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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
Cost of living resource Industry

Cost of living resource

25 Jan 2023

The North East Chamber of Commerce has launched a cost of living resource to help individuals and businesses get help and advice during these challenging economic times. The website uses expert knowledge to provide practical advice and tools on how to weather the tough economic headwinds, and...

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Popular County Durham adventure park invests £300,000 into new play areas Industry

Popular County Durham adventure park invests £300,000 into new play areas

25 Jan 2023

County Durham tourist attraction, Adventure Valley, has invested £300,000 into its facilities ahead of the Easter holidays. The new play areas are to be built using fully sustainable raw materials in a bid for Adventure Valley to go greener. The new investment plans also come shortly after the...

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The Funky Monk Brings Ecclesiastical Elegance to Durham Industry

The Funky Monk Brings Ecclesiastical Elegance to Durham

25 Jan 2023

Durham city’s newest accommodation offering has brought together style, sophistication – and a touch of divine intervention. The Funky Monk serviced apartments have just opened their doors at Victoria Terrace, offering visitors to the historic city the opportunity to stay in lavish...

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Renowned Earth artwork, Gaia, coming to Durham Cathedral this summer Industry

Renowned Earth artwork, Gaia, coming to Durham Cathedral this summer

20 Jan 2023

This summer, Durham Cathedral will be giving visitors an out-of-this-world experience as Gaia, Luke Jerram’s replica artwork of planet Earth, lands in the cathedral. From 10 July - 10 September, visitors to Durham Cathedral will be able to experience the Earth as it’s seen from space as the...

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Brilliant 2023 Industry

Brilliant 2023

18 Jan 2023

Applications for the BRILLIANT artwork commissioning scheme are now open. This is your chance to become a Lumiere Durham artist in 2023! Be part of the bold and ambitious Lumiere programme, part of Durham County Culture. You don't need to be a practising artist or have any previous experience to...

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Plan Ahead! Industry

Plan Ahead!

18 Jan 2023

There's a lot going on across County Durham in 2023 which can be used in your own marketing activity and give your customers a reason to visit and perhaps stay longer. From Fire & Ice to Wolsingham Show, and of course, the return of Lumiere, check out the events happening over the coming year....

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Dalton Park toasts record breaking 2022 Industry

Dalton Park toasts record breaking 2022

12 Jan 2023

Dalton Park Outlet Shopping Destination ended 2022 on a high with a record year for sales. Like for like sales across the year were up 14.5 percent vs 2019, the last comparable year due to the pandemic. The results come following an incredible 2022 for the outlet shopping destination as it bounced...

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Inbound Tourism Forecast Industry

Inbound Tourism Forecast

12 Jan 2023

VisitBritain has published the 2023 forecast for inbound visits and spend which shows that spending by international visitors in the UK is forecast to reach £29.5 billion, up 4% on the all-time spending high of £28.4 billion in 2019. Overseas visits to the UK are predicted to rise to 35.1...

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Rising to the challenge together Industry

Rising to the challenge together

11 Jan 2023

Growing Durham’s visitor economy is a key priority for Visit County Durham. Here two of the destination management organisation’s board directors give their insights into the importance of investing in tourism and why a partnership approach is always best. With a wealth of experience in...

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A66 update Industry

A66 update

19 Dec 2022

National Highways has issued a December update for the A66 Northern Trans-Pennine project. It includes information about the milestones the team have reached over the last few months as well as what will be happening next year. If planning is approved, the project will start in 2024 and will dual...

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PAM Assist Industry

PAM Assist

19 Dec 2022

PAM Assist, supported by Durham County Council, provides businesses in the county with access to a free, confidential assistance programme for their employees. With ever-increasing pressures at work and home, there are times when we all need some extra support to balance the demands of everyday...

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Reopening date confirmed for Bishop Auckland’s Park Head Hotel Industry

Reopening date confirmed for Bishop Auckland’s Park Head Hotel

19 Dec 2022

The Auckland Project has announced the much-anticipated reopening date for the Park Head Hotel and Restaurant in Bishop Auckland. The regeneration charity, which works to bring about positive and lasting change for those living, working and visiting Bishop Auckland, purchased the popular hotel and...

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‘Tis the season to celebrate sustainably - Dalton Park ‘switches on’ to sugarcane and recycled bottles Industry

‘Tis the season to celebrate sustainably - Dalton Park ‘switches on’ to sugarcane and recycled bottles

5 Dec 2022

Dalton Park is living its sustainable values this Christmas with incredible festive displays made from sugar cane and recycled bottles. A giant light-up polar bear, Santa's selfie sleigh, a 6-metre Christmas tree and a sparkly, snowflake-filled walk-through arch are entirely recyclable and...

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Making County Durham filming friendly Industry

Making County Durham filming friendly

29 Nov 2022

A North East council’s pledge to make Durham filming friendly will ensure the county continues to benefit from the rising popularity of screen tourism. Durham County Council has signed a filming friendly charter with North East Screen in order to help the TV and film industry grow across the...

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The rising stars of Raby Estates' renovation programme Industry

The rising stars of Raby Estates' renovation programme

29 Nov 2022

Raby Castle and Estate, in the heart of County Durham is supporting the expertise of local contractors in all areas of its five-year renovation scheme known as The Rising, as well as across the Estate’s agricultural enterprises.   The Rising, which began its works in 2021 will see the...

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