🏗️ Inside the Leas Lift revamp: ‘It’s so much more than even my wildest expectations’

Plus: Latest plans for former Debenhams department store to go before council's cabinet, and Folkestone Invicta announce ground share for start of season

We check in on the progress of the Leas Lift restoration work and speak to the company’s CEO

If you’ve taken a walk along The Leas or down Lower Sandgate Road to the coastal park, you can’t have failed to notice the work taking place to restore and reopen the Leas Lift, Folkestone’s Grade II-listed funicular railway.

Last week the Dispatch donned the hi-viz and hard hat for a site visit to check in on the progress of the project and speak to those involved in bringing this important piece of the town’s history back to life…

The Leas Lift is an impressive piece of Victorian engineering, with its pump room, huge water tanks, and tracks laid down the steep incline of the cliffs overlooking the English Channel. But sometimes smaller details can tease out the emotions that underpin this massive, years-long restoration project.

“Looking at the paint, you go through all the different colours that the lift has been and it transports you back in time and I find that fascinating,” said Floortje Hoette, chief executive of the Folkestone Leas Lift Company, when asked about the feelings stirred by being involved in the reopening of the lift. “This thing has been here for a very long time and it’s seen a lot of changes, changes to the town and changes to our society.”

Those layers of paint are being revealed as main contractors Apex continue to work on the lower station on Lower Sandgate Road, preparing the building for the planned reopening of the lift in spring next year. Little aesthetic touches will be carried out alongside much bigger feats of engineering—the laying of new tracks, the building of a new cafe, the restoration of the lift’s two carriages, and more.

Work on the restoration of the Leas Lift is continuing this summer. Picture: Apex

“It’s all going to plan, so we’re quite pleased with the progress, but there’s a lot of work to be done until we open,” Ms Hoette said. “I already had great expectations when I started the job but it’s so much more than even my wildest expectations.

“It’s an incredible project, it’s very unique, and it’s all-consuming. The restoration is complex, but also you’re setting up something from scratch in a way. It ran before, but we’ll run it slightly differently and there are more elements to it—there’s the cafe, and we’re looking at putting a kiosk at the top as well.”

When the lift reopens next year more new jobs will be created, including three to five drivers responsible for the safe passage of the carriages up and down the cliff between The Leas and Lower Sandgate Road. Each of the carriages—which are currently in Lincolnshire being restored—will be able to carry up to 14 people at a time.

The western part of the lower station will house a permanent exhibition telling the story of the funicular and the people behind it, while the eastern wing of the building will be given over to changing displays of artworks by local creatives.

Floortje Hoette is chief executive of the Folkestone Leas Lift Company

Restoration work in the lower station reveals layers of paint from down the decades

“There will be temporary exhibitions that have a link with the lift and they will be co-created with community groups,” Ms Hoette said. “Those temporary exhibitions will change over every three months, so it gives people something new to see at the lift every time they come and it’s a draw to use it more regularly.”

Steph Harris, head of new business and social value at contractors Apex, guides the Dispatch around the building site, pointing out where original features will be retained while at the same time modernisation is being carried out to make the lift more accessible.

“We enjoy complex, challenging projects, for sure, and the team that we’ve got working on this project have a lot of Grade II-listed experience as well,” she said.

“A lot of work has been done by the project team prior to us coming on site, but as with any kind of historic building that’s built in the late 1880s there’s always going to be challenges that you uncover as you work through the project.

Steph Harris is head of new business and social value at contractors Apex

“That preparation work was done before we’ve actually got stuck in, which has allowed us to navigate those challenges. A lot of the work now comes down to making sure that the restoration is the way that it should be and the way that the client would like it to be.”

Modernisation is also planned when it comes to ticketing, with the old-style paper tickets that many will remember fondly now being replaced by digital solutions. This is intended to help make the flow of passengers smoother and prevent long queues building at busier times of the year.

“The space, as you can see, is quite limited,” Ms Hoette said. “So on busy days we don’t want queues to build up. If we can have a system where people already have a ticket or a QR code handy, that’s much preferred.”

“We really hope that people will use [the lift] on a day-to-day basis. We’re looking at the ticketing system and the ticketing prices and we want to come up with a system that is affordable, especially for the residents of Folkestone because they will be using it throughout the year.

Work on The Leas has revealed the huge water tanks that feed the lift

The tracks that run up and down the cliff will be completely replaced

“Of course, visitors are a very important part of our income and it will be fantastic if we manage to draw more visitors to Folkestone, that’s definitely one of our aims, but ultimately it’s the residents that carry it.”

There is talk of season ticket-style offerings for those who plan to use the lift regularly, but at this stage nothing can be revealed as Ms Hoette admits “we’re still crunching the numbers”. But have they settled on how much a single ride on the lift will set passengers back? “We have an idea, but I can't tell you, I’d have to kill you,” she replied with a laugh.

Income from tickets will not be enough to sustain the costs of operation and maintenance of the lift, so the sale of refreshments and souvenirs will play a part in generating revenue. As will donations, with the Folkestone Leas Lift Company now a registered charity. An ongoing time capsule fundraising campaign, which closes at the end of this month, is one of the ways in which the team behind the lift—three full-time employees assisted by a board of trustees—are seeking to continue to bring in much-needed cash.

“This is a complex project, as you peel away the covers new things come up that you didn’t expect, there’s always the unexpected and additional cost can be a result of that,” Ms Hoette said. “So we’re fundraising to cover that and to maintain healthy contingencies, which you really need in projects like this. I can imagine the public thinking, ‘well the restoration has started, so the money’s in’, but we keep fundraising for a reason.”

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News in brief

💷 Updated plans for the future of Folkestone’s former Debenhams department store, purchased by the district council back in 2020, are to go before the authority’s cabinet this evening. The building has been divided in two, with Folca 1—the Edwardian portion on Bouverie Place—now expected to be sold off by the council. Folca 2—the art deco extension on Sandgate Road—will be retained as the council seeks to proceed with a mixed-use regeneration of the property. Folca 1 had been earmarked for a new medical centre, but this was deemed not to be a viable proposition. A subsequent feasibility assessment has led to the recommendation that the building be sold off.

The Edwardian Folca 1 building—previously occupied by Debenhams—is now expected to be sold off by Folkestone & Hythe District Council

The report on the future of Folca 1 going before the cabinet this evening states: “An open market sale provides opportunities to achieve the optimal sale price through competitive bidding. The resulting competition naturally encourages buyers to submit their strongest offers, ensuring that the Council receives a price that accurately reflects current market demand and conditions.” Work on Folca 2, which could yet be home to a new medical centre, is expected to start early next year. The first phase will see the two buildings separated, with Folca 2 being stripped out and weatherproofed.

⚽ Folkestone Invicta will play all their league fixtures away from home in August, before playing ‘home’ games at Margate in September, as work takes place to lay a 3G artificial pitch at Cheriton Road. It is currently hoped the new playing surface will be ready by early October. In a statement released yesterday, the club said: “We fully understand the inconvenience caused to our loyal supporters and partners, but we are confident that the long term benefits of the new surface will be transformational for the club. We are also aware of the impact this has on season ticket holders and we are actively looking at how best we can address this.”

🎹 Folkestone-born musician and actor David Kaffinetti—who played keyboardist Viv Savage in cult ‘rockumentary’ This Is Spinal Tap—has died aged 79. Kaffinetti was a member of prog rock outfit Rare Bird who, along with Viv Savage, have been honoured on Folkestone’s Rock & Roll Wall of Fame. His bandmates in Mutual of Alameda’s Wild Kingdom posted on Facebook: “Our brother David Kaffinetti passed away peacefully in his sleep yesterday. We are devastated by this event. David always had a kind word and a quick wit that would slay you where you stand. Then he’d make you smile doing it!”

🎨 The sixth edition of the Folkestone Triennial kicks off this weekend, with 18 artists producing new artworks across the town’s streets, shoreline and public spaces. From large-scale sculpture and sound installations to digital works and community collaborations, this year’s commissions will explore the layers of land and life beneath our feet. Curator Sorcha Carey said: “Folkestone Triennial has long been a pioneering force in commissioning public art that responds to place. This year, artists will engage with extraordinary and unexpected sites, creating works that spark new ways of seeing the landscape and our relationship with it.” To mark the start of the Triennial, a free launch party is being held in Payers Park and Mill Bay on Friday, July 18, at 6pm.

🚮 Almost 900 people have backed a petition calling for the town council to step in and help fund the recently-axed Folkestone Town Sprucer project. The long-running scheme, headed by Peter Phillips, had to be wound down after the Sunflower House charity which had previously funded the work could no longer afford to support it. The petition, started by local resident Joe Smith and his fiancee Kelly Gowar, says: “Unfortunately the supporting charities have decided to cut funding to the Folkestone town sprucers, the unsung heroes that help keep the residential and outlying areas of our beautiful seaside haven clean and tidy. We ask Folkestone Town Council and the wider government to back the town sprucers.” You can view and sign the petition here.

🎸 Folkestone folk singer-songwriter Nick Lawrence, pictured above, played the main stage at the Ely Folk Festival last weekend after being named one of three winners in the festival’s 2025 Spotlight competition. Nick, who gigs regularly in Kent, said: “I was chuffed to bits. I entered the competition not expecting to be a winner. When I got to the festival I was really nervous as this is the biggest festival I’ve performed at. I think the performance went really well—the crowd was very receptive and several people spoke to me throughout the day saying how much they enjoyed my set.” You can find out more about Nick’s music by following him on Instagram.

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What’s on this week

💃🏻 The Most Wuthering Heights Day Ever returns to the Harbour Arm on Sunday, July 20. The event sees hundreds of participants dancing in red dresses, in tribute to Kate Bush and her Wuthering Heights music video. There will two dances, one at noon and one at 4pm, with a warm-up and rehearsal taking place in the Goods Yard from 10am until 10.45am. You can find out more about the event here.

🎧 DJs will be spinning the best in alternative music when The Broken Boneyard comes to 20th Century Speedway on Friday, July 18. You can expect to hear the likes of Nirvana, Depeche Mode, Jane’s Addiction and Echo & The Bunnymen. The night kicks off at 8pm and entry is free.

🎸 Celebrating more than 50 years since the formation of legendary band The Eagles in 1971, The Illegal Eagles return to the Leas Cliff Hall tomorrow, July 17, with a brand new production. The show, which starts at 7.30pm, features the very best from the Eagles’ catalogue of classics, including Hotel California, Take It Easy, and Life In The Fast Lane. You can get your tickets here.

🎤 Musical Bingo returns to The Music Workshop this Friday, July 18. Hosted by AiMATE, this is not your average bingo night—players can expect great tunes, singalong moments, plenty of laughs and some fun prizes up for grabs. It all starts at 7pm and you can get your tickets for £5 here.

🎙️ The Sunday Service Jazz Club returns to Docker Brewery in Park Farm Road this Sunday, July 20, from 2pm to 4pm. Performing will be Alice Phelps, and entry is free.

🎞️ Comedy-romance A Cinderella Story will be showing at the Harbour Arm on Friday, July 18, as part of this year’s free summer cinema programme. The 7pm screening is completely free to attend, you don’t need a ticket, and spaces are available on a first come, first served basis. You can find out more about this and other upcoming events at the Harbour Arm here.

Do you have an event in Folkestone you would like to promote in a forthcoming edition of the Dispatch? Send details to us and we’ll help spread the word!

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That’s all from me this week. Before I let you go, I’d like to share a piece about the Dispatch published by Hold The Front Page on Monday. It encapsulates what this newsletter is about—and reiterates the fact that I am entirely reliant on the support of you, the reader, to make this a sustainable project. If you can afford to part with roughly the cost of a pint each month, would you consider becoming a paid Dispatch subscriber? If you believe in this project and can make a contribution, then I thank you for supporting me and this publication.

Next week’s newsletter will be in your inboxes at the same time next Wednesday.

All the best, Rhys

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