Month: June 2015

DREAMLAND WAS A CLOSE RUN THING

OLD MOLE’S DIARY

19.06.15 10:00 Dreamland Margate Reopens it's Doors Today! • The wait is finally over. The UK’s original pleasure park Dreamland Margate, re-opens to the public this morning Friday 19 June with the launch of Phase One. • Dreamland Margate will open at 10am revealing over 17 restored and retrofitted rides and amusements • Dreamland will open with a sell-out and star-studded launch party ‘The Opening Night Hullaballoo’ • Hosted by comedian Vic Reeves, the dazzling Marina and the Diamonds will take centre stage to headline the launch event • The opening of the re-imagined park is the culmination of a campaign that has restored Britain’s most iconic seaside pleasure park for a new generation • Today’s guests will be among the first to explore the much-loved amusement park, re-imagined by HemingwayDesign with a new look and a collection of creatively up-cycled British seaside artefacts • Dreamland’s re-opening is a further boost to Margate’s successful economic and cultural regeneration • Press Contact: dreamland@kallaway.com or on 020 7221 7883 The wait is finally over! Today (19 June 2015) the UK’s original pleasure park re-opens to the public after over a decade of closure. One of Britain’s most iconic and old-fashioned seaside institutions is back, having been re-built following the local community’s decade-long campaign to restore this much loved destination. Dreamland will re-open with a bang with a host of celebrity guests and performers including headliner Marina and the Diamonds, Chas ‘n’ Dave and DJ Gemma (Radio 1) playing at the sell-out Opening Night Hullaballoo. The new Dreamland is a unique vintage-style amusement park re-imagined by HemingwayDesigns. The opening of the park, including rides, classic side shows, eateries and evocative spaces set within a landscape capable of hosting national festivals and major events has been made possible by a multi-million pound investment from local benefactors. Thanet District Council, Sands Heritage LTD, the Heritage Lottery Fund and the Department for Culture Media and Sport’s Sea Change Programme have worked together to bring Dreamland back to Margate’s coastline, and boost the local economy for years to come. The master plan has been executed by architecture practice Ray Hole Architects and project managed by Spider Project Team. Phase One of Dreamland includes 17 restored rides, as well as the roller disco, pleasure gardens, restaurants, food stalls, arcades and amusements from the golden age of the British seaside. Over 200 old rides and amusements have been upcycled and reimaged – transformed into the fabric of the new Dreamland. Dreamland will play a significant role in the continued regeneration of Margate. Dreamland’s Phase One opening alone has created 250 jobs in the local area 83% of which come from Thanet. Further jobs will be announced as Phases Two, Three and Four are undertaken. An education centre on Dreamland will provide a further resource for the community. Eddie Kemsley, CEO, Dreamland says: “There’s so much more to come but for now the successful launch of Phase One is a testament to all those involved in this project and those campaigners that saved Dreamland for the nation. Through their hard work and the financial support we have received we have transformed a once derelict site back into the beating heart of Margate. Without their hard work none of this would have been possible. There is still much to come, but for now we can’t wait to welcome our first visitors.” Stuart McLeod, Head of the Heritage Lottery Fund South East, says: “As we head into summer, it’s perfect timing for some holiday fun with Dreamland Margate opening its doors to a new generation of visitors – especially this week, Lonely Planet has named Kent ‘Europe’s top spot for a family holiday’! Our investment of nearly £6m is thanks to National Lottery players and we are tremendously grateful for the on-going role they play in our work.  Dreamland is a great example of how heritage-led regeneration can make a real impact on the local economy and we hope that everyone who has been eagerly awaiting its completion will enjoy the end result."  Leader of Thanet District Council Cllr Chris Wells, says: “It’s fantastic to see the culmination of so many years of hard work by so many people finally come to fruition. Dreamland is iconic and means so much to not only Margate and Thanet but Kent and beyond. Dreamland is synonymous with Margate’s heyday and signals the continuation of this vibrant regeneration, already well underway with The Turner Contemporary and the revival of the old town. With the further phased opening of the Amusement Park and the council’s development of the wider Dreamland site the future of Margate, and Thanet, looks brighter than ever.” Nick Laister, Chairman of The Dreamland Trust, says: "The Dreamland Trust originated the idea of reopening Dreamland as an amusement park that celebrates seaside and amusement park history and culture. It is fantastic to see Dreamland finally reopen and restart its role at the centre of the Thanet tourism economy. In a town that has already seen positive change following the very successful opening of Turner Contemporary, Dreamland will be another major 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.”  Dreamland will play a significant role in the continued regeneration of Margate.  Dreamland’s phase one opening has created 200 jobs in the local area.  Further jobs will be announced as phases two and three are announced.  An education centre on Dreamland will provide a further resource for the community. The Dreamland site is owned by Thanet District Council. The council, working with The Dreamland Trust has secured a funding package of £18 million, which includes external funding of almost £6m from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) and a Sea Change grant, to deliver the first phase of the project. Follow the progress of Dreamland with updates and pictures here http://dreamland.co.uk/site-watch and on Twitter (@DreamlandMarg), Facebook (dreamlandmargate) and by following #LoveDreamland.  For more information, visit www.dreamland.co.uk.   - ENDS- Notes to editors Media contacts Fiona Russell or Tori Dance, Kallaway PR dreamland@kallaway.com / 020 7221 7883

The grand opening of Dreamland was a close run thing.

In the run-up to the grand unveiling Margate’s iconic retro funfair there were problems with connecting the electricity.

And with only a few hours before it was due to open, it looked like the owners wouldn’t be able to get power to parts of the amusement park.

But they got there in the end — and most people have judged the new Dreamland a great success.

Kids expecting ride experiences to rival Alton Towers might not be satisfied, but the whole thing LOOKS sensational.

But the last-minute power problems still leaves nagging doubts in the minds of sceptics who wonder if the operators are really going to be competent to cope with the day-to-day problems of keeping a working fairground going.

Watch this space…

old mole

THE IMMIGRANT EXPERIENCE

PILGRIM STATE BOOK

An extraordinary book about the immigration experience gets its launch in Thanet this Saturday.

The book, Pilgrim State, published by Hodder, is written by Jackie Walker, who first moved to Broadstairs five years ago.

In 1960s Deptford seven-year-old Jackie got a crash course in racism.

“You smell wog,” said a little blonde girl she thought was going to be her friend. “Don’t you ever come near me.”

When it was first published in 2008 Guardian called the book: “a survival tale to warm the chilliest heart.”

It tells how Jackie’s family came to this country from Jamaica in the 1950s.

Jackie’s mother Dorothy had an abusive father and experienced recurring mental illness, poverty and racial discrimination.

But she set out to keep her family together – and, despite all the odds, she did.

Says Jackie: “People become immigrants to improve their lives. And while they do that, they improve the quality of all in our society.

“My book is a testament to that struggle, to the bonds that keep a family together and a tribute to all who are prepared to risk everything for the betterment of the people they love.

“It’s a story which raises issues extremely relevant to what’s happening in Thanet today.”

Jackie will be reading extracts and answering questions at the launch which is at 7pm on Saturday 27 June at the Red Hall, 11 Grosvenor Road, Broadstairs CT10 2BT.

SO WHERE DO I GET THANET WATCH?

TW33 COVER

Here are just some of the places you can get the new THANET WATCH magazine…

IN MARGATE…
Hooked On Books, 21 High St.
Lombard St Gallery, 2 Lombard St.
Costcutter, 4 Cecil St (opp Thanet Council)

IN CLIFTONVILLE…
Vera’s News, 314 Northdown Rd
TNS News, 79 Upper Dane Rd

IN RAMSGATE…
RJ Offlicence and News, 56 High St
Ben Uncle/Loco, 80 High St
Toni’s News, 17 King St
Michael’s Bookshop, 72 King St
Gerry’s, Albert Court
Dunwells Newsagents, 157 Grange Rd

IN BROADSTAIRS & ST PETERS…
Londis, 5 High St
The Chapel, 44-46, Albion St
Budgens, Broadway Garage
Harveys, 4 The Broadway
Victory News, 4 Nelson Pl
The Bottleneck, 7-9 Charlotte St
Dumpton PO, 210 Ramsgate Rd, Dumpton
St Peters Village News, 12B High St, St Peters
Reading Street PO, 30 Reading St

IN BIRCHINGTON…
Macys, 20 Station Approach Rd
The Bottle Shop, 21 Station Rd

AND IN WESTGATE…
Edwards Supermarket, 51 Station Rd
Budget Beaters, 54 Station Rd
Corkscrew, 55 Station Rd
Best One, 56 St Mildreds Rd.

And if you can’t get hold of a copy ring us on 07989 070843.

IN THE NEW ISSUE OF THANET WATCH

PILGRIM STATE BOOK

In the new issue of Thanet Watch is news of a book launch about the immigrant experience by Jackie Walker. Jackie also writes about her involvement in the campaign to stop Nigel Farage becoming a Thanet MP. Here’s a corrected version of the news piece…

BOOK SPOTLIGHTS IMMIGRANT EXPERIENCE

An extraordinary book about the immigration experience gets its launch in Thanet this June.

The book Pilgrim State, published by Hodder, is by Jackie Walker, who first moved Broadstairs five years ago.

In 1960s Deptford seven-year-old Jackie got a crash course in racism.

“You smell wog,” said a little blonde girl she thought was going to be her friend. “Don’t you ever come near me.”

When it was first published in 2008 Guardian called the book: “a survival tale to warm the chilliest heart.”

It tells how Jackie’s family came to this country from Jamaica in the 1950s.

Jackie’s mother Dorothy had an abusive father and experienced recurring mental illness, poverty and racial discrimination.

But she set out to keep her family together – and, despite all the odds, she did.

Says Jackie: “People become immigrants to improve their lives. And while they do that, they improve the quality of all in our society. My book is a testament to that struggle, to the bonds that keep a family together and a tribute to all who are prepared to risk everything for the betterment of the people they love.  It’s a story which raises issues extremely relevant to what’s happening in Thanet today.”

Jackie will be reading extracts and answering questions at the launch which is at 7pm on Saturday 27 June at the Red Hall, 11 Grosvenor Road, Broadstairs CT10 2BT.