Dreamland in Margate will be reinvented this August as a drive-in cinema.
The amusement park, which like other businesses was forced to close its doors in March due to the pandemic, is unable to resume normal business due to the rules against large gatherings and the logistics of socially distancing.
However, the park will become a socially distanced drive-in cinema on selected days in August to show a series of fantastic films on its huge HD outdoor screen.
The team has carefully adjusted the 12 acre site so that 47 vehicles can safely drive into the Scenic Stage arena – in the middle of the amusement park, – and watch movies from the comfort and safety of their cars.
Guests attending the screenings will be able to bring their own food and drink to enjoy in their cars. A limited range of food and drink will also be available to purchase on the evening, in accordance with social distancing guidelines.
Dreamland CEO Eddie Kemsley said: “We made the difficult but responsible decision at the beginning of lockdown that, to reduce the spread of COVID-19, we could not operate our rides in summer 2020.
“But I’m delighted to announce that we’ve got a sizzling, all-you-can-treat drive-in movie programme this summer instead.
“Now parents don’t need to worry about keeping themselves and their children entertained -and safe – because we’ve got the perfect events to enjoy. All within the stunning surroundings of our vintage amusement park, and in the safest way possible.”
Wednesday mornings and afternoons – family-friendly films:
10.00am, 5th August Cars (PG)
3.00pm, 5th August Back to the Future (PG)
10.00am, 12th August Shark Tale (PG)
3.00pm, 12th August Back to the Future II (PG)
10.00am, 19th August Finding Nemo (U)
3.00pm, 19th August Back to the Future III (PG)
Friday evenings
6.00pm, 7th August Bohemian Rapsody (12A)
6.00pm, 14th August Rocket Man (12A)
6.00pm, 21st August The Fast and the Furious (15)
Price £35 (+booking fee) per car, and Dreamland members receive a 10% discount (£31.50 + booking fee).
Dreamland members pre-sale 10am Tuesday, June 30. General admission on sale 10am Wednesday, July 1.
Larger vehicles will be positioned at the rear of the arena.
Dreamland Margate and its iconic Scenic Railway celebrate the 100th anniversary on July 3. The centenary celebrations will continue until July 2, 2021, and the park has already announced a rollover of the many of its planned 2020 events to next year.
As the park’s heritage rides do not conform to the social distancing limitations necessary to prevent the spread of COVID-19, Dreamland has decided not to operate the amusement park as normal in 2020 in order to keep guests safe.
Full screenings programme: https://www.dreamland.co.uk/events
Upcoming events at Dreamland (subject to government social distancing regulations)
2020
- 3rd September The Levellers
- 5th September Hybrid Minds
- 2nd October Outatime
- 16th October Faithless DJ Set
- 17th October Sector 9
- 31st October Totally Wired Halloween
- 21st November Impuritas
- 28th November Stone Foundation
2021
- 4th April Totally Wired Ballroom Blitz
- 28th– 30th May The Soundcrash Funk & Soul Weekender
- 3rd – 4th July Hi-Tide Festival (Fat Boy Slim and Madness headliners)
- 8th July The Beat
- 24th July De La Soul
- 14th August Pride: All Saints Live
- 21st August Andy C+ Dimension, Dillinja, High Contrast, DJ Flight and more.
Talk about being selective £35 per car. A normal cinema ticket costs from £3 to £5 in smaller local cinemas when they reopen the larger cinemas like the view at Westwood tickets are expensive
These aren’t normal times, I think less choice and higher prices are going to be the unfortunate new trend of post Covid-19 events and entertainment. Social distancing is going to make it very difficult for many businesses to make profit.
Is it true Dreamland is now an event space owned by a hedge fund and will no longer be opened as a theme park?!
They made a lot of staff redundant blaming the virus, including 80% of the maintenance team so… If they don’t have engineers to look after the rides and make sure they’re safe then not sure how they intend to run the park fully.
An American institution from many years ago, when cars were huge and many were convertibles. Sitting in a small cramped modern car watching a film is not my idea of a good night out.
£35 when our local cinema charge around £5 per head even at the vue. So get 7 in you car and you break even.
Why do local companies price themselves out of the market for local young families?
The idea of a drive-thru cinema was that it took place after dark, so how’s this going to work during the day when the sun is beating down on the roof of the car or alternatively it is raining so you’ll have to have the windscreen wipers going and pay £35 for the privilege.
What happens if you are behind a big 4×4 or people carry in you little fiat 500 ?
Oh I see the big cars with the big money will be at the back lol