1. STAG THEATRE

The Stag Theatre stands on the site of the Royal Crown Hotel, also known as the Crown Hotel. The exact time it gained its Royal status remains a mystery, adding to its allure and inviting you to delve into its rich history. 
Once a bustling old staging post, the Crown Hotel has seen various uses over the years. It had multiple landlords, including two members of the Pawley family in the mid-1800s.
Over time, the Crown Hotel underwent a significant transformation, evolving into a multifaceted establishment that included a hotel, laundry house, and Crown Tap with a publican. This marked the beginning of its journey towards becoming the Stag Theatre. 
In the  1880s, the Stag Theatre, then known as the Crown Hotel, was a vibrant social hub in the town. Under Marion Morphew's management, it hosted a variety of events, from banquets and ballroom dancing to lively auctions, bringing the community together. 
According to the Post Office Directory, the last recorded landlord was George Marshall from 1913 to 1922. After his tenure, the property was sold, beginning its fascinating transformation from a hotel to a cinema.
The building was demolished, and the Majestic Cinema, a grand structure built for independent operators Cohen & Rafer, was built on the site. It opened its doors on 22 August 1936, boasting large, decorative arched windows that flooded the circle lounge with daylight. The cinema could accommodate 1,600 patrons, with 1,100 in the stalls and 500 in the circle.
In 1943, the Oscar Deutsch Odeon Theatres Ltd. chain bought it and constructed two new projection rooms downstairs. 
It was renamed Odeon on 7 July 1945 
Despite the long-term economic downturn that followed the Second World War, the cinema stayed open through the 1940s and 50s. At that point, the stage area of today's Stag was one of the largest screens in the region. The cinema seated 1360 in total, with a large stall area and a dress circle that is now the theatre auditorium.
Plans to include a discotheque were made in the early 1970s, but Planning permission for the disco was refused.
In October 1975, it was sold to the independent Brent Walker chain and renamed Focus Cinema.
In the 1980s, the Stag Theatre, then operating as the Ace Cinema, faced the challenges of a changing industry. In response, it transitioned from a full-time cinema to a live theatre, temporarily reopening in December 1983. While films were still shown occasionally (Blockbusters), and the lower Ace 1 & 2 screens continued for several more years,  the focus shifted to live performances, demonstrating the theatre's adaptability and commitment to providing cultural experiences. But the 1980s were gloomy for cinema. The advent of video and the flagging film industry meant that cinema was increasingly unloved. 
The local council took control in June 1985, and it was renamed Stag Theatre, using the upstairs screen for live shows. Refurbishment in 1992/1993 saw the Plaza Suite added at the end of the building (the Plaza name was from a previous cinema in the town). The two downstairs cinemas were named Majestic 1 & 2 for a while. The café/bar was called the Carlton after another former cinema in the town. 
In 2004, it was renamed Playhouse Theatre.
The Playhouse closed on 7 July 2006 but reopened two months later under new management by Kino Holdings, which still operates the nearby Kino Cinema, Hawkhurst. 
In February 2007, they were granted a 25-year lease to manage the building, and the name reverted to Stag Theatre, with the cinemas known as Kino. However, due to financial problems, it closed in July 2008 and reopened in 2009. 
The Stag Theatre was leased to the Sevenoaks Theatre Action Group. This local pressure group gave the venue its name today. It now operates as a charity and includes a theatre, two digital cinema screens, and an alternative performance and conferencing facility. The building's shell looks almost identical to how it did when it was majestic.
**HAUNTINGS**
Little is known about who haunts the Stag Theatre at the moment. Still, staff have stories of strange things happening, such as shadowy figures, footsteps, and other unexplained noises. 
A previous Paranormal investigation took place there. The team witnessed some unexplainable things during their investigation, like the sound of a piccolo playing.
Whether there is residual and a poltergeist haunting is yet to be confirmed. Perhaps an old resident, a worker from the Hotel, or possibly a thespian/cinema-goer from bygone eras.
Another Paranormal Team P.I.G.S were doing investigations there in 2019. You can check out their results HERE, and since it has been investigated by other teams of investigators and has been advertised on the GofEPS Events in Kent page
You can watch past paranormal events, visitors' experiences, evidence and activities on the GofEPS YouTube playlist HERE.