leas Cliff Hall, Folkestone?
Leas Cliff Hall, Folkestone hosts a rolling programme of touring productions. The current what's-on list with dates, last checked 2026-08-21, is further up this page, and tickets are sold through the venue's official box office.
Where is Leas Cliff Hall, Folkestone?
Leas Cliff Hall, Folkestone is located at The Leas, Folkestone CT20 2DZ.
How big is Leas Cliff Hall, Folkestone?
Leas Cliff Hall, Folkestone has a capacity of 900 — small enough to feel intimate but large enough to host major productions.