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All the latest news from the Industry and the Visit County Durham Grapevine newsletter.

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Format: 29-12-2023

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Format: 30-12-2023

Industry

English Tourism Week

20 Nov 2024

The annual campaign to celebrate the English tourism sector, English Tourism Week, will return 14-23 March 2025. Led by VisitEngland, the campaign highlights to government and stakeholders the invaluable contributions the sector makes to the English economy, around £70.5 billion (GDP), while...

Industry

How's Business?

20 Nov 2024

Please spare five minutes of your time to answer Visit County Durham How's Business Survey. The results of the survey are used to help us analyse business performance in the County. The questions cover bookings, main concerns, projected Christmas performance 2024 and plans for investment. There is...

Industry

Expansion of Sniperley Park and Ride complete

19 Nov 2024

Hundreds of additional parking bays are now available at a Durham City park and ride site following a £2 million expansion scheme. Durham County Council has created an extra 261 bays at Sniperley Park and Ride, bringing the total number available to 587. This includes 28 disabled bays, 14 electric...

Industry

Magna Carta to go on display at Durham Cathedral in 2025 for 800th anniversary

18 Nov 2024

Three rare Magna Cartas will go on display next summer at Durham Cathedral to celebrate the 800th anniversary of the 1225 issue in the cathedral's collection. Next summer, Durham Cathedral will be displaying its three rare Magna Cartas for the first time in eight years for the 800th anniversary of...

Industry

New Bishop Auckland festive attraction opens to public

15 Nov 2024

Christmas at the Palace, a brand-new yuletide experience at Auckland Palace in County Durham, has opened its doors heralding the start of Christmas. The first visitors entered the festive wonderland on its opening day, Friday 15th November, and were greeted with decadent decorations fit for a...

Industry

Nearly £1m funding to restore rare County Durham habitat

14 Nov 2024

A project to restore 213 hectares of rare coastal habitat in County Durham has been launched with nearly £1m of funding. Durham County Council has partnered with the National Trust and Durham Wildlife Trust to deliver the Coastal Grasslands Reconnected Project. The project, which has received...

Industry

TXGB and Guestline

13 Nov 2024

TXGB is now available as part of the new Distribution Hub (extended channels) option within Guestline. Any Guestline businesses looking to connect to TXGB to drive direct sales from thisisdurham.com can now enable this feature by simply speaking to their Guestline account manager to request...

Industry

Make the most of the Dales

13 Nov 2024

Are you looking to start or grow a business in the arts, food & drink, or hospitality and tourism sectors. Join Create North at the Durham Dales Centre in Stanhope on Friday 22nd November between 10:00am-3:30pm to hear from successful entrepreneurs on how they've tapped into the Durham Dales'...

Industry

North East England goes purple to celebrate accessibility & inclusion

13 Nov 2024

Landmarks across the region will light up purple as visitor economy businesses come together to mark Purple Tuesday – a worldwide initiative for accessibility and inclusion. Purple Tuesday is a global social movement and the #1 brand for improving the customer experience for disabled people and...

Industry

Park Head Hotel serving up gold star stays

12 Nov 2024

Park Head Hotel, in County Durham, is preparing a warm North East welcome this festive season after achieving a 75% quality rating from Visit England. The hotel’s second visit from the national assessors of quality in tourism and destinations has revealed the Park Head Hotel have made...

Industry

Neapolitan nativity to set the festive scene at Faith Museum

11 Nov 2024

A museum in Bishop Auckland will be the only place in the UK where people can see an elaborate 18th-century Neapolitan nativity scene this festive season. The Faith Museum, part of The Auckland Project, will present the Italian-made nativity scene for a limited time this Christmas. Complete with...

Industry

Raby Castle's new exhibition awarded national accolade

11 Nov 2024

A new exhibition featuring the voice of BBC Countryfile presenter Matt Baker MBE, has won a prestigious national award by destination marketing organisation VisitEngland. Raby Castle, Park and Gardens in County Durham, launched the exhibition within its Grade II* listed newly-renovated...

Industry

Trader Applications

6 Nov 2024

Bishop Auckland Food Festival will return on Saturday 12th and Sunday 13th April, attracting thousands of visitors to the town for a weekend full of fun and food. Trader applications are now open for 2025 and vendors are being encouraged to express their interest early to ensure they do not miss...

Industry

County Durham’s Into the Light initiative announces first wave of creative commissions

4 Nov 2024

Twenty creative practitioners will have the opportunity to bring their work to life in County Durham, thanks to £70,000 of new commissions to enhance cultural participation in the county. The innovative ‘Cultivate Commissions’ project offers a springboard to enable creative practitioners...

Industry

New theatre company launches in Horden with talent from County Durham

4 Nov 2024

A new theatre group based in East Durham has launched with individuals from County Durham to form its company. Ensemble ‘84, a pioneering theatre company based in Horden, has hired 15 dedicated individuals across County Durham to undergo a paid, intensive training programme to become professional...