Sportsmans Inn the latest Bishop Auckland pub to close

But the recent closure of the Sportsmans Inn has highlighted the demise of the venues throughout the town, with residents now anticipating what the future holds. 

The long list of nearby closed venues now reads like a roll call of days gone by: The Queens Head Hotel, The Postchaise, Monaco, Champagne Bar, Bar Mondo and The Castle Hotel among others. 

The popular social media account County Durham Flag, which promotes the region across the world, highlighted the latest closure of The Sportsmans as a detriment to the town.

A post read: “This historic pub in Bishop Auckland Market Place closes, another in an increasingly long list. It saddens many to see the once great British social icon, namely the pub disappearing at such an alarming rate.”

The Sportsmans Inn was the most recent of several closures in the town centre (Image: Sarah Caldecott)

For local independent councillor Sam Zair, the closure of the pubs is a sign of how town centres are changing and will need to be repurposed to appeal to more people. 

“Businesses, whether they are pubs or retail, are under enormous pressure,” he said.

“Everyone complains about the state of the high streets, but they’re all struggling. The high street, as it is, has to find a new identity.”

Properties around the Market Place have been purchased by the Auckland Project as part of a regeneration scheme designed to boost tourism in the area but many of the buildings have stood derelict for several years, with locals waiting to see what the future holds. 

Alongside private investment, Bishop Auckland has benefited from vast amounts of government cash as part of its levelling up agenda. Around £33.2m has been gifted to the town to invest in local infrastructure and support the economy, with several projects in the pipeline. 

Read more: £12m plan to transform derelict Newgate Street in Bishop Auckland

There are initial plans to restore the former Queen's Head Hotel (Image: Sarah Caldecott)

Examples of how the government, Durham County Council and other stakeholders hope to build a better Bishop Auckland can already be seen as work to renovate North Bondgate to Fore Bondgate is underway. Initial plans are in place to redevelop the Queen's Head back into a popular hotel. 

There will be a new STACK venue on Newgate Street, which will also receive a facelift to improve its current  “very unattractive and tired” appearance, according to regeneration proposals. 

Yet, town centres are still struggling to attract retailers.

Cllr Zair said: “There’s investment in both the tourism and leisure sectors but what we’re now lacking is retail. Where are the big companies? They have all left or they go to retail parks, which means that town centres have to have a new identity and provide different ways to shop.”

Read next: 

• Locals criticise lack of progress in MP's bid to reopen Bishop Auckland Hospital A&E
• Hope new Bishop Auckland retail park will improve struggling town centre's future
• 'Utterly shambolic': Outrage as nine North East schools announce closure

Cllr Sam Zair at his cafe on Fore Bondgate in the town centre (Image: Sarah Caldecott)

The independent councillor juggles his political work with working at the cafe he owns on Fore Bondgate, which has provided an insight into the reality of trading in 2023. 

He added: “Business is good for us at the moment and we’re busier now than pre-Covid. We’re doing ok but it doesn’t mean others aren’t. People are struggling and it’s tough - but the investment is going to be phenomenal.” 

A public consultation on the town centre’s redevelopment will be held by Durham County Council in the Autumn, while a project helping local people into work is due to start in 2024.