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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
S&DR200 festival launches with All Change, a spectacular open-air live performance and drone show Industry

S&DR200 festival launches with All Change, a spectacular open-air live performance and drone show

11 Feb 2025

The S&DR200 festival will launch with All Change, a spectacular open-air event in Bishop Auckland combining dazzling projections, drones and up to 100 live performers bringing history to life, on Saturday 29 March 2025. The nine-month S&DR200 international festival, running from March to...

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New team appointed to manage the walled gardens at Raby Castle - a must visit for 2025 Industry

New team appointed to manage the walled gardens at Raby Castle - a must visit for 2025

10 Feb 2025

Creative gardener and artist Becky Crowley has been appointed as Raby Castle, Park and Garden’s assistant head gardener in the remodelled 18th century Walled Gardens. The revitalised 300-year-old Walled Gardens, which feature three different gardens encased within the historic brick walls,...

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Park to reach new heights with tower attraction Industry

Park to reach new heights with tower attraction

10 Feb 2025

A new play attraction standing almost 15 metres tall is to be installed in a County Durham park. Durham County Council has been making improvements to Hardwick Park’s play area as part of a scheme to redevelop its play facilities. The works include installing a brand-new play area which features...

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First chefs announced for Bishop Auckland Food Festival Industry

First chefs announced for Bishop Auckland Food Festival

7 Feb 2025

A Sunday Brunch host, social media baker, and a MasterChef champion are among the celebrity chefs who will appear at this year’s Bishop Auckland Food Festival. The popular Durham County Council-run festival will return to Bishop Auckland on Saturday 12 and Sunday 13 April, for a weekend of...

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English Tourism Week Industry

English Tourism Week

6 Feb 2025

English Tourism Week takes place 14th - 23rd March, and the campaign toolkit is now available for you to download. Designed to kickstart the summer season, the annual campaign gives businesses and destinations an opportunity to shout about tourism as part of a national campaign and raise awareness...

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Hall Hill Farm in County Durham Crowned UK’s Best Large Farm Attraction Industry

Hall Hill Farm in County Durham Crowned UK’s Best Large Farm Attraction

6 Feb 2025

Hall Hill Farm near Lanchester, County Durham, is celebrating a huge win after being named Large Farm Attraction of the Year at the prestigious National Farm Attractions Network Awards. The awards gala, held last week at Blackpool’s Winter Gardens, brought together the UK’s top farm...

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Ramside Hall Hotel to create multi million pound golf facility Industry

Ramside Hall Hotel to create multi million pound golf facility

6 Feb 2025

A County Durham hotel is investing more than £6m in creating what will be one of the UK’s top golf facilities. Ramside Hall Hotel, Golf and Spa already has two championship courses, which brings players from across the region and nationally. And now the hotel is building a multi-million-pound...

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VisitBritain awards Gateway Fund to inspire international visitors to explore Britain through regional gateways Industry

VisitBritain awards Gateway Fund to inspire international visitors to explore Britain through regional gateways

3 Feb 2025

Destination North East England and Marketing Manchester have secured funding from VisitBritain’s GREAT Gateway Innovation Fund.  With VisitBritain’s global screen tourism campaign ‘Starring GREAT Britain’ set to launch, the Gateway Fund campaigns will feature film and tv...

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North Pennines tribute festival returns for 2025 with early bird discount offer Industry

North Pennines tribute festival returns for 2025 with early bird discount offer

3 Feb 2025

Derwent Fest is back and ready to transport festival goers through the decades with a tribute weekend like no other. Set in the picturesque North Pennines at Derwent Waterside Park, music, fun and relaxation come together to create an unforgettable weekend. The event takes place on 15 & 16...

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Local Award Voting Industry

Local Award Voting

29 Jan 2025

Voting is now open for Tourism Event & Festival of the Year in the North East England Tourism Awards! This is the first time we've had a publicly voted category - good luck to all the finalists. The businesses shortlisted are: Durham Fire & Ice Festival (Durham BID), Kynren, Northern Pride...

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LNER unveils 'Darlington' livery as it celebrates 200 years of the railway Industry

LNER unveils 'Darlington' livery as it celebrates 200 years of the railway

29 Jan 2025

To kick off a year of celebrations, LNER has unveiled a commemorative livery on one of its Azuma trains to mark 200 years since the first passenger journey on the world-famous Stockton & Darlington Railway (S&DR). ‘Darlington’ has been designed to hail the town’s world-changing...

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Save the date! Lumiere Durham returns in 2025 Industry

Save the date! Lumiere Durham returns in 2025

28 Jan 2025

Tuesday 28 January 2025. Artichoke has announced dates for Lumiere Durham 2025, the UK’s light art biennial. The hugely popular event will take place over three evenings this autumn, from Thursday 13 to Saturday 15 November 2025. Produced and curated by Artichoke and commissioned by Durham County...

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VisitBritain launches global screen tourism campaign with blockbuster-inspired film Industry

VisitBritain launches global screen tourism campaign with blockbuster-inspired film

28 Jan 2025

To drive inbound tourism across Britain, national tourism agency VisitBritain has this week launched a global screen tourism campaign, kicking off with a blockbuster-inspired film that sees Britain the star of the show.   The campaign ‘Starring GREAT Britain’ rolls out internationally...

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Durham Restaurant Week Returns From January 31 to February 7 Industry

Durham Restaurant Week Returns From January 31 to February 7

27 Jan 2025

Diners in Durham can try out the city’s newly opened restaurants at a fraction of the cost during Durham Restaurant Week – which kicks off next Friday. Fiik, Zaap Thai, Jozef’s Riverside Bar and Restaurant and Café at The Quarter have all signed up to the hugely popular event, which runs...

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The Bowes Museum attracts internationally acclaimed music artists as part of a series of intimate performances in the historic building starting with Nerina Pallot Industry

The Bowes Museum attracts internationally acclaimed music artists as part of a series of intimate performances in the historic building starting with Nerina Pallot

24 Jan 2025

BRIT award, Ivor Novello and Mercury Music Prize nominated artists very familiar with playing to large national and international audiences, are being attracted to perform in the intimate setting of The Bowes Museum this year. The concert series kicks off with a solo concert by Nerina Pallot on 21...

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