Dreamland reopens it doors on Friday (May 26) with a new-look park, bars, music stage and a packed programme of festivals.
The park opens at 5pm, entry is free, and there are a whole load of new attractions promised.
The relaunch follows a £25million investment from Arrowgrass Capital Partners to operator Sands Heritage Ltd.
New additions to the park include wi-fi throughout the site, bars, festival stages, restored rides and street food.
What’s on offer
Rides and fun
Vintage rides – The new ride line-up includes the Brooklands Speedway, Wedgwood Tea Cups and The Magic Mouse. Visitors can also enjoy the Scenic Railway, Waltzers, retro Roller Disco, vintage arcades, Big Wheel and more
Teddy and Betty Land – a new area with rides and entertainment for the little ones which will include characters such as Peppa Pig and family, Chase and Marshall from PAW Patrol and Captain Barnacles and Kwazii from the Octonauts all arriving for play dates with Teddy and Betty Bear on special Thursdays throughout the Summer
Modern art installations, including an interactive marble run and a mirrored spinning top.
The Boardwalk and Grade II listed antique menageries from the 1800s.
Food and drink
Street food – Amphitheatre style seating with food served from vintage trucks, trendy shacks and 1940s airstreams at ‘The Friendliest Food Court Ever.’
The 15-metre Slide Bar and the Tree Top Bar
The Cinque Ports pub – the bar will open for drinks for one night only on May 27. It will reopen officially on June 3.
British gastro-pub fare with continental influences will be on offer. Featuring a theatre kitchen, it will have signature seasonal dishes and desserts, craft beers, Anglo-Italian cocktails and locally curated wines.
It will serve afternoon tea, brunch on Saturdays and roast dinners on Sundays. The Brew House, within the pub, will have a light snack menu, live music and creative content.
Ziggy’s Rooftop bar –on the seafront at the former Escape nightclub building, Margate’s first rooftop bar, will offer cocktails, Jamaican jerk BBQ, reggae, hip hop and big beats.
Work to reopen the Sunshine Café and Dreamland Bars and renovate the famous neon signs has also taken place.
Festivals
There is a new live stage, next to the Grade II * listed Scenic Railway.
Los Angeles band Vintage Trouble will be launching the Scenic Stage at 8pm on Friday, May 26.
Maximo Park will be launching the ‘Hall By The Sea’ on Saturday, May 27 , 7:30pm – 11pm, £18 + booking fee, 16+ years only
Margate Wonderland Festival, Sunday 28 May, 4:30pm to Monday 29 May, 2am, Strictly over 18s only, £25 per person (booking fee applies)
The line up: The Kills, Carl Barat & The Jackals, The Duke Spirit, TOY, Little Barrie, Howling Bells, Man & the Echo, Broken Hands, Dead Pretties, Scanners, Paves, Electric Child House, Videocean and Midnight Special (Creedence Clearwater Revival Tribute).
Half term fun
The park will be open throughout the half term; with family favourites Fun DMC and their daytime hip-hop block party for kids and parents at the Scenic Stage on Monday 29 May.
Bank holiday opening times
Friday, May 26 5pm to 11pm
Saturday 27th May – 11am to 10pm
Sunday 28th May – 11am to 10pm
Monday 29th May – 11am to 10pm
Tuesday 30th May – 11am to 7pm
Wednesday 31st May – 11am to 7pm
Thursday 1st June – 11am to 7pm
Friday 2nd June – 11am to 7pm
Saturday 3rd June – 11am to 7pm
Sunday 4th June – 11am to 7pm:
Entry to the park is free, a wristband needs to be purchased for the rides.
Wristband prices
Friday night wristbands are £10 Big Kid and £7.50 Little Kid (in advance) or £12.50 Big Kid and £9 Little Kid on the day.
Saturday, Sunday and Monday wristbands are £16 Big Kid and £11.50 Little Kid (in advance) or £19 Big Kid and £13.50 Little Kid (on the day).
Special event
Step back in time with Dreamscapes: A portrait of Dreamland in the 60s
Enjoy a snapshot of Dreamland’s past and people in an exhibition of drawings, prints and paintings by Barry Kirk, former principal of Canterbury College of Art.
The exhibition presents a unique snapshot of Dreamland in the sixties. Using pioneering creative methods, Kirk’s colourful and bold pieces capture the vibrancy, colour and ambience of the amusement park in its heyday – complete with Teddy Boys and saucy ladies.
This is the first time the Dreamland Collection has been exhibited in one major display and the first exhibition the Dreamland Trust, whose role it is to conserve and promote Dreamland’s rich heritage, has shown in Dreamland.
The exhibition is free and opens on Saturday, 27 May in the Dreamland concourse. Opening times are the same as those for Dreamland.
Dates for the diary
3 June – Cinque Ports opens fully
10 June – Event space launch for Demon Dayz event
10 June – Demon Dayz event – Gorillaz headline
10 June – VIP bar opens for events and private hire
25 June – Summer Tea Dance
20 July – Toots and the Maytals
22 July – Slaves
27 July – Peppa Pig and family appearance
10 August – PAW Patrol – Chase and Marshall appearance
12-25 August – Camp Bestival Bouncy Castle – the world’s biggest bouncy castle comes to Dreamland
24 August – Octonauts – Captain Barnacles and Kwazii appearance
September 8-9 – Undercover Festival
