Margate’s iconic Dreamland Cinema – an Art Deco landmark

Designed by established cinema architects, Julian Rudolph Leathart and W.F. Granger, and with a seating capacity of up to 2,050 in the auditorium, Dreamland was considered a ’super cinema’ when it opened on 22nd March 1935. The first floor Sunshine Café, with steel-framed windows to maximise the views of the coast, could accommodate a further 500, and a saloon bar once occupied parts of the ground floor.

According to Historic England, the building’s distinctive 25-metre brick tower with protruding fin is said to be inspired by the Expressionist architecture movement that evolved mainly in Germany during the first two decades of the 20th century. It is also believed that Dreamland was the first cinema in Britain to be designed in this style, which would go on to be an influence for the Odeon chain in a number of their cinemas.

As for the history of the cinema, the complex sits on the site of a former theatre that dates back to 1923 and was part of the sprawling Dreamland Amusement Park run by English entrepreneur, John Henry Iles. The cinema, which was designed in the early 1930s, was closed for the duration of World War II and in 1940, along with the rest of the amusement park, was briefly used to accommodate troops evacuated from Dunkirk (26 May to 4 June). The cinema reopened in 1946 and continued to show only movies until the early 1970s. In 1973 Dreamland was subdivided into a live theatre on the ground floor and an independent cinema with two smaller screens in what was originally the circle. The live theatre didn’t take off, however, and in early 1975 was turned into a bingo hall. The bingo club closed in late 2007 and the independent cinema followed suit shortly after.

Restoration work on the cinema began in 2011 when the amusement park was purchased by new owners. But, financial difficulties and a legal battle over land ownership thwarted the project. Eventually, work on the building’s exterior was completed in 2016 after the site was compulsorily purchased by Thanet District Council. Restoration of the interior is ongoing but progress appears to be slow and future plans for this iconic Margate landmark are unclear.

The cinema featured as the main setting for the 2022 Sam Mendes-directed movie, Empire of Light, during which the interior of the building was remodelled and the ‘Dreamland’ signage was temporarily replaced with the name ‘Empire’.

On a personal note, Dreamland Cinema is one of the most stunning Art Deco/Streamline Moderne buildings we have ever seen. The former cinema had been on our radar long before we watched Empire of Light, but the film only made us want to visit Margate even more. Our hotel in the coastal town was only a 2-minute walk from the cinema, which meant we could admire it as often as we pleased. It also allowed us to view (and photograph) the building in different light. This ranged from 7 in the morning when there was hardly anyone around through to 8 at night when the final glow of the disappearing sun hitting the cinema’s brickwork was absolutely stunning.

We, of course, looked for a way into the cinema but, this is England and not the former Soviet Union or Yugoslavia where entering abandoned locations is relatively easy, and we soon gave up on that idea and focused our attention on the building’s glorious facade.

All in all, Dreamland, and Margate, in general, didn’t disappoint and if the site ever gets up and running again, in whatever capacity (which I’m sure will happen), in the words of the lovable Cockney duo, Chas ‘n’ Dave, we will be heading ‘down to Margate’ toot sweet for another mooch around.

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