Tenant confirmed for empty bandstand commercial unit

Canterbury City Council has announced that the empty commercial unit at Herne Bay bandstand is to be leased to the current tenant of the other unit at the site, Makcari’s.

It follows a competitive tendering process, which included a marketing campaign run via commercial leasing agents and was open to bids from anyone who was interested in taking on this opportunity at the prime seafront location.

Makcari’s was selected as the winning bidder due to its strong community focus and commitment to improving the bandstand as an asset for local people and visitors to the town.

A single tenant brings with it the best opportunity to create an attraction for Herne Bay that can be used and enjoyed all year round. Makcari’s has been the tenant for the other unit for 16 years and has a strong understanding of the site and its history.

Plans include bringing the public stage back into use to run a programme of quality entertainment throughout the summer, and the potential for seasonal activities such as an ice rink at Christmas.

In addition, discussions are continuing for Makcari’s to potentially take on responsibility for the two sets of public toilets at the bandstand, including opening, closing and cleaning them, which could allow them to be available to the public for longer should events be taking place at the site.

The announcement comes as the council has completed an extensive programme of repairs to the bandstand.

Firstly, to enable the unit to be let again, internal work including the stripping out of fixtures and fittings, repairs to and a deep clean of the toilets, and redecoration was carried out. This was paid for using United Kingdom Shared Prosperity Fund money and cost £43,000.

And a much larger package of repairs and improvements, paid for from council budgets and costing £522,000, has just been finished. This has involved:

• Installing a new, self supporting glazed roofing system onto the existing frame (including a heritage design glazing bar)
• Timber repairs to damaged timber and redecoration of all external timber
• Strip back and full redecoration of the main central bandstand sign
• Repairs and redecoration of the entire external facade, iron gutters and downpipes

Still to come is a programme of wider structural repairs which will allow the stage area of the bandstand to come back into use. This is being put together at the moment and will be tendered in due course.

The council’s Cabinet member for property, Cllr Lee Castle, said: “We are delighted to have selected Makcari’s for the empty unit. They clearly demonstrated their passion for and commitment to the bandstand and a desire to secure its future as an attraction for the town for many years to come.

“The work that has taken place over the last few months has totally transformed the appearance of the bandstand. It looks fantastic, and after a difficult period post-pandemic, I thank everyone who has been involved for their efforts to ensure this building once again takes pride of place along the seafront.

“We look forward with huge optimism to the day when the bandstand is packed to the rafters with people enjoying live entertainment and coming together as a community, because if ever a building was made for it, this is it.”

Owner of Makcari’s, Nejmi Hassan, said: “We are very excited at being the sole occupants of the bandstand as it allows us to invest into and broaden the offering to the local community without the difficulties of having to get multiple parties to agree.

“Our priority will be to have live entertainment every weekday and weekend throughout the summer and really work on getting the stage back into use.

“The bandstand is a unique, historic location on the beach. We cannot wait to press ahead with all the big ideas we have to make the most of it.”

Published: 15 July 2025