News Centre

A whopping 13,000 people have booked and visited the Dukes this December as the classic Dickens tale “A Christmas Carol” becomes the Dukes biggest ever Christmas Show, on record. And the number continues to increase. Tickets for this Christmas classic are selling fast, with many shows sold out or with limited availability and with lots of positive […]

More than 6500 people got into the Christmas spirit at Williamson Park over the weekend as part of The Big Christmas Day Out. The park was completely transformed for the event – with teepees and geodomes appearing at the foot of the iconic Ashton Memorial. The domes contained acrobatics, storytelling and arts and craft activities. […]

A Lancaster hotel is giving a local fundraiser a night out to remember in recognition of the charity work he has done over the last decade. Neil Holroyd has been raising funds for Prostate Cancer UK for many years across the Lancaster area.  In 2013 he established an annual board game day, working in partnership […]

A little donkey is now safe and secure in time for Christmas, thanks to intervention by registered equine welfare charity HAPPA (Horses and Ponies Protection Association). The donkey came to the attention of HAPPA’s Equine Inspectors due to a concern, it was soon established that the owners loved the donkey and wanted the best for […]

A line-up of influential and experienced entrepreneurs has been announced to speak at the first ever Lancashire Festival of Business, which will take place at the Dunkenhalgh Hotel on February 1. The notable names include a leader of a rapidly-growing national firm, a CBE-awarded community figure and an experienced business support specialist. They will draw […]

The sheer scale of Blackpool’s post-pandemic recovery has been revealed in new tourism figures, which show that the annual number of visitors in 2022 surged past 20 million. The annual STEAM report, which analyses data from tourism and hospitality businesses, shows that the resort attracted a further 1.5 million visitors to what was a record […]

County’s visitors rose to 64.8 million in 2022 The latest tourism figures released  (2022) have revealed that the Lancashire tourism sector continues to show a strong recovery post-pandemic with 17 million more visitor days and nights in 2022 than 2021. The county’s annual STEAM report, which evaluates the volume and value of visitors to Lancashire, […]

The Dukes, a renowned cultural hub in Lancaster, proudly announces the appointment of Chris Lawson as their new Chief Executive, effective from January 2024. Chris Lawson, an accomplished Arts Leader, Director, and Producer, is set to bring his wealth of experience and expertise to the Dukes. Returning to the North West after a decade of […]

The final designs for the Elmer’s Big Parade Blackpool have been selected, ready for Blackpool’s first major art trail next spring. And while organisers at Brian House Children’s Hospice are remaining tight-lipped on the designs, they promise a variety of top-quality art which families will love. Elmer’s Big Parade Blackpool will see 34 large Elmer […]

Nestled in the village of Gisburn in the heart of the Ribble Valley, you will find a hidden gem, Italian restaurant, La Locanda; a cosy cottage restaurant, full of original, rustic charm. And this Christmas La Locanda owners Chef Maurizio Bocchi with his wife Cinzia have much to celebrate, with 9th December also marking the […]

Scaleup businesses in Lancashire are being invited to apply for a new support programme which has been launched by Boost; Lancashire’s Business Growth Hub. Boost’s new Scale to Thrive programme is open to ambitious business leaders with organisations which are currently growing at least 20 per cent per year or are planning to do so. […]

Blackpool has unveiled a brand new guide for 2024 highlighting a dazzling programme of events, shows and attractions for the year ahead. The 88-page guide provides a comprehensive insight into the myriad of reasons why people flock to the UK’s most popular seaside destination. The “cover star” of this year’s guide is the famous Mirror […]