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Latest News
All the latest news from the Industry and the Visit County Durham Grapevine newsletter.
Industry
Green light for boost to County Durham’s culture and regeneration programme
12 Oct 2023
Councillors have pledged £2million towards plans for an enhanced three-year programme of world-class events and community-led activities across County Durham. Durham County Council will now work with partners to progress bids to secure at least the same sum, creating a minimum budget of £4million...
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Industry
Tourism Sentiment Tracker
12 Oct 2023
VisitEngland has published the September 2023 domestic Sentiment Tracker showing its highest improvement in perception of the cost of living crisis with 45% of UK adults surveyed stated that the 'worst is still to come', compared to 50% in August and July and 49% in June. In terms of domestic...
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Industry
Tourism Awards Shortlist
12 Oct 2023
The shortlist for the 2024 North East England Tourism awards has been announced. The awards play a major role in showcasing the diverse and innovative businesses in North East England. Congratulations to all the shortlisted businesses who will be vying for Gold at the awards ceremony in Spring next...
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Industry
The Faith Museum opened its doors to the public for the first time this weekend
10 Oct 2023
The Faith Museum explores the myriad ways in which faith has shaped lives and communities across Britain, through rarely seen objects, personal testimonies, and contemporary commissions. The Faith Museum is part of the wider restoration and redevelopment of Auckland Castle, which has been made...
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Industry
1950s homes opening at Beamish Museum to help people living with dementia and other long-term health conditions
5 Oct 2023
Beamish, The Living Museum of the North is opening 1950s aged mineworkers’ homes that provide a space for innovative work with people living with dementia and other long-term health conditions. The facilities, in a replica of cottages from Marsden Road, South Shields, will open this Friday, 6th...
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Industry
Lumiere 2023 reveals incredible full programme
28 Sep 2023
Today, the incredible full programme for Lumiere, the UK’s light art biennial, has been announced. From Thursday 16 - Sunday 19 November 2023, 16:30-23:00 each night, this beautiful medieval city will become a nocturnal art experience hosting works made with light on its streets, bridges,...
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Industry
Full steam ahead – 200 years of train travel to be marked with celebrations
28 Sep 2023
The two year countdown is on, to mark the bicentenary of the birth of the modern railway with celebrations throughout 2025. The Stockton & Darlington Railway opened on September 27, 1825, connecting places, people, communities and ideas and ultimately transforming the world. To mark the...
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Industry
Sin Exhibition hailed a success at The Auckland Project
27 Sep 2023
As the Sin: The Art of Transgression exhibition at The Auckland Project enters its final week on display, the regeneration charity in Bishop Auckland has hailed the exhibition a “unique and undeniable success”, welcoming over 6,000 visitors to the exhibition since it opened on 17th June. ...
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Industry
Purple Tuesday
27 Sep 2023
Purple Tuesday returns on 7th November 2023. The initiative inspires leadership and staff of organisations from all sectors and sizes to foster awareness, deepen understanding, and implement solutions for enhanced accessibility in their customer environments. Find out more and why you should take...
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Industry
Business Growth Fund
27 Sep 2023
The Durham Business Growth Programme is now open for applications. Delivered by Business Durham in partnership with UMi Commercial and RTC North, the scheme is designed to support business growth and increase productivity, offering a selection of grants for eligible businesses, covering both...
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Industry
Seventh North Pennines stargazing festival programme launches
27 Sep 2023
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 seventh North Pennines Stargazing Festival will run from 20 October to 5 November 2023, during the Autumn half term, and has...
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Industry
GB Tourism Survey
20 Sep 2023
Latest statistics for January to March 2023 show Brits have spent on average 12% more per trip on their domestic holidays in England compared to the first three months of 2022. British residents spent on average £263 per trip in England from January to March 2023 with average trips in England...
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Visit County Durham
Wheelie Fab Times
20 Sep 2023
Recently, we invited David and Penny of Wheelie Fab Times to Durham for an action-packed, accessible staycation. You can find out about their experiences exploring some of Durham's top attractions and hear their thoughts on accessibility in the county in their blog on our consumer website. More...
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Industry
TXGB update
20 Sep 2023
eviivo and Bookalet users can now augment their booking reach and plug into a wider range of local, regional and national tourism bodies and channels thanks to new connections with TXGB. Connecting to TXGB is quick and easy - simply complete the short 'Get Started form here and the TXGB Customer...
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Industry
Barnard Castle project welcomes their Royal Highnesses The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester to Raby Castle
14 Sep 2023
Their Royal Highnesses The Duke of Gloucester and Duchess of Gloucester visited County Durham, this week (13th September), to recognise the region’s longstanding commitment to traditional skills training and heritage restoration. As Patron of the Cultura Trust, the national charity which has...
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