Dreamland: One Hundred
Dreamland celebrates 100 years with a huge programme of events bringing the likes of Fatboy Slim, Madness, Annie Mac, De La Soul, Sister Sledge, Craig Charles and Camp Bestival to the seaside
© Dreamland 2020
“Well, I’ve been working hard to reach me target, to earn a few bob for a daytrip down to Margate…”
The Chas & Dave-penned soundtrack to the famous Jolly Boys’ Outing episode of Only Fools and Horses evokes memories of a bygone era. It was some 31 years ago that Del Boy, Rodney and Uncle Albert jumped on to the Scenic Railway and delivered Dreamland into British popular culture folklore.
But the oversized mobile phones and Ray-Ban Wayfarers of the 1980s are a mere drop in the channel of time as Dreamland’s stint at the heart of trips to the Kent seaside reaches a century.
As Margate returns to its lofty position as the must-visit/holiday-at-home/DFL daytripper capital of the county (sorry, Whitstable), Dreamland’s position has also changed somewhat... but not too much.
THE PAST
“Ooh, this takes me back – the big wheel, the merry-go-round, the dodgems… The Rolling Stones!”
For 100 years Dreamland has been one of the UK’s most recognisable amusement parks. Not only is its famous signage pretty much the first thing you see when you step off the train, but its legend has travelled well beyond the borders of Kent, with any conversation that involves the word Margate almost always followed closely by that of Dreamland.
We all know the candy-floss-swirling, copper-coin-guzzling, rollercoaster-screaming traditional amusement park vision that has pulled people from far and wide since before you were born, but do we know the real history?
Like, did you know the seaside park hosted a zoo, a miniature railway, Second World War troops and bands such as The Who and The Rolling Stones?
Considered the oldest surviving amusement park in Great Britain, the site of Dreamland (as it was renamed in 1920) dates back to the British railway boom of the early 1870s when, in its original form, the Hall by the Sea was operated by the circus impresario ‘Lord’ George Sanger.
The park was later snapped up by John Henry Iles, who set about transforming it into a pleasure garden and amusement park with the Scenic Railway, which opened in 1920,as its centrepiece.
Over the early part of the 20th century, the park thrived as a popular visitor attraction and music venue, with Margate remaining a hugely popular vacation spot for Londoners especially (see Chas & Dave). But the town and the park’s popularity waned in the 70s and 80s as more Brits chose to holiday abroad.
© Dreamland 2020
There are plenty of people around today with fond memories of the then-named Bembom Brothers Theme Park in the 1980s and 1990s, but the park declined rapidly and faced a miserable future. Fast-forward to 2003, when a plan to close the park triggered a Save Dreamland campaign by locals and amusement-park fans, whose successful campaigning led to £18 million 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.
Thanet District Council compulsorily purchased the site in September 2013 and work began to restore the Scenic Railway and the park. Capitalising on Margate’s swiftly growing reputation as a new capital of creativity, Dreamland Margate reopened in June 2015 with a wealth of new and rejuvenated features set to redefine a day out at the seaside.
Following significant additional investment in 2017, the amusement park was re-landscaped and expanded to provide a space that brings together lovingly-restored vintage rides, thrilling new rides, art installations, street food, unique bars and an eclectic programme of live events… as Wayne from Wayne’s World once said, “build it and they will come.” And they did come, in their droves, with events such as the Demon Dayz festival with Gorillaz highlighting the new facilities and direction of Dreamland.
The outdoor event space can now accommodate 15,000 people, while the 1,100-capacity Hall By The Sea and the intimate Ballroom continue to attract top musical acts all year round… and what an anniversary year they have in store.
2020 VISION
Celebrating its 100th birthday in 2020, Dreamland has come up with a jam-packed calendar of events and projects to help mark the occasion.
Dreamland has been entertaining families and visitors for more than a century but was officially named Dreamland in 1920 with the opening of the Scenic Railway (the oldest wooden rollercoaster in the country).
The park started this year by creating a new logo for the landmark anniversary, designed by the renowned Hemingway Design team.
And in addition to all the rides, outdoor film screenings, free entertainment, delicious food and drink and colourful public spaces that visitors can enjoy down by the sea this year, Dreamland is hosting a series of incredible music and themed events for 2020.
Music acts confirmed so far include:
Annie Mac Presents (park takeover 16th March)
The Funk & Soul Weekender (three-day festival with Sister Sledge, Craig Charles, Gilles Peterson and more – 29th-31st May)
Hi Tide Festival (two-day festival with 15,000 daily capacity, headlined by Fatboy Slim and Madness (4th-5th July, tickets on sale now)
Andy C (park takeover 18th July)
De La Soul (25th July)
Pride celebrations (8th August)
There will also be a host of themed weekends in store for visitors throughout spring, summer and autumn, and guests are guaranteed a good time.
Camp Bestival
The park reopens for the Easter holidays on 4th April, and it is once again teaming up with Camp Bestival for a park takeover and party that promises to be even bigger and better than 2019’s festivities.
Guests will also have the Ships and Giggles nautically-themed festival to look forward to during May half-term, and the park will open over several weekends for fun-filled events before opening daily for the sensational Roller Coast Festival across the school summer holidays. The festival will have themed weeks, extensive free entertainment and ticketed music events catering to all tastes.
Full details of the Dreamland 100 programme will be announced over the coming weeks.
Our 100th year is going to be truly spectacular and we want as many people as possible – of all ages – to celebrate both its past and its future with us down by the sea.
“Dreamland is one of the most important and striking attractions in the country. It is part of Margate’s cultural heritage, and so much love and hard work has gone into preserving and celebrating this cherished seaside attraction over the past 10 decades.
“We are immensely proud to welcome back fans of the park again and again, and to introduce it to a new generation of Dreamers in 2020.
“Not only do we have a huge line-up of events in the works, but we also look forward to sharing stories from our past – and celebrating our loyal customers – with the rest of the world. This year will go down in Dreamland’s history books as one of the greatest ever… watch this space.
-Eddie Kemsley, CEO Dreamland