Dreamland

A terminus built by the London, Chatham and Dover Railway Company was never used for its designed purpose and was converted by Edward Clark (for Spiers & Pond) into an entertainment hall known as The Hall by the Sea. In 1874 the building with surrounding land was purchased by Lord George Sanger as a headquarters for his circus empire. The main hall was let for variety, concerts and dancing and the adjacent land was used for his menagerie, exhibitions and waxworks. In 1893, a skating rink was added which was soon converted to a ballroom. By 1905, the menagerie had disappeared and the space became an amusement park; when Sanger retired, the hall was used for concert parties and variety together with cinematograph presentations.

A catastrophic fire in 1930 destroyed the whole amusement park except for the hall and the ballroom. Leathart & Granger designed a spectacular new frontage, modelled on new designs appearing in Germany - the first of its kind to be seen in this country. A huge fin tower edged in neon with the legend DREAMLAND dominated the sea front end, taking in the site of the demolished hall. It had a large cafe area at first floor over ground floor shops.

The corner entrance led to a vast domed rotunda foyer leading to the auditorium, the ballroom (retained from 1893), and stairs to the circle bar and foyer. The auditorium was of plainer design, with a deep recessed ceiling and a square proscenium with sea nymph reliefs by Eric Aumonier either side. The house was designed with full stage facilities, which still remain.

The cafe area became a music hall from 1955-68, before conversion to bingo. The auditorium was sub-divided in the balcony area for twin cinemas, whilst the stalls area became live theatre in 1973, though by 1975 this was converted to bingo.

The cinema closed in 2007, and was in threat of deterioration for some time. Local campaigners have fought for the building (Save Dreamland Campaign and The Dreamland Trust), and in 2011 the Dreamland Margate project was awarded funding by the Heritage Lottery Fund, the Government's Sea Change programme, and Thanet Council. This will help to restore and reopen the Grade II* Cinema, as well as its surrounding amusement park, Grade II* listed roller coaster and Grade II listed menagerie cages.

Dreamland re-opened in June 2015 but elements of the restoration and development of the site are still to be completed.