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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

Tourism Awards Now Open

25 Jun 2025

Entries for the Destination North East England Tourism Awards 2026 are NOW OPEN! This is your chance to showcase the excellence and quality in your business, gain national recognition and celebrate your successes. With 19 categories ranging from camping and glamping to awards for the best visitor...

Industry

Iconic high-speed train to make historic visit to Weardale Railway

23 Jun 2025

Railway fans and families are in for a treat this summer as the legendary InterCity 125 High Speed Train (HST) makes a rare appearance on the scenic Weardale Railway. For one day only – Sunday 17 August – the iconic HST, made up of power cars 43089 and 43159, will run a special service between...

Industry

Mining Art Gallery marks 200 years of the Stockton & Darlington Railway with new exhibition

23 Jun 2025

Bishop Auckland’s Mining Art Gallery commemorates the railway that revolutionised the world with Fuelling the Railway Revolution, an evocative new exhibition. The exhibition celebrates the 200th anniversary of the first journey on the Stockton and Darlington Railway (S&DR200), the world’s...

Industry

North East England invites travellers to visit… If they dare!

19 Jun 2025

Britain’s national tourism agency VisitBritain and Destination North East England have teamed up with 28 Years Later to invite visitors to discover some of the stunning locations featured in the highly anticipated film as part of a multi-channel co-promotional campaign. VisitBritain and...

Industry

Durham business amongst UK's top Regional Stars named in inaugural campaign

18 Jun 2025

Britain’s food heritage is in the spotlight thanks to Speciality Food Magazine and Speciality & Fine Food Fair’s Regional Stars initiative: a project designed to uncover the businesses most passionate about sharing an authentic taste of their region with food lovers far and wide. 25...

Industry

The Story celebrates successful first chapter

16 Jun 2025

A County Durham culture, heritage and registration venue is celebrating its first anniversary this week, and what a year it has been. From fascinating exhibitions, historic talks, interactive workshops and a specular illuminated trail, to conducting hundreds of fairytale weddings and registering...

Industry

Raby Castle's gardens nominated for international award

12 Jun 2025

Raby Castle’s recent landscape design scheme and remodelled 18th century Walled Gardens have been nominated in the prestigious and much-anticipated 2025 European Garden Award. Shortlisted in the Management or Development of a Historic Park or Garden category, the chance to be...

Industry

Full Seaham Food Festival line-up revealed

11 Jun 2025

Two star bakers, popular television presenters and the BBC MasterChef Champion of Champions are among the famous faces heading to a North East food festival this summer. Durham County Council has announced which chefs will be joining headliner John Torode MBE when Seaham Food Festival returns on...

Industry

New murals by Adébayo Bolaji and Kate Jackson’s unveiled today on the S&DR200 Trail of Discovery

11 Jun 2025

The S&DR200 festival has launched a series of murals by six artists who will create nine new artworks marking the 200th anniversary of the opening of the Stockton and Darlington Railway (S&DR). The project is supported by funding from Historic England and the Railway Heritage Trust, marking...

Visit County Durham

Bumper investment drives continued growth for Durham’s visitor economy

11 Jun 2025

Latest tourism figures show a major boost for Durham’s visitor economy as the county sees overall visitor expenditure rise to a record £1.38billion, with the number of day visitors now 7.6% higher than pre pandemic figures, and overnight visitors also rising by 1.8%.

Industry

VisitEngland Awards for Excellence 2025 winners announced

9 Jun 2025

VisitEngland has revealed the winners of its VisitEngland Awards for Excellence 2025, highlighting the very best of England’s outstanding tourism industry. Gold, Silver and Bronze winners have been announced across 17 categories ranging from ‘New Tourism Business of the Year’ and ‘Pub...

Industry

Volunteer at Lumiere: Applications open this Volunteers’ Week

6 Jun 2025

Volunteers who help run community events and cultural activities across County Durham are being thanked for their hard work and commitment. Durham County Council is marking Volunteers’ Week, which runs from 2 to 8 June, by hosting a series of celebration events recognising the thousands of...

Industry

MasterChef Champion Dan Merriman partners with Faru for exclusive three-night tasting menu in Durham

4 Jun 2025

 Food lovers in the North East are in for a treat! From Thursday 12th June to Saturday 14th June, MasterChef: The Professionals 2024 winner Dan Merriman will join Jake Siddle, head chef and co-founder of Faru, for a limited, collaborative tasting menu at the acclaimed fine dining restaurant in...

Industry

Top TV chef to headline Seaham Food Festival

29 May 2025

TV presenter, chef and culinary author John Torode MBE has been announced as the headline chef at this year’s Seaham Food Festival. The Durham County Council-run festival will be back on Seaham’s coastline on Saturday 2 and Sunday 3 August, offering a weekend full of tasty treats from the...

Industry

Ramside Hall Hotel, Golf and Spa opens the barn door

27 May 2025

A summer events space at one of the North East’s top hotels has been given a stylish upgrade. Every year Ramside Hall Hotel, Golf and Spa near Durham erects a marquee which is used from May to September for weddings. But this time round the award-winning hotel has upped its game – by creating a...