Dreamland is Closed

[Vince, Charlie and Sam]

I have just been to Dreamland, and it would appear that it has now closed for the season. Some rides have already been packed away, and there are several articulated lorries on site waiting to have other rides loaded onto them.

I will look back in a couple of hours, but it looks as though that's it.

It's a beautiful sunny day here, and I can't understand the logic of closing today, although it seems as though Harry Ayers has been determined that the park would be a failure this season, for reasons we can only speculate upon.


Vince

[porterm]

I totally agree Vince. Once again a very puzzling scenario for a pre-announced closure date tourist business to shut its gates before the stated date on all its advertising posters. I am obviously not very happy as I could have pre-arranged to go elsewhere if this news had been forewarned. I am at an utter loss for words, especially as you say the climate is perfect for brisk business today. Utterly amazing!

I'm still coming down to Margate and am planning to visit the only real other current Margate attraction, the Shell Grotto (whose doors WILL I am sure be open for their normal stated business hours)

a rather disgruntled Martin

PS Don't suppose there's anmy refund on pre-purchased park tokens if the park is indeed closed today for the 2005 season.

[darkrichard]

I argee with you to vince what is wrong with man .
i just had a look thay now taking the g- force down.
why has it closed early

[Vince, Charlie and Sam]

PS Don't suppose there's any refund on pre-purchased park tokens if the park is indeed closed today for the 2005 season.

Luckily, I only had one left...........

[Bob]

I have just been to Dreamland, and it would appear that it has now closed for the season. Some rides have already been packed away, and there are several articulated lorries on site waiting to have other rides loaded onto them.

I will look back in a couple of hours, but it looks as though that's it.

It's a beautiful sunny day here, and I can't understand the logic of closing today, although it seems as though Harry Ayers has been determined that the park would be a failure this season, for reasons we can only speculate upon.


Vince

It might be worth making a complaint to the ASA although I don't suppose that would worry Harry.

His tactics have been clear all along he wants to prove Dreamland is not viable. Closing early avoids a posible large attendence on the final day. He has not kept to advertised hours all through the season, probably to keep attendences down.

[DN]

Absolute disgrace.

It seems this whole season was done to prove that the site is not viable for an amusement park. But then again, when you open a week later than adevertised and close a day before, why would it succeed?

What a mess. Someone is needed with a good commitment to the place, not just plonking down a few rides that change every few weeks or so, as well as having some of the rudest staff i have ever encountered.

[Bob]

The whole Seafront area from the Railway Station to the Harbour needs a makeover. At present Margate simply has nothing to offer tourists. Its not just a matter of bringing Dreamland up to scratch although that would play a key role. It needs decent eating establishments, decent enertainment facilities and decent hotels. The beach needs a good tidy up as well. They need to pension off the 30 year old deckchairs they hire out.
The Dreamland area ought to be turned into a modern Amesument park with suitable retail premises as a part of it. Dreamland is also crying out for a decent entrance. The dark and dirty allway that goes for the current entrance is hardly inviting or even that visible.

It needs some vision to turn the place around. I cannot see that coming from the council though. Their agenda is more shops & an arts centre which is a plan doomed to disaster. If you took a long hard look at Margate as it stands now would you want to visit it ?

[dave771]

Well there is definatly something dodgy about all this, last day of the summer holidays and the best weather and he decides to close the park! or is it Mr Godden deciding what happens and when it happens? it is just so obvious that something is going on down there! Anyway was rather nice at the Northern Belle pub with Ian and Sarah, if I want to go to a travelling fair I will do and will be treated better than the staff at Dreamland have this year! I think we can all agree that the idea of opening the park this year was to prove it doesnt work but was made a bit too obvious by the current operator and Mr G !

[ricardobugsy]

Apparently it was the Development Companys' request to keep Dreamland open for the next 2 seasons.

When I spoke to Harry Ayers during the season, he said that it was a shame that Sky News were not able to film the Scenic Railway as he could have done with the business, but the owner of Dreamland wanted two grand for them to film (Mr G I assume!).

This led me to believe that Harry was trying to make a go of it and was working under the restrictions of Jimmy Godden. However, it would also then appear that Mr. G was probably in charge of appointing Harry Ayers in the first place. This would suggest some kind of old pals act to me.

Harrys lack of promotion and effort in keeping to advertised opening hours have led me to change my original opinion on Harry. He was downbeat before the park opened and to fail to open on the last day is unforgivable.

Most of the ride operators this season were stern and thuggish in appearance. I became concerned when I saw the guy operating the G-Force messing around with one of the safety harnesses after the ride was finished. It appeared there was something not right about it.

I was also treated to one of the lamest rides on the Scenic that I have ever had.

This season has been a complete shambles. As far as I am concerned, Harry Ayers is just a two-bob travelling showman and is not fit to run a theme park.

[Killa]

At least David Wallis made an effort when he ran the park, did a decent wristband scheme and tried to promote dreamland.

[Dave And Chris]

Hi all

Speaking about JG, I have sat back for quite some years now watching him wreck Dreamland. From the moment he first brought the place he has never shown any interest in what he was doing, running the site as an amusment park.
The only time he did was when he first brought Dreamland back in 1996.
Even looking back now anyone can see what his future ideas were.

I agree with killa, the lack of inthusiasm over what thay were doing was in turn enough to put of any visitors from returning there again. When i say this i am ruleing out the Scenic Railway operators which had worked their in previous years anyway.
But what can you expect from employers that are paid less than the basic wage.

[coasternutter]

I managed to get a last go on the Scenic on Saturday. Speaking to the ride operators afterwards I was a little disapointed to learn that Mr Ayers was not going to open on the Sunday. They added that he had no time for the Save Dreamland campaigners and was going to p**s them off! Now this is only what I was told but everything seems to point towards this. Also I think he might be in Goddens back pocket! again this is only my thought and I have nothing to back them up. All in all it has been a strange year for Dreamland and not one I will look back on with any fond thoughts.

[ricardobugsy]

Well Harry Ayers can't complain about the lack of business if he cannot be bothered to open on the final day.

This serves to the advantage of the Save Dreamland Campaign as it shows that the place is not being run properly.

Rowbots response from Thanets' Senior Tourist Officer shows that they are also aware of the situation at Dreamland this year regarding irregular opening times.

Harry obviously does not need the money and quite frankly does not deserve it. His attitude towards his paying public has been disgraceful and should be dealt with the contempt it deserves.

[Sarah]

A cynical little friend of mine did suggest yesterday - while standing in the car park watching rides being dismantled - that the park had been closed a day early in order to frustrate any SDC plans for a visit. I laughed. After all, what fool would close on a hot sunny Sunday - a day when the beach and front was absolutely rammed with people, all ready to stick their hot little hands in their pockets and fork out for a bit of fun - just to score a point against us?

Whatever his reasons, there wasn't much business sense in evidence yesterday. I won't even close on a rainy day in March, on the off-chance that enough people will walk through the door to pay the milkman. Closing during the school summer holidays? Never.

I tell you what though, if I thought he did close early just to cheese us off I'd be chuffed to bits.

In any event, I'm rather glad to see the back of him.

Sarah

[coasternutter]

I think we should be careful what we post on here. I am certain that Ayers or someone working for him monitors this forum!