The original building was a bandstand funded in 1903–1904 by Thomas Dence (1840–1918), a local developer who had been involved in the Frome Park Estate in Stroud Green and roads in the parish of St Mary, Islington, and owned property in Herne Bay.

[6][8][9][10][11] Dence had moved to Herne Bay for his health, bought the Downs, laid out roads at the top and built himself a house on Beacon Hill close by.

It also had to place a stone in front of the building saying: "East Cliff Pavilion presented to the town of Herne Bay by Thomas Dence 1902."

The whole of the site was then covered with a solid mass of Portland cement concrete 18 inches (46 cm) thick, which when finished left the ironwork completely embedded in the same.

People pressed their faces against the windows or stood in a "dense mass" on East Cliff, and the door was guarded by Mr Boorman the Town Beadle in "sober uniform".

Proceedings were begun by a child, thus: "First a pretty little girl dressed in white, with a felt bonnet to match, from which looked out a pair of dark eyes, and brown ringlets strayed upon the shoulders, a very picture of a charming maid of Kent, stepped forward, tripped her way onto the platform and presented Mrs Dence with a beautiful bouquet, which was received with a smile by the lady, and the gift repaid with a kiss; while those present loudly applauded.

Anon, Herne Bay Press, 9 Apr 1904[12] Councillor Farley gave a speech glorifying the Pavilion, the town, and Mr Dence the donor.

The reverse of the key bore the inscription: "Presented to T. Dence Esq., donor of the East Cliff Pavilion, Herne Bay, by A.S. Ingleton, April 4, 1904.

Refreshments were provided in the gentlemen's reading room for the invited 300, who then joined the crowd on the roof to hear a concert by the Royal Engineers Band.

The walls were originally largely of glass and painted in eau de nil or pale green, with a darker shade on the dado.

[35] The old tongue-and-groove wood flooring of the vestibule was now replaced with terrazzo paving, with the town crest decorating the area in front of the kiosk (today this is covered over, or possibly removed).

However the positioning of the new stage against the east wall caused some of the soundwaves to be blocked or diverted by the same beams which now crossed their path, so that the audience never again experienced satisfactory acoustics.

However, because the 1913 phase was built on a government loan and there was no donor to thank, this Opening Day could a big event, involving the late king's sister and the whole town.

The Fire Brigade arch on the sea front formed of the two escapes, with the steam and manual engines at the base, and ornamented with the hose, jets and flags and canvas buckets was much admired.

[2][4] Carrying flags and accompanied by their teachers, the Girl Guides and the 1st Herne Bay Troop of Boy Scouts with their bugle band, they marched to the Downs where in due course they were presented to the Princess.

Mr Knollys in the "magnificent uniform of the City of London Yeomanry" presented Sir Mark Edlmann Collet, High Sheriff of Kent, "who was attended by two footmen in gorgeous livery and bearing silver-tipped wands."

Taking centre ground to provide the music was the Band of the Second Battalion of the Royal Dublin Fusiliers "in full dress with their busbies".

Pinafore while she and members of the Council enjoyed a French menu at a lunch prepared by a Kensington caterer, the only potentially local source for ingredients being Pate de Pigeon.

By the time the Princess arrived at the Hall, the roadside crowds had gathered at the site, where the Fusiliers were playing in the bandstand, the 6th Dragoon guard of honour was marshalled at the south-east corner, and all the local schoolchildren were lined up on the north side, including New College cadets, Herne Bay College cadets from St George's Terrace, the Scouts and Guides, and the Council scholars in red, white and blue caps and waving flags.

[2] On display were uniformed Scouts and Guides, members of the National Reserve, Army and Navy veterans wearing their medals and "Friendly Society men in their distinctive regalia" There were speeches by various dignitaries.

The enrobed Clerk of the Council read and presented a crested and illuminated address, inscribed on vellum and scrolled on an ivory roller, to the Princess.

[37] The princess was cheered all the way back to the railway station, was presented with a gold replica of the Fuchs medallion and a keepsake by the Chairman of the Council, and left on the 4.30 pm train.

[44] From 1996 to 2004 the Hall was run by Eurest, but the business reverted to Council control for a three-year trial from March 2004 after the contractor served up frozen roast potatoes at a dinner dance in November 2002.

In October 2000 an arson attack, attended by 50 firemen and 8 appliances, caused smoke damage and a two-month closure of the Hall for repairs and redecoration.

The Wylie Price orchestra, the regular tea dance band at the Central Bandstand, usually performed at the town's new year party in the Hall.

At the end of the day, the East Kent Bus Company provided a fleet of double-decker buses to transport the audience home to Whitstable and Canterbury.

[62] In 2003, the Council was planning many entertainments for the 2004 summer season starting with a variety show hosted by Paul Harris, and followed by audiences with Ann Widdecombe, Clement Freud and John Mortimer; tribute bands including Killer Queen, Cavern Beatles, Buddy Holly and the Cricketers, and Tom and Robbie; performers Kenny Ball, Steve Steen, Pieter-Dirk Uys, Craig Douglas, Maggie Moone and Peter Sarstedt; the John Wilson Orchestra, a Roll Out the Barrel singalong and a Gilbert and Sullivan operetta; and Albert Nobbs presented by Hull Truck Theatre.

[63] Shortly before 2005 the Hall saw An Audience with Esther Rantzen and the Circus of Horrors, and in 2005 there was a retro theme with tribute bands and tea dances.

[64] In 1983 the BBC used The King's Hall as a setting for its 1984 comedy series, Cockles, starring Joan Sims, in which it was called the "Marine Pavilion, Cocklesea".

[66][67] Extreme World Wrestling was filmed at the Hall by Sky for Life TV in 2002, featuring The Dominator, Voodoo Prince and Jonny Storm.