Eye-catching plans to transform a long-abandoned seafront concert hall into an 89-bed hotel have been unveiled.

The multi-million-pound scheme is being promoted for the West Cliff Hall in Ramsgate, which has stood derelict for almost 20 years.

The iconic site in The Paragon is being auctioned as a “freehold development opportunity”, with potential buyers advised it comes with "positive" pre-application advice for a hotel.

The sale is being handled by Savills, which has put a guide price of £325,000 on the property, which goes under the hammer on Wednesday, May 29.

Savills surveyor George Goucher says the redevelopment proposal has been drawn up by the current owners and given positive feedback by Thanet District Council (TDC), but will require a full planning application and approval.

He added: “We have already had some interest from prospective bidders, with several viewings, and £325,000 is our starting guide price.”

In its pre-planning advisory to the owners, TDC’s officers described the design of the proposed hotel as “unique and innovative”.

But they would not give it ‘pre-approval’ until the proposed height had been brought down from three storeys to one-and-a-half at street level, while admitting it would still cause some harm to the views from surrounding properties.

And they warn that any future planning application will have to address in detail the impact of any new building on its conservation area surroundings.

Heritage watchdogs in the town are also cautioning against any development that would destroy the views, including from the historic Spencer Square.

Chairman of the Ramsgate Heritage and Design Forum David Gullick says positive contributions to the town, both modern and sensitive, are welcome.

But he adds: “Any scheme that comes forward through the planning process would be judged on its impact to the wider area.

“I suspect we would struggle to support any development that would harm the views from Spencer Square, or the context of Royal Crescent and The Paragon.

“But we do welcome development on this site, and the image attached to the auction information does appear to address the concerns noted above and we look forward to seeing the proposals in more detail.

“While the harbour is Grade II*- listed, I feel that we would be able to support the development below the face of the cliff as the current structure does not provide a positive contribution.”

Although not wishing to be named, residents living nearby say they welcome plans to revive the eyesore site but would object to any development that obscured their historic sea views.

Opened in 1914, the former music hall had an illustrious history, even hosting groups like the Rolling Stones in 1964, until its more recent demise.

It was last used as a motor museum which closed in 2005.

TDC subsequently tried to dispose of the site for several years without any interest.

But in 2009, the charity Project MotorHouse , led by Dr Who actress Janet Fielding, began working with the council in a bid to revive and rebuild the hall as a theatre, cinema, restaurant/bar and community arts venue.

The community was invited to get involved and more than £300,000 was raised, funding fresh designs by award-winning architect Guy Hollaway, as well as asbestos removal, the securing of the garden walls and the hiring of a construction industry project manager.

But a survey revealed the building had deteriorated beyond repair and concluded that a full rebuild was the only viable option.

Unable to progress, TDC decided to auction off the site in 2018, selling it for £225,000.

But no work had taken place, nor planning applications submitted, by the time a company set up to develop the site was dissolved in February 2023.

Now there is fresh hope a new owner will bring in the investment required.

Ramsgate councillor Rausham Ara, who sits on the town promotion committee, says a new hotel will be welcome in the West Cliff area.

“We have £20 million of Levelling Up government funding to put Ramsgate on the map and attract more visitors and currently the seafront is a bit one-sided and the Westcliff could benefit,” she said.

“We will just have to wait and see what happens to the site.”