Dreamland theme park reopens with vintage design by Wayne Hemmingway
by Tom Anstey | 19 Jun 2015
Following an 11-year campaign to save a heritage theme park in Margate, Kent, UK, Dreamland has finally reopened its doors to the public, reimagined and ready to welcome a new generation of visitors to the vintage attraction.
Creative designer Wayne Hemingway MBE is behind the £18m (US$27m, €24m) restoration of the attraction. Hemingway’s specialist area is bringing new life to old concepts, with a focus on the social and affordable aspects of design.
Hemingway Design has worked with park CEO Eddie Kemsley and the UK's Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) to preserve the project’s cultural heritage, while also bringing the attraction up to par for a modern audience.
"We're making heritage current," said Hemingway speaking to CLAD in October 2014. "It's going to feel fresh and of the now."
The Hemingway design team has preserved and restored as much of the original site as it could, while upcycling traditional rides and amusement park decoration sourced from places such as Blackpool Pleasure Beach.
Ray Hole acted as architects for the project, while Spider handled project management and Sean Brian of Amusement Technical sourced the rides.
A Grade II-listed 90-year-old scenic railway is one of the premier attractions at Dreamland, while the Hurricane Jet ride has also been restored. In addition, the rare Caterpillar ride which was installed in the 1920s has been upcycled and the original 1920s Gallopers carousel has been restored.
Dreamland Margate also features the largest pinball parlour in Europe, a dance hall and an education centre. An event space is also available for festivals, live music, cabaret and private events. Food has a vintage, bespoke feel to it, with specialist cafés, kiosks and roaming catering on-site.
The HLF has played a large role in Dreamland’s redevelopment, awarding £5.8m (US$8.9m, €7.8m) to the Dreamland Trust. After granting approval, the HLF regularly sent teams to assess and monitor the development of the park.
“Dreamland was built all those years ago on memories of Coney Island,” said Eddie Kemsley speaking to CLAD. “There’s so much nostalgia, history and fondness for Dreamland. We estimate 150 million people have been through our doors and everybody I meet has their own memories. We plan to capture that emotion. It is an opening like no other.”
CEO Eddie Kemsley Credit: Dreamland
Dreamland branding has a vintage English seaside feel
Britain's oldest wooden rollercoaster has been brought back into use
Classic fairground favourites dominate
Staff are picked for their ability to entertain
The heritage attraction – features Britain’s oldest rollercoaster Credit: Dreamland
20 Apr 2015
Designer Wayne Hemingway to star at Tourism Society Symposium
06 Jan 2015
Historic Dreamland rollercoaster hits another bump in the road
09 Oct 2014
Dreamland UK attraction to avenge decade of decay with 2015 relaunch
10 Jun 2014
Suspected arson attack at Kent heritage theme park
FEATURE: Heritage – Dream Big
Following an 11-year campaign to save a heritage theme park in Margate, Kent, UK, Dreamland has finally reopened its doors to the public, reimagined and ready to welcome a new generation of visitors to the vintage attraction. Creative designer Wayne Hemingway MBE is behind the £18m (US$27m, €24m) restoration of the attraction. Hemingway’s specialist area is bringing new life to old concepts, with a focus on the social and affordable
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