Media Room
Latest News
All the latest news from the Industry and the Visit County Durham Grapevine newsletter.
Name for new County Durham history centre revealed
9 May 2022
The name for a new history centre for County Durham has been revealed. The centre, which is currently under construction and due to open to the public in 2023, is to be called The Story at Mount Oswald. The project brings the Grade II listed Mount Oswald Manor House back into use, while the...
Read More about Name for new County Durham history centre revealedTrader pitch applications deadline
5 May 2022
Seaham Food Festival 2022 is taking place Saturday 6th August and Sunday 7th August and there is still time for Traders to secure a pitch at the festival. Applications are welcome from Traders who offer quality artisan products that will appeal to festival visitors. The food festival is a popular...
Read More about Trader pitch applications deadlineNational consumer sentiment tracker
5 May 2022
Wave 45 of the VisitEngland commissioned national Consumer Sentiment Tracker has been published covering fieldwork undertaken 1st-7th April. The survey addresses such areas as current attitude to travel and when visitors plan to book. Headline results show 60% of UK adults are planning on taking an...
Read More about National consumer sentiment trackerFinancial Wellbeing Programme
27 Apr 2022
The Financial Ability project works closely with County Durham businesses to help improve the financial wellbeing of their staff. The project helps businesses formalise the work they are often already doing around staff wellbeing but includes financial resilience. T o find out more and arrange for...
Read More about Financial Wellbeing ProgrammeCarbon Calculator launched
27 Apr 2022
In collaboration with UKHospitality and the British Beer and Pub Association, The Zero Carbon Forum has launched a Hospitality and Brewing Calculator and Toolkit powered by Sky Zero. The calculator allows hospitality businesses to calculate their current carbon emissions to then produce a report...
Read More about Carbon Calculator launchedLocal school children become Raby Rebels for the afternoon with exclusive first visit to new adventure playground
26 Apr 2022
An entire class of students from Cockfield Primary School in Bishop Auckland were the first children in the county to test drive Raby Castle’s much-awaited new playground in the trees, The Plotters’ Forest, before it opens to the public at Easter. Over thirty Class 4 students and their...
Read More about Local school children become Raby Rebels for the afternoon with exclusive first visit to new adventure playgroundPAM Assist
13 Apr 2022
PAM Assist, supported by Durham County Council, provides businesses in the county with access to the free PAM Assist confidential employee assistance programme for their employees. Trained counsellors are on hand to help with a range of topics, including wellbeing and financial concerns. Call...
Read More about PAM AssistPoised for playtime - The Plotters' Forest to open on Friday 15 April
7 Apr 2022
Raby Castle’s new highly anticipated adventure playground, The Plotters’ Forest, opens to the public on Friday 15th April, in time for the Easter weekend. Towering amongst the trees in the castle’s Christmas tree plantation, the playground offers an exciting mix of challenge, discovery and...
Read More about Poised for playtime - The Plotters' Forest to open on Friday 15 AprilALVA visitor figures update
6 Apr 2022
The Association of Leading Visitor Attractions (ALVA) has released the visitor figures of its members for 2021. The total number of visits to ALVA sites in 2021 was 67.8 million, which was a 25% increase on the previous year, but represented an annual decline of 57% on the 156.6 million visits in...
Read More about ALVA visitor figures updateStruggling to recruit staff?
6 Apr 2022
Reed in Partnership invite County Durham employers to join them at their upcoming career fairs. Meet and interview participants and hear about the service Reed in Partnership offer through the delivery of the DWP funded Restart Scheme. Two career fairs have been announced for Peterlee 27th April...
Read More about Struggling to recruit staff?Anticipation builds for reimagined cultural venue
6 Apr 2022
A first glimpse of an exciting new cultural venue for County Durham has been revealed. Durham County Council has released a visualisation of what the former DLI Museum and Gallery will look like after it is transformed into a vibrant exhibition centre, gallery and café. The move closely follows...
Read More about Anticipation builds for reimagined cultural venueTourism partners explore County Durham’s heritage
21 Mar 2022
Representatives from Spain have experienced some of the delights of County Durham this weekend. Following a region-to-region tourism partnership being signed by Durham County Council and A Coruña Provincial Council in northwest Spain, last year, partners have come together in person to take part...
Read More about Tourism partners explore County Durham’s heritageCounty Durham’s UK City of Culture 2025 bid remains on track
21 Mar 2022
County Durham is now a step closer to being named UK City of Culture 2025 and securing the colossal social and economic benefits this would bring. Today, the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport announced the county was one of just four locations from across the UK to be shortlisted for...
Read More about County Durham’s UK City of Culture 2025 bid remains on trackSpain's Field Farm opening
16 Mar 2022
Great news that Beamish Museum is holding the opening celebrations for their new 1950s farm this Saturday and Sunday 19th and 20th March from 1pm. Spain's Field Farm is part of the Remaking Beamish project supported by The National Lottery Heritage Fund, Sir Tom Cowie Charitable Trust and Friends...
Read More about Spain's Field Farm openingVintage rail travel exhibition launches in Durham – ‘Cradle of the Railways’
16 Mar 2022
An exhibition of 40 vintage railway posters celebrating some of the most iconic stops on the London & North Eastern Railway line opens this week at Ushaw Historic House, Chapels and Gardens, County Durham. From Edinburgh to London & Beyond is a collection of original vintage railway posters...
Read More about Vintage rail travel exhibition launches in Durham – ‘Cradle of the Railways’