Dreamland Margate Reopens it's Doors!
- The wait is finally over. The UK’s original pleasure park Dreamland Margate, re-opened to the public this morning Friday 19 June with the launch of Phase One
- Dreamland Margate opened at 10am revealing over 17 restored and retrofitted rides and amusements
- Dreamland opened with a sell-out and star-studded launch party ‘The Opening Night Hullaballoo’
- Hosted by comedian Vic Reeves, the dazzling Marina and the Diamonds took centre stage to headline the launch event
- The opening of the re-imagined park is the culmination of a campaign that has restored Britain’s most iconic seaside pleasure park for a new generation
- Today’s guests were among the first to explore the much-loved amusement park, re-imagined by HemingwayDesign with a new look and a collection of creatively up-cycled British seaside artefacts
- Dreamland’s re-opening is a further boost to Margate’s successful economic and cultural regeneration
- Press Contact: dreamland@kallaway.com or on 020 7221 7883
The wait is finally over! Today (19 June 2015) the UK’s original pleasure park re-opened to the public after over a decade of closure. One of Britain’s most iconic and old-fashioned seaside institutions is back, having been re-built following the local community’s decade-long campaign to restore this much loved destination.
Dreamland re-opened with a bang with a host of celebrity guests and performers including headliner Marina and the Diamonds, Chas ‘n’ Dave and DJ Gemma (Radio 1) playing at the sell-out Opening Night Hullaballoo.
The new Dreamland is a unique vintage-style amusement park re-imagined by HemingwayDesigns. The opening of the park, including rides, classic side shows, eateries and evocative spaces set within a landscape capable of hosting national festivals and major events has been made possible by a multi-million pound investment from local benefactors. Thanet District Council, Sands Heritage LTD, the Heritage Lottery Fund and the Department for Culture Media and Sport’s Sea Change Programme have worked together to bring Dreamland back to Margate’s coastline, and boost the local economy for years to come. The master plan has been executed by architecture practice Ray Hole Architects and project managed by Spider Project Team.
Phase One of Dreamland includes 17 restored rides, as well as the roller disco, pleasure gardens, restaurants, food stalls, arcades and amusements from the golden age of the British seaside. Over 200 old rides and amusements have been upcycled and reimaged – transformed into the fabric of the new Dreamland.
Dreamland will play a significant role in the continued regeneration of Margate. Dreamland’s Phase One opening alone has created 250 jobs in the local area 83% of which come from Thanet. Further jobs will be announced as Phases Two, Three and Four are undertaken. An education centre on Dreamland will provide a further resource for the community.
Eddie Kemsley, CEO, Dreamland says: “There’s so much more to come but for now the successful launch of Phase One is a testament to all those involved in this project and those campaigners that saved Dreamland for the nation. Through their hard work and the financial support we have received we have transformed a once derelict site back into the beating heart of Margate. Without their hard work none of this would have been possible. There is still much to come, but for now we can’t wait to welcome our first visitors.”
Stuart McLeod, Head of the Heritage Lottery Fund South East, says: “As we head into summer, it’s perfect timing for some holiday fun with Dreamland Margate opening its doors to a new generation of visitors – especially this week, Lonely Planet has named Kent ‘Europe’s top spot for a family holiday’! Our investment of nearly £6m is thanks to National Lottery players and we are tremendously grateful for the on-going role they play in our work. Dreamland is a great example of how heritage-led regeneration can make a real impact on the local economy and we hope that everyone who has been eagerly awaiting its completion will enjoy the end result."
Leader of Thanet District Council Cllr Chris Wells, says: “It’s fantastic to see the culmination of so many years of hard work by so many people finally come to fruition. Dreamland is iconic and means so much to not only Margate and Thanet but Kent and beyond. Dreamland is synonymous with Margate’s heyday and signals the continuation of this vibrant regeneration, already well underway with The Turner Contemporary and the revival of the old town. With the further phased opening of the Amusement Park and the council’s development of the wider Dreamland site the future of Margate, and Thanet, looks brighter than ever.”
Nick Laister, Chairman of The Dreamland Trust, says: "The Dreamland Trust originated the idea of reopening Dreamland as an amusement park that celebrates seaside and amusement park history and culture. It is fantastic to see Dreamland finally reopen and restart its role at the centre of the Thanet tourism economy. In a town that has already seen positive change following the very successful opening of Turner Contemporary, Dreamland will be another major leap forward. It will bring hundreds of thousands of tourists to Margate, will create hundreds of jobs and opportunities for local companies. Margate is a resort that is finding its way back into the hearts of people up and down the country; it is an exciting place to be.”
Dreamland will play a significant role in the continued regeneration of Margate. Dreamland’s phase one opening has created 200 jobs in the local area. Further jobs will be announced as phases two and three are announced. An education centre on Dreamland will provide a further resource for the community.
The Dreamland site is owned by Thanet District Council. The council, working with The Dreamland Trust has secured a funding package of £18 million, which includes external funding of almost £6m from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) and a Sea Change grant, to deliver the first phase of the project.
Follow the progress of Dreamland with updates and pictures here
http://dreamland.co.uk/site-watch and on Twitter (@DreamlandMarg), Facebook (dreamlandmargate) and by following #LoveDreamland.
For more information, visit www.dreamland.co.uk.
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Notes to editors
Media contacts
Penny Shorricks
penny@dreamland.co.uk
Laura Bates,
Heritage Lottery Fund press office
020 7591 6027 / lbates@hlf.org.uk
Hannah Thorpe
Thanet District Council press office
Press.office@thanet.gov.uk
01843 577034
Follow the progress of Dreamland with updates and
Heritage Lottery Fund
From the archaeology under our feet to the historic parks and buildings we love, from precious memories and collections to rare wildlife, we use National Lottery players' money to help people across the UK explore, enjoy and protect the heritage they care about. www.hlf.org.uk.
Further information:
TICKET PRICES & OPENING HOURS:
19th June Opening Day: 10am – 5pm
Standard Opening Hours 10am – 5pm
Summer Weekends (26 June – 26 Sep) 10am – 8pm
Events - Times vary
TICKET PRICES & OPENING HOURS:
19th June Opening Day:
10am – 5pm
THE OPENING NIGHT HULLABALOO
Friday 19 June 2015 19:00 -
Amusement park closes at 11pm
£24.95 Entry per adult
STANDARD OPENING HOURS:
Standard opening hours (Sun to Thurs) 10am – 5pm
Standard opening hours (Fri to Sat) 10am – 8pm
Summer (24 July – 2 Sept) 10am – 8pm
Open: 19 – 21 June & 26 June onwards; Closed: 22 – 26 June
EVENTS
Times vary
PRICES:
Under 3’s Go Free
Disabled Carers Go Free
Advance Adult £14.95
Child £12.95
On the Day
Adult £17.95
Child £14.95
Local On The Day Discount
* Adult £13.95
Child £11.95
Tickets are available online at www.dreamland.co.uk/tickets
OPENING NIGHT HULLABALOO LAUNCH PARTY LINE UP:
MARINA AND THE DIAMONDS
Chas n Dave
The Big Six
The Miniscule of Sound
Too Many T’s
PHASES
Overview of Phase Two
Marine Terrance Restaurant
Quarter Deck Cafe
Phases Dance Studio
Mixed Bathing, Night Club
Ballroom - 400 capacity
Garden Café
Education Space
Large outdoor event site – 16,000 capacity
Overview of Phase Three
Dark Space
Screamland (scare festival) attraction
Overview of Phase Four
Hall by the Sea 1,200 capacity
Hall by the Sea Café
Buffet Building
LIST OF ATTRACTIONS OPEN FOR PHASE ONE:
Dreamland Pleasure Gardens
Nestled at the far end of the park is the Dreamland Pleasure Gardens, set back form hustle and bustle of the rides you can steal a moment on our lawn, take in a puppet show and witness the thrills of our wall of death.
The Lawn
Croquet anyone? This gentile spot is the ideal place to picnic, play boules and have a little sit down in the afternoon sun. Why not check out a game of twister, play cards or chess? Keep an eye on our events page for activities, film screenings and games.
Messhams Wall of Death
A visit to the Wall of Death fulfils the need for excitement and satisfies a lust for danger. The spectacle of ever present peril, coupled with the inevitable anticipation that something may go wrong as these professional riders cling to their machines, steering them with their feet, sitting sideways, backwards and forwards breaking down the forces of gravity. Messhams Wall of Death presents and operates
Europe’s oldest motorcycle sport show. For over 80 years the Messham family, now in its fourth generation, have established and upheld an international reputation for excellence of the performance and presentation of this unique and thrilling entertainment The Wall of Death.
Punch and Judy
Mr. Punch is the national puppet of Great Britain, he first appeared on the streets of London in 1662 and has been delighting audiences with his slapstick silliness ever since. This much loved version of classic seaside entertainment is full of knockabout nonsense and features well known characters including; Joey the clown, the policeman, the crocodile and of course the sausages! Children can delight in the rare thrill of a live performance packed with audience participation, while the adults
chuckle at Mr. Punch’s anarchic antics and topical jokes. There’s a hint of nostalgia too, conjuring up memories of sunny seaside holidays, making this the perfect entertainment for all the family.
Midway
For those of you who covet the giant teddy, roll up, roll up and have a bash at our midways. Taking its origins from the first world fair in 1893 the Mid Way was there to animate the spaces between exhibitions. With traditional concepts such as The Cat Rack, The Lobster Pot, Hook a Duck, Pyramid Smash and the Basket Ball. You will be able to use your skill and tenacity to get a ball in the back of the net, fish a duck from the pond and land a ball in the lobster pot. These traditional side shows will be
decorated with scenic salvage from our upcycling workshop and have seasonal prizes ranging from teddy’s and toys to locally sourced produce.
Arcade
Mirroring our rides, the Dreamland Arcade will present the evolution of the arcade through historic, traditional and modern games. Reminisce on a star wars video game, fuel your competitive streak with some air hockey or focus your attention on grabbing a teddy there will be a game for you to have a cheeky go on. As well as the contemporary games we have a fantastic selection of vintage machines. Have go on the fifties Genco Skill Roll, it’s one of the earliest versions of Skee Ball and is highly
addictive as a skill game. We also have the Bally Golf Champ for those of you that fancy yourself a pro golfer this will simulate a real golf experience! You can also get your fingers flicking on the Space Race pin ball machine. Moving into the sixties we have the sharp shooter and the Chicago Coin Speedway one of the for-runners of the modern race game. Not to mention the 1970’s Sega Stunt Car and Atari Super Breakout
The Mother Funners/ Family Heat and the After Suns.
On the park 11-4pm
Family Heat and After Suns are your one stop shop for delight! For little kids and big kids alike when these guys hit the park you are bound to find something that will catch your attention. If you want your face painted like a tiger or Ru Paul (form an orderly queue), or a balloon the shape of the scenic railway, a bit of magic or a caricature for your mantel piece they will be the perfect pit stop in-between rides.
COMPLETE LIST OF RIDES
The 1920s
The Scenic Railway
The jewel in our beachfront crown is the UK’s oldest rollercoaster, opening in 2015. Our Dreamland magicians have spent countless hours recreating this stunning Grade II* listed timber Scenic Railway, so it’s just like new.
The wood’s all good (and brand new too). We even have a proper brakeman who operates the whole thing manually. This old girl is the oldest rollercoaster in the UK, the first ever to be listed by English Heritage, and one of just eight scenic railways in the world.
Come and see what all the fuss is about!
The Dreamland Gallopers
Giddee-Up!
Nothing says ‘All The Fun Of The Fair’ like jumping into the saddle of one of these ornate galloping horses. Dating back to 1922, this four-abreast ride has been beautifully hand restored by our Dreamland experts, ready to charm and delight a whole new group of funseekers with its simple spinning pleasures.
And yes, it’s also the perfect ride to get that essential retro selfie.
Helterskelter
Of course we’ve got the quintessential big funfair ride-that’s-a-slide!
Ours is a new replica of the famous 1920’s version complete with big colourful stripes, brilliant retro signage and even those coconut mats to help you whizz round bends, just like you remember.
As essential as toffee apples, those bags of candyfloss and the strange teddys at the shooting gallery.
The 1930s
The Kiss Me Quick Caterpillar
The sauciest ride on the seafront, our Kiss Me Quick Caterpillar’s the best one to jump on, grab your partner, pucker up and get prepared to canoodle just like they did back then.
This rare ride gets its name from the bobbing motion of the cars as it lollops around the undulating track. Back in the day, the chance to take a ride in total darkness became particularly favourable with courting couples. Can’t think why…
The 1940s
The Double Decker
Always room for one more up top.
Imagine a giant fun sandwich, with not one but two lovely merry-go-rounds carefully placed one on top of the other. This is the Double Decker!
So, do you go for the cars and motorbikes downstairs? Or bound up the steps and jump into one of the bright and brilliant rockets upstairs?
Or just ride it twice?
Dream Cars - Vintage Pedal Car Roadway
For our smaller funsters, the Vintage Pedal Car Roadway lets them play ‘dress up’ in mini overalls and vintage racing helmets, before jumping behind the wheel of one of our fleet of restored vintage and replica pedal cars.
Under their own steam, they can whizz up and down our vintage roadway track. Then comes the hard part – getting them out when their time’s up!
The 1950s
Hurricane Jets
Blast off!
During the dawn of the space race, when joysticks were never seen near a screen, astronauts-in-waiting could practice their high-speed manoeuvres in this 1950s ‘Jet Ride’.
Now the new generation of pocket pilots can enjoy ‘flying’ our Dan Dare style Hurricane Jets. With a quick flick of the joystick, the Jets burst into the skies, leaving big grins in their wake.
Cyclone Twist
Let’s Twist Again!
It’s bobby socks and blue jeans at the ready for Dreamland’s quintessentially British seaside fun ride. Originally premiered at Butlin’s, this iconic and enduring fairground scream machine is once again resplendent in all its post-war glory.
Jump on, drop the bar and remember to choose your co-pilot carefully, cos someone always ends up squidged against the side!
The 1960s
Tea Cup Ride
Our quintessentially English teacup ride has just been made SO English, it could drink itself with a pinkie out, as world famous British ceramics company Wedgwood have agreed to let us use their iconic off white and stunning blue colour scheme, as well as our own take on their ornate decoration.
As it’s Dreamland’s Tea Set, where Greek Goddesses once linked arms, there is now the history of British Street Culture writ large. From teddy boys and mods, through beatniks and hippies, past disco rollerboys to modern day rave monkeys – the gang’s all here.
Monotopia
The retro ride of the future.
Beloved by theme park creators and movie villains alike, it seems everyone loves a good monorail. Our people-powered version is a custom-made, Jetsons-style pedal car one, running along an elevated circuit, giving you a wonderful, tree-top view of the whole park. Ideal for those who appreciate a calmer cruise between thrills and spills.
The 1970s
Chair-o-Plane – Waveswinger
Sweeter than a candyfloss smile, this ‘Chair-o-plane’ style Waveswinger is a 1970s classic that’s still just as popular today.
Designed in Germany, imported from South Africa, reimagined in Margate - our Waveswinger’s been on a ride all of its own. We've given it a 1970s colour blocking graphic makeover too. So leap into a little seat, then let the rotating, titling carousel top twirl you over the heads of the crowds as you hang on tight.
Dream Dodgems
‘Push the pedal! Spin the wheel!’
Perhaps the best known of all amusement park rides, the Dodgems have been around since the 1920s but our 70s themed cars hark back to a time when Punks, Soul Boys and Art Rockers locked bumpers on the Dreamland track.
These funny little electric cars hold fond memories for everyone who’s ever enjoyed the fair at its best. The lightening crackle overhead, that first lurch of power, the ‘mild’ shunt and inevitable tears…
The 1980s
Wheel of Colour FERRIS WHEEL
The greatest view in Dreamland, gracefully spins riders high above Margate’s rooftops. And like most seaside fun, The Wheel of Colour’s great in the daytime, and even better when the sun goes down.
Our rainbow-coloured Big Wheel raises you up 35 meters for lovely views across the prom to Margate’s golden sands. And when night falls, the Wheel of Colour becomes a vertical disco, alive with spinning colour trails, all set to a sensational vintage soundtrack.
The Counter Culture Caterpillar Coaster
Once upon a time, there was a rollercoaster that ate up all the pop stars and then spat them out, transformed into something…. Different.
This figure 8 rollercoaster takes you zooming past amazing portraits of recognisably unrecognisable pop culture icons.
The ride’s been lovingly put back together by our Dreamland ride masters to make sure it’s perfect for younger thrill seekers who want to achieve ‘My First Rollercoaster Ride’. And for adults who thought they knew what Madge, Elton, GaGa, John, Paul, Ringo and George looked like.
All set to a soundtrack of classic pop re-imagined by John Shuttleworth.
Born Slippy - Fun Slide
Born Slippy – Fun Slide is all about one thing – who’s at the bottom first. Once you’ve scaled the ladder to the top, choose one of the four lanes, then simply launch yourself down the 65 metre undulating slide and let gravity do the rest.
Our top tip – the 80’s shell suit, for extra slippery fun, could make all the difference. What’s a little static electricity between friends?
The 1990s
Jumping Pirate Boats
Avast me hearties! Cast off the main brace, land lubbers! Aaarrrr! You get the idea.
These leaping ‘galleons’ are all at sea, jumping into the air at random to make all but the most sea-worthy squeal with delight.
A rousing adventure for all the family, and especially popular with the mini- Blackbeards
Today
Jumping Tower
The best of both worlds - good old-fashioned fun, with bang up-to-date thrills. Our Drop Tower is Dreamland’s proper adrenaline pumper, perfect for those who like to stagger off a ride, grinning from ear to ear.
‘How does it work?!’ I hear you ask. Well, here comes the science bit – we pass an inert blade between two rare earth magnets, creating an eddy current that increases the resistance and the braking of the movement, which results in a failsafe system without any friction or wear and tear.
New additions
The Crazy Mouse
Swing Boats
The Mirror Maze