AT YOUR LEISURE
The Tees Valley isn ’ t all about business – there ’ s something for everyone when it comes to entertainment , too
Take That , Jess Glynne , Radio 1 ’ s Big Weekend – before Covid-19 , people were flocking to the Tees Valley as huge events put us in the minds and on the TV screens of people far and wide .
This momentum in securing big-ticket items and raising the region ’ s profile took a hit with the pandemic , bringing an end to gatherings of all types . The hospitality industry suffered , crowds could no longer pack out stadiums and tourism simply wasn ’ t an option for most of 2020 and 2021 .
Throughout it all , though , the Tees Valley mayor and Combined Authority were working hard behind the scenes to ensure businesses got the support they needed to survive , and festivals , events and attractions received backing to come back better than ever .
As well as immediate and short-term support , a special task force was established for the sector , chaired by Annabel Turpin , the artistic director and chief executive of Stockton ’ s ARC .
A £ 16.5m programme was drawn up to support the long-term recovery of the creative and visitor sector , attract new events and boost the area as a visitor destination .
Things are now back on track , and the region is ready to pick up right where it left off . One example of this is the revitalised Grade II-listed Kirkleatham Walled Garden throwing its doors open for the first time in more than 30 years .
After a major £ 8m restoration , the venue welcomed visitors in August 2021 , with the formal gardens , a café , shop and 250-seat pavilion also creating 37 jobs and offering 160 traineeships and apprenticeships in catering and horticulture .
Headline-grabbing gigs have also returned , with world-renowned bands such as The Killers taking to the stage once again after a postponed 2020 tour date .
More than 31,000 people flocked to Middlesbrough ’ s Riverside Stadium for the biggest music event of the summer . It marked a new beginning for the Tees Valley ’ s cultural calendar , with a renewed sense of optimism .
The first Teesside Airshow in five years , taking place at Teesside International Airport , followed hot on The Killers ’ heels . The RAF was out in force with the Red Arrows , Battle of Britain Memorial Flight and Eurofighter Typhoon all taking to the skies , alongside the Starlings aerobatics team , a motorcycle stunt show , funfair and much more .
Summer festivals are also ramping up . In 2021 , 17 festivals each secured a share of £ 350,000 from the Tees Valley mayor and Combined Authority to ensure the show could go on that year .
Now , a packed slate , including the Festival of Thrift , Middlesbrough Mela , Stockton International Riverside Festival , Hartlepool Waterfront Festival , Darlington R & B Festival and many , many more , are all back for 2022 .
Full steam ahead – Engines like this locomotive , Tornado , will be on show for the 200th anniversary of the Stockton and Darlington Railway .
A further £ 1.6m programme of activity has been unveiled to help many of these events scale up and innovate , and to link them with new opportunities for even more future success .
In September , the country ’ s leading cycle race , the Tour of Britain , will be bringing pro cyclists , including Olympic , World and Tour de France athletes , to Redcar . The events of 2022 will culminate in the postponed Rugby League World Cup 2021 , with the Riverside Stadium playing host to the Cook Islands v Tonga men ’ s match in October .
The Cook Islands team will also be stationed in the region , training at Mowden Park for the duration of the event . It ’ s not just a one-off , engagement events to get people excited and grow the sport in the Tees Valley are taking place right now , with even more to come when the team touches down .
Things are looking bright for the future , too . Redcar ’ s Regent Cinema , which recently underwent a £ 9.6m rebuild , is due to open soon and in July 2023 , Hartlepool is set to welcome dozens of Tall Ships for the first time since 2010 , when almost one million people visited them .
The 200th anniversary of the Stockton and Darlington Railway will also take place in 2025 , with special steam train journeys , exhibitions , parades and arts and theatre events all planned to mark the opening of the line on September 27 , 1825 .
Ahead of this , by 2024 , the Darlington Railway Heritage Quarter will also be developed into a new internationally significant major visitor attraction so that it can be a central part of the celebrations .
These events and developments are making our area an even better place to live , helping residents come together and celebrate while drawing visitors from far and wide .
The knock-on effect , of course , means more people are coming into our towns , spending in our local businesses and , ultimately , putting more money into the pockets of local people .
With household-name companies now investing in pioneering projects right across the Tees Valley , the eyes of the global business world are on us .
Soon , the same will be able to be said for our culture , tourism and leisure offer too .
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