Ambitious plans to boost tourism in Bishop Auckland aim for one million visitors by 2027, focusing on attractions and events.
Kynren, a sister charity, will start work on its day park, potentially marking 2025 as a pivotal year when this ambitious project could become truly sustainable.
This year, they will tear down old buildings, including two hotels and a pub in the Market Place. A new 58-bedroom hotel should appear, and it might be named the Auckland Arms. They plan to ask for permission to demolish buildings in April. The Queen’s Head, King’s Arms, and Monaco pub are on the list. Demolition work could start in autumn, finally allowing people to see progress.
David grew up in Bishop Auckland. He worked at Cummins and Tallent Engineering, increasing Tallent’s turnover substantially. Now, he wants to use his skills here, promoting Bishop Auckland’s attractions. He thinks they have amazing things to offer; the palace is one of the best in Europe. They have the only faith and mining art museums, plus the best Spanish art outside Madrid. The Faith Museum even won an award, which Jonathan Ruffer thinks is an understatement of its true value.
They also have the Weardale Railway, the walled garden, and Deer Park. Don’t forget the restaurants. The Binchester Roman fort will soon join the project, adding to the growing list of attractions.
Jonathan Ruffer and his wife Jane fund much of this, describing it as a social experiment. They hoped to improve the town with money and care, yet it took a while to see results happen. David Land is now leading the charge. He must show everyone Bishop Auckland’s rebirth.
Bishop Auckland has 24,000 residents. But they want to attract more people, targeting those in Durham and the North-East using digital marketing. The Bishops Key launched this week, unlocking Bishop Auckland’s attractions. This membership card encourages return visits. It costs from £30 to £95 for families or individuals and offers free entry to attractions, along with discounts on food, drinks, and railway tickets.
David hopes people visit two or three times a year. Jonathan compares it to Beamish and Alnwick and praises Raby Castle’s success, noting Raby has a treetop play area and good food. Jonathan thinks Bishop Auckland has more to offer and is easier to reach than Raby Castle.
Food is important. The Bishop’s Kitchen reopened with a new chef, and the menu features local food. They might create a central kitchen in the Market Place.
Events will attract visitors all year. They will run a food festival and tribute bands. There will be a Pumpkin Forest and Santa Express, as Bishop Auckland wants to be the Christmas town.
A new road and car park are planned to prevent traffic jams. The car park will hold 2,500 cars by the Deer Park, and there’s also a 300-space disabled car park. A footbridge to Kynren will be added. They found an old railway bridge which will connect a car park to the Weardale Railway; now, they need a signal box.
They will test weddings in the palace throne room and market the Long Dining Room for events. David states that they must commercialize the palace and need to be sustainable so it can’t rely on constant funding by Jonathan.
Jonathan says that simply building projects wasn’t enough; now, telling people to come is key. He wants to fill Bishop Auckland with visitors. David says they must try hard this year; he wants a real change.