Christmas Town in Durham brings in thousands

Good morning, Durham. The festive season is almost in full swing and we are exactly four weeks away from Christmas Day. No pressure.

In today’s newsletter:

• Bishop Aukland’s Christmas Town brings in thousands

• County Durham forest named top spot for dog walkers

• Political heavyweights come to Durham to discuss democracy

• And much more

Let’s get to it.

— Stephen Davies

Bishop Auckland Christmas Town dazzles thousands of visitors

Bishop Auckland's marketplace turned into a festive fairyland this weekend, charming visitors with its third annual Christmas Town event. Picture a wonderland where the air is filled with the aroma of hot chocolate and churros, and the skyline is graced by a towering Ferris wheel. Teeming with over 20 stalls, the event, a joint effort by local councils and partners, drew crowds larger than a North Pole elf convention.

Last year's attendance of 17,000 was mere child's play compared to the 25,000 anticipated this year. With such a festive furore, the organisers now dream of crowning Bishop Auckland as 'the Christmas capital of County Durham'. It's a jolly jamboree where even the Grinch would find it hard not to smile!

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THE DIGEST

Hamsterley Forest named top English destination for dog walkers 🦮

Hamsterley Forest has been named as one of England's top destinations for winter dog walks by the vet charity PDSA. The forest, spanning 5,000 acres, offers a variety of trails and beautiful waterfalls. Enough to captivate any dog or dog lover.

The charity said, “There’s a number of trails to choose from depending on your preferences. The 2.5-mile Bedburn Valley walk goes through an ancient woodland trail, whereas the 4.5-mile walk through Spurls Valley passes beautiful waterfalls. There’s also the Three Becks option which takes you through 4.5 miles of waterside beech trees that are especially stunning in winter months.”

Beamish named as top festive day out in the UK 🏆

It will perhaps come as no surprise to anyone who's been, but Beamish Museum has been featured in The Times as one of the '7 Best Festive Days Out' The Times writes, "The Georgians were so big on Christmas that they made it a month-long celebration, and Scrooges can learn a thing or two from them at Beamish, an open-air museum that reconstructs British life from the 1820s to the 1950s." There really is no place quite like it in the country in our view.

New well-being hub in Bishop Aukland approved 🧘‍♀️

Plans for a new well-being and community hub in Bishop Auckland have received the green light, ready to rejuvenate the Woodhouse Close Leisure Complex. This modern marvel will merge leisure and library services, boasting two swimming pools, a sauna, steam room, a state-of-the-art gym, and a special Move Hub with power-assisted equipment. It's not all sweat and swim; there's also a children's soft play centre, a café, and a brand-new library. The project aims to be a beacon of health, well-being, and sustainability, aligning with the council's net-zero targets. With construction set to commence in spring 2024, Bishop Auckland is on track to flex its community muscles in style!

WEATHER

We have it all this week. Rain, sun, wind and snow! Temperatures are getting into the minuses so get your thermals ready.

Monday

7 🌡️ 1 | 🌧️ | 💨 NNW 12 mph

Tuesday 

6 🌡️ -2 | ⛅️ | 💨 WNW 10 mph

Wednesday 

4 🌡️ -3 | ⛅️ | 💨 WNW 6 mph

Thursday 

4 🌡️ 1 | 🌨️ | 💨 W 17 mph

Friday 

4 🌡️ 0 | 🌧️ | 💨 W 12 mph

WHAT’S HAPPENIN’

Democracy: what future? ⚖️

Join political journalist, Nick Robinson and former cabinet minister, Ed Balls, on Friday 1 December at 7:30 pm at the Durham Cathedral Institute as they discuss the future of democracy in 2024 - the year where there will be a US election and likely a UK election. It’s a free-to-attend event and tickets can be booked here.

Faru Durham unveils five-course tasting menu 🍴

Faru Durham has recently announced the launch of its exquisite new five-course tasting menu, showcasing a fusion of innovation and culinary excellence. This new culinary offering is the brainchild of renowned chefs Jake and Laura Siddle, whose expertise is evident in each carefully crafted course. Faru's commitment to providing an unparalleled dining experience is clear, making it a must-visit destination for gourmet and food enthusiasts in the heart of Durham City. Book here.

Durham Christmas Festival 🎄

From Friday 1 - Sunday 3 December, the Durham Christmas Festival takes place in the Market Place in Durham City. Buy your loved ones a unique Christmas gift this year, from handcrafted gifts and mouth-watering treats to pretty homeware and clothing. On Saturday, there’s a Children’s Lantern Parade and, along with the Salvation Army band, they’ll gather up to Durham Cathedral for the St Nicholas Service.

Cinderella at the Gala Durham 🧚‍♀️

"Cinderella" at Gala Durham is a whimsical and hilarious take on the classic fairy tale. With Gary Kitching's witty script and Rachel Glover's direction, it's a story of Ella, her quirky Fairy Godmother, and a cast of comically evil step-relatives. Watch to see if Ella overcomes her stepmother's antics and makes it to the ball. This enchanting production, complete with show-stopping dance numbers and laugh-out-loud moments, invites you to find out in a magical, family-friendly adventure. Get ready to be spellbound – will she, or won't she go to the ball? Come and see! Running from now until 6 January, buy your tickets here.

LOCAL BUSINESS NEWS

Durham entrepreneur to star in BBC show 📺

Congrats to County Durham entrepreneur, Sara Davies, who’s set to star in a new BBC inventor’s show. The Dragons' Den and Crafter's Companion entrepreneur will star in ‘Making It with Sara Davies’ where she will meet people who hope they have created an innovative idea or product which could be turned into a business or product. More on BusinessLive.

Weardale Lithium consultation over lithium extraction plant 🔋

Weardale Lithium is sparking a buzz in County Durham with its plans for a lithium extraction pilot plant. This green endeavour aims to extract lithium from geothermal groundwater, a key ingredient for electric vehicle batteries. The test facility, set for the brownfield site of a former cement works in Eastgate, near Stanhope, promises a pipeline of jobs and economic boost, with an eye on producing around 10,000 tonnes of lithium carbonate annually. Locals can weigh in on this electrifying project at a public consultation, ensuring everyone's charged up about the plans. The Northern Echo has more.

LIVE MUSIC LOWDOWN

• Durham Laundrette - Sons of Townhall - Wednesday 29 November (tickets)

• Rainton Arena - Showaddywaddy - Friday 1 December (tickets)

• Ushaw Historic House - Candlelight / Vivaldi’s Four Seasons - Saturday 2 December (tickets)

• Ushaw Historic House - Candlelight / Hans Zimmer - Saturday 2 December (tickets)

• Katie Obrien’s - Shamrock (Irish music) - Sunday 3 December

THANKS!

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