DREAMLAND, MARGATE. The secret Alice, is to surround yourself with people who smile, its only then you'll find Wonderland - Mad Hatter

It is Margates popularity as an East London holiday hotspot that has defined Margates culture for the last 150 years, mainly due to its train station right next to the beach. 

Margate was devestated by the collapse of the British Seaside holiday tradition. It desperately tried to cling on, but eventually flat lined. 

In recent history, it was the new Turner Contemporary Art Gallery which grabbed the headlines and the attention. It sparked a revival of art and culture into the town. It is a metaphorical great tree with its branches reaching far into society, dropping its fruit, creating new trees, together creating a mini eco system for the Arts. 

It resuscitated an area of Margate known as The Old Town. It had long been dead, and the dead were not far from living. 

While The Turner Contemporary was working its magic, across the beach was a battle weary legend, dumped and slumped. Its weapons and armour removed, naked it was tied to the stake and burned, the people of Margate screamed in horror. The champion of Magate was dead. Its Wonderland stripped bare. It was gone. 

As the dust settled, embers still burning, a few people looked at the crumpled heap, they didn't see defeat, the rage burnt in them so vividly and together their explosive energy created a flicker of a heart beat. 

The Dreamland wasn't dead

Nothing marks Margates re-emergence as a prominent and successful British seaside destination better than Dreamland.

Where would Margate be without it now? 

The iconic Scenic Railway has been rebuilt and a Big Wheel visable for miles around, for these were the signal lamps that told the Kingdom, The King has returned. 

This wasn't a project breathed new life into by a theme park operator like Merlin Entertainment, or a holiday specialist like Butlins. 

It was made possible by the sheer grit and determination of the peoples of Margate. 

The dawn of a new year, the year 2023 is 1 week away, indeed this is Christmas Eve, tomorrow is the day many celebrate a birth of a King. 

I have written this to provoke thought and understanding, for many Dreamland isn't the King they remember, merely a Prince Regent, where is the King? How do we find him, How do we get there? 

(King pronouns: he, him, her, she) 

 

Lets start with the obvious:

The reality of modern amusements and thrill rides is that they are obscenely expensive. 

Was it too much to expect an amusement park that really put Margate firmly on the world stage? 

The reality was obvious, it was unable to compete with the multi million pound high thrill rides which the likes of Thorpe Park or Alton towers have

The pull or attraction had to be something different, something meaningful. 

Dreamlands extensive history provided its purpose, to go forwards, sometimes you have to look back. 

It is with that sentiment the new Dreamland was created, sourcing and restoring vintage rides. 

This wasnt about pushing the boundaries of what is possible with modern technology, it was about remembering what we are, what we felt, and bringing back those feelings we had forgotten. It was a memory box, unlocked 

Now with a retro vibe, rock n roll roller disco, Poppy graphics and nostalgic attractions combined into an almost Alice in Wonderland kind of dream world, nay Dreamland.

Unsurprisingly, the locals were first to give their unfiltered opinions. Grumbles about pricing, whining about not having the Looping Star or the Mary Rose which were also part of the Dreamland legend. 

Chas n Daves daaaan to Margit and the famous Only Fools and Horses special were still just fond unreplaceable  memories, and people were not happy.

The people had expected something people would travel to, spend a few days here, pop in and around Margate after. What they got was day trippers to Margate, that popped into Dreamland and then disappeared, leaving their rubbish on the beach. 

A seasonal British seaside town such as Margate presents a challenge, how do you get people to come to the seaside when its not sunny, moreover all year around whatever the weather. 

Dreamland became focused on creating a year round, sustainable business, and they started to bolt on live music events. 

They started indoors purposing the Roller Disco hall, live acts and DJ sets pulled in eager crowds. Events like this allowed them to invest into the existing structures and created purpose built indoor arenas. 

Margate had its Hall by the Sea back. 

They were selling out as many events as they could physically manage. 

They needed something more. 

The outside space was expanding too, bigger more modern rides were being added, a huge green space was created to the rear, and then as quickly as the astro turf was laid, it started to disappear. 

A stage was built in the shadow of the scenic railway, and the new era of Dreamland was born (again). 

I have to say from great personal experience that Dreamland makes for a fantastic live music venue. They have created a crucible of hedonistic heaven right on the seafront, and it is a treasure. 

But what about the rest, what about the Dreamland? The Wonderland idea of Dreamland broke, and they didn't fix it. 

Covid didn't help, people were laid off and bit by bit parts of the park dismantled and sold. 

There is a growing number of people that hold the theory that the Dreamland owners now only want to create the illusion of a theme park, whilst they push ahead at becoming a live music venue. When an outdoor act is on the whole park closes early. 

Why else would there be such a sell-off of rides contrasted by a massive increase in live music events? 

Their social media is jam packed with a schedule of live music events. 

So what do you find when you visit Dreamland with the family? 

Lets have a walk through, and along the way lets discuss the points. 

Arriving by train you immediately spot the towering art deco fin with Dreamland sign indicates the route to take. 

Cross the road, in the shadow of the Arlington House tower block you pass boarded up shops.

Why are these boarded up? Theres were once all open, gift shops, take aways, even a pub. All inaccessible now, and for no obvious reason. I believe I am correct in saying this is all Dreamland freehold. 

There was once a precinct in the middle with smaller boutique shops, people of a certain age will remember the famous Headshop, and of course the Joke shop. 

If this is all a part of the Dreamland estate, left to rot and fester. Why? 

Now underneath the fin, the former Dreamland cinema building adorned with its bill board with THANKYOU MARGATE! 

The building was remodelled for an upcoming movie, Empire of Light which is a story based around a 1930's cinema. 

The building also stands derelict, the once grand entrance is now protected with an iron gate.

The visible spaces on the ground and first floor are empty. This is prime real estate remember. 

I remember the cinema, the sweeping staircase up to the foyer which opened up to an art deco lobby with 4 screens.

This was not a small space, the cinemas were huge. The space is still there, what is left and why is the building derelict? 

The entry to Dreamland is down a dark narrow road... Welcome to Dreamland? This isnt Disney land, thats for sure! 

Entry via the doors opens into a surprisingly modern space. Flanked with a small gift shop and conference rooms it all looks new... This is where a lot of money has been spent! 

When I was a kid up to the left was where the dodgems were, but since the regeneration it is now a rather delightful penny arcade, full of vintage pin ball machines and the like.. Hang on, where have they all gone? The area has been cut right back. 

There was recently more here as well:

Where is the kids play area?  It was a fantastic indoor play area, a Wonderland theme. 

Where is the roller disco? Rock n roll music, disco lights.. It was uniquely brilliant. 

Where is the restaurant? Food wasnt their strong point, I will move on.. 

The route takes you out of the doors and what greets you is a magical assault to the senses, visually magnificent, music blasting, candyfloss scents.... This is it... 

DREAMLAND 

You enter, excited, you take it all in, as far as the eye can see is what you want, ghost train.. a kids spinning ride.... The big wheel.. The majestic galloping horses ride and the sound of the screams of delight as the Scenic railway plunges above your head. 

They say it is miles of smiles, pay to ride.. 

Each ride takes a certain amount of tickets. To get value out of the tickets you might spend £20 to get their deal of 2 free extra tickets... 

There are 5 of us so lets get 20 tickets and see what happens.

Ghost train first, 3 kids jump on, thats 12 tickets gone. We haven't got enough for them all to go on another ride, and we are 2 minutes in. 

Got a further £20 of tickets.

Lets see what the queue for the big wheel is like... hang on, its not working... We keep walking.. Not alot around here....then you kind of start looking around corners, like a nosey neighbour curtain twitching... Where is everything? 

You walk into the open space which is the live music arena, the back wall is landscaped with the iconic DREAMLAND letters, the stage sits opposite under the scenic railway. Nice.

Around this wonderful space are container units repurposed as bars, fish and chip shop, pizza and burger bars, and then of course the candyfloss vendors. 

Well this is all fine, but where are the good rides, onwards you march... 

The waltzer, the sky drop.. Oh not working.. A couple of kiddie rides... Ah the dodgems.. 

Is that it? Yep. 

Okay, if you are a toddler at least they will be happy, there are a few small rides that rotate slowly, but adults? Bumper cars and the waltzer that made me sick when I was a kid.. That's it? 

Oh what about The Scenic Railway? 

When it's working that's £5 a head. What, hold on, you can't use your tickets for that? 

Thats a separate payment.. So now you are here, it is the only worthwhile ride to go on, the kids want to go on, you look at your other half, thats another £25 for you and the other half and 3 kids to go on the only ride you was bothered about going on. 

You now have tickets left and nothing to use them on....

So off you trudge back to the dodgems to use them up and that's the day out done in 30 minutes... Oh unless you are stopping for food, and I must say that the food options by the independent retailers are excellent and well priced.. Unless you buy candy floss, but you already knew that! 

Assuming you stop and have a drink, buy a pizza each or burger, it doesnt matter how you mix it up but you can easily spend over £100 in an hour and leave thinking how much better it would have been if you just went to the arcade and cashed in £10 on 2ps and let the kids go mad over the penny pushers which give them tickets to buy penny sweets, grab some chips and pop into the free entry Crab Museum, listen to the thoroughly amazing presentation of the wonder of crabs (trust me on this one) pop a tenner in the tip jar and go home £70 up and still feel like you have had a quality day out. 

But you didn't. Not this time, today you blew £100 and you dont know what you got for it. 

So what is happening Dreamland, what's the plan? Is this it now? Is this the Dreamland we are left with, or is there more to discover down the rabbit hole? 

I WANT MY WONDERLAND! 

“Begin at the beginning," the King said, very gravely, "and go on till you come to the end: 

Sharpening my quill for the literary kill I happened to sight an article by www.britishheritage.com

which furthur articlated the bits I omitted about the intricacies of Dreamlands redevelopment, it also describes a Dreamland I haven't seen, because the rides and features it describes are either not there, or was there once, but now gone or broken down at best! 

Curiously, but I cant help be suspicious given its fancifuly glamorous description of the current Dreamland, but apparently the author has some idea to my questions for the future:

"The next phase will see the full restoration of the small, 400-person ballroom, Marine Terrace, but Margate’s thrill-seekers will have to wait until phases three and four for Screamland and the gigantic, 1200 capacity 1950s ballroom." 

The small ballroom... This must be the one that is adjacent to the entrance of the old cinema? 

A 1200 capacity 1950's ballroom? That would be quite a Coup d'etat ... Strictly come to Margit! 

Can I just throw it out there..." The small 400 person ballroom"... Is that 400 dancing? Or 400 people squeezed in like rush hour on the central line? Same for 1200...is that 600 couples dancing or seating for 1200? I cant quite figure out how that can be true, or how 2 ball rooms are needed? Maybe they will be "ballrooms" when they want them to be ballrooms, and wedding reception spaces for those huge weddings the Winter Gardens could cater for, but cant now its closed, probably for good... 

Screamland... Well thats long over due, as is the idea of  a Winter Dreamland which wasn't mentioned, this is my addition... Whats that you ask... Oh... Just like that little thing they pop up ever year in Hyde park... You know, that thing, they call it Winter Wonderland. 

It attracts 100's of 1000's of people... They put up really big rides, sell beer, play music, generally regarded as a world class attraction and the really great thing is that they have lots of toilets to cater for the crowds (take note Dreamland, no one likes queuing for over an hour when you have live music on) wait, but thats right, thats Hyde Park, central London... Not Margate, that place where you literally hop off the train and you are in, like Euro Disney when arriving by the Eurostar? 

Yeah just like that, Euro Disney-on-sea, Margit. 

As usual the locals will have their say about their Dreamland, its a favorite discussion piece. Well, this and Manston Airport and whether it will or wont be houses, or an airport, should or shouldn't, blah blah blah

Im staying out of that one, unless it becomes a theme park, if so ive got some great ideas. 

DREAMLAND 

Marine parade, Margate.