Margate’s Dreamland Amusement Park opens after £18m restoration

After more than a decade of campaigning and a £18m restoration, Dreamland Amusement Park in Margate, Kent is set to reopen today.

Attractions on the newly restored park include 17 vintage rides, a roller disco, pleasure gardens, restaurants, arcades and amusements, all of which are a throwback to the once hugely popular British seaside scene.

However, at the heart of the park - the Grade II*-listed, wooden Scenic Railway - is still undergoing repair work and will not be ready for the reopening.

The timber-framed rollercoaster - which first opened in 1920 - was severely damaged in fire back in 2008, but Dreamlands hopes the attraction will be fully restored in the next several months.

When the Scenic Railway was fully operational, it would transport 28 passengers and a driver on a three-minute, one kilometre ride, at heights of up to 41ft.

Today’s reopening marks the completion of the first phase, with phase two set to restore the ballroom, outdoor event space and dance studio later this year.

Phase one of the project, which secured millions of pounds of funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF), has created more than 200 new jobs.

Nick Laister, chairman of the Dreamland Trust, said: “In a town that has already seen positive change following the very successful opening of Turner Contemporary Dreamland will be another 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.”

Eddie Kemsley, CEO of Dreamland, added: “This launch represents a considerable achievement in bringing Dreamland to life once again and everyone in Margate and involved in the project should be very proud.”