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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
Format: 30-12-2023
The Auckland Project unveils its redeveloped gardens and celebrates with new events Industry

The 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,...

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Kynren's latest recruit begins his training as the show prepares for its summer run Industry

Kynren'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...

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Beamish celebrates national Visitor Welcome Award! Industry

Beamish 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...

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Popular TV chefs to star at Seaham Food Festival Industry

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...

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VisitEngland joins forces with AccessAble to promote new tourism accessibility guides Industry

VisitEngland 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...

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Nominate your Tourism Superstar Visit County Durham

Nominate 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...

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Proud Allies training Industry

Proud Allies training

15 May 2024

Proud allies training raises awareness and increases confidence around inclusive language and engaging with LGBTQIA+ communities and people. Delivered by Northern Pride in partnership with Curious Arts, we are offering three free sessions at Delta Hotels by Marriott in Durham on the...

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Business Growth opportunity Industry

Business Growth opportunity

15 May 2024

Are you running a tourism and hospitality business and looking for ways to improve your profitability? The Durham Business Growth Programme has expert advisors to help you focus on practical ways to boost your business exposure, leads and sales. Eligible businesses receive a tailored action plan,...

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Successful partnership promoting the Durham Coast renewed Visit County Durham

Successful partnership promoting the Durham Coast renewed

13 May 2024

A partnership that is helping to raise awareness of Durham’s coastal tourism offer with international audiences has been renewed. Visit County Durham is once again joining forces with the National Coastal Tourism Academy (NCTA) to promote the county’s dramatic coastline as a sustainable...

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Partnership promotes Durham as holiday destination to cricket fans Visit County Durham

Partnership promotes Durham as holiday destination to cricket fans

13 May 2024

Visit County Durham has renewed its partnership with Durham Cricket as international top-flight cricket heads to Chester-le-Street’s Riverside ground. The destination management organisation has been working in partnership with Durham Cricket since 2020 to promote Durham to cricket fans,...

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Funding boost for reimagined cultural venue Industry

Funding boost for reimagined cultural venue

10 May 2024

A cultural venue that will bring internationally significant exhibitions to County Durham has been awarded £500,000, as work gets underway on site. Durham County Council has secured the grant from Arts Council England’s Capital Investment Programme to support its plans to reopen the former...

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Raby Castle champions local contractors and heritage skills Industry

Raby Castle champions local contractors and heritage skills

9 May 2024

As the ambitious two-year development scheme, The Rising nears completion, Raby Castle has used the North East’s most skilled local contractors and suppliers to complete the new retail, hospitality and events destination. The Rising, a collection of restored heritage buildings, two thoughtfully...

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Funding boost for reimagined cultural venue Industry

Funding boost for reimagined cultural venue

9 May 2024

A cultural venue that will bring internationally significant exhibitions to County Durham has been awarded £500,000, as work gets underway on site. Durham County Council has secured the grant from Arts Council England’s Capital Investment Programme to support its plans to reopen the former...

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Meet up and make a difference Industry

Meet up and make a difference

8 May 2024

As part of VCD's commitment to deliver more sustainable events and drive regenerative tourism growth, we have introduced a theoretical free place at our training days and events. This entails donating the cost of the day delegate rate and a Supplier Partner stand at each event to the County Durham...

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Tourism Awards open for applications Industry

Tourism Awards open for applications

8 May 2024

Applications are now open for the 2025 North East England Tourism Awards! With 16 categories to choose from there's sure to be one that suits your business. You can enter as many categories as are relevant to you and your team. To help you with writing and submitting an application, workshops will...

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