The Westgate Hall, Canterbury

Canterbury City Council had planned to demolish the Westgate Hall and extend the surrounding car park over the site. In response, The Westgate Community Trust was formed to save the building; after several years' of negotiations the Trust signed a 99 year lease for the Hall.

The Trust successfully secured funds to repair the Hall which re-opened to the public in November 2014.

The works involved re-opening blocked window apertures and installing cast iron windows manufactured to match the originals some of which had survived. The roof was insulated from above (to expose the original roof and ceiling construction which had been obscured by a suspended ceiling dating from the 1970's) and slated. New services and a commercial kitchen were fitted and the parquet floor refurbished.

At the East end, a mezzanine floor was inserted and this contains a plant room, meeting rooms and a cafe area.

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