Empire of Light film tour of Margate attraction

A Kent tourist attraction is opening up some of the sets used for making a star-studded film for one day only.

Filming of Empire of Light took place in spring 2022 in and around Dreamland theme park in Margate.

It starred Olivia Colman, Colin Firth and Toby Jones and was directed by Sam Mendes. It was nominated for an Oscar and three Baftas.

On Saturday pre-booked visitors are being taken on a free tour of areas of the complex "that have been unoccupied for many years".

The tour will take in the abandoned ballroom and the set of the cinema auditorium, plus the roller disco and amusements that featured in the film.

Spaces were allocated on a first-come-first-served basis and have all now gone.

Empire of Light, set in the 1980s, was a love story involving the staff of a fictional cinema.

Dreamland’s exterior displayed the fictional Empire cinema's branding during filming. Some of its interiors were also used.

A temporary film set was built next to the attraction's entrance to house the fictional cinema's lobby.

Shooting took place in and around Margate between March and May 2022.

It was credited with boosting the local economy by some £4m, the attraction said.

Follow BBC Kent on Facebook, on X, and on Instagram. Send your story ideas to [email protected] or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250.