SPONSORED EDITORIAL

The final countdown to the long-awaited reopening of Dreamland is well and truly under way.

The rides have been installed and the final checks are taking place as the iconic theme park on Margate seafront gets set to welcome visitors on Friday, June 19.

When it opens, Dreamland will be the country’s first heritage amusement park. In it’s heyday, in the 1960s, Margate was seen as a cool seaside resort for London holidaymakers and when Dreamland opens its doors in a few weeks, this sentiment is set to return.

Dreamland will reopen on June 19 with a host of the most popular, most famous and best loved rides this country has ever seen, restored and recreated and re-imagined representing the 1920s through to the modern day. Unfortunately the trains for the Scenic Railway restoration project will not be finished in time for our grand opening day.

For anyone that has already bought tickets, those tickets will still be valid for the day you booked and you will be given a second ticket to come back absolutely free once the Scenic Railway project has completed. The date of the Scenic Railway completion will be announced soon.

There will also be classic sideshows, a Roller Room, a high end food offering, family events, music events and dance events as well as a children’s indoor play centre, the Octopus’s Garden. In addition to this you will be able to host a party in one of the VIP beach huts or partake in a posh afternoon tea!

Designer Wayne Hemingway has been helping to transform the site for the last three and a half years, and says it is starting to look how he imagined.

“What you see is just the start and not the finished article. About 50% of all our planned phases will be ready by opening day. But it’s like a young footballer who has just made it to the premiership and needs support to be a great success.

“What the Dreamland Trust has achieved has been fantastic with help from local people and Thanet council but we need to keep up the same pressure and enthusiasm because you can’t compare this place to anything in the world, it is completely unique.”

Dreamland CEO Eddie Kemsley said: “Dreamland will feel like a permanent festival all year round with a re-entry system with people going in and out throughout the day, visiting the shops, going to the beach and coming back at their pleasure!

“There will be classic amusement park acoustics and even artificial scenting so visitors can soak up the atmosphere.”

Don't miss the opening event

Chas and Dave are coming down to Margate to mark the relaunch of Dreamland. The cockney duo will appear alongside Marina and the Diamonds and other leading acts at the Opening Night Hullabaloo on Friday, June 19. Tickets to the event cost £24.95 and can be bought at www.dreamland.co.uk