Brief description
Dreamland Margate is a world-class family attraction and live entertainment venue, opposite the golden sands of Margate (Kent), with a specially selected offering of vintage style rides, pop-up
entertainment, art installations and street food, plus a packed programme of live music and events. Since reopening in 2015 and expanding in 2017, Dreamland has been delivering exciting experiences for visitors of all ages. In addition to the outdoor amusement park, there is also an indoor retro roller room with cafe and games arcade, alongside versatile indoor event spaces – Hall By The Sea and The Ballroom.
Dreamland is fast gaining a reputation as one of the south coast’s premier music venues, with a jam-packed line up of indoor and outdoor events. With a diverse line up featuring huge artists,
Dreamland brings all the fun of the festival to Margate throughout the season.
With excellent road and rail links, Dreamland Margate is less than 90 minutes from central London and is a major part of the ongoing transformation of Margate into one of the UK’s trendiest seaside towns.
History
Described as the heartbeat of Margate, Dreamland was one of the UK’s best-loved amusement parks and at one time listed within the UK’s top ten visitor attractions. Comprising 16-acres, the park included a zoo, miniature railway, 2,200- seat purpose built cinema, cafés, restaurants, bars, retail and a 2,000-capacity ballroom playing host to The Who, The Yardbirds, the Rolling Stones, T. Rex and Hawkwind to name but a few…
Considered to be the oldest-surviving amusement park in Great Britain, the site of Dreamland (as it was re-named in 1920) dates back to the British railway boom of the early 1860s when, in its original form, the ‘Hall by the Sea’ was operated by the famous circus impresario, ‘Lord’ George Sanger.
Fast forward to 2003, when a plan to close the park and build housing on the site triggered a ‘Save Dreamland’ campaign. The Dreamland Trust emerged from the campaign, and worked with partners to secure £18m in public funding to restore Dreamland and its jewels: the Grade II*-listed Scenic Railway, Grade II*-listed cinema complex and Grade II-listed menagerie cages.
In a bold move, Thanet District Council compulsory purchased the Dreamland site in September 2013 and work began in 2014 to restore the iconic Scenic Railway. New life was given to the lower ground floor of the cinema building, with sympathetic landscaping, exciting design and contemporary branding.
In saving Dreamland, The Dreamland Trust, the local community and Thanet District Council managed something truly remarkable. Their hard work and determination has enabled generations to come and visit, and to enjoy this vital aspect of British seaside heritage, which without them would have been lost forever.
Facilities
Parking
Pay & display car park on site with multiple spaces available.
Car Park access via Belgrave Road, CT9 1XG.
Toilets
The park has toilet facilities throughout the park.
Food/Drink
Dreamland has its own catering facilities and has a varied menu with a hot and cold food offer, hot and cold drinks, licensed bar areas, snacks, cake, ice creams etc.
Website – www.dreamland.co.uk
Contact – sales@dreamland.co.uk