Much-loved theme park Dreamland will remain shut until social distancing rules are relaxed, bosses have revealed.

It means the Margate attraction, which was unable to open last year due to the pandemic, will keep its doors closed until the government eases the two metre rule.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson, as part of his roadmap out of lockdown, has outlined June 21 as the date when all limits on social contact could be lifted - but only if strict conditions are met.

A Dreamland spokesman says the team believes they are unable to offer the carefree visitor experience that customers have come to expect until social distance guidelines are relaxed.

But they insist the closure is only temporary.

"In light of the Prime Minister’s announcement, continued Covid-19 restrictions mean we are unable to operate Dreamland's amusement park or indoor entertainment spaces - Octopus’s Garden or Roller Disco - for the public during Easter 2021," the spokesman said.

"Please know – the rides will be back; this situation is temporary.

"We made tough decisions early on in the pandemic to ensure Dreamland’s future is safe, and we are prepared to wait to ensure our guests are completely safe on our rides.

"It’s worth remembering that Dreamland is a unique venue in that most of our rides are vintage, some built 100 years ago.

"The age and configuration of these rides means it is difficult to accommodate the very specific, social distancing and safety measures required to stop the spread of Covid-19."

Bosses of the park, which has remained open for private hire as well as commercial filming and photography, say as soon as social distancing guidelines are relaxed they will also reconsider their plans to host events later in 2021.

One of the big events due for 2020 was the Hi-Tide Festival, which was to run for two days at Dreamland last summer with artists including Fatboy Slim and Madness, and 15,000 people attending each day.

It formed part of the park's100th birthday celebrations and organisers - the team behind the sell-out Demon Dayz in 2017 - hope it will run this July.

Those behind other big events are also remaining cautious about what the summer holds.

Jo Tuffs, from Broadstairs Folk Week, which attracts thousands of people each year, says there has been a wave of anticipation about the annual event since the roadmap announcement, and August 6 to 13 are the proposed dates should it go ahead.

"As most of you know, it is a year-round task to organise the festival and circumstances are very different to previous years," she said.

"Our major concern is the safety of our festival goers and that will influence our decisions on the format of Folk Week in 2021.

"We are communicating with the events team at Thanet District Council as many sites we may use are operated by them and they need to be confident in our plans."

She says they also waiting for news of various funding applications, including the Arts Council Cultural Recovery Fund.

"We are a registered charity that does not make a profit but brings enormous economic benefit to the town and we sincerely hope that we will be able to go ahead in 2021," she added.

"We are hoping to be in a better place to give details of our plans by the end of March at the latest.

"It is true that we are being cautious, so we want to be flexible enough so if the planned government roadmap stalls, then Folk Week will still have options.

"What is certain is that we will need the support of our Friends, festival goers, local authorities and the business community to make Folk Week happen.

"Our team of volunteers, including the Folk Week committee, have continued to work together throughout the past year to help keep the festival alive and we hope that this will be the year that even more people are motivated to join us in organising this amazing event."

Over at Quex in Birchington, things are looking positive for Monster Slam, which was cancelled last year, with a new date of July 18 in place.

The day will feature car-crushing monster trucks and FMX displays, with the special addition of the Tigers Parachute Display Team who will be dropping in from several thousand feet.

The event will also include an aerial display by Mark Jeffries, one of the UK's top aerobatics pilots, and a daredevil stunt show by Stannage International.

Organiser Gerald McCarthy, director of Big Stage Productions, says they will be guided by the data and recommendations nearer the time, but that bookings have "gone through the roof".

"There are hints that there is going to be some kind of bounce-back, and people are ready to enjoy themselves this summer," he said.

"I think it will go back to people taking their own personal responsibility about whether they're comfortable going to this or that, and if they're not, maybe this year isn't the time.

"But looking at the bookings we've had all over, people have been cooped up for a year and the coiled spring effect is going to happen I think this year.

"It's in our DNA to have human contact and when it's been denied I think there's going to be quite a rebound. It's something to look forward to."

Families have also been taking advantage of the early release of tickets for the Kids Rock Festival, planned for Joss Bay on August 21.

The event promises live music, children's entertainment and a host of activities at the Kingsgate beach.

But those behind some of the district's main attractions are remaining tentative about reopening.

On its website, Turner Contemporary confirmed the gallery will be shut until at least May.

Read more: All the latest news from Thanet.