Dreamland Margate facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Dreamland Margate

Previously known as Bembom Brothers White Knuckle Theme Park
Location	Margate, Kent
Coordinates	51°23′11″N 1°22′33″E / 51.3863°N 1.3759°E / 51.3863; 1.3759
Status	Closed
Opened	1880
Owner	Thanet District Council
Slogan	We cater for pleasure
Attractions
Total	26

Dreamland in 2016

Dreamland Margate is a fun amusement park and entertainment spot. It's like a traditional English seaside funfair located in Margate, Kent, England. People first started having amusement rides here in 1880. However, the name Dreamland wasn't used until 1920. That's when the park's famous wooden rollercoaster, the Scenic Railway, first opened. This rollercoaster is so special it's a Grade II* listed building.

The park grew a lot in the 1960s and 1970s. In 1981, a Dutch family called the Bembom brothers bought it. They changed the name to "Bembom Brothers White Knuckle Theme Park." But in 1990, it went back to being called Dreamland.

In the early 2000s, the park started to struggle. Some of its rides were even sold to other theme parks. In 2003, the owner said Dreamland would close and the land would be used for something else. But because the Scenic Railway was a listed building, it couldn't be moved. The land was sold in 2005, and there were plans to build homes there. Many local people started a group to save Dreamland and reopen it. Even though the park officially closed later that year, the campaign continued. The park then became run down, and there were even some fires, one of which badly damaged the Scenic Railway.

The public kept fighting to save the park. In September 2013, the local council, Thanet District Council, took over ownership. In 2014, it was confirmed that the park would be rebuilt. It reopened in June 2015 as a "Re-imagined Dreamland." The company running the park faced some financial problems in December 2015, but it kept operating. The park was refurbished again and relaunched in 2017 with help from a major investor.

History of Dreamland

How it Started

The Dreamland sign at the entrance to the park in 2009

The area where Dreamland is now used to be a salt marsh called the Mere. It would flood at high tide until a causeway and seawall were built in 1809. Later, in the 1800s, railway stations were built nearby.

Dreamland's story as a fun place began in 1870. That year, a restaurant and dance hall called the 'Hall by the Sea' opened. It wasn't very successful. So, the Reeve family of Margate bought it in 1870. They also slowly bought the land behind the hall.

Frederick Savage's 'Sea-On-Land' carousel, where riders pitched up and down as if they were on the sea, was the first amusement ride installed in Margate in 1880.

In 1870, a famous circus owner named Lord George Sanger teamed up with Thomas Dalby Reeve to run the 'Hall by the Sea'. After Reeve passed away in 1875, Sanger became the only owner. He turned the land behind the hall into beautiful pleasure gardens. These gardens had a fake ruined abbey, a lake, statues, and a small zoo. There were also fun sideshows and roundabouts. Some of the old animal cages and stone walls you see at Dreamland today are from Sanger's time. He used the zoo to train animals for his traveling circus.

The very first amusement rides arrived in 1880. These were called 'Sea on Land' machines. Riders sat in 'boats' that moved up and down, making it feel like they were on the sea. It was a bit like today's 'flight simulator' rides.

Scenic Railway 1930s

Sanger died in 1911. The park then went through a difficult time because Sanger's personality was a big part of its appeal. In 1919, John Henry Iles bought the site for £40,000. Iles was a big name in theme parks and had already created parks all over the world.

Iles had visited Coney Island in America in 1906 and was inspired by it. He renamed the park 'Dreamland'. In 1919, he started building the famous Scenic Railway rollercoaster. He bought the rights to the design from its inventor, LaMarcus Adna Thompson. The ride opened in 1920 and was a huge hit! Half a million people rode it in its first year. Iles also added other popular rides like a smaller rollercoaster, the Joy Wheel, a Miniature Railway, The Whip, and the River Caves.

Growing Bigger

In 1920, a ballroom was built where a skating rink used to be. In 1923, Iles built a cinema at the park. He invested a lot of money, over £500,000, between 1920 and 1935. He kept adding new rides and facilities. The big Dreamland cinema complex was finished in 1934. Iles stopped being a director in 1938, and his son Eric took over.

During World War II, the government used most of the Dreamland site. The park reopened in June 1946, with Eric Iles as manager. From 1947, it received money from Butlins to help it grow.

Three generations of the Iles family managed Dreamland from 1919 until it was sold in 1968. The new owners, Associated Leisure, added many new things. These included squash courts and, like in Sanger's time, an ice rink and a zoo. Many of the old pleasure gardens from the 1870s were removed in the 1970s to make space for more rides. In 1976, a new and exciting ride called the 'Orbiter' was introduced. This ride became very popular in other amusement parks around the world. In 1980, a huge 148-foot-high Big Wheel opened.

The Dutch Bembom Brothers bought Dreamland in 1981. They owned other amusement parks in Europe. They renamed the park "Bembom Brothers White Knuckle Theme Park." They also brought in a new main attraction, the Looping Star rollercoaster. The name changed back to Dreamland in 1990. They also stopped evening hours and started charging an entry fee instead of paying for each ride. They added many new 'high-tech' rides. By the late 1980s, Dreamland was one of the top ten most visited tourist attractions in the UK.

Challenges and Closure

Like other traditional British seaside resorts, Margate used to rely on families staying for long holidays. But with cheap package holidays abroad becoming popular in the 1970s, fewer people stayed for long holidays. This meant that places like Dreamland had fewer visitors during the week, though weekends were still busy.

Even though many day-trippers still visited Margate, the town struggled to keep its facilities in good shape. This made it less attractive for day trips too. Also, bigger amusement parks opened closer to London, like Thorpe Park (1979) and Chessington World of Adventures (1987). These parks had lots of space and parking, which Dreamland didn't.

The Wild Mouse roller coaster, July 1999

In 1996, the Bembom family sold the park to Jimmy Godden. He had run other amusement parks before. Many of the rides the Bembom family owned were moved to other places. The big wheel, which had been a landmark in Margate for 20 years, was taken down and sold to a park in Mexico.

The Park Closes

Part of the derelict Scenic Railway in 2013

In 2003, Godden announced that Dreamland would close. He wanted to use the land for something else. But many people wanted Dreamland to stay an amusement park. A government report in 2004 also supported keeping it as a park.

After the closure announcement, Dreamland was sold in 2005. Many local people formed the 'Save Dreamland Campaign'. They wanted to turn Dreamland into a heritage amusement park. This park would have old and classic rides from other British amusement parks. The campaign managed to get some rides and put them in storage.

Dreamland officially closed to the public in 2005. All the rides, except for the Scenic Railway, were removed. The Scenic Railway had been given Grade-II listed status in 2002. This meant it was a special historic building and could not be moved or taken apart.

Sadly, part of the Scenic Railway was damaged by fire in April 2008. About a quarter of the structure, the station, sheds, and trains were destroyed. The park's security was improved, and the remaining parts of the ride were checked. Some parts of the machinery and car frames were saved. Another suspected fire happened in May 2014, but it only affected an unused building near the Scenic Railway.

In April 2008, the Dreamland cinema's historic status was upgraded. It became a Grade II* listed building, meaning it was very important. The cinema closed in 2007 when a new cinema opened nearby. The cinema buildings were renovated, and the Dreamland sign on the front tower was fixed with bright LED lights.

The closed cinema was sold. This happened before a court decision about the local council taking ownership of the theme park. The council's plan to buy the park was approved in August 2012.

Reopening Dreamland

The 'Save Dreamland Campaign' was very successful in raising awareness. This led to the creation of the Dreamland Trust in 2007. This charity's goal was to help reopen the park.

A total of £18 million in public money was given to the project. This money was used to restore and look after the historic parts of the park, like the Scenic Railway, the old animal cages, and some buildings. It also helped buy five classic rides.

In November 2009, the Dreamland Trust received a grant of £3 million from the Heritage Lottery Fund. More money came from the UK government and Thanet District Council. This funding was for restoring the Scenic Railway and getting the Dreamland site ready for its new life.

The Scenic Railway was seen as the main focus for bringing Dreamland back as a heritage amusement park. Work began in September 2014. The track was completely refurbished, and new trains were built.

Some historic rides from other parks were given to the Dreamland Trust. They were stored to be restored later. Many unique old rides from Pleasureland Southport were donated. These included a 1940s Caterpillar ride, the King Solomon's Mines wooden rollercoaster, parts from the Ghost Train and River Caves, a Hall of Mirrors, and a Haunted Swing. A Junior Whip ride from Blackpool Pleasure Beach was also donated.

Wayne Hemingway and his team were chosen in 2012 to design the new Dreamland. They were in charge of the creative ideas and branding for the "re-imagined" park.

An extra £10 million was invested by the company chosen to run the park, Sands Heritage Ltd. This money was used to add 17 more rides to the park. They also created a Roller Disco & Diner, an Amusement Arcade, a Vintage Pin Ball Arcade, a Dreamland Emporium, and The Octopus's Garden. Sands Heritage leased the park land from the council for 99 years. The council remained responsible for some repairs, including the Scenic Railway.

The Re-imagined Dreamland Opens

The restored Scenic Railway in 2016

The park officially reopened on June 19, 2015. Many news outlets covered the event. More rides opened in July.

The entry fee to the park was £14.95.

The park's main attraction, the Scenic Railway, was still being rebuilt by the council. It finally opened to the public on October 17, 2015. This was later than planned because of delays in rebuilding the train carriages. Sands Heritage claimed they lost money because of this delay. The council paid them compensation in November.

Financial Challenges

In December 2015, Sands Heritage faced financial difficulties. They owed money to a company called Arrowgrass. The company's creditors agreed to a plan that gave Sands Heritage more time to pay its debts. The administrators (people who help a company with financial problems) were Duff & Phelps.

The financial problems were mainly because fewer visitors came in the summer of 2015 than expected. This was partly due to the delay in opening the Scenic Railway. Also, there were problems with rides breaking down. The park's management and the administrators decided to remove the admission price to attract more visitors.

In August 2016, Dreamland's CEO, Eddie Kemsley, resigned. A meeting in August 2016 showed that the park owed a lot of money, including to small local businesses.

The administrators hoped to sell Dreamland as a working business. However, the park continued to lose money. They warned that losses were still happening, partly because of bad weather and the Scenic Railway breaking down again in June.

The Scenic Railway had been restored by the council after the fire. But the right experts weren't always available during the rebuild. So, it failed a safety test in June 2017. The ride uses a special cable system, which is rare. Finding the right people to fix it took a long time.

Second Relaunch

Arrowgrass, the investment company, provided more money to cover the park's losses. They increased their lending to almost £10 million to help revamp the business. In February 2017, it was reported that a £25 million private investment from Arrowgrass had been secured.

This new money was used to improve the park's layout and add some new rides. An old pub building was also refurbished. This building had been used as Dreamland's ticket office, but it was being restored to a full pub for the 2017 relaunch.

The improved park was announced to reopen on April 28, 2017, but this was delayed to May 26. The reopening attracted national media attention. A major new feature was a music venue that could hold 15,000 people.

In 2017, the park hosted the Demon Dayz festival with the band Gorillaz. In October 2017, the park was no longer under administration.

In 2019, the park had its most successful year since reopening, with over 700,000 visitors. They also announced new events for their 100th anniversary in 2020. In August 2019, the park showed off a giant inflatable sculpture of Tina Turner's head.

Rides and Attractions

Currently Operating Rides

Past Attractions

Festivals at Dreamland

On March 6, 2017, the band Gorillaz announced their Demon Dayz festival would be held at Dreamland on June 10, 2017. All 15,000 tickets sold out in just 32 minutes!

On September 14, 2018, the National Citizen Service held their graduation ceremony at Dreamland. 700 teenagers from Kent and Sussex graduated from the program.

In 2018, Dreamland teamed up with Southbeats Festival to bring big Dance Music artists like Hannah Wants and Sigma to the Hall by the Sea.

In 2019, Dreamland partnered with Camp Bestival festival for the Easter opening. On August 31, 2019, We R FSTVL & CODA worked with Dreamland to bring some of Drum & Bass's biggest artists to Kent. This included RAM Records boss Andy C & Tonn Piper, Wilkinson & MC AD-PT, The Prototypes & 2Shy MC, DJ Hazard & IC3, and Harriet Jaxxon.

On September 28, 2019, Dreamland partnered with Boiler Room. They brought Drum & Bass stars like Goldie, DJ Storm, Blocks & Escher, and others to two rooms. The event was streamed live by Boiler Room to a worldwide audience.

Sunset Sessions Music Events

These are special music events held at Dreamland.

Performed in 2017:

• Jess Glynne
• Faithless (DJ Set ft. Sister Bliss)
• Danny Howard (from Radio 1)
• Kideko
• Dave Rowntree vs Tim Burgess
• Dub Pistols
• Trojan Sound System
• TCTS
• Sam and the Womp
• The Cuban Brothers
• Kioko
• The Correspondents
• Slaves (UK band)

Performed in 2018:

• David Rodrigan & Adrian Sherwood
• Norman Jay MBE & RAF Daddy
• Trojan Sound System
• Sara Cox (from BBC Radio 2)
• Craig Charles & Don Letts

Performing in 2019:

• Boogie Storm
• Huey Morgan
• DJ Yoda
• DJ Jazzy Jeff
• Norman Jay MBE
• Don Letts
• Jazzie B OBE

Live Music Concerts

Performed in 2018:

• Orbital (Live)
• Hawkwind
• Pete Tong
• Groove Armada (DJ Set)
• Fleetmac Wood
• Gaz Coombes (Solo)
• Lee "Scratch" Perry
• Levellers
• Ray Keith
• Shogun Audio
• LSB
• DJ Oblivion
• The Rifles
• Pendulum (drum and bass band) (DJ Set)
• Dimension
• Friction
• Hannah Wants
• Turno
• Chase and Status (DJ Set)
• Sigma (DJ Set)
• Basement Jaxx (DJ Set)
• Hedkandi
• Shapes
• Roul3tte
• Big Narstie

Performed in 2019:

• Craig Charles
• Annie Mac
• Rudimental (DJ Set)
• Andy C & Tonn Piper
• Wilkinson (musician)
• Pete Tong
• Happy Mondays
• 808 State
• Mac DeMarco
• A Guy Called Gerald
• SASASAS (Macky Gee, DJ Phantasy, Harry Shotta, Skibadee, Shabba D)
• Turno
• K Motionz
• Mel C
• Jo Whiley