News: Rotherham shortlisted to become first UK Town of Culture

From nearly 400 bids, Rotherham has been shortlisted to become the UK's first Town of Culture, reports Visit Rotherham.

Visit Rotherham reported on a bid to the national competition last week.

Adding to the UK City of Culture, the competition is open to small, medium and large towns, with the winner delivering a vibrant cultural programme. Showcasing towns’ local visions and voices - through new arts venues, performances, workshops and more - this competition brings local investment, creates a lasting sense of pride in towns, and opens doors to the arts for everyone.

From 398 bids, Rotherham has made it into the final 15 towns still in the running to host the programme year.

It comes on the back of Rotherham's landmark year as the world's first Children's Capital of Culture in 2025, a pioneering, award-winning programme that put young people at the heart of arts, culture and creativity.

Rotherham's bid focuses on the real-life stories of place, saying: "We come from the England people don't put on postcards. We became the town people told stories about. The next chapter is where we stop asking whether Rotherham deserves a better future and start writing it."

Rotherham’s cultural offer is strengthened by a diverse network of organisations working both independently and in partnership. These include literacy charity Grimm & Co, which is set to become the national centre for folk and fairy tales, Flux Rotherham, part of Arts Council England’s Creative People and Places programme, which works alongside communities across the borough to increase participation in arts and culture, and ROAR, which provides vital support for independent artists and creatives.

Together with major visitor attractions such as Magna Science Adventure Centre and Gulliver’s Valley Theme Park, they contribute to an increasingly confident cultural environment.

Rotherham's outdoor venues further strengthen that landscape, including the award-winning Clifton Park, Rother Valley Country Park which has recently seen major investment, and Wentworth Woodhouse, one of Britain's grandest stately homes, which has become a major cultural and tourism destination following significant restoration work. In 2025, the historic estate welcomed thousands of visitors when it hosted the prestigious RHS Flower Show.

Rotherham's bid says: "Our Rotherham - and your nation - isn't defined by its past. It's driven by it. Join us as we become your UK Town of Culture."

Cllr Chris Read, Leader of Rotherham Council, said: "The shortlisting for UK Town of Culture 2028 is great news for Rotherham and great recognition of the hard work over many years of the whole partnership. From becoming the world's first Children's Capital of Culture to the Women's Euros and our growing local events programme, Rotherham has shown how cultural events can inspire people and bring communities together. Our bid was based not on some abstract art, but on the real experience of our community, the people who live here, and the highs and lows we've been through together.

"We have an incredible story to tell - and not necessarily the story others might impose on us. It's supported by iconic landmarks such as Wentworth Woodhouse and Clifton Park to events like the Rotherham Show that are woven into the fabric of our lives. This shortlist is a tribute to everyone who contributes to making Rotherham such a vibrant and welcoming place."

Lisa Nandy, Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport of the United Kingdom, said: “Rotherham wears its Yorkshire identity with real pride, and they’re rightly proud of their incredibly rich cultural life. Like so many of our great industrial towns, its strength comes from that deep sense of community and from the creativity of the people who call it home. I'm very excited to see how Rotherham makes its case to be the first ever UK Town of Culture.”

15 towns will now compete for the inaugural UK Town of Culture 2028 title. The shortlisted towns are:

Small towns: Ilfracombe, Isle of Bute, Lerwick, Sandown, Strabane, and Stockton Town Centre Ward
Medium towns: Corby, Great Yarmouth, Leith, Pontypridd, and Port Talbot
Large towns: Basildon, Birkenhead, Grimsby and Rotherham

Shortlisted towns will now receive £60,000 each to finalise their bids, which will explain how they would use culture to celebrate their town, showcase original storytelling, empower their local communities and provide more accessible culture in their local area.

From these fifteen shortlisted towns, an independent panel will recommend the best small, medium and large town from the full applications they receive. An overall winner from these three towns will be designated the “UK Town of Culture 2028” and receive a £3m grant from the government. The additional two towns, from the other two categories, will be selected as finalists and receive £250,000 each to carry out part of their programme.

The winner will go on to host a season of culture in 2028, which will help them to deliver a long-lasting legacy of cultural participation and local pride as has been seen in previous winners of the UK City of Culture competition; Derry-Londonderry 2013, Hull 2017, Coventry 2021 and Bradford 2025.

Chair of the independent panel, Sir Phil Redmond said: "The response to the competition has been, to say the least, overwhelming, quite literally from all four corners of the UK. It has been fantastic that nearly 400 towns have come forward, sharing their sense of pride, ambition and desire to demonstrate how much they have, and continue to contribute to our national story.

"That of course has made making the decision on the shortlist itself much more difficult, never mind the actual winners.

"I look forward to visiting those towns that have made the list and I am sure that, just like City of Culture, those that didn’t manage it will have found the experience of taking part worthwhile in strengthening partnerships, raising awareness and reminding us all of the depth and spread of the UK’s cultural landscape. I’d like to thank them all for that."

Images: Children's Capital of Culture

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News: Wentworth Woodhouse chosen as film set again

Turner, Churchill and now Faraday. The glorious setting of Wentworth Woodhouse has been chosen as the filming location for another biopic, reports Visit Rotherham.

Parts of the grade I listed mansion in Rotherham have been closed in recent weeks, including the house and gardens, so that a film production company can make movie magic.

The charity that looks after the big house, the Wentworth Woodhouse Preservation Trust (WWPT), has revealed that it has been hosting the cast and crew of Power & Glory, an upcoming biopic about Michael Faraday.

Faraday is known as the "Father of Electricity" for discovering electromagnetic induction, the principle behind electric motors and generators.

The film is based on the play, Fire from Heaven: Michael Faraday and the Dawn of the Electrical Age by playwright and director, Murray Watts. Described as one of the greatest true stories it follows Faraday, a boy from the back streets of London, as he overcomes impossible odds to become one of the greatest experimental scientists of all time.

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An update from WWPT said: "We're thrilled to have been chosen as the main filming location for the majority of the sets. Hosting filming is a very important source of income for the Wentworth Woodhouse Preservation Trust as it supports the huge task of restoring and regenerating this important historic site and our work to make it truly a House for all.

"The movie magic isn't quite over yet - so watch this space for further updates! See you on the big screen!"

Wentworth Woodhouse has previously stood in for the Royal Academy in London for Mike Leigh's Mr Turner, and for Oscar winning feature film, Darkest Hour, the Whistlejacket room was used as interior of Buckingham Palace. The famous Marble Saloon also played host to the Downton Abbey movie.

in recent years, the income from filming has been reduced at the trust, in great part to the actors and writers’ strikes in America, which seriously impacted the UK film industry.

The house was closed to the public in April 2023 for the filming of major HBO production The Regime starring Kate Winslet and Hugh Grant. This was the only major film contract in the 2023/2024 financial year, with no major film contracts in the following year.

An update from the trust at the time said; "Our reliance on filming income carries an element of risk, as it is somewhat out of our control, so our aim is to move to a situation where it is a bonus if it happens, rather than a budgeted necessity."

Wentworth Woodhouse website

Images: WWPT

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News: Flying start for fundraising for Wentworth Woodhouse holiday let

A fundraising appeal to support the restoration of the South Tower at Wentworth Woodhouse has reached £240,000 in a matter of weeks.

Rothbiz reported last month on the Landmark Trust launching a campaign to restore a secluded eyrie and a rare survival of 18th century feminine taste within the monumental Rotherham mansion.

The charity works to save historic buildings in danger of being lost forever. Sensitive restoration offers "landmarks" a new future by making them available to everyone for self-catering holidays. The lettings income from the 200+ extraordinary buildings in the charity's care supports their maintenance and survival in our landscape, culture and society.

Following years of decay, the derelict Grade I mansion was bought in 2017 by the Wentworth Woodhouse Preservation Trust (WWPT), who have embarked on the herculean task of restoring the place back to its former glory in a multi-phase project.

The Landmark Trust are now working with WWPT to save the South Tower, which sits at the most southerly tip of the building’s vast frontage. The tower’s fine upper chamber offers outstanding vistas of house and grounds and is reached via its own private footbridge.

WWPT carried out urgent external repairs to the South Tower in 2022. Yet inside this quiet hideaway, the once opulent plasterwork is crumbling, an exquisitely decorated ceiling has been lost and an elegant staircase is undermined by dry rot.

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The Landmark Trust plans to repair the grandest room with traditional 18th-century skills using the finest craftspeople and their apprentices. As of now, the plaster ceiling has come down and black plastic sheeting fills its place, a marble panel by the brilliant English sculptor Joseph Nollekens had been removed for safety and dry rot is already engulfing the timber floor.

The Landmark Trust are now poised to act - to take on a long lease for £135,000 from the WWPT and develop a holiday let for two.

The parlour would become the drawing and dining room, and a bedroom, kitchen and bathroom would be created in the adjacent rooms. The approach would be, as it was from the first, via a handsome private footbridge from the elevated rear terrace.

Within the parlour, traditional 18th-century techniques would be used to re-create the Marchioness’s lost ceiling, guided by historic photographs, and drawing on the inventory to furnish her elegant chamber to evoke its character in its prime.

Without Landmark’s intervention, the South Tower will linger in dangerous deterioration at the furthest reach of the building, as this elegant room succumbs to damp and decay. This upper chamber is describes as a rare and exciting survival of undiluted female taste in the 18th century.

Dr Anna Keay OBE, Director of the Landmark Trust, said: "There really is nowhere that compares to Wentworth Woodhouse. This monumental Palladian palace in South Yorkshire is a miraculous survival. When I first saw this fascinating room a few years ago, I was struck by its combination of grandeur and intimacy, the glorious views south and west from its soaring sash windows, and by the perilous condition in which it stood. Two things were immediately clear: it needed urgent action to arrest its decay and – if we could just raise the necessary funds – it would make the most spell-binding place to stay."

Funding has already been made available to the project thanks to the H B Allen Charitable Trust and generous donations from early project Guardians means that over 70% of the necessary funds have already been secured.

Landmark Trust website
Wentworth Woodhouse website

Images: WWPT / Landmark Trust / Olivia Brabbs

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News: Wuthering Heights sees Rotherham back on the big screen

More recognition, exposure and prestige is being garnered by Rotherham as it once again provides the filming location for another big screen blockbuster, reports Visit Rotherham.

A 2026 reimagining of Emily Brontë’s classic, Wuthering Heights trades traditional gothic gloom for a provocative, synth-pop-infused fever dream and was filmed across various breathtaking locations, many in Yorkshire.

Some scenes were captured in Kent, such as at Knole Park, a medieval deer park in Sevenoaks, and on the dramatic moorlands of the Yorkshire Dales - including Swaledale and Bridestones Moor, and the villages of Reeth and Low Row. Visit Rotherham reports that a couple of key scenes were filmed here in Rotherham.

The Needle's Eye is one of a number of follies surrounding Wentworth Woodhouse, a magnificent Grade I listed mansion that has itself provided the backdrop to a number of big screen productions.

On a former avenue to Wentworth Park's North Lodge, The Needle's Eye is a pyramid structure pierced by a narrow, ogee carriage arch.

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For Wuthering Heights, this is where a young Cathy and Heathcliff take shelter from the rain in childhood, and where they reunite as adults, played by Robbie and Elordi, to confess their love for each other. It's where Heathcliff utters the line: "So kiss me and let us both be damned."

Production trucks and fake rain machines were spotted in the area last year.

Talking to Cosmopolitan, Aurelia Thomas, Supervising Location Manager for Wuthering Heights, said: "It was a process finding that, because it needed to feel like a bit of a landmark, that the children rush to in the rain, and then the adults go back to. So we shot in Kent, and then we travelled, this travelling circus of trucks, up to South Yorkshire."

Wentworth Woodhouse has previously stood in for the Royal Academy in London for Mike Leigh's Mr Turner. And for Oscar winning feature film, Darkest Hour, the Whistlejacket room was used as interior of Buckingham Palace. The famous Marble Saloon also played host to the Downton Abbey movie.

Wuthering Heights is also not the first film to choose a Wentworth folly either. For example, Hoober Stand became "Santa's magic postbox" in the 2014 British Christmas comedy film, Get Santa, starring Jim Broadbent and Stephen Graham.

Wentworth Woodhouse website

Images: Warner Bros.

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News: Fundraising begins for unique holiday let inside one of the largest and most famous 18th century houses in England

A leading preservation and heritage charity has begun fundraising for plans to create a "truly elegant place to stay" within the historic mansion at Wentworth Woodhouse in Rotherham.

Founded in 1965, The Landmark Trust works to save historic buildings in danger of being lost forever. Sensitive restoration offers "landmarks" a new future by making them available to everyone for self-catering holidays. The lettings income from the 200+ extraordinary buildings in the charity's care supports their maintenance and survival in our landscape, culture and society.

When Wentworth Woodhouse Preservation Trust (WWPT) took over the Grade I listed mansion in 2017, decades of neglect had left one of the finest homes in the UK in a sorry state.

The roof of the south wing, known as the "Bedlam" wing, was one of the first to be tackled when £7.5m of Capital Works/emergency repairs began in late 2018. But whilst repairs having taken place to the exterior of the South Tower, the interior is in urgent need of repair.

The Landmark Trust has worked out the details of a scheme to take on a long lease from the WWPT to make a Landmark (a holiday let) for two in the South Tower.

Rothbiz reported on the plans fro holiday lets in 2024 and now a campaign is now underway to raise £500,000.

Work by both trusts has uncovered that in around 1770, the upper chamber of the South Tower was adopted by Mary, 1st Marchioness of Rockingham, as her parlour. She had it decorated with fine plasterwork and wall plaques on Classical themes, and the scheme is an important survival of feminine taste in the Georgian period.

The plan is to use the finest craftspeople and materials to recreate the glory of the South Tower and to recreate the decorative finishes of the upper chamber to as they were in the 1770s. The parlour would become the drawing and dining room, and a bedroom, kitchen and bathroom would be created in the adjacent rooms. The approach would be via a handsome private footbridge from the elevated rear terrace.

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Proposals also include heating and hot water being delivered via an Air Source Heat Pump sited on the adjacent roof, to feed underfloor heating in the upper chamber and cast-iron radiators in the other rooms. The large windows in the upper chamber will be given slimline heritage glazing.

Updates from the Landmark Trust explain: "The glorious parlour used by the Marchioness of Rockingham needs urgent action. Inside the secluded South Tower, the once opulent plasterwork is crumbling and an exquisitely decorated ceiling has been lost to water ingress.

"With your help we will repair the grandest room with traditional 18th-century skills using the finest craftspeople, to evoke its character in its prime.

"This secluded eyrie in one of England’s most notable houses will, we hope, become a truly elegant place to stay."

Caroline Stanford, a historian at the Landmark Trust, said: "Acting in partnership with the Wentworth Woodhouse Preservation Trust, Landmark has been developing this project for some time and we've just launched our appeal for the restoration of this secluded hideaway.

"The Landmark Trust aims to restore the upper chamber to how it looked under the second Marchioness in the 1770s and to convert adjoining rooms on the upper floor of the quadrant as bedroom, bathroom, and kitchen.

"This will turn these rooms into a magnificent and very special place that anyone can book for a self-catering holiday. There'll also be regular access to the upper chamber for day visitors. If the money can be raised, we can be on site in summer 2026. But the Landmark Trust needs your help to do so. If you can, please support the appeal to ensure the revival and survival of this unique part of the Wentworth Woodhouse story."

Landmark Trust website Wentworth Woodhouse website

Images: WWPT / Landmark Trust

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News: Plans to expand café capacity at Wentworth Woodhouse

Plans have been carefully developed to bring more of Wentworth Woodhouse back into use.

The Grade I listed mansion in Rotherham is owned and operated by Wentworth Woodhouse Preservation Trust (WWPT) which is overseeing a huge regeneration project focusing on delivering high quality, creative and relevant visitor experience.

The building has more than 300 rooms but also includes a number of courts and courtyards. The 2018 masterplan identified parts of the house which could be brought back into use, including areas such as Bedlam Wing, North Wing and areas surrounding Basin Court.

The popular Butler's Pantry Café on the ground floor of the house is a warm and welcoming environment, perfect for a light-bite with friends or a sweet treat.

New plans have been submitted that would improve access to Basin Court which is next to the existing café.

The Court is currently accessed via a sash window which has been previously adapted with the addition of stable doors at its base and concrete steps.

Donald Insall Architects have drawn up plans for the installation of a ramp to the courtyard for use by members of the public. No further works are proposed and the existing sash window / door configuration remains unaffected.

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The plans for listed building consent say that: "Currently, the café experiences problems with over-crowding and large queues which take up corridor space during busy periods. Therefore, the proposals aim to enable to the use of Basin Court to provide more useable space for the café, alleviating overcrowding without causing harm to the existing fabric.

"The proposals will allow for Basin Court to be brought back into use, which is currently unutilised, and will increase available capacity to the café area.

"The proposals will preserve the architectural and historic interest of Wentworth Woodhouse, allowing for continued occupation in a sensitive and sustainable manner."

Replacing the sash and stable door with a full height door was considered too intrusive. Instead work is planned to overhaul, redecorate, and introduce minor amendments to the door to allow for improved access and weatherproofing detail.

The plans hint at the history of Basin Court. Studying historic maps and plans, experts have ascertained that the underground spaces of Wentworth Woodhouse were mostly used as storage cellars for wine and champagne. By 1843 drains and supply water pipes were installed to form a 'water cellar' which appeared to form part of a wider, more complex water system for the house. According to historic plans, water appears to have been collected and drained from Basin Court.

As part of the significant regeneration of the stables at Wentworth Woodhouse, planning permission was secured in 2022 to convert part of the vast stable block for use as a production kitchen and another part for a 120 cover café catering for visitors as they arrive and leave the Grade I listed architectural jewel.

An award-winning restoration of the Camellia House provides visitors to the site with fine dining options.

Wentworth Woodhouse website

Images: WWPT / Donald Insall Architects

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News: £1m arts funding secured for Rotherham

Flux Rotherham has been awarded £1m by the Arts Council to deliver more grassroots-led cultural experiences.

Having secured £2m in 2019, Flux has been part of the Creative People and Places programme and co-creates community art projects and events across the borough.

The latest funding will cover the next three years of the programme that aims to bring together community, grassroots and cultural organisations as partners to take the lead in choosing, creating and taking part in creative and cultural activities. They empower local people to pursue the art they want, where they live.

Helen Jones, Programme Director at Flux Rotherham, said: "At Flux Rotherham, we’re aiming to craft programmes and approaches where art is within everyone’s reach. Deeply rooted in Rotherham’s community spirit, we’re using the power of the arts to co-create a cultural movement that celebrates diversity, nurtures personal growth, and builds lasting connections between people.

"I want to say a huge thank you to our communities, partners, artists, Community Steering Panel, and consortium for their creativity and generosity. Their collaboration and commitment make everything we do possible, and we’re looking forward to continuing the journey and shaping something truly special for Rotherham over the next three years."

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Flux has been involved with town centre events such as the Museum of the Moon and the Otherham light festival, the WE Wonder Festival at Wentworth Woodhouse and exhibitions at Clifton Park Museum, as well as being key attendees at the Rotherham Show.

The funding is made possible thanks to National Lottery players. Every National Lottery ticket purchased generates money for good causes and enables people in villages, towns, and cities up and down the country to get access to cultural experiences where they live.

Auriel Majumdar, Independent Chairperson at Flux Rotherham, said: "This is brilliant news for Rotherham. Over the last three years we’ve seen incredible creativity from people of all ages and backgrounds, and this new investment means we can continue to make culture part of everyday life across our communities.”

Rebecca Ball, Area Director, North, Arts Council England, added: “The Creative People and Places programme empowers our communities across the North to design and shape the cultural offer on their doorstep. Since 2012 we have seen the transformative impact of these projects on the people and places. I’m so happy that we are able to continue to fund this remarkable programme and I am delighted that from 2026 we will be welcoming four new projects in the North to the programme.

"I can’t wait to see how this investment will continue to inspire and engage. This programme would not be possible without the support of all the people who play the National Lottery, as it is thanks to them that we are able to fund this life changing work.”

Flux Rotherham website

Images: Flux Rotherham

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News: Gallery Town refresh for Rotherham

In 2025, Gallery Town will officially relaunch across Rotherham town centre, bringing a fresh wave of public art to the streets, with vibrant new artworks appearing on buildings and landmarks.

Rothbiz reported in May on FLUX Rotherham, the Creative People and Places programme which co-creates community art projects and events across the borough, reimagining of Gallery Town, which will see new artworks on display at some of the town’s best-known buildings and places, including All Saints Square, the Three Cranes pub on High Street and the Civic Theatre.

One of the most prominent installations will appear on the side of Rotherham Council's Bailey House, visible from the A630 (Centenary Way). This key site will honour the memory of Daniel Barnett, a gifted young artist and former student of Thomas Rotherham College and Rotherham College of Arts and Technology.

Before his untimely passing, Daniel had been accepted to study at Goldsmiths, University of London. A passionate advocate for cancer awareness, he appeared on national news channels, using his voice to campaign for teenage cancer support. He was also honoured as an Ambassador of Rotherham.

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Daniel's artwork, currently displayed as a striking 6m x 6m piece on Bailey House, reflects his deep creative spirit. His work has been shown at prestigious venues including Christie’s and Frieze Art Fair and is held in private collections.

In partnership with Daniel’s family, Gallery Town and FLUX Rotherham are launching a legacy art programme in his name. This annual opportunity invites young artists from Rotherham, aged 16–25, to submit uplifting, joyful 2D artworks for large-scale public display. Each year, one artwork will be selected for installation on Bailey House, ensuring Daniel’s legacy lives on by inspiring and supporting new talent.

Helen Jones, Programme Director of FLUX Rotherham, said: “Over the summer, people will start to see new artworks popping up across Rotherham, as we’re busy working behind the scenes with artists, community groups and schools to create new original works. We’re really thrilled to collaborate with Daniel’s family on commissioning a special piece for Bailey House, drawing on Rotherham’s amazing young talented artists.”

In All Saints' Square a new piece called Rotherham Remix is set to be on display. It was created by 25 students from Bramley Sunnyside Junior School with Ian Kirkpatrick whilst the contemporary artist was exhibiting at Wentworth Woodhouse. The artwork features flying fish, dragons, and robots in a vibrant vision of Rotherham.

Flux Rotherham has secured funding from the likes of the Arts Council and via Rotherham Children’s Capital of Culture.

Gallery Town website

Images: Google Maps

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News: Runners and riders heading to Wentworth Woodhouse

Fresh from hosting an international flower show, the grand surroundings of Wentworth Woodhouse in Rotherham are set to play host to two mass participation sporting events later this year.

Earlier this month, the RHS Flower Show had the Grade-I listed house as a backdrop. This popular event for gardening enthusiasts and families alike attracted thousands of visitors for the iconic floral displays, talks and tips, markets, stalls, children’s activities as well as delicious food and drink.

Next month, the Wentworth Woodhouse Grand Prix has been added to the British cycling calendar.

On Sunday August 31, Wentworth will play host to a major cycle race around the estate that starts and ends on the beautiful East Front.

The event is organised by British Cycling Yorkshire Region who have pedigree in organising key races including the Ryedale Grand Prix 19 times. Switching to South Yorkshire and working in partnership with Rotherham Council and sponsors, Grasscrete, the event, which runs from 7:30am until 6pm, will take in local roads in Barnsley and Rotherham plus a 4km stretch of private road that passes through the Wentworth Woodhouse estate.

A women's event (five laps = 60.15 miles / 96.80 kilometres) and an open event (eight laps = 97.43 miles / 156.80 kilometres) are taking place.

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Wentworth Woodhouse is also the new host of the Rotherham 10k.

Organisers, who have previously used Clifton Park and roads around the town centre for the event, recently confirmed the move.

The event is set to take place on October 5.

The race will exit the estate onto Cortworth Lane and Main Street through the village of Wentworth, looping back onto Cortworth Lane in the direction of Nether Haugh, to turn right on to the Whins in the direction of Greasbrough. A right turn back into the estate will then take runners past the lakes and up to the finish.

British Cycling Yorkshire Region website
Rotherham 10k website

Images: British Cycling

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News: Tourism boosted Rotherham economy by half a billion pounds in 2024

The latest visitor figures have been released by South Yorkshire Local Visitor Economy Partnership showing significant growth across the region, especially in Rotherham.

An estimated 36.3 million tourism visits were made to South Yorkshire in 2024 bringing a £3.7 billion boost to the region’s visitor economy. This included 32.3 million tourism visits made by day visitors, showing a 5% increase on the previous year, and a 10.5% increase since 2022. Visitors staying in the region were estimated to have spent 9.4m nights in local accommodation.

The data commissioned via the South Yorkshire Local Visitor Economy Partnership and processed by Global Tourism Solution’s STEAM Report, also revealed that visitor activity and spend supports more than 32,101 full time equivalent jobs locally, making it a key sector within the region.

For Rotherham, A total of £509m was generated directly and indirectly within the local economy through visitor and tourism business expenditure, with the economic impact 12.2% up on the previous year.

The stats showed that there were 5.35 million tourism visits to Rotherham in 2024, up 7.5%, and that visitor activity and spend supports more than 4,543 full time equivalent jobs in the borough.

For comparison, in South Yorkshire’s other town, Barnsley, there were 3.9 million tourism visits (up 0.2%), with £382m generated directly and indirectly within the local economy through visitor and tourism business expenditure (up 6.1.%).

Sheffield welcomed 17.4 million visitors, up 4.8% from 2023, generating £1.85 billion – a 10% increase on the previous year.

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Rotherham is home to various visitor attractions such as Gulliver's Valley, Magna, Wentworth Woodhouse and Grimm & Co.

Rothbiz reported last year that The Reytons’ sell-out homecoming gig in Rotherham provided a big boost for the local economy. A study by Sheffield Hallam University revealed that the July 2024 event contributed an impressive £1m to Rotherham’s economy and £1.36m benefit for South Yorkshire.

It marked the largest outdoor music event ever held at Clifton Park, attracting around 20,000 people.

Following a £1.9m refurbishment and upgrade programme, Magna Science Adventure Centre saw annual visitor numbers increase by 20%, going from 87,622 in 2023 to 104,833 in 2024.

2024 also marked the opening of Forge Island which brought a cinema back to Rotherham town centre for the first time in over 30 years.

This year the RHS Flower Show recently visited Rotherham at Wentworth Woodhouse. With the Grade-I listed house as the backdrop, this popular event for gardening enthusiasts and families alike attracted thousands of visitors for the iconic floral displays, talks and tips, markets, stalls, children’s activities as well as delicious food and drink.

2025 also sees Rotherham home to the Children’s Capital of Culture. Created by the children and young people of Rotherham, the festival has already been a huge success with a full programme of events and activities featuring music, dance, drama, film and exhibitions.

Sarah McLeod, CEO of Wentworth Woodhouse and Chair of the South Yorkshire Local Visitor Economy Partnership, said “The STEAM data is invaluable for us a partnership and for the wider visitor economy as it clearly highlights the vital role of this sector in South Yorkshire. By working collaboratively, we can drive sustainable growth, ensuring that—now more than ever—we encourage visitors to stay longer and spend more with our local businesses.”

South Yorkshire’s Mayor, Oliver Coppard, said: “We are home to an incredible array of culture, creativity and character. From world-class festivals and iconic sporting events to museums that tell our story and music that’s known around the world - we are a place that inspires.

“Our heritage and culture don’t just enrich our lives and shape who we are - they drive our economy too. With a £3.7billion boost and over 32,000 jobs supported, the impact of arts, culture, and tourism is clear: when we invest in our people our places and our stories, we create growth and opportunity, and we build hope.”

The South Yorkshire Local Visitor Economy Partnership (SYLVEP) is a collaboration between Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council, City of Doncaster Council, Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council, Sheffield City Council, South Yorkshire Combined Mayoral Authority (SYMCA) and the private sector. Its purpose is to work collectively on shared priorities and targets to foster the growth of the local visitor economy.

Images: The Reytons / Magna

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News: Local links on show as RHS comes to Wentworth Woodhouse

The prestigious RHS Wentworth Woodhouse Flower Show opens this week in Rotherham and there are plenty of local links for the thousands of visitors to seek out.

Taking place between July 16 - 20 2025 in the grounds of the Grade-I listed mansion in Rotherham, the show is part of changes made by the RHS to its world-class shows that celebrate the best of UK horticulture, design and talent, which sees them taken to new locations around the country.

Local lad, Lee Bestall, will be showcasing his skills as a garden designer with "Hazelwood Barn."

Lee, who grew up in Aston and is a previous Winner of Grand Designs "Garden Designer of The Year," thanked his team on the eve of the show. He said: "As a designer, you come up with this idea but it's how you execute it and make it into a garden - I'm honoured to work with a group of people who want to work behind the scenes to make my dream come true.

"I feel this garden is a part of me, and when you put a part of you out there to be judged and criticized by judges and members of the public, it's a real difficult thing to do."

The hard work has paid off with Hazelwood Barn – Reimagined by Bestall & Co, earning a gold medal from the RHS judges. The success follows on from three medals at the world famous Chelsea Flower Show.

Built almost entirely from reclaimed and recycled materials, Lee said that it was "not cobbled together like some sort of rustic scrapyard" but instead showcases how how a small space can be transformed into a sustainable and beautiful garden that doesn’t cost the earth, by using some basic design principles, reclaimed materials and some locally made products.

A father-and-son team from Rotherham-based CGM Landscapes (Yorkshire) Ltd. have reached an exciting milestone after being selected to construct the Garden Whispers show garden for the RHS show.

This prestigious opportunity sees CGM Landscapes appointed as the UK contractor for the internationally acclaimed design duo, Hyeyoung Choi and Yungil Choi from Korea. Known for their poetic and artistic approach to landscape architecture, the Chois picked Thorpe Hesley-based CGM to bring their vision to life on Yorkshire soil — marking the company’s debut at an RHS event.

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The Garden Whispers design — sponsored by Hyundai Engineering & Construction — combines natural shapes with modern garden design. Featuring elegant white sculptural poles, curved concrete platforms, and beautifully arranged planting, the garden invites visitors into a tranquil space of movement, stillness, and reflection. After the show, the garden will be relocated to a housing development in Seoul, Korea.

Lee and Lewis Nuttall, the father-and-son duo behind CGM Landscapes, have worked alongside a Korean team to construct the garden on the South Terrace of Wentworth Woodhouse. “To be chosen to build such an ambitious and beautiful garden at a show of this calibre—and right here in our home region—is a real honour,” said Lewis Nuttall.

The company added that the collaboration places CGM Landscapes firmly on the international stage, shining a spotlight on local craftsmanship at one of the most anticipated new RHS shows in the UK calendar.

Garden Whispers has been awarded a silver-gilt medal by RHS judges.

The Greenfingers Charity will also be making its debut at the show where it will present the deeply meaningful "Together Garden" before relocating it to become a permanent fixture at Bluebell Wood Children’s Hospice, also in Rotherham.

Visitors will be invited to see the garden in full bloom, experiencing its immersive, serene planting and thoughtful layout, all designed to inspire reflection, connection and comfort. After the show it will be reimagined as a permanent garden outside one of the hospice’s bereavement bedrooms and a peaceful space for families to make memories and find moments of solace.

Together Garden was created by Phil Hirst and Joanne Charlton to a unique design brief: to create a space not for children, but specifically for bereaved parents and loved ones.

The garden has also been awarded a silver-gilt medal by RHS judges.

Also on display will be the new centuries-old walled garden at the Grade-I listed mansion that has been transformed into a sensory rose garden in memory of Margeret Vickers - a remarkable Rotherham woman whose passion was gardening.

The rose garden features over 170 David Austin roses, 50% of which were donated by the company as part of its Planting Partnership scheme.

Sheffield’s heritage blacksmiths Ridgeway Forge restored the garden’s rusting railings and. Grantham-based Heritage Masonry Contracts Ltd repaired the walls and other brickwork. The rest of the work was tackled by the Trust’s gardeners and volunteers.

Wentworth Woodhouse website
CGM Landscapes (Yorkshire) Ltd website
Bluebell Wood website

Images: RHS

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News: Restored Camellia House at Wentworth Woodhouse wins major European heritage award

Europe’s most prestigious cultural heritage awards has given a major accolade to Rotherham country house Wentworth Woodhouse’s restored Grade II* listed Camellia House, which is home to some of the oldest surviving camellias in the Western world.

The European Heritage Awards / Europa Nostra Awards has declared the project as one of its 30 outstanding winners from 24 countries across the Continent.

The Camellia House was the only project in the UK and one of only three winners outside of the EU Creative Europe Programme, which co-funds the awards.

The building had been derelict for 50 years before a sympathetic refurbishment by heritage architects Donald Insall Associates transformed it from a roofless ruin to a public tearoom and heritage venue in 2024.

Rothbiz reported how the building was no longer on Historic England's Heritage at Risk Register following the completion of a £5m restoration project.

Its nationally important camellia collection, described by horticulturists as a “library full of first editions”, was carefully tended throughout the construction process.

Europa Nostra is the most representative heritage civil society network in Europe. The awards identify and promote best practice in the conservation and enhancement of cultural heritage, stimulate an exchange of knowledge throughout Europe and increase public appreciation of Europe’s cultural heritage.

The Awards Jury, composed of 11 heritage experts from across Europe, said: “This restoration project removed The Camellia House from the Heritage At Risk register. The revival of a rare camellia collection and the integration of energy-efficient features demonstrate a balanced approach to horticultural, architectural and environmental heritage.

“By restoring cultural and social functions in an area affected by economic hardship, it contributes to regional regeneration through heritage.”

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Grade I listed Wentworth Woodhouse, built for the Marquesses of Rockingham in the 18th Century, sits in South Yorkshire, an area of social and economic deprivation.

The entire site was in a state of decay when it was bought by Wentworth Woodhouse Preservation Trust (WWPT) in 2017 for £7m.

The Camellia House in its gardens is a historically significant building. Its north side dates from 1738 and was built as a tea room for Lady Rockingham, wife of the 1st Marquess.

It features an early 19th century orangery to the south, added to house the family’s growing collection of camellias which had recently begun to arrive from China. The rarity and age of the camellias which remain was only recently discovered.

The restoration was funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund, Historic England and other contributors.

The Preservation Trust’s brief for conservation architects Donald Insall Associates was to sympathetically repair the derelict Georgian building and incorporate sustainability and energy efficiency, all while protecting the historic camellias and ensuring they continue to thrive in their newly-renovated setting.

Traditional craftsmanship and heritage conservation methods were integrated with low-carbon upgrades: breathable insulation, a rainwater harvesting system, and underfloor heating powered by a ground-source heat pump. The project has been described as setting “a new benchmark for the standards of sustainable design which can be incorporated into heritage and listed buildings.”

Sarah McLeod OBE, CEO at WWPT, said: “We are bursting with pride to be heading to Brussels to receive this highly-respected European heritage award.

“An exceptional conservation team collaborated to take our Camellia House from a roofless wreck in danger of collapsing, back to its original grace and beauty - and vastly improved its sustainability and green credentials.

“The building, and the historically-important camellias which inhabit it, now have a long and lasting future. The Camellia House is now a thriving cafe and boosting income for the Trust.”

Dorian Proudfoot, Chief Executive of Donald Insall Associates, added: “Conservation is only successful if it enables a building or place's continued use and vitality. The story of the Camellia House, an important part of a wider transformation at Wentworth Woodhouse, is an example of long-term custodianship that not only revived what was an abandoned ruin, but was also a catalyst for lasting social impact.

“It is incredibly rewarding to see our client's vision to create an inclusive, world-class destination being recognised in Europe's most prestigious heritage award.”

Wentworth Woodhouse website

Images: WWPT / Donald Insall Associates / Simon Kennedy

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News: Dame Julie Kenny legacy fund for Wentworth Woodhouse already at £100,000

The trust at a Rotherham stately home has found a way of ensuring Dame Julie Kenny will always play a crucial role in protecting her beloved Wentworth Woodhouse.

Kenny played a pivotal role in the fight to secure its purchase in 2017 and, as Chair of its Preservation Trust for eight years, her unwavering dedication helped to kickstart a 20-year programme of regeneration for the house.

Her sudden death in February at the age of 67 sent shockwaves throughout Yorkshire and beyond, and left the team at the Grade I listed country house heartbroken.

With the approval of her family, The Dame Julie Kenny Legacy Fund has been launched. It will keep her memory burning bright - and ensure the historic site she set out to transform into a ‘house of opportunity’ for South Yorkshire’s communities has a solid future.

Dame Julie was renowned for giving her time, generosity and passion to the people and causes of her native South Yorkshire and it is hoped the love and respect she engendered will enable the fund to run permanently as her lasting legacy.

It will provide the Trust with critical financial support. Unlike almost all other great historic homes, the site did not come with the cushion of an endowment to support the Trust’s work.

In a short space of time the total on the JustGiving page has reached £100,297 with £3,118 in Gift Aid.

Sarah McLeod OBE, the Trust's CEO, had worked alongside Dame Julie from 2017. She commented: “Julie had an unwavering vision for Wentworth Woodhouse. She saw what many people couldn’t; its potential to become a beacon of opportunity and change for the region and town she loved.

“Her vision extended far beyond restoring this magnificent house. She truly believed it could become a catalyst for change for people from all walks of life. She wanted it to be regenerated so it could create opportunities through education, community engagement and the preservation of our local heritage.

“Her leadership saw us make impressive progress, but the work is far from over. Most of our 300-plus rooms remain derelict. It will take at least a decade to raise the many millions needed so the site can reach its full potential.

“With no endowment to sustain us, each year the Trust operates under immense financial pressure and this impacts on the education and community engagement programmes that Julie was so passionate about.

“The fund will be Julie’s legacy. It means she can support us in the years to come, just as she did in life. Every contribution will play a vital role in continuing her vision.”

The trust is working closely with Julie’s husband Iain and her three children Oliver, Laurence and Charlotte to jointly manage the fund and agree how the funds will be used.

On behalf of the family, Laurence Kenny said: “Our mother was a truly exceptional woman, who achieved so much in her lifetime, and remained fiercely proud of South Yorkshire. She provided support and energy to so many organisations and good causes. Since her untimely death, we have received hundreds of messages from people telling us how she touched their lives.

“We hope everyone will help us to honour her memory and her vision for Wentworth Woodhouse. Her name is synonymous with the house. Her Legacy Fund will ensure it remains so and will provide vital long-term support, as the trust continues the work that meant so much to her - restoring the house so it can enrich the lives of people across South Yorkshire.”

Donations can be made at a dedicated Donation Station at Wentworth Woodhouse, situated in the lobby between the Pillared Hall and the cafe, and via the Just Giving Link: https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/damejuliekenny

Images: WWPT

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News: New canvases for updated Rotherham Gallery Town

Bramley Sunnyside Junior School Year 6 pupils are contributing to a big art project in Rotherham town centre, thanks to a thought-provoking art exhibition at Wentworth Woodhouse.

The 25 youngsters, who are completing their Art Awards, were invited to the grand Rotherham country house to meet contemporary artist Ian Kirkpatrick and tour his ICONOCLASH exhibition, which is making a bold statement at the mansion until June 29.

Afterwards, they got the opportunity to make their own iconic murals. Elements will feature in a new, bold and graphic artwork Ian is creating for Rotherham town centre later this year, as part of Rotherham’s Children’s Capital of Culture festival year.

Ian’s vibrant ICONOCLASH sculptures, huge paintings and tapestries clash symbols from the past with those from the modern world. Egyptian hieroglyphics and images from Greek mythology feature alongside graffiti, emojis, instantly-recognisable cartoon characters, iconic buildings and logos.

Ian explained the messages and meanings in his work to inspire the youngsters before they headed to the mansion’s Low Drawing Room to get hands-on in a workshop funded by Place Partnerships through Arts Council England.

FLUX Rotherham, the Creative People and Places programme which co-creates community art projects and events across the borough, asked the pupils to create eight giant landscapes depicting their vision for an eco-friendly, futuristic Rotherham.

Their canvases featured iconic Rotherham buildings, landmarks and symbols alongside fantasy figures and elements of nature.

Their creations will become part of the reimagining of Rotherham’s innovative arts project Gallery Town, which will see new artworks on display at some of the town’s best-known buildings and places, including All Saints Square, the Three Cranes pub on High Street and the Civic Theatre.

Gallery Town is currently working with local children and young people to create the artworks and a new consortium led by Flux Rotherham will develop a public art trail.

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At the ICONOCLASH workshop, Isla Nattrass, Emy Graysonand Gracie Cliff created a mural promoting equality and diversity.

Said Isla, 11: “We painted a rainbow tree, a symbol of growing, in the middle of a crossroads, showing the different paths you can take in life. It’s about equality and diversity. Sometimes people aren’t treated nicely, because of the way they look, or because they are a girl, or a boy, or transgender or LGBTQIA+. We think it’s really important for everyone to feel they have a place in the world and that Rotherham is somewhere where people are included.”

Joey Murray, Leo Taylor and Archie Garrett decided to include a neon-yellow version of iconic Rotherham monument Keppel’s Column in their artwork. Said Joey, 10: We want to say that Rotherham is a comfortable and homely place and that it has lots of interesting things to see. I’ve learned a lot today. I didn’t know about Keppel’s column, and now I want to go and visit, and I’ve enjoyed exploring Wentworth Woodhouse and Ian’s art.”

Sofia Traves said: “I have loved seeing ICONOCLASH and the workshop. I love art and getting what is in my imagination down on paper. Our poster says that we are Rotherham and we are proud of it.”

Artist Ian commented: “Working with the students was an amazing experience. Their enthusiasm and curiosity is reflected in the creative, innovative iconography they designed in our workshop. I will be excited to see their work in Rotherham as part of the Gallery Town.”

Head teacher Laura Robson said:” We feel very privileged to be part of this incredible experience. Creativity is very much at the heart of our school and we are very proud of our art curriculum. Learning and working alongside Ian was an unforgettable moment for our artists to inspire their future passions.

“Creating art at the beautiful Wentworth Woodhouse was iconic and added to the extra-special dimension of the ICONOCLASH workshop. We can’t wait to see how their creations are showcased in Rotherham.”

Gallery Town website
Wentworth Woodhouse website

Images: WWPT

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News: Business community comes together to champion social value in Rotherham

An event highlighting social value in Rotherham inspired community collaboration at Wentworth Woodhouse.

More than 100 people from South Yorkshire businesses came together as Esh Construction delivered a networking event to lead the conversation on meaningful social value delivery in Rotherham.

Esh’s Social Value Manager for Yorkshire, Megan Roberts, was joined by Barnsley & Rotherham Chamber of Commerce Chief Executive Carrie Sudbury to host the event at Wentworth Woodhouse, which enabled conversations to go past the discussion of social value, with representatives from the South Yorkshire Careers Hub, Rotherham Hospice, Skills Street and the Work-wise Foundation, among others, coming together to celebrate successes and focus on ‘doing the doing.’

Megan opened the conversation by discussing Esh’s Constructing Local strategy which has been built around six key E’s – economy, education, engagement, employment, even greener and employees. Alongside, guest speakers Carole Foster, Fundraising Manager at Wentworth Woodhouse Preservation Trust and Simon Hartley, Skills Consultant for RNN Group UK shared aligned values throughout the morning.

Megan said: “It was incredible heading down to the main networking area to see all our exhibitors in deep conversation and many of our visitors gaining new contacts. I am so grateful to our key speakers and exhibitors for getting involved and making the event a success.”

In Rotherham alone, Esh Construction has delivered £2.1m worth of social value return on investment across its schemes since 2023. With community engagement being built across employment, education and the third sector, Chamber Chief Executive Carrie acknowledged there are always opportunities for more businesses to capitalise. She said: “The Chamber would encourage all businesses – any shape or size – to always collaborate and have those conversations. Events like today are so important to the borough, its people, the voluntary sectors, to service providers, to retail and to hospitality – the golden thread, through all of this is collaboration and conversation.

“Esh have done an incredible job already for the local region. And Megan has done a wonderful job in her role, not just today but on a long-term basis and she shared some incredible stories through the event.”

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Working as a Skills Consultant at RNN Group, which supports 10,000 students across five colleges at any one time, Simon Hartley urged businesses to up their game on social value, explaining that it takes a two-way street for a real impact to be made. He said: “At RNN our aim is to get students into the industries they want to work in so it’s about matching the employee with the right class to get that support.

“Events like today not only raise awareness of the great things happening in Rotherham and South Yorkshire but they showcase how businesses can benefit too. Social value isn’t just about charities doing something to help learners, it can also aid businesses – it’s a two-way street.”

The historic setting for the networking session wasn’t lost on the 100+ businesses present, but it was sobering to hear from fundraising manager at Wentworth Woodhouse Carole Foster, who highlighted that hosting the community event would help the charity attract further business support.

She said: “Bringing different organisations and businesses together is vital, especially for a charity like ours. We are just at the beginning of our journey – to create a thriving community hub and restore a heritage site for future generations. While visitors see a grand building, they often don’t realise that three-quarters of it, hidden from view, is still in urgent need of restoration.

“What stood out from the event is the strong desire to collaborate, which is something I truly love about Rotherham. Having worked in the town for many years across various charities and community organisations, I’ve seen firsthand how people come together to support one another—and that’s what makes this community special.”

A key message of togetherness and collaboration resounded through the Grade I listed country house on the outskirts of Rotherham, from the outset, with a heartfelt round of applause paying homage to Dame Julie Kenny, who passed away earlier this week after a short illness – Dame Julie played a key role in charity SAVE Britain’s Heritage buying and restoring Wentworth Woodhouse and has been a prominent community champion across Yorkshire.

Attendees were invited to sign up for Esh’s first Constructing Careers programme in the region, through which businesses can offer interviews for candidates to help provide positive destinations.

Esh Construction website
BR Chamber website

Images: BR Chamber

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News: Dame Julie Kenny, champion of Rotherham business, dies at 67

Dame Julie Kenny DBE DL, one of the Yorkshire region’s most dynamic and respected businesswomen and the champion of Wentworth Woodhouse, has died suddenly at the age of 67.

A mother of three, grandmother of eight, wife to Iain and step-mother to his three children, she died after a short illness on Friday, February 21, at Doncaster Royal Infirmary.

Her success as a self-made entrepreneur, and the numerous accolades and honorary roles bestowed on her, made her an inspirational figure across every sector she touched.

Dame Julie was down-to-earth but aimed high, smashing through glass ceilings and pulling others through at the same time. She often said that surviving a difficult childhood gave her the motivation to succeed.

Leaving her Sheffield home at 18, Julie travelled to the opposite end of the country and found a job as a junior secretary in a Cornish law firm. Ten years of part time study led to the second career as a lawyer.

Returning to South Yorkshire with a belief in a new security system, Julie set up Pyronix with her then husband in 1986. Becoming a single mother of three on the break-up of her marriage, she grew Pyronix, which is still based at Hellaby in Rotherham, into an award-winning organisation supplying 65 countries. When she sold the company in 2016 its turnover was £25m.

She was awarded a CBE in 2002 for her services to industry in Yorkshire and Humberside and made an Honorary Freewoman of Rotherham in 2021.

Other roles include being the chair of the first academy school in Rotherham at Maltby, taking a commisioner role at Rotherham Council, being the first female president of Rotherham Chamber of Commerce and the second Lady Master Cutler in the history of the Cutlers' Company, and being a High Sherriff for South Yorkshire.

Dame Julie's business acumen was also harnessed with director roles at growing Rotherham companies: AES Engineering; SBD Apparel; and IntelliAM AI.

In recent years it was spearheading work to rescue Wentworth Woodhouse, Rotherham’s Grade I Listed masterpiece, from decay and decline, which she described as "one of the most inspiring, yet hardest, challenges of my life.”

She was made a Dame Commander of the British Empire in 2019 in recognition of her five-year campaign with SAVE Britain's Heritage to buy the house in 2017 and her ongoing leadership of Wentworth Woodhouse Preservation Trust (WWPT).

Tim Cooke, Deputy Chairman of the Trust, said: “Dame Julie Kenny and Wentworth Woodhouse became synonymous with one another. Her personal impact on the house has been enormous.

“Julie chaired the board of trustees and committed her time and numerous talents on a daily basis. It would be nowhere near its current status without her.

“Everyone involved - employees, volunteers, trustees and patrons - will feel her loss very keenly. Our best way of remembering Julie is to continue our work on the house that she loved so much, and which is a monument to her remarkable personality and capabilities.”

Rotherham MP and Defence Secretary John Healey MP, who had known and worked closely with Dame Julie for nearly 30 years, paid tribute. “Julie was a truly remarkable woman who was proud of her roots and wanted to make life better for others,” he said.

“I first met her when I visited her Pyronix factory. She knew all her staff and they adored her.

“Over three decades, Julie took on a list of public life roles as long as your arm - at local, regional and national levels. She took on challenges others would shy away from, with a commitment that was always total.

“She became President of the Rotherham Chamber of Commerce to rescue it from the brink of bankruptcy and rebuild it into one of the country’s leading chambers.

“She became Trust director of Doncaster Children’s Services when the Government took it out of the council’s hands and in 2010 became Chair of Yorkshire Forward to wind it up after a change in government.

“She brought brilliant business insight, plain common sense and a warm personal touch to every organisation, and she inspired those she worked with to achieve more.

“Julie’s sudden untimely death leaves a massive gap in the lives of so many of us who knew her and public life is now so much poorer without her.”

Carrie Sudbury, Chief Executive, Barnsley & Rotherham Chamber said: “Julie will be remembered as a progressive visionary who brought out the very best in everyone she met. She will be fondly remembered by many in the Chamber community for her tireless work, drive and sheer will to succeed, often against all the odds. My thoughts and sympathies are with her family and loved ones during this sad time.

“From the very beginning of her business career, Julie didn’t just break through glass ceilings; she smashed them, often in her own inimitable way. She was proof that with drive, energy and self-belief that anything could be possible.

“Julie always brought out the best in the people she met. She was a source of inspiration, guidance and support, particularly when it came to nurturing the talents of women in business, always on hand to help those who followed in her footsteps and she will be greatly missed.

“Perhaps her true legacy isn’t just in the business success she achieved during her lifetime, nor in the good causes she passionately supported, or even in the transformational projects she delivered which played such key roles in reshaping South Yorkshire. She will be remembered for the lives she changed, the opportunities she created and the belief that anything can be possible, which she inspired in so many.

"Her leadership and dedication to making South Yorkshire a better place to live and work were inspirational. From founding Pyronix and growing it into a globally recognised company to her tireless efforts in preserving Wentworth Woodhouse, Dame Julie’s contributions to our region leave an enduring legacy in Rotherham and beyond.

"Dame Julie’s passing is a profound loss to the Rotherham and wider South Yorkshire business community. Our thoughts are with her family, friends, and all who knew her."

Images: WWPT

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News: Chair announced for South Yorkshire Local Visitor Economy Partnership

Sarah McLeod, CEO of Wentworth Woodhouse has been announced as the new chair of South Yorkshire Local Visitor Economy Partnership Advisory Group.

The South Yorkshire Local Visitor Economy Partnership is a collaboration between the South Yorkshire Combined Mayoral Authority SYMCA, Sheffield City Council, City of Doncaster Council, Rotherham MBC, and Barnsley MBC. Its purpose is to work collectively on shared priorities and targets to foster the growth of the local visitor economy.

As Chair, Sarah will establish and lead an Advisory Group made up of key stakeholders from Visitor Economy businesses across the region.

Sarah joined Wentworth Woodhouse in May 2017 as CEO to steer the regeneration of the Rotherham stately home in what was described as “arguably the UK’s greatest heritage restoration of a generation.” Seven years later and the project continues to go from strength to strength with a turnover of £3.5m a year and successfully raised funding for and delivered £30m of capital works. Earlier this year Sarah was also awarded and OBE for her services to the heritage sector.

Sarah McLeod said: “I am delighted to be announced as the Chair of the South Yorkshire Local Visitor Economy Partnership, and I look forward to the next steps which will involve recruiting members to the advisory group in the coming months. I look forward to working closely with the destination partners and VisitEngland to take the partnership forward as well as celebrating and making the most of what this region has to offer both visitors and local people.“

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Oliver Coppard, Mayor of South Yorkshire added: “I’m South Yorkshire’s biggest champion. We’re the birthplace of football and the home of snooker, we powered the Industrial Revolution and have England’s oldest national park. We celebrate art, music, and literature like nowhere else. And now through the Local Visitor Economy Partnership we have the opportunity to share our beauty, our history, our culture and our talent with the rest of the world.

“I know Sarah McCleod OBE will be a fantastic champion for South Yorkshire and will join me in shouting about how amazing South Yorkshire truly is.”

VisitEngland Director Andrew Stokes said: “I am very pleased to welcome Sarah as the new Chair of the South Yorkshire Local Visitor Economy Partnership (LVEP).

“This announcement shines a timely spotlight on the industry’s economic importance and the fantastic work underway with stakeholders across the region to grow the visitor economy. We look forward to continuing to work with the South Yorkshire LVEP, building on the region’s success and ensuring it remains a top destination for both domestic and international visitors now and in the years ahead.”

Rothbiz reported last year that the South Yorkshire Local Visitor Economy Partnership was accredited by VisitEngland. It is being led by representatives from Marketing Sheffield and sector leads from the partner authorities to deliver a plan for growth. The partnership held its inaugural stakeholder event at Magna Science Adventure Centre earlier this year which also saw the launch of the South Yorkshire Destination Management Plan.

Wentworth Woodhouse website

Images: WWPT

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News: Wentworth Woodhouse cuts quote "not relevant to the site today"

A quote which talked about the possibility of severe cuts at Wentworth Woodhouse included in a national report about how the cost of living crisis is impacting on England's heritage sector is "not relevant to the site today," confirmed bosses at the Rotherham stately home.

Rothbiz reported last week on an insight report from the Heritage Alliance, England’s largest coalition of heritage interests which looked at the economic pressures on the sector and the case for further investment.

The report said that increases in the minimum wage, costs for power, heating, and lighting has seen overall running costs at Wentworth increase from £2.339m (year end March 2023) to £2.962m (year end March 2024); an increase of approximately 26%. The Wentworth Woodhouse Preservation Trust (WWPT), the charity that runs the Grade I listed mansion has not wanted to pass rising costs on to its visitors.

In a statement, Sarah McLeod, OBE, CEO of WWPT, said: "On August 1, a post appeared briefly on X (formerly Twitter) which may have given the impression that the CEO of Wentworth Woodhouse, Sarah McLeod OBE, had made a statement on impending cuts to programming, staff levels and services.

"A quote in the post was taken from a document published by the Heritage Alliance earlier this year to lobby the Government for more heritage sector support.

"The quote from Sarah McLeod formed part of a wider report regarding the crippling rises in energy costs, the cost of living and inflation, which were impacting on Wentworth Woodhouse and other heritage sites at the time the report was written. The quote is not relevant to the site today."

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Since the publication of the report in May 2024, Wentworth Woodhouse has opened its largest ever exhibition, Beneath the Surface: George Stubbs and Contemporary Artists.

Described as its "most ambitious exhibition to date" the three month run brings seven remarkable works by George Stubbs to Grade 1-listed mansion to celebrate the 300th anniversary of the artist’s birth - and his residency at Wentworth Woodhouse in 1762.

It is now known Stubbs created seven artworks for the 2nd Marquess of Rockingham over many months in 1762. Four of these 1762 paintings have "come home" on loan from a private collection.

The exhibition, sited in the mansion’s State Rooms and free to view with a house admission ticket from until November 3.

Other events this summer included the return of outdoor music, theatre and cinema, The Great British Food Festival, WE Wonder and workshops and summer camps.

Also on display is the exhibition of Wentworth’s Coal Story, which runs until October 6, explaining how the fossil fuel industry affected the mansion’s rise and fall.

Next year, The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS), the organisers of the Chelsea Flower Show, the world’s greatest and most famous gardening event, are introducing an event in the grounds of Wentworth Woodhouse.

A major boost for the house, and tourism in Rotherham, the show is likely to compare to the RHS Flower Show Tatton Park in Cheshire that hosts around 80,000 visitors.

Wentworth Woodhouse website

Images: WWPT

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News: Job cuts warning from Wentworth Woodhouse CEO

A report highlighting how the cost of living crisis is impacting on England's heritage sector has revealed that the winter of 2024/25 poses "some very real threats" to the survival of Wentworth Woodhouse in Rotherham.

Saved by the Wentworth Woodhouse Preservation Trust (WWPT) in 2017, the charity that runs the Grade I listed mansion has not wanted to pass rising costs on to its visitors and has posted a financial loss that is "unsustainable in the longer term."

"On The Brink: Heritage in the Cost of Living Crisis" is an insight report from the Heritage Alliance, England’s largest coalition of heritage interests. It looks at the economic pressures on the sector and the case for further investment, concluding that "the risk of collapse is real – and in many cases, literal."

Described as the most exciting and challenging heritage project of a generation, the projects at Wentworth Woodhouse will take up to two decades to deliver and will cost over £150m. With a focus on delivering high quality, creative and relevant visitor experiences, millions has been secured to repair parts of the building and adapt spaces for new uses, including new dining and events spaces. A big part of the regeneration is the training, work experience, and job opportunities created for the local area.

Opening to the public, visitors have been able to experience house tours, nature walks, craft workshops, educational talks, theatre performances, and music festivals.

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The report states that Wentworth Woodhouse "relies heavily on the local community to visit regularly and generate secondary spend. However, Rotherham has been badly impacted by the cost of living crisis, with inflation straining household budgets. As families face difficult choices, cultural visits are increasingly viewed as a non-essential luxury."

Increases in the minimum wage, costs for power, heating, and lighting has seen overall running costs at Wentworth increase from £2.339m (year end March 2023) to £2.962m (year end March 2024); an increase of approximately 26%.

In the report, Sarah McLeod, CEO of WWPT, said: "We have not been able to pass these cost increase on to our visitors – an audience who are already cutting back on their spending. Instead, the Trust has been seeking imaginative ways of trying to bridge the funding gap whilst continuing to provide a much-needed community facility.

"After the last year (2023/24), we will post our first financial loss since our inception in 2014. The loss is substantial – circa £250k – and at a level which is unsustainable in the longer term, as we have no endowment.

“We are confident that we can survive the summer, as we are entering our busiest time of year, but the sad reality is that the winter of 2024/25 poses some very real threats to our survival. If the economic situation does not improve, then in September 2024 we may well need to make severe cuts to our services, workforce, and ability to deliver for our local communities.”

Wentworth Woodhouse website

Images: WWPT

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