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Latest News
All the latest news from the Industry and the Visit County Durham Grapevine newsletter.
Industry
Three more celebrity chefs confirmed for Bishop Auckland Food Festival
26 Feb 2024
A BBC Saturday Kitchen presenter, an award-winning chef and a food content creator with millions of TikTok views will headline the Sunday cookery demonstration slots at this year’s Bishop Auckland Food Festival weekend. The festival, organised by Durham County Council, pulled in an estimated...
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Industry
Return of the Vikings!
26 Feb 2024
A Viking village, complete with cookhouse, cottages and a working blacksmith’s forge, is being recreated as part of a spectacular live outdoor theatre production in County Durham. Taking place every Saturday night from 27th July to 14th September*, ‘Kynren – an epic tale of England’ is a...
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Industry
Help Amy become England’s Tourism Superstar and vote today!
26 Feb 2024
Amy Whitfield, owner of Triple A Food Tours is in the running to be named England’s Tourism Superstar 2024, but she needs your vote! Voting is now open for the VisitEngland Tourism Superstar title and Amy, is one of 10 superstars from around the country who are all competing for the prestigious...
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Industry
The Story to open this summer
16 Feb 2024
A brand-new visitor attraction telling the tale of County Durham’s heritage will open this summer. Durham County Council has confirmed that The Story, based at Mount Oswald in Durham City, is scheduled to the public from Friday 14 June. A brand-new cultural venue and register office for Durham...
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Industry
Fire and Ice
16 Feb 2024
Durham's spectacular Fire and Ice festival is set to return this half term – and visitors to the city can expect to be dazzled by a ‘star-studded’ line-up. Organised by Durham BID, the event – which takes place from 10am to 5.45pm on Friday, February 23rd and Saturday 24th, will feature 14...
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Industry
Hotel Room Occupancy report
14 Feb 2024
Hotel Room Occupancy in England for December 2023 was up on December 2022, and also up on 2019 for the first time since the pandemic. Great news to see North East England recording the highest growth alongside London and the North West. Read the full VisitEngland latest Hotel Occupancy data...
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Industry
Raby Castle vacancies
14 Feb 2024
Ahead of the opening of its new visitor experience this spring, Raby Castle is advertising for several new job vacancies. A key area of the restoration project is the recreation of the historic glass house into a beautiful dining destination with stunning panoramic views of Raby Castle. The Vinery...
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Industry
Food and Drink mentoring
14 Feb 2024
Food and Drink North East is delivering a fully funded programme for food, drink and hospitality providers in County Durham that will focus on improving productivity, and will combine a face-to-face workshop and tailored 1:1 mentoring from their team of experts. This opportunity is available to 25...
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Industry
The Auckland Project's campaign for Henry VIII’s Lost Tapestry reaches huge £1 million milestone
9 Feb 2024
A campaign by Bishop Auckland regeneration charity, The Auckland Project, to save a national treasure has hit a huge £1million milestone, bringing the charity one step closer to acquiring the rare artefact. The vast 16th century tapestry of artistic, political and religious significance has...
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Industry
Retail Grant
8 Feb 2024
Aspiring entrepreneurs with ambitions to set up retail, leisure or hospitality businesses in County Durham can apply for a new grant to help make their dream a reality. Durham County Council has launched the Retail Start Up Grant to support businesses in their first six months of trading.
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Industry
Attract Talent
8 Feb 2024
VCD Supplier Partner Reed in Partnership is holding an online panel discussion on 14th February between 1pm and 2pm, to explore how your business can attract the talent it needs and ensure existing employees continue to Love Mondays. Alongside advice on the latest recruitment trends across UK...
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Industry
New Accessibility Initiatives
31 Jan 2024
VisitEngland is delivering a webinar on 13th February from 11:00am to 12:30pm to showcase how they are improving the holiday experience for visitors with a wide range of accessibility requirements. Find out how you can provide high-level accessibility information supplemented by a Detailed Access...
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Industry
Travel and Tourism Employer Forum
31 Jan 2024
East Durham College is hosting a Travel and Tourism Employer Forum on 8th February from 2:00pm to 2:30pm to understand what employers feel is missing from their workforce and what skills and knowledge they should develop in their learners to ensure each is ready to enter the workforce. The forum...
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Industry
Regenerative Tourism Workshop
31 Jan 2024
Visit County Durham and Destination North East England are collaborating with the GDS-Movement to develop a regenerative tourism framework. The aim is to ensure the region's tourism strategies and activities maximise the positive social, environmental and economic impacts of the tourism and events...
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Industry
Regenerative tourism survey
24 Jan 2024
Passionate about sustainability, accessibility and inclusion? You can help inform the regenerative tourism strategy for North East England by completing our survey. Whether you want to help make the region's welcome more inclusive, ensure access for all or want to drive efforts to market the North...
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