In the 1920s and 1930s a red carpet would be laid across the road and up to the stage for the conductor of the brass band to walk from the Connaught Hotel which was directly opposite the Bandstand.

The back or seaward half, built in 1924, was originally supported above the beach on concrete pillars sheathed in cast iron, so that the stage was level with the main thoroughfare.

[3][6][7] The 1924 section has two outside seaward-facing balconies with space for deckchairs, including a cantilevered roof for the lower deck and for covering the stage inside.

[4] By the late 1920s the audience area in front of the stage had extended across Tower Gardens to the edge of the footpath and road.

Concrete and iron pillars in the 1924 section had split, guttering had rusted and there was smashed glass on the floor, rotten woodwork and detached light-bulb holders.

[15] Clipperview Ltd was granted a 20-year lease of the building in early 1987 and successfully provided entertainment for the summer, then in October the Great Storm of 1987 damaged the roof.

there should be a presumption in favour of retaining unlisted buildings which make a positive contribution to the character of a conservation area.

[25] The building was refurbished between 1998 and May 1999 with the help of £340,000 lottery money awarded in 1997, although by 1998 the estimated total cost had risen to £962,000 due to "considerable unforeseen damage".

[2][19][20][26][27][28] During renovation by W.W. Martin of Ramsgate, the original cast-iron panels were shotblasted and the teak window frames dipped and stripped.

The 1924 stage area was restored to original condition with screened windows looking out to sea, and the wooden cupolas rebuilt with additional copper panels on top.

[4][31] The southern frontage was opened on a Sunday shortly before Easter, 1932 by the High Sheriff of Kent Major Sir John Theodore Prestige.

In those days a red carpet would be laid for the conductor to walk across from the Connaught Hotel which was and is, as of 2013, directly opposite the Bandstand.

[1] On 26 and 27 November 1932 a gale caused waves to break over the sea wall, flooding buildings and throwing up tons of shingle: "The heavy doors of the central bandstand were torn from their hinges and many windows were broken.

In January 1987 Clipperview leased and renovated the building then reopened it in April, with Margate Majorettes and Whitstable Brass performing.

[37] The Herne Bay Visitor Information Centre was located in the south-east corner of the building from 1988 until the end of 2008; it was relocated to Council offices in Canterbury in January 2009.

In 2009 Makcari's coffee lounge and ice cream parlour took over the vacant space left by the information centre.

[43] The traditional position for the Punch and Judy entertainment in summer has always been on the beach at the west side of the Pier, but since the cessation of military band concerts the Bandstand has provided a venue for Colin Bennett's puppets on rainy days.

At the same time the information centre provided a display showing the history of Herne Bay and its bandstand.

[45] During May Day bank holiday, 2006, the Snowdown Colliery Welfare Band gave a free concert at the Bandstand.

This caused embarrassment to the director of the Bandstand cafe bar, who had not been informed of the repainting plans or the concert.