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All the latest news from the Industry and the Visit County Durham Grapevine newsletter.
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...
Read More about Sunday chefs announced for Seaham Food FestivalCoach 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...
Read More about Coach Friendly status renewed for Beamish MuseumLocomotion’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...
Read More about Locomotion’s £8m New Hall opens on 24 May£3.7million scheme to connect Durham City’s main walking and cycling routes
23 May 2024
Walking and cycling routes to Durham City’s main employment, education and tourist sites are set to benefit from better connections as part of a £3.7million scheme. The Durham County Council scheme will see work carried out to join up the city’s main cycling and walking networks. Improvements...
Read More about £3.7million scheme to connect Durham City’s main walking and cycling routesCounty Durham Investment Prospectus launched to “key players” from across the globe
23 May 2024
A prospectus presenting 24 of County Durham’s most compelling investment opportunities has been launched to an international audience at a major trade conference. Durham County Council launched the prospectus at the UK Real Estate Investment & Infrastructure Forum (UKREiiF) in Leeds. It...
Read More about County Durham Investment Prospectus launched to “key players” from across the globeDurham Fringe opportunities
22 May 2024
Durham Fringe Festival returns for its fourth year from Wednesday 24th to Sunday 28th July with a range of exciting opportunities for businesses to get involved. With 250 performances over the five days, it is fast becoming one of the region's most popular performing arts festivals. The festival...
Read More about Durham Fringe opportunitiesVisitBritain/VisitEngland activity boosts economy by £1.26 billion, as agency sets out plans to grow value of tourism
22 May 2024
Visitors spent an additional £1.26 billion across Britain as a result of activity by national tourism agency VisitBritain/VisitEngland, latest figures show. It means that for every pound invested in the agency visitors spent an additional £15 in Britain. The agency reported...
Read More about VisitBritain/VisitEngland activity boosts economy by £1.26 billion, as agency sets out plans to grow value of tourismLatest tourism figures for Durham build on bumper £1bn milestone
22 May 2024
The latest STEAM* figures, which calculate the volume and value of the county’s visitor economy, show that Durham has continued to build on the bumper £1bn milestone achieved in 2022, with results showing expenditure rose by 18.8% in 2023, to £1.23bn.
Read More about Latest tourism figures for Durham build on bumper £1bn milestoneHopetown Darlington opens its doors on Tuesday 16 July
20 May 2024
The north’s newest visitor attraction has announced its opening date – and tickets are now available to book. In 1825, a railway journey changed the world forever. Locomotion No. 1 became the first steam locomotive to haul a passenger-carrying train on a public railway – the Stockton and...
Read More about Hopetown Darlington opens its doors on Tuesday 16 JulyThe Auckland Project unveils its redeveloped gardens and celebrates with new events
20 May 2024
The Auckland Project, set up by philanthropists Jonathan and Jane Ruffer, will unveil the redesigned Walled Garden on Saturday 25th May, which has been almost a decade in the making. Designed by Pip Morrison, whose previous work includes the reimagined Sunken Garden at Kensington Palace,...
Read More about The Auckland Project unveils its redeveloped gardens and celebrates with new eventsKynren's latest recruit begins his training as the show prepares for its summer run
20 May 2024
Cosmo, the majestic grey shire horse is being put through his paces as the latest recruit to join the cast and crew of the north east’s much awaited summer production Kynren – An Epic Tale of England. Preparing for his starring role as a carriage horse, Cosmo is already impressing the cavalry...
Read More about Kynren's latest recruit begins his training as the show prepares for its summer runBeamish celebrates national Visitor Welcome Award!
17 May 2024
Beamish. The Living Museum of the North is delighted to have won the national Visitor Welcome Award at the Museums + Heritage Awards 2024. The County Durham open air museum beat off competition from venues around the country to be named winner of the prestigious award at a ceremony in London. The...
Read More about Beamish celebrates national Visitor Welcome Award!Popular TV chefs to star at Seaham Food Festival
16 May 2024
Two popular TV presenters are among the first celebrity chefs to be announced for Seaham Food Festival. The Durham County Council-run festival will return to Seaham’s coastline on Saturday 3 and Sunday 4 August, with two days packed with celebrity cookery demonstrations, street entertainment, and...
Read More about Popular TV chefs to star at Seaham Food FestivalVisitEngland joins forces with AccessAble to promote new tourism accessibility guides
16 May 2024
VisitEngland is working with AccessAble to support hospitality and tourism businesses across England to provide detailed descriptions of their venue accessibility for visitors. Through AccessAble’s new Your Accessibility Guide portal, businesses can book and pay for either a guided or on-site...
Read More about VisitEngland joins forces with AccessAble to promote new tourism accessibility guidesNominate your Tourism Superstar
15 May 2024
A reminder to nominate your Durham Tourism Superstar by Friday 7th June. Delivered in association with The Northern Echo, the award recognises the dedication and passion of those working in Durham's tourism industry and showcases the best in customer service offered to visitors to the county. If...
Read More about Nominate your Tourism Superstar