Work is finally set to begin on the long-awaited redevelopment of a Edwardian tearoom and theatre which has stood derelict for years.

The Grade II-listed Leas Pavilion in Folkestone will be restored as part of a nine-storey residential development of luxury flats overlooking the English Channel.

Built in 1902, the pavilion has in its time seen use as a tearoom, theatre, cinema, bowling alley, snooker hall and nightclub.

Selahattin Yalcin, a director at developers Gustavia, says the local community can be confident "one of the town’s oldest jewels" will be in safe hands when the work commences this month.

The pavilion itself will be carefully restored, and once the work is complete it will be open to the public for events for as many as 100 days every year.

Mr Yalcin said: "We're fully aware that the pavilion holds many happy memories for the people of Folkestone.

"The local community can rest assured those memories will survive as we carefully return this beautiful pavilion to its original form within a refurbished structure which will stand for another 100 years and more.

Since its closure in 2007 the building has fallen into significant disrepair, suffering from water damage and timber decay.

For years people campaigned to save the building, also known as the Leas Club, with a number of celebrities from stage and screen showing their support.

Friends of the Leas Pavilion (FLP), a not-for-profit organisation, was also established to address concerns about the deterioration of the Grade II listed building.

Gustavia - who have engaged Hythe-based architects Hollaway Studio for the project - say the restoration will include "the precision removal, replenishment and reassembly of a number of the building's historical elements" in order to retain the building's original look.

"We will restore the pavilion according to the heritage planning conditions which require us to salvage as many of its original features," Mr Yalcin said.

"Historical elements that are going to be retained as original will be removed to keep them damage-free during main building works.

"Leas Pavilion has long been known as one of the town's oldest jewels. We cannot wait to polish that jewel and present it to the community."