Media Room
Latest News
All the latest news from the Industry and the Visit County Durham Grapevine newsletter.
Durham Brass Festival announces 2025 line-up
19 Mar 2025
One of the region’s best-loved cultural events returns this year with a headline performance by Bill Ryder-Jones. Organised by Durham County Council and supported by Arts Council England, Durham Brass Festival won ‘Performance of the Year’ at the 2024 North East Culture Awards for Public...
Read More about Durham Brass Festival announces 2025 line-upDurham Cricket women’s team and the Durham Story announce new partnership
19 Mar 2025
As some of the first Durham Champions helping to share the Durham Story with the world, the Durham place brand is the first ever sponsor of the new Durham Cricket women’s team, a partnership which embodies the spirit and ambition of women in sport as well as the county. Hear from the team on what...
Read More about Durham Cricket women’s team and the Durham Story announce new partnershipDurham Women’s FC & Durham Cricket working together to pursue new state-of-the-art facility for elite women’s sport
17 Mar 2025
Durham Women’s FC and Durham Cricket are working together to pursue a new stateof-the-art facility dedicated to elite women’s football and cricket alongside current community sports, helping the North East to stake its claim as the UK’s first Region of Sport. The two sporting clubs have...
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Industry
VisitEngland announces venue and date of Awards for Excellence 2025
14 Mar 2025
VisitEngland has announced that this year’s VisitEngland Awards for Excellence will be held at the Brighton Dome Corn Exchange on 4 June. The 35th national awards will see finalists from 21 regional competitions recognised as Gold, Silver and Bronze winners across 16 core...
Read More about VisitEngland announces venue and date of Awards for Excellence 2025Kynren Acquires Flambards Victorian Village for Immersive Experience at The Storied Lands
13 Mar 2025
Kynren – The Storied Lands, the UK’s first live-action historical theme park, is thrilled to announce the acquisition of the renowned Flambards Victorian Village, ensuring that this extra-ordinary collection remains together and will be brought to life in a spectacular new show at the...
Read More about Kynren Acquires Flambards Victorian Village for Immersive Experience at The Storied LandsWork to restore historic Durham footpaths complete
13 Mar 2025
Work to restore an historic route past Durham Cathedral has been completed. Durham County Council has been carrying out extensive refurbishment on North and South Bailey, also known as The Bailey, in Durham City. The historic streets the name of which derives from being the outer...
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Visit County Durham
Vote for Wendy!
12 Mar 2025
The deadline is fast approaching to get your vote in for Wendy Wilshere, Kynren's Head of Volunteer Casting and Engagement to become this year's VisitEngland Tourism Superstar. County Durham and North East England have a proud record of being home to the national Tourism Superstar and your vote can...
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Visit County Durham
VCD Partnership Renewals
12 Mar 2025
Our VCD Partnership renewal process is underway for 2025-26 and we'd like to say thank you to the many businesses that have supported and worked in partnership with us over the past year. Please remember to check your spam/junk folder for your renewal email and if you have not received your...
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Visit County Durham
North East England Visitor Economy Update
12 Mar 2025
As you will be aware, the North East Devolution Deal, the North East Mayor's Manifesto and the draft Local Growth Plans all reference the importance of the Visitor Economy to the region. In November 2024, the Cabinet of the North East Combined Authority requested that proposals are developed,...
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Industry
Week-long celebration of England’s tourism industry fast approaching
7 Mar 2025
English Tourism Week, the annual week dedicated to celebrating England’s tourism industry, is fast approaching with businesses, destinations and visitor attractions encouraged to get involved. Taking place from 14-to-23 March 2025, English Tourism Week sees the industry come together to...
Read More about Week-long celebration of England’s tourism industry fast approachingDurham announces first-ever Seven Stories pop-up on World Book Day
6 Mar 2025
World Book Day is always a special occasion, but this year, the city of Durham has even more reason to celebrate. In an exciting first, Durham will host the country’s inaugural pop-up ‘Two Tales’ from Seven Stories, the National Centre for Children’s Books. This transformative space will...
Read More about Durham announces first-ever Seven Stories pop-up on World Book DayThe Spanish Gallery hosts special guest Dr Lucy West to celebrate historic art
6 Mar 2025
The Spanish Gallery, an art gallery in Bishop Auckland, is hosting a one-off lecture with special guest Dr Lucy West, a curator from Dulwich Picture Gallery, to celebrate the loan of an important Spanish painting. Hung at The Spanish Gallery owned and managed by The Auckland Project, a...
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Industry
Green Tourism Opportunity
5 Mar 2025
Time is running out to join the Green Tourism movement and get globally recognised for your sustainability efforts. Your first year of membership is fully funded thanks to Destination North East England funding. This fantastic offer ends 31st March 2025, so apply now to make a positive impact on...
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Visit County Durham
How's Business Survey
5 Mar 2025
Please spare five minutes of your time to answer Visit County Durham's 'How's Business' survey. The results from the survey help us to track business confidence, review any concerns you have and provide insight into anything we can do at Visit County Durham to support the work that you do within...
Read More about How's Business SurveyVision for future of DLI Museum and Art Gallery takes shape
27 Feb 2025
The scale of change taking place at Durham Light Infantry (DLI) Museum and Art Gallery is now clearly visible, following the construction of a large steel frame on the site. The new structure will form an extension to the Durham city venue, almost doubling its original size. Work to redevelop the...
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