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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

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Format: 30-12-2023

Industry

Bishop Auckland’s Christmas town expands to 10 days of magical wonderland

23 Sep 2024

Bishop Auckland, is fast becoming known as the "Christmas Capital of the North East" and is set to dazzle once again as Christmas Town 2024 returns, extending its festive magic to a full 10-day celebration. From Friday, 29 November to Sunday, 8 December, the town’s historic market...

Industry

S&DR200: A festival celebrating the birth of the modern railway announces its programme today

19 Sep 2024

The 27 September 2025 marks the 200th anniversary of the opening of the Stockton and Darlington Railway (S&DR) in the north east of England, which gave birth to the modern railway. To celebrate this landmark anniversary, the nine-month S&DR200 Festival will take place across County Durham...

Industry

Bishop Auckland is Aglow with the ultimate festive experience

19 Sep 2024

A sell-out Christmas light trail that dazzled visitors to Bishop Auckland last year, is returning this November and December with a range of new installations and updated route, complemented by a new indoor festive event, Christmas at the Palace. AGLOW at Auckland Palace, organised by The...

Industry

Access guides offer

18 Sep 2024

Today's travellers want detailed and factual descriptions of venue accessibility in the form of an Accessibility Guide to empower them to make personal choices. To support this, VisitEngland is providing discounts to tourism businesses to help them provide quality-assured accessibility information...

Visit County Durham

Visit County Durham announces new Chair

18 Sep 2024

Visit County Durham Ltd has announced the formal appointment of its new Chair. Duncan Peake from Raby Estates will take on the role having held the post of Interim Chair since last June. Duncan has been on the board of directors at Visit County Durham for six years.

Industry

Eighth North Pennines Stargazing Festival programme launches

18 Sep 2024

The programme has been launched for this year’s celebration of the dark skies of the NorthPennines National Landscape and UNESCO Global Geopark. The eighth North Pennines Stargazing Festival will run from 25 October to 3 November 2024,with a range of fun and informative events spread across half...

Industry

Take a peek at the Pumpkin Forest at Auckland Palace

12 Sep 2024

For the first time Auckland Palace, the historic attraction and landmark in the centre of Bishop Auckland, is hosting a special event named ‘Pumpkin Forest’. The new light trail takes place on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays between 4 – 27 October and daily from 28 – 31 October,...

Industry

Visitor figures soar at Durham Cathedral during Peace Doves by Peter Walker

11 Sep 2024

Almost 80,000 people visited Durham Cathedral over the summer and enjoyed the thousands of paper Peace Doves suspended under Durham Cathedral’s historic Nave. Visitors from all around the world admired the art installation designed by Peter Walker, with many describing the collaborative artwork...

Industry

VisitEngland’s 2024 ROSE Award winners announced

11 Sep 2024

VisitEngland has today Wednesday 11 September revealed this year’s 100 winners of its ROSE Awards. The ROSE Awards showcase the accommodation providers who give the warmest of welcomes and where the staff provide incredible experiences for their customers irrespective of star rating, style or...

Industry

North East Screen set to showcase the region to locations experts

11 Sep 2024

As the profile of filming in the North East grows, North East Screen are showcasing the region’s world-class locations to industry professionals from across the UK through a series of ‘Scout Abouts’ (familiarisation trips). The trips showcase the wealth of filming opportunities...

Industry

Region commits to being a force for good through tourism

11 Sep 2024

Today (9 September), Destination North East England and more than 150 political leaders and businesses gathered at Newcastle Cathedral to launch a globally significant, first-of-its-kind Regenerative Visitor Economy Framework. North East Mayor Kim McGuinness and leaders from the region’s local...

Industry

Empire Consett to reopen to public

6 Sep 2024

The stage is set for Empire Consett to reopen next week following the completion of remedial works. The County Durham venue, which closed its doors to the public temporarily in February to allow for essential roof works, will reopen on Friday 13 September. Visitors will be able to enjoy the...

Industry

Ten fascinating experiences to enjoy during Heritage Open Days 2024

6 Sep 2024

Behind the scenes tours, guided history walks, special train rides and free entry to some of the region’s most popular attractions – County Durham is all set for Heritage Open Days 2024. Across the county, museums, heritage sites, ancient churches and historic gardens will be throwing their...

Industry

Going for Growth - Host & Stay announces Strategic Investment from Growth Partner to Accelerate Expansion and Innnovation

6 Sep 2024

Host & Stay are delighted to announce that Growth Partner, a consumer-specialist investment firm backed by HomeServe Founder Richard Harpin, has completed a significant £10.5 million investment in Host & Stay. Host & Stay are a rapidly growing holiday let and short-term rental...

Industry

Auckland Castle renamed Auckland Palace in celebration of major redevelopment milestone

6 Sep 2024

Auckland Castle, the historic residence of the Prince Bishops of Durham and cornerstone of The Auckland Project in Bishop Auckland, will now be known as Auckland Palace. This transition reflects the culmination of the biggest phase of development at this historic site for centuries, and honours its...