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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

Beamish Museum prepares to open new 1950s and Georgian exhibits

24 Jun 2024

Beamish, The Living Museum of the North is preparing to open its newest exhibits - a Georgian tavern and pottery, and 1950s cinema and shops, marking the culmination of the biggest capital development in the museum's history. The Drovers Tavern, serving a Georgian-inspired menu, and...

Industry

Bishop Auckland is officially 'Coach Friendly'

21 Jun 2024

Bishop Auckland has been awarded the Confederation of Passenger Transport’s ‘Coach Friendly’ accreditation, in recognition of the town’s commitment to coach tourism. The award was presented to the Mayor of Bishop Auckland, Cllr Mike Harker, in Bishop Auckland Market Place on Friday 21st...

Industry

New Remaking Beamish openings

19 Jun 2024

To celebrate the opening of the latest Remaking Beamish developments, the Museum is holding a weekend of celebrations starting this Friday 21st June. The opening of the new 1820 Drovers Tavern and Pottery, funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund, add to the fantastic and growing offer at...

Industry

The Story begins as new attraction opens to public

17 Jun 2024

A new visitor attraction celebrating the past, present and future of County Durham is now open to the public. Durham County Council officially opened The Story on Friday 14 June – a gateway to the history of County Durham and its people, on the outskirts of Durham City. Located in the recently...

Industry

New visitor destination in the north set to open this weekend

13 Jun 2024

After six years of planning, Raby Castle is ready to open its doors and welcome visitors to The Rising, a 24-acre site featuring the remodelled Walled Garden along with old and new buildings. It is an ambitious scheme – the largest and most significant for generations at the 14th century family...

Visit County Durham

Garden Party

12 Jun 2024

Look out for your email invitation to this summer's Visit County Durham Garden Party. The annual event is an opportunity for the county's tourism industry to come together to network, socialise and hear live the much anticipated announcement of this year's Durham Tourism Superstar. This year the...

Industry

Green Tourism opportunity

12 Jun 2024

Destination North East England, through the Destination Development Partnership pilot, is offering a fully funded year-one membership of Green Tourism to the first 100 visitor economy businesses to apply successfully - plus 50% and 25% discounts in the second and third years respectively. Also on...

Industry

Be the first to see inside The Story

10 Jun 2024

A new visitor attraction celebrating the past, present and future of County Durham will open to the public next week. Durham County Council has organised a series of special activities to mark the opening of The Story on Friday 14 June and across the weekend. Historical re-enactments, pop-up...

Industry

Banks Group Take a Seat at Beamish Museum in Beamish Museum’s 1950s cinema

6 Jun 2024

Property development and energy company, the Banks Group, has become the first business to sponsor a seat in the 1950s cinema being recreated at Beamish, The Living Museum of the North. The County Durham open air museum has built a recreation of the Grand, from Ryhope in Sunderland, as part of its...

Industry

Team of 100 dig to uncover the home of infamous Tower of London prisoner

6 Jun 2024

Visitors to Auckland Castle will have the opportunity to see a working archaeological site this summer as a team of 100 students and experts aim to discover more of Bishop Auckland’s history, taking place in the Castle’s grounds from Monday 3rd June – Friday 21st June. ...

Industry

Place Brand survey

5 Jun 2024

Durham County Council has commissioned thinkingplace to work with us to develop a shared story, brand and identity for County Durham. This will deliver a clear, compelling and consistent place story and identity that we can all unite behind when promoting the area. They want to hear what makes you...

Industry

Durham Business Growth Programme

5 Jun 2024

There's an important message for anyone wishing to take advantage of the specialist support available for Tourism and Hospitality businesses through the Durham Business Growth Programme - don't delay. With 50% of the 25 places already snapped up, this is your free opportunity to access practical...

Industry

Sunday chefs announced for Seaham Food Festival

4 Jun 2024

The full celebrity line up for Seaham Food Festival has been confirmed with the announcement of the final chefs who will be taking to the cookery stage. The Durham County Council-run festival will return to Seaham’s coastline on Saturday 3 and Sunday 4 August, with two days featuring food from...

Industry

Coach Friendly status renewed for Beamish Museum

24 May 2024

Beamish, The Living Museum of the North is celebrating the renewal of its Coach Friendly Status by The Confederation on Passenger Transport UK. The Coach Friendly Status recognises the museum’s commitment to providing excellent service for coaches and groups and demonstrates Beamish’s...

Industry

Locomotion’s £8m New Hall opens on 24 May

23 May 2024

A brand new £8m collections building opens at Locomotion in Shildon, County Durham, this weekend – the museum’s most significant regeneration project since it opened 20 years ago, making it the largest undercover collection of historic rail vehicles anywhere in Europe. Over 100 vehicles...