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All the latest news from the Industry and the Visit County Durham Grapevine newsletter.
Industry
VisitEngland Awards for Excellence 2026 venue and date announced
13 Apr 2026
VisitEngland has today, 9 April, announced that this year’s VisitEngland Awards for Excellence will be held at Aerospace Bristol, under the wings of Concorde Alpha Foxtrot, the supersonic passenger jet, on 3 June. Finalists from […]
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Industry
Dalton Park recognised with double win at North East Tourism Awards
2 Apr 2026
Dalton Park Outlet & Outdoors, the North East’s largest outlet shopping destination, has secured a double win at the North East Tourism Awards, achieving Gold in the Regenerative Tourism category […]
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Industry
Raby volunteer awarded third place at National Tourism Superstar award
31 Mar 2026
A volunteer guide at Raby Castle, Park and Gardens has finished in the top three in VisitEngland’s national Tourism Superstar award. 87-year-old Jimmy Nicol was one of ten finalists in […]
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Industry
Seaham Hall opens its doors to 25 years of stories
30 Mar 2026
MULTI award-winning five-star hotel and spa resort, Seaham Hall, is opening a new chapter as it celebrates its people, moments and memories across its 25 years in the North East. […]
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Industry
12.5 million Brits plan UK holiday trip for Easter weekend, bringing £4.8 billion boost
27 Mar 2026
VisitEngland’s Easter 'Trip-Tracker' survey, published today, indicates that 12.5 million Brits are planning an overnight holiday trip in the UK for the Easter weekend, bringing an estimated £4.8 billion boost […]
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Industry
County Celebrates Success at North East Tourism Awards
20 Mar 2026
Durham’s visitor economy is celebrating a strong showing at the prestigious Destination North East England Tourism Awards, with businesses and organisations across the county recognised for excellence. The annual awards brought together more than […]
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Industry
North East’s best tourism and hospitality spots crowned at tourism awards ceremony
20 Mar 2026
Last night’s Destination North East England Tourism Awards with LNER revealed the best places to visit, taste, stay and experience in North East England. The annual ceremony, sponsored by train […]
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Industry
Dinner through the centuries: Kynren launches Time Travellers’ Feast in County Durham
19 Mar 2026
Guests can dine through the centuries with Romans, Tudors and Vikings in a brand-new immersive pre-show feast before experiencing Kynren – An Epic Tale of England. Kynren is adding a […]
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Industry
Newly revealed medieval wall painting sheds light on Durham Castle’s high-status past
18 Mar 2026
A hidden section of medieval wall painting has been uncovered by archaeologists at one of North East England’s iconic landmarks – giving clues to its grand past. Revealed during renovations […]
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Industry
Celebrating County Durham Day
16 Mar 2026
A series of free events will take place this week to celebrate County Durham Day. Durham County Council has organised a range of family-friendly activities on Friday (20 March) to […]
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Industry
World’s oldest crowned ‘Railway of the Year’
13 Mar 2026
The Tanfield Railway in County Durham has been named the best railway in the country at a prestigious awards ceremony. The line, which celebrated its 300th anniversary during 2025, was […]
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Industry
Visionary works of Roger Wagner to go on show at Auckland Palace
11 Mar 2026
The Auckland Project has unveiled a major solo exhibition by acclaimed artist and poet Roger Wagner at Auckland Palace. Roger Wagner: The Seeds of Eternity will bring together more than 20 […]
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Industry
Durham hits all the right notes with the launch of a new jazz festival
11 Mar 2026
Durham is set to swing as a major new jazz festival is announced for the city. The inaugural Durham Jazz Festival will take place from Friday, October 23 to Sunday, […]
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Industry
The National Lottery Heritage Fund and Historic England award Ushaw £400,000 to Unlock its Historic Potential
10 Mar 2026
Ushaw Historic House, Chapels & Gardens is delighted to announce that it has been awarded a total of £400,000 in funding to support a transformative vision for the site. The National Lottery […]
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Industry
England’s week-long celebration of tourism industry fast approaching
9 Mar 2026
VisitEngland is celebrating the importance of the tourism industry with this year’s English Tourism Week from 13-22 March. The annual celebration puts tourism centre stage with the public, destinations, businesses […]
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