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Latest News
All the latest news from the Industry and the Visit County Durham Grapevine newsletter.
Industry
Ramside Spa named one of the best in the country
11 May 2022
County Durham's luxurious Ramside Spa has been named one of the best in the UK at the beauty industry’s equivalent of the Oscars. The spa, at Ramside Hall Hotel, Golf and Spa, took ‘Highly Commended’ in the Large Spa of the Year category at the British Association of Beauty Therapy and...
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Industry
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...
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Industry
Local 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...
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Industry
Poised 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...
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Industry
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...
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Industry
Tourism 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...
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Industry
County 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...
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Industry
Vintage 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...
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Industry
Green light for EcoFest event at Dalton Park
16 Feb 2022
Dalton Park is gearing up for its first major event of 2022 with a brand-new concept - EcoFest! The two-day free festival is part of the ‘One Small Change’ campaign in partnership with Climate Action North and will showcase small changes everyone can make to reduce their environmental impact....
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Industry
Raby branching out with adventure playground in the forest
19 Jan 2022
World-class playground designers have started work on an enchanting new children’s adventure play area inside a mysterious forest in Raby Castle’s grounds. The project is part of a wider development, known as The Rising, that promises to attract new visitors to the area and create outstanding...
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Industry
Strong performance at Dalton Park leads to 26 new job opportunities
14 Jan 2022
A strong performance during 2021 has led to the creation of 26 new jobs at the North East’s biggest outlet shopping centre. Dalton Park Outlet Shopping Destination saw like-for-like sales increase by 13% against the same period in 2019, despite hugely challenging times for the UK retail sector. A...
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Industry
Castle restoration work takes regional award
23 Dec 2021
Work to revitalise a medieval castle in County Durham has won a regional award. Auckland Castle, in Bishop Auckland, is one of the most significant complexes of medieval buildings in England. As a favoured residence of the bishops of Durham for at least 800 years, it has international...
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Industry
Tens of thousands attend Lumiere 2021 under the light of the full moon
23 Nov 2021
Lumiere light festival declared a triumph as people come together to enjoy the biggest outdoor event in the North East since lockdown. An estimated 140,000 visitors attend as Lumiere extended across County Durham as well as in Durham City for first time 37 artworks, 8 riggers, 13 Projectionists, 28...
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Industry
A muggles' guide to North East Harry Potter locations
23 Nov 2021
It’s hard to believe it’s been 20 years since Harry Potter & The Philosopher's Stone first hit our screens. To mark twenty magical years since November 2001, when the first film adaptation of J. K Rowling’s boy wizard was released in UK cinemas, we’ve created a muggles' guide to Harry...
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Industry
First Glimpse at Ramside Hall's Triangular Treehouses
17 Aug 2021
A County Durham hotel continues to build its reputation as the perfect spot for romance, with a glimpse of how its new treehouses will look. Ramside Hall Hotel, Golf and Spa near Durham has unveiled images of its four new A frame triangular, glass fronted treehouses, which offer stunning...
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