First image revealed for new Bishop Auckland STACK venue

Plans for the new site on Newgate Street, near the Market Place, were approved in March and involve demolishing the former butcher’s shop and WH Smith store on the town’s main shopping street.

A new 'social hub' building will be built, housing a selection of bars and street food operators around a central ‘plaza’ area. Offering daily live entertainment and a platform for local businesses, STACK intends to add vibrancy and a contemporary twist not experienced previously in the town.

Demolition work is due to start soon but new images show how the new development will look in the coming months. The bright and modern building will include all the elements that have become part of STACK’s signature brand, with the belief that it will help boost the local economy as a whole, the venue owner said. 

Where the new STACK venue will be built on Newgate Street, Bishop Auckland (Image: Sarah Caldecott)

The project is being supported by the Future High Streets Fund, as part of Durham County Council’s wider regeneration plan to revitalise the town centre. The council identified the need for more leisure outlets in the town, with the STACK scheme more than fulfilling that demand.

Neill Winch, CEO of STACK, says the venue will breathe new life into the town centre. “We know a lot of people are very curious about how STACK Bishop Auckland will fit into the area and hopefully these images give a real flavour of what they can expect,” he said.

“We are very excited about what this will mean for Bishop Auckland and we have already had an incredibly positive response to the development.

“We are looking forward to getting started and bringing this plan to fruition.”

Work is due to begin in the coming weeks, with a view to STACK Bishop Auckland opening its doors in spring 2024.

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Cllr Elizabeth Scott, Durham County Council’s cabinet member for economy and partnerships, said: “We are very pleased with the first glimpse of how STACK Bishop Auckland is going to look on Newgate Street.

“Unlike other STACK venues, Bishop Auckland’s will be built within an existing development, but it will still be very much recognisable as a STACK venue.

“We are really looking forward to seeing STACK on the high street as part of our ambitious plans to regenerate the town. The new leisure offer will serve as a vibrant attraction, highlighting the town as a lively destination, bringing in visitors from all over County Durham and beyond.”