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Latest News
All the latest news from the Industry and the Visit County Durham Grapevine newsletter.
Industry
Touch Stay update
28 Sep 2022
Over the summer, VCD Supplier Partner Touch Stay has added Hostaway and enhanced existing integrations with OwnerRez and BookingSync to further facilitate the ease with which accommodation providers can effectively communicate with guests - an integration with Anytime Booking is in the works. Touch...
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Industry
Tourism forum
28 Sep 2022
The North Pennines AONB Partnership will be holding their annual tourism forum on 13th October at Melmerby Village Hall, Cumbria asking: 'Is a regenerative approach the way forward for the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) and UNESCO Global Geopark? And if so - what does it...
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Industry
New after dark Halloween trail to open at Raby's popular woodland play area
28 Sep 2022
A new after dark twilight trail will be opening for the first time at the woodland adventure playground The Plotters’ Forest, for Halloween. As the sun sets, the trail at Raby Castle’s adventure playground – which is woven within its Christmas Tree plantation – will come alive in a...
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Industry
Aged miners’ homes underway in Beamish’s 1950s Town
26 Sep 2022
Work is underway at Beamish, The Living Museum of the North on a replica of aged miners’ homes that will provide a space for people living with dementia and other long-term health conditions. Dedication stones have been unveiled on the replicas of the aged miners’ homes from Marsden Road, in...
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Industry
Durham Cathedral’s interior is set to be transformed with light and sound this October
22 Sep 2022
Durham Cathedral is set to be transformed with dazzling sound and light this October as Life by artists Luxmuralis comes to the North East for the first time. This autumn, visitors can experience Durham Cathedral in a whole new light as from 6.45pm every evening, between 12-16 October, the...
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Industry
Set a date for starry nights and nocturnal adventures
7 Sep 2022
The programme has been launched for this year’s celebration of the dark skies of the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) and UNESCO Global Geopark. The sixth North Pennines Stargazing Festival will run from 21 to 30 October 2022, during the Autumn half term, and has over 20...
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Industry
Flower Festival to pay tribute to County Durham’s people, places and past
17 Aug 2022
Ushaw Historic House, Chapels and Gardens is to host a flower festival celebrating County Durham’s heritage, culture, people and places. Ushaw Flower Fest, will see the 214-year-old Georgian house transform into a floral walking tour that tells rich stories from Durham’s past and present,...
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Industry
Summer’s sorted, with affordable fun for all the family at Ushaw
10 Aug 2022
As we reach the halfway point of the school summer holidays, you’d be forgiven for running somewhat short of ideas to keep the kids entertained. With the cost of living crisis biting, parents up and down the country are on the lookout for ways to make the holidays fun without breaking the bank,...
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Industry
Visitors enjoy a taste of the seaside at Seaham Food Festival
8 Aug 2022
Food-lovers from across the region flocked to Durham’s coastline for two days of festival fun. The sun was shining across the weekend for Seaham Food Festival, which saw over 100 traders set up shop to sell everything from mouth-watering street food to delicious cakes and sweet treats. The Durham...
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Industry
Durham Miners Heritage could soon win worldwide recognition
2 Aug 2022
Redhills, the miners' hall in Durham City, may be among only the 900 global sites of UNESCO world heritage status. And, if a bid by an international consortium is successful, it could mean that Durham City becomes one of the few places to have two World Heritage sites. Durham Cathedral and Castle...
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Industry
Apply to the North East Tourism Awards
27 Jul 2022
Applications for the North East England Tourism Awards close on 22nd September 2022. County Durham is blessed with excellent tourism businesses across the range of categories, and the Awards give you an opportunity to shine a light on your successes and generate great PR. If you missed the recent...
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Industry
CO2 offsetting
21 Jul 2022
Our Supplier Partner Stick Marketing is planting trees in collaboration with Tree-Nation as part of its ongoing commitment to a more sustainable future. Working with Tree-Nation, they planted 131 trees in June to help offset their CO2 emissions.
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Industry
A66 update
21 Jul 2022
Our Strategic Partner National Highways has reached an important project milestone! The application for consent to dual the A66 Northern Trans-Pennine route has been accepted and moves into the next stages of examination. If approved, construction will start in 2024. The A66 is a key local,...
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Industry
Rediscovered cast of St Bede’s skull brought to Durham Cathedral Museum after more than 190 years
20 Jul 2022
More than 190 years after it was made, the rediscovered cast of St Bede’s skull has arrived at Durham Cathedral Museum as part of the new exhibition which marks 1000 years since Bede’s remains were brought to Durham Cathedral. As part of the latest Durham Cathedral Museum exhibition, Meet St...
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Industry
Pleased to be back on home turf at last says Raby's new Head Gardener
18 Jul 2022
From the palace of the King and Queen of Jordan to the foothills of a Caribbean mountain-side mansion, Raby Castle’s new head gardener has had a career which spans near three decades and has taken him all over the world. But since joining Raby Estates recently, Tim Marshall says he feels like...
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