The Demolition of The Rotunda Funfair,
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Folkestone
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The Rotunda was one of the first buildings to go. You can see equipment inside the arcade in the process of demolishing the structure.
Folkestone Herald clipping sent by Pat & Trevor of the UK
Feast your eyes on this lovely fun fair. It ended up three times larger at the time of sale than it was when I was a child, and was sold for demolition in 2002. The Swimming Pool and the Boating Pool had already been filled in and were distant memories, while the rides at the Rotunda got bigger and better.
The last owner was Jimmy Godden, and admittedly he allowed it to become very run down and dilapidated and customers had dropped off considerably. (See newspaper clipping below, supplied by Pat & Trevor). The developer's plan was to build a 7 Screen Multiplex Cinema, a 10 pin Bowling Centre, a large new Bingo Hall, Restaurants, Wine Bars and Cafés, a 2 Storey Health Club, More than 600 new homes, nearly 2,000 underground car parking spaces and an 80,000 sq. ft. Supermarket. As often happens with the best laid plans, the demolition went ahead, the whole seafront was cleared, including what used to be the Marine Gardens Pavilion near the Harbour, and the site sat empty for many years.
Thanks to Ian Mansfield of Folkestone, we are going to be able to see the demise of the Rotunda, as he and others took photos for us as it came down, and will let us see what takes it's place. The funfair had one more season in 2003, then that also went the same way as the Rotunda. It's the end of an era, and the biggest losers are the young children who may never again know the fun of riding a double decker bus on a roundabout, or shake in their shoes in Castle Dracula, or slide down a Helter Skelter. What's next for the English seaside resort? Dreamland in Margate has also had its problems, starting with being sold to Jimmy Godden, who sold it on after a few years, in the case of Dreamland though, it had people willing to fight for it, and obtained funding from several sources, and the latest acquisition was to someone from Hong Kong in 2016. It is holding its own, but right now, in September 2026 it is only opening on weekends. Will Blackpool pleasure beach be next? I find it very very sad. But we really only have ourselves to blame, if we don't regularly support the things we loved as children, they will disappear.
June 2003
A Report From Ian Lacey who was visiting Folkestone
The Rotunda site continues to be cleared,several rides have gone notably the Magic Mouse roller coaster and the kiddies express train.The wooden roller coaster is also closed pending removal.The dodgems appear to have been moved onto the site of the demolished Rotunda too.The remaining bits of the park are operating this year under the name "Funland Park".There also appears to be renovations starting on the hotels on the road behind the back of the Grand Burstin (he means Marine Crescent that was turned into condos) so hopefully next year things will also happen on the front itself.
May 2005 I was there this year, and nothing much seems to have changed from Ian's report, renovations are still going on to Marine Crescent, but I don't think there is enough left of the Rotunda to open with anything except the amusements in The Dome this year. Here are some photos I took: Christine
The only attraction open in 2005 is the Dome amusements
March 19, 2007- Report from Ian Lacey
I have recently been back to Folkestone and thought I would send you an update on the Rotunda and its sad to say,the Rotunda Amusement Park is no more.
The Dome arcade finally closed its doors at the beginning of February 2007 as did the Cafe Bar in the old Marine Pavilion. Further buildings have been demolished notably the Castle Dracula, another part of the original Rotunda has gone though the entrance bit that was left still stands and the cafes up where the Sunday Market goes have also been pulled down.
All that remains now is the closed wooden roller coaster, The Dome, the crazy golf, the office block and the restaurant that stands between the two domes. Even the trawler next to the golf course looks in a sorry state.
My biggest shock came though on the Sunday, I left the Burstin, went round the corner and was amazed to find no Sunday Market I don't know if its a winter thing or not but venturing up into town later in the day I found market stalls set up in the area of Sandgate Road and Guildhall Street.
Also, again it could be seasonal but venturing up the Old High Street, Rowlands rock shop was closed and peering through the windows it looked empty and pretty deserted inside.
Another visit in 2006 and the photos are more or less the same, just a bit more dilapidated.
The following photographs were taken by Adminette of the fabulous Folkestone Forums website, which seems to have vanished
Inside the Dome
The Roller Coaster under demolition
The roller coaster reflected in the window of the Boating Pool restaurant
No Ian, I am afraid it is not seasonal. Mr. Brickell of the Rock Shop became ill, and it had to close. Like the loss of the Rotunda, it is the end of an era, Folkestone will never be quite the same I fear.
Also, the Sunday Market will no longer be held on the seafront, because the plans now are for large blocks of luxury flats from the Lower Leas Coastal Park right along the beach to - and on the Harbour itself. There is no mention of any of the other planned facilities so far. The first block, called Shoreline has been built opposite the Lifts. I don't know how well they are selling, but I know some are being advertised for short term rentals. Time will tell what happens to the rest of the plans.
And this is the photo that says it all. The last part of the Rotunda to go, the Dome amusements in its final death throws.
Photo with kind permission of Matt Rowe of Club Shepway. Located at 14 Tontine Street.
This is such a good photo, and more than any others symbolises the sad demise of the Rotunda
2007
The above six photos taken in 2006
Page updated Sept. 2026