Dreamland

• Theatre ID
  2161
• Built / Converted
  1935
• Dates of use
  • 1935 - 1975
• Current state
  Extant
• Current use
  disused (Cinema and bingo until 2007; Site in use since 1867)
• Address
  Marine Terrace/Hall by the Sea Road, Margate, Kent, CT9 1LX, England

Details

A terminus built by the London, Chatham and Dover Railway Company was never used for its designed purpose and was converted into an entertainment hall by Edward Clark for Spiers and Pond, 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 and Granger designed a spectacular frontage, modelled on new designs appearing in Germany, but 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. By 1975 the theatre was converted to bingo. There are regular concerts on an early Compton organ.

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• Other names
  The Hall by the Sea, Palais de Danse, Dreamland Hall, Dreamland Super Variety Theatre
• Events
  • 1935 - 1975 Use:
  • 1860 Design/Construction: as railway terminus
    • Unknown - Architect
  • 1867 Alteration: converted to The Hall by the Sea
    • Edward Clark - Architect
  • 1935 Alteration: new frontage and auditorium
    • Julian Rudolf Leathart & W F Granger - Architect
  • 1935 Design/Construction:
    • John Bird-Iles - Consultant: Interior Design
    • Walpole Chamneys - Consultant: Wall Paintings In Cafe
    • Eric Aumonier - Consultant: Sculptures In Auditorium
  • 1867 Owner/Management: Spiers & Pond, owners
  • 1874 Owner/Management: Lord George Sanger, owner; on his retirement, Arthur Reeves (son-in-law), proprietor
  • 1935 Owner/Management: By John Henry Iles, owner
  • 1940 - 1946 Owner/Management: Requisitioned (MOD)
  • 1993 Owner/Management: Bembon Brothers, owners
  • 1996 Owner/Management: Jimmy Godden, owner
• Capacities
  • Later: 1935: 2050
• Listings
  • Grade II
• Stage type
  • 1935: Proscenium, flat