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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
Format: 30-12-2023
Vote for Wendy! 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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VCD Partnership Renewals 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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North East England Visitor Economy Update  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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Week-long celebration of England’s tourism industry fast approaching   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...

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Durham announces first-ever Seven Stories pop-up on World Book Day Industry

Durham 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...

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The Spanish Gallery hosts special guest Dr Lucy West to celebrate historic art Industry

The 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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Green Tourism Opportunity 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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How's Business Survey 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...

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Vision for future of DLI Museum and Art Gallery takes shape Industry

Vision 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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Turn your bright idea into light at Lumiere 2025 Industry

Turn your bright idea into light at Lumiere 2025

27 Feb 2025

Tuesday 25 February 2025. Artichoke has today launched BRILLIANT, the national commissioning scheme, inviting anyone to create a new light work at Lumiere Durham 2025, the UK’s light art biennial.Produced and curated by Artichoke and commissioned by Durham County Council, Lumiere will take place...

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Weardale Museum Celebrates 40th Anniversary with £750K Grants Industry

Weardale Museum Celebrates 40th Anniversary with £750K Grants

20 Feb 2025

In May the Weardale Museum will be celebrating its 40th Anniversary and what better way to commence celebrations than to announce we have been awarded two substantial grants worth almost £750,000 which will enable our contractors to complete the renovation of former High House Methodist Chapel and...

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More chefs announced for Bishop Auckland Food Festival Industry

More chefs announced for Bishop Auckland Food Festival

19 Feb 2025

The full line up of celebrity chefs for Bishop Auckland Food Festival has now been confirmed, as organisers announce who will be appearing on Sunday. County Durham’s biggest food festival returns to Bishop Auckland on Saturday 12 and Sunday 13 April, for two days of sizzling street food,...

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VisitBritain publishes inbound tourism forecast for 2025 Industry

VisitBritain publishes inbound tourism forecast for 2025

18 Feb 2025

VisitBritain has today, 18 February, published its inbound tourism forecast for 2025, showing that international visits overall and visitor spending to the UK are set to increase on 2024 levels, although with varying rates of growth from across its major inbound markets. VisitBritain’s overall...

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Voting open for North East representative at VisitEngland's Tourism Superstar Award Industry

Voting open for North East representative at VisitEngland's Tourism Superstar Award

14 Feb 2025

Kynren’s head of volunteer casting and engagement is flying the flag for the North East in VisitEngland’s national tourism superstar award – and voting is now open. Wendy Wilshere is one of ten finalists in the prestigious national competition which celebrates the dedication and passion of...

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Stick Man returns to Hamsterley Forest for a family adventure trail Industry

Stick Man returns to Hamsterley Forest for a family adventure trail

13 Feb 2025

Families can join a new forest adventure as the much-loved character Stick Man, based on the beautiful picture book by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler, returns to Forestry England Hamsterley. From February 2025 to January 2026, Hamsterley is hosting specially designed Stick Man activity trails,...

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