Plans to return a former Edwardian hotel to its “crowning glory” with live music, dancing and late-night film showings have been snubbed due to fears over safety and noise.

An application to vary the premises licence for Keppel's Bar at The Grand in Folkestone was submitted to the district council earlier this year.

But members of the licensing sub-committee have rejected the proposal put forward by The Grand Hotel Folkestone Ltd.

The application had sought permission for the bar, and other areas of the historic building such as Palm Court, Tudor Room and Principle State Rooms, to remain open until midnight, seven nights a week.

It also requested for plays to be performed until 10pm, movie screenings until 10.30pm, live music until 10pm, recorded music until 11.30pm, dance performances until 11.30pm, and the sale of alcohol permitted until 11.30pm.

A similar application had been submitted last year, but was also rejected.

This time around, concerns had been raised by residents of the building, with one informing the committee: “I strongly oppose this licence extension application on the grounds of noise, nuisance, wear and tear on the building, safety of residents and a clear breach of the lease.”

Another resident added: “Not only do the issues of noise, nuisance, disruption, breaching of the lease and safety concerns still apply, this current application appears disingenuous in that it is entitled 'Keppel's variation application'.

“However the application relates to activities being granted extended licences in rooms other than Keppel’s (namely The Palm Court, Tudor Room, Principal State Rooms).

“Hence anyone seeing the title of this application may be lured into thinking that it only pertained to Keppel’s where in fact this is not the case.”

A representative for Kent Fire and Rescue Service also submitted an objection to the plans.

A letter to Folkestone and Hythe District Council stated: “There are not sufficient details about which parts of the building the fire risk assessment covers. There is no detail of how an evacuation would be managed. The premises, as assessed, were not in a condition to be occupied by members of the public.

“We were unable to fully ascertain how the specified areas would be used and as such could not assess the risk that this would pose.”

The Grand, along The Leas, was once the haunt of royalty, with Edward VII and his mistress Alice Keppel known to have graced the halls.

But in recent years areas of the Grade II-listed building have fallen into neglect.

Tenants live in 60 converted flats upstairs, while Keppel’s Bar and restaurant operates out of its downstairs east wing, but a number of other areas lie unused and in need of repair.

Speaking in favour of the application at the licensing sub-committee meeting on July 22, Pierre Condue sought permission for more of the hotel to be used commercially.

Mr Condue said most neighbours were on board with the plans.

“We've signed a memorandum with the Residents' Association outlining exactly how we will be operating, the hours of limitations, the feedback that we'll be able to ascertain from them if there's any issues, and a management plan which will take care of any issues that are arising from the operation,” he explained.

“But essentially, I think that the majority of the residents have bought into the scheme because it is the way forward to save The Grand.”

Mr Condou says the overarching business plan would include selling off some of the Edwardian building’s rooms as holiday lets in order to raise funds.

“Then we could repair the grounds, and reopen Palm Court and the State Rooms for their original intended purposes,” continued Mr Condue.

“It's an extraordinary building and it's a beautiful Edwardian jewel of a building sitting in Folkestone on The Leas as you know.

“But it is unloved and it needs some serious attention.”

But despite the new vision for the site, the committee found that allowing the proposed activities to take place could lead to irritation for neighbours.

Cllr Polly Blakemore (Green) pointed to a lack of an acoustic assessment being submitted and inadequate mitigation against public nuisance arising from music and customer noise.

A summary from the meeting reads: “The sub-committee felt that, on balance, the prevention of public nuisance and public safety licensing objectives would not be promoted by granting this application.”

The committee’s unanimous rejection of the license comes after similar plans were also turned down last year.

The previous application by artist group, Beton Collective, petitioned to serve alcohol and welcome up to 150 people to attend shows.

Since January 2023, Beton has managed the building’s Green Room, hosting classical music performances, speaker events and creative workshops.