LOCAL NEWS
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LEISURE & LIFESTYLE
What’s happening in and around East Durham
A busy County Durham community centre is looking smart as it prepares to welcome local people back, thanks to a four-figure grant from a regional employer. As part of ensuring that it had enough room to continue running educational activities for a local special needs...
Since re-opening on Monday, April 12, Dalton Park Shopping Outlet has been giving away £25 gift cards every week. This is the popular shopping destination's final week. To end on a high the Dalton Park management team are doubling the number of prizes up for grabs and...
Visitors to County Durham’s coastline are being encouraged to help protect the local environment as more people hit the beach. Durham County Council is asking everyone to follow the new Countryside Code, which has recently been updated to allow people to enjoy the...
Businesses across East Durham have enjoyed their first week back in operation, following the lifting or further coronavirus restrictions which mean pubs and restaurants can now serve guests outdoors. Restaurants including Luciano Bar and Bistro (pictured) are among...
After months of preparations Dalton Park has today welcomed shoppers back, in line with the latest easing of the government’s lockdown restrictions. It’s huge canopies have had a professional clean and the mall seating has been reinstalled to give shoppers a place to...
Staff at leisure centres across County Durham are working hard to prepare sites for re-opening to the public from Monday, April 12. The centres will initially open with gym, swim and outdoor fitness facilities available, while the indoor fitness class programme is...
Bellway has released the first properties for sale at a new housing development in Wingate which will eventually deliver 250 homes for the local area. The first phase at Wellfield Rise, which comprises 90 homes off Wellfield Road, launched on Thursday 1 April. The...
A popular County Durham pub will unveil its new look to guests when leisure venues re-open on Monday, April 12. The Avenue pub in Shincliffe, Durham, will share its new outdoor space following a £1m investment. The pub has benefited from a collaborative project by...
A free food festival is set to return to a County Durham seaside town this year with measures in place to keep people safe. Subject to coronavirus restrictions, Seaham Food Festival will take place on Saturday 7 and Sunday 8 August. This will be followed by Bishop...
Bellway is to release the first properties for sale at a new housing development in Wingate which will eventually deliver 250 homes for the local area. The first phase at Wellfield Rise, which comprises 90 homes off Wellfield Road, will launch on Thursday 1 April. The...
In a new series of blogs for the ‘Lifestyle and Leisure’ section, Lucy Wood from Peterlee shares her experiences of living life with Multiple Sclerosis and the challenges the condition has presented to her from diagnosis at the age of five. Growing up, MS has had a...
Vacant buildings that have blighted a County Durham village for years can now be demolished and replaced with high quality homes thanks to a £6 million investment. Durham County Council has allocated £4.5 million from its Towns and Villages Investment Plan for a major...
The rich heritage of a County Durham seaside town is being enhanced through the regeneration of historical buildings and the launch of a new app. Durham County Council launched the Seaham Townscape Heritage Project in 2019 after it secured £1.6 million from the...
The locations of three new state-of-the-art leisure centres in County Durham have been agreed this morning (Wednesday). Durham County Council’s Cabinet has approved the preferred sites in Seaham, Chester-le-Street and Bishop Auckland, which will support the county’s...
Free keep-fit, language tasters and the story of how a former Bishop Auckland pupil has used her language skills to advise US Presidents are all part of an exciting line-up at a regional language festival this month. Schools, families and communities can enjoy a host...
A North East council is proposing to introduce free town centre parking after 2pm as part of a package of measures to support residents and businesses in the economic recovery from the coronavirus pandemic. Durham County Council’s Cabinet will next week be recommended...
Picnic hampers full of delicious homemade treats were delivered to key workers by staff and residents at a Peterlee care home. Over a hundred sweet and savoury snacks were sent out by those living and working at Bannatyne Lodge Care Home, on Manor Way, for Random Act...
A Hartlepool opticians is set to expand its offering to become a dedicated hearing hub, providing enhanced audiology services to customers. Staff at Specsavers in Middleton Grange Shopping Centre offer a range of hearing services including, hearing tests, hearing aid...
Family historians can gain top tips on how to discover their ancestors’ military past at an online talk this week. Durham County Record Office, which is run by Durham County Council, is continuing its successful Branching Out programme with an archivist-led talk about...
Construction work on a new £10.4 million state-of-the-art bus station in the heart of Durham City has started. Workers started on site on Monday, with the current bus station closing to passengers and temporary stops being put in place close by. The new station has...
Residents in County Durham still have time to apply for this year’s garden waste scheme and get all 17 collections during 2021. The first collection from the Durham County Council service takes place in late March or early April, followed by fortnightly collections...
A north east funding programme that supports community groups including food banks, sports clubs and mental health projects has passed a major milestone. Believe Housing’s Community Investment Programme has awarded £150,000 of grants in the last nine months. More than...
A giant wolf, a story online and a call for people to make their own artwork – Wild About Winter is coming your way! Wild about Winter is a new project with artists and local people in East Durham, led by The Barn at Easington, running now until the end of April and...
Rail passengers in the North East will soon benefit from a better, more reliable rail service as a major project to modernise signalling continues. The huge upgrade is part of a multi-million-pound project on the Durham Coast line in the Billingham/Stockton area,...
Horse owner Jayne McGowan is making a heartfelt plea to people in the East Durham area to stop feeding the animals. It comes as figures show the number of deaths in horses since lockdown started has risen, with stories in the national media suggesting this is due to...
Two local charities have come together to help people improve and manage their mental health. Thanks to funding from the Big Lottery, Hartlepool and East Durham Mind are working in partnership with East Durham Trust to offer help and support as well as encourage...
Work to create a modern and vibrant new bus station for Durham City is set to press ahead after a multi-million pound funding package was approved. The North East Joint Transport Committee (JTC) has allocated £3.6million towards the overall £10.4m scheme following a...
Seaham Hall Hotel is increasing its presence in the community by announcing a new partnership to support Peterlee-based charity East Durham Trust. Since the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic and the national lockdown last year, the five-star hotel has been...
The UK’s largest opticians and audiologists, Specsavers, will stay open for all eye and hearing needs now most of the country is in lockdown. Under current government guidance, people are allowed to leave home to attend medical appointments, including eye and hearing...
Chancellor Rishi Sunak has today (Tuesday) announced a £4.6bn of support for companies affected by last night's national lockdown announcement made by Prime Minister Boris Johnson. Leisure and retail venues can access up to £9,000 per business, depending on the...
Hundreds of pubs across County Durham which have been affected by local and national coronavirus restrictions are being encouraged to apply for the latest Government support grant. ‘Wet-led pubs’, or those which predominantly serve alcohol rather than food, are...
As the year comes to a close, Dalton Park Shopping Outlet has reflected on some of the positive experiences from the last 12 months. Jerry Hatch, Centre Manager, has applauded staff, brand partners and shoppers for working together on everything from charity...
Residents in County Durham can now sign up for the Garden Waste Collection scheme for 2021. The first collection from the Durham County Council service takes place in late March or early April, followed by fortnightly collections until November when the season ends....
East Durham Business editor Leanne Fawcett visited Dalton Park’s only independent food outlet, Codrophenia, to see whether the fish and chip shop was worthy of a five-star review – or more Rotten Tomato… Fish and chips are about as quintessentially English as things...
A charity delivering independence and support throughout the North East has secured a £100,000 Covid-19 helping hand from a major community aid programme launched by Barclays. Supportive, based in Ferryhill, County Durham, has been chosen as one of Barclays’ UK...
Dalton Park is extending its opening hours to support retailers and give shoppers more time to get everything they need for Christmas. It will reopen on Wednesday 2nd December and stores will be able to operate until 7pm every week day up to and including Wednesday...
Paddington Bear and boxes of chocolates are among the gifts donated by a Peterlee care home to children in need this Christmas. Staff and residents at Bannatyne Lodge Care Home, on Manor Way, have put together two hampers of goodies for community project Santa’s Wish....
Auxillis has again stepped up to support insurer Admiral with its NHS and emergency service worker mobility scheme - providing a free courtesy vehicle if theirs is stolen, undriveable after an accident, or declared a total loss - keeping essential workers on the road...
Bears, jumper, shawls, and knitted dolls are among the items donated to a Peterlee care home by a knitting initiative. Knit for Peace UK donated the gifts to Bannatyne Lodge Care Home, on Manor Way, bringing smiles to the elderly residents. Derek Bestford, 57,...
Funding from believe housing has helped to get a vital project in Easington Colliery underway again after the coronavirus pandemic. The Café Together initiative was brought to an abrupt halt by Covid-19 restrictions earlier this year. Unable to carry on with its...
There are six new members joining the team at Dalton Park this winter as the centre announces surprising news of a reindeer adoption. Following the news that the Christmas launch event won't be going ahead this year due to Covid-19, and with reindeers being a...
County Durham-based believe housing is playing its part in tackling the threat of hunger during the coronavirus pandemic with food parcels to customers in need. The award-winning housing association is arranging for food parcels to be delivered to customers who are...
A new project aiming to make local neighbourhoods cleaner and greener is underway across County Durham. Launched by Durham County Council, Find and Fix involves the council and community working together to tackle a range of unsightly issues in the community such as...
East Durham's Wellbeing for Life team is offering free support to anyone aged over 16 who lives or works in County Durham. The team, based at Heathworks in Easington, offers help in areas including weight management, healthy eating, physical activity and mental health...
A new coastal community hub is set to be built at a County Durham tourist spot for residents and visitors to enjoy when taking a trip to the seaside. Working with the Heritage Coast Partnership, Durham County Council is investing £250,000 to attract £1.35 million...
Six landmarks across County Durham will be lit up in red next month to commemorate Remembrance Sunday. Due to the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic, many traditional services, parades and wreath laying ceremonies due to take place on 8 November have been cancelled....
With families across the UK facing stricter lockdown measures, online toy retailer Bargain Max recently launched a Halloween inspired competition for kids. In what has been a spooky and creative competition for youngsters across the UK, Bargain Max has now announced...
Businesses across County Durham are being reminded that they must comply with the latest coronavirus rules, or face action. It comes as another five venues across the county were issued with direction orders and told they must immediately close for failing to abide by...
A club and a caravan park in County Durham which failed to comply with the latest coronavirus restrictions have both been issued with direction orders. Action was taken against Crimdon Dene Caravan Park and Thornley Officials Club on Friday (9 October) following a...
A new 10-week wellbeing challenge aimed at people aged over 65 in the Easington GP area launches next week. Helix Arts’ regional Falling on your Feet programme is a dance and health initiative for older people to help increase their strength and balance to prevent...
A County Durham club has been issued with a direction order and told it must close immediately for failing to abide by the latest coronavirus restrictions. Durham County Council’s community protection team has taken swift action against Shotton Comrades Club, which...
A range of up to 20 classic British real ales will be available at The Five Quarter in Peterlee during its 17-day real ale festival. The pub in Hailsham Place will host the festival from Friday, October 9, to Sunday, October 25. The beers will cost £1.69 a pint. The...
McDonald's has officially re-opened at Dalton Park Shopping Outlet in Murton. And there's more good news for customers because as well as being able to benefit from drive thru and take away, at the Murton restaurant locals can now benefit from the introduction of the...
Three more household names are set to open at Dalton Park this autumn. Molton Brown, Lazy Jacks and Costa Coffee will join the outlet shopping centre, complementing the existing brands and enhancing guests’ shopping experience. The welcome news comes after Morrisons...
An initiative which aims to improve communities in County Durham by raising housing standards and management in the private renting sector has received backing by senior council members and two MPs. Durham County Council’s proposals to introduce a selective licensing...
A Peterlee pub is to cut the price of all food and drink by 7.5 per cent on Thursday, September 24. The Five Quarter in Hailsham Place is supporting Tax Equality Day, aimed at highlighting the benefit of a permanent VAT reduction in the hospitality industry. The...
Historian and author Jane Gulliford Lowes brings the wartime experiences of a young Seaham Harbour airman and his family to life in her new book. Above Us The Stars tells the story of Jane’s great -uncle, “Bomber Boy” Jack Clyde, a 20-year-old wireless operator. Jack...
A local running club is calling on people to continue to keep fit and active after seeing a rise in numbers post-lockdown. Peterlee Running Club, which was formed in 2013 by trained coach David Ferguson, is open to people of all ages and running abilities and meets...
Beautiful gardens and floral displays across County Durham are vying for the public’s vote this month. Entries for the Garden Treasures contest are now closed and now members of the public are being called on to help choose the winners. Organised by Durham County...
Three exceptional North East tourism businesses represented the region at the VisitEngland Awards for Excellence 2020 last night, where they took home a host of awards and secured their position as some of the finest examples of tourism businesses in the country. The...
Three outstanding North East tourism businesses have been shortlisted in the VisitEngland Awards for Excellence 2020, an event that champions the very best of the country’s tourism industry and celebrates quality, innovation and best practice. Seahouses bed and...
1Life has announced that it will be re-opening Peterlee Leisure Centre today, Monday, July 27, with Seaham anticipated to follow on August 10. Following advice and guidance from the Government as well as the fitness trade body ukactive and there independent scientific...
Play parks across County Durham have reopened as part of the nationwide easing of lockdown restrictions. Durham County Council is undertaking individual risk assessments on all 175 of its children’s play parks and is working hard to reopen these valued facilities as...
Keen gardeners across East Durham are being invited to take part in a photography competition to share how outside spaces have helped them through the coronavirus pandemic. Durham County Council’s civic pride team is calling on residents to show off the green spaces...
Food lovers can stock up on their favourite treats while supporting some of the region’s best producers when a popular festival moves online. Seaham Food Festival was due to take place on Saturday 13 and Sunday 14 June but was cancelled to help slow the spread of...
Durham’s five-star boutique hotel, Seaham Hall, has scooped Gold in the Small Hotel of the Year category at the prestigious North East England Tourism Awards. The awards, organised by the Newcastle Gateshead Initiative, in partnership with a number of organisations,...
New virtual storytelling sessions are to continue throughout May following their initial success. Durham County Council’s library service recently began teaming up with artists to create video recitals of popular stories and poems which children and their families can...
As the 75th anniversary of VE Day approaches, arrangements are being made to help people in County Durham commemorate the occasion safely at home. In recent months, the nation’s focus has been on the coronavirus pandemic, but Durham County Council recognises that...
Cast members from the Gala Theatre’s panto paid a special visit to children spending the run up to Christmas in hospital. The Durham City venue’s Christmas pantomime, Aladdin, is on a roll bringing festive thrills and lots of laughter to audiences. This week, Aladdin...
Father Christmas will be welcoming visitors to his festive yurt for two weekends in the lead up to Christmas. Hardwick Park is once again inviting children to meet Santa Claus as he makes his pre-Christmas visit to County Durham. As well as receiving a gift from...
Little adventurers and their grown-ups can journey to a winter wonderland at a County Durham theatre this Christmas. The Gala Theatre’s production of One More Sleep will transport youngsters to an enchanting world, where dreams comes true on the most magical night of...
East Durham businesses are being warned to have fun this Christmas - but to be prepared for the problems which can come from an overly indulgent office party or night. HR expert Alison Schreiber of the HR Dept Durham works with a number of companies in the area to...
Business Review, LG Therapy Review by East Durham News editor Leanne Fawcett (it can also be found in issue two of East Durham Business magazine). The past few weeks have been particularly stressful and physically draining, so to say my body was ready for a bit of...
Getting rugby tackled by schoolchildren, squirting audiences with water pistols and plotting world domination – it is all in a day’s work for a pantomime star. For more than a decade, Neil Armstrong and Paul Hartley have starred in the Gala Theatre’s annual pantomime,...
A seaside town will serve up a second helping of culinary fun when a successful food festival returns next year. Organiser Durham County Council has announced the second annual Seaham Food Festival will take place on Saturday 13 and Sunday 14 June 2020. County...
Peterlee pub The Five Quarter will get into the festive spirit this December by hosting a carol concert to raise money for St Cuthbert’s Church. Duty manager Sara Malcolm has teamed up with vicar Elaine Jones to encourage people to support the church, which is located...
Inspirational examples of innovative design, environmental guardianship and community spirit have been recognised at an annual awards ceremony. The winners of the 30th anniversary County Durham Environment Awards were announced at Hardwick Hall Hotel near Sedgefield....
A former East Durham College student is about to square up to the biggest opportunity of his boxing career as he prepares to compete in the prestigious MTK Global’s Golden Contract Tournament. Darren Surtees is a former bricklaying student at East Durham College who...
Producers of Ant and Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway are looking for a family in East Durham who could receive the hit ITV series' biggest surprise ever. People across the area are asked to put forward nominations for families they think are deserving of the surprise. A...
A three-month long pop-up programme to give food and drink producers from across County Durham the chance to showcase their products and explore potential routes to market is underway and already attracting crowds of shoppers. The event is a collaboration between All...
CBBC and Panto stars Danny Adams, brother Mick Potts and dad Clive Webb will be pitching up the big-top at Seaham next week to prepare for the start of their Midsummer Madness tour of the North East. Star of ‘Danny and Mick!’, Danny Adams, will also show his daring...
As a new cinema opens its doors in Durham City, councillors have spoken of the important role private sector investment plays in boosting the economy. Cllr Simon Henig, Leader of Durham County Council, and Cllr Carl Marshall, Cabinet member for economic regeneration,...
A new netball club for east Durham youngsters has been set up thanks to support from a leading housing association. Families have the opportunity to get involved with netball thanks to a new club, founded thanks to a small grant from believe housing. Peterlee Netball...
Almost 15,000 people headed to the first Seaham Food Festival yesterday (Sunday). County Durham’s spectacular heritage coast provided a beautiful backdrop to the event, with people of all ages enjoying fresh sea air while tucking into delicious local produce and...
As Seaham gets set to host its first food festival this weekend, visitors are being encouraged to plan their journeys in advance. Seaham Food Festival will serve up more than 100 traders, cookery demonstrations by celebrity chefs John Torode and Phil Vickery,...
Children’s cookery workshops, live music and bingo with a refreshing twist – a food festival will serve up more than delicious dishes next month. Excitement is building ahead of the first Seaham Food Festival which is set to bring tasty local produce and enticing eats...
A hilarious and fastmoving comedy will transport theatre goers back to their school days this week. Tickets are still available for the Gala Theatre’s latest production, Teechers, which runs at the Durham City venue from now until Saturday, May 11. Written by...
Green fingered groups, volunteers and residents are hoping for horticultural success after a visit from competition judges. Representatives from the Royal Horticultural Society headed to Durham City and Chester-le-Street to consider the areas’ entries for the...
Adventurers of all ages were out in force in Durham this weekend when the city hosted the region’s most adrenaline-fuelled festival. Durham Adventure Festival attracted thousands of people to the city centre for three action-packed days of talks, film screenings and...
Top television chefs John Torode and Phil Vickery are set to wow food lovers at a new food festival on the County Durham coast this summer. Following the success of Bishop Auckland Food Festival, Seaham Food Festival will bring fresh fare, fine flavours and exciting...
Beamish Museum’s Emily Hope is celebrating after being named national VisitEngland Tourism Superstar. Emily, who works at the museum’s Entrance, is thrilled to have won the public vote to claim the prestigious title. She was among 10 finalists and made the shortlist...
As excitement builds for one of the region’s favourite food festivals, visitors are being encouraged to plan their journeys in advance. Tens of thousands of people are expected to attend Bishop Auckland Food Festival when it returns this weekend with a tempting...
A pro-cyclist will be back racing on home turf when Durham hosts the eagerly awaited OVO Energy Tour Series for a record-breaking tenth time. The North East’s own Scott Auld will be among the elite cyclists taking on the gruelling 1.4km circuit in the shadow of the...
An event that will showcase work by some of the North East's most exciting new theatre-makers will take place later this month. This event, entitled 'Next Up...', is the first of its kind at Durham's Gala Theatre and offers a first look at work-in-progress shows as...
A live music festival returns to Durham tomorrow as The Durham Blues, Rhythm & Rock Festival is set to take place at the Gala Theatre. Now in its sixth year in Durham, the festival showcases the quality of live music in the UK and presents a line-up that aims to...
The UKs largest light festival looks set to return to Durham for a fifth time next year. This morning Durham County Council’s Cabinet agreed to recommission Artichoke to deliver another spectacular Lumiere in November 2017, with members endorsing a commissioning fee...
Derwent Valley AAP and Durham Cathedral Join Forces for Education Events. Durham Cathedral has received a grant of £5,300 from Derwent Valley Area Action Partnership to provide school sessions for all primary schools in the Derwent Valley area. Twenty schools will...
Durham Cathedral is preparing to welcome visitors and pilgrims from far and wide as they come to the Cathedral to remember those killed during the Battle of the Somme, on the centenary of this tragic event. A series of services will be held at the Cathedral from...
A cinema broadcast of the original West End production of The Audience, featuring Helen Mirren’s multi-award-winning performance as Queen Elizabeth II, returns this week in celebration of the monarch’s 90th birthday. The play is written by Peter Morgan, who wrote the...
Durham Cathedral is hosting a special opportunity for photographers to snap the inside of the Cathedral this week. Photos of this world-famous building can then be used to enter the World Heritage Site’s postcard competition, with winning entries being displayed as a...
An event described by visitors as ‘majestic and mesmerising has delivered hugely increased financial benefits to County Durham and the North East. Lumiere, the UK’s largest light festival, was staged in Durham for the fourth time last November. It instilled a sense of...
A hilarious parody of Game of Thrones is set to have the audience in stitches when it comes to Gala next month. The show, which will be performed at Durham's Gala Theatre on Monday 13th June, 7.30pm, is created by some of the UK's top comedy writers and will promise...