Breaking News in Blackburn
Stay informed with the most pressing and breaking stories from Blackburn. From major events to urgent updates, find it here.
Council issues statement on rumours about the Islington Hotel in Blackburn
Blackburn with Darwen Council has clarified that it has no involvement in any plans to change the use of the Islington Hotel and has not been informed of any proposals to repurpose it for asylum accommodation.
What’s On in Blackburn: Monday 27 October – Sunday 2 November 2025
Looking for things to do in Blackburn & Darwen this half-term? 🎃 From spooky Halloween fun to live music, dance showcases, and one of the region’s biggest bonfire events — our What’s On Guide is bursting with things to enjoy this week. Check out all the events or add your own for free!
Lingerie by Eve’s Gin & Shopping Evening returns to Blackburn this November, with exclusive offers, free gifts and a friendly night of festive shopping.
Blackburn and Darwen Police are reminding residents to keep Halloween fun and respectful, with extra patrols planned and advice for safe trick-or-treating across the borough.
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Older Blackburn News
Did you miss out? Here are some of the older stories and news about Blackburn and Darwen
Beautiful South’s Briana Corrigan to perform intimate show at Blackburn Empire
Beautiful South’s Briana Corrigan brings her distinctive vocals to Blackburn Empire Theatre this October for an intimate evening of story and song.
Poppy Appeal launches across Blackburn and Darwen to honour those who served
The Royal British Legion’s Poppy Appeal has launched in Blackburn and Darwen, with community hubs now open in The Mall and Darwen Market to honour those who served and support Armed Forces families.
Police day of action targets driving offences, speeding and antisocial behaviour in Darwen and surrounding villages
Police officers from the Blackburn with Darwen Neighbourhood Team have carried out a day of action across Darwen and the rural areas, working alongside a number of partners to tackle community concerns and enforce road safety.
Blackburn News Archive
All the archived stories from Blackburn Life – News about Blackburn and Darwen
The government have issued the latest update to the new restrictions that apply to the whole of Blackburn & Darwen and most of the rest of Lancashire from this Tuesday 22 September.
New tougher restrictions come into force in Lancashire (with the exception of Blackpool) this Tuesday as the government tries to reduce the spread of COVID-19.
Blackburn Police have squashed rumours that a man had been subject to an acid attack in Blackburn Town Centre.
Drive-In Movies return to Witton Park this weekend, with shows on Friday 18th, Saturday 19th and Sunday 20th September.
Blackburn with Darwen Council have confirmed that official football club training and matches can go ahead as part of the “organised team sport” exception to the new “rule of six”.
Blackburn and Darwen are at the forefront of a national fundraising campaign that has been launched by the Theatres Trust in partnership Crowdfunder.co.uk to save theatres across the UK.
Comedy superstar John Bishop is coming to King George’s Hall, Blackburn on Thursday 25 November 2021 & Saturday 15th January 2022 with his highly anticipated brand-new stand up show – Right Here, Right Now.
Rob Lamberti is a familiar face, so to speak, having forged a very successful singing career impersonating the pop star George Michael and, in the process, becoming something of a star himself.
Northern is set to introduced new timetables as the entire rail industry adapts to a ‘new normal’ as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. Introduced on Monday 14 September, the
Council leaders in Blackburn and Darwen have warned that “Everyone in Blackburn with Darwen must comply with the government’s restrictions to help avoid stricter measures being introduced for the whole borough next week.”
Blackburn Cathedral Choir has just a few places for lucky new choristers this year, with their new-look socially distanced choir.
The government have announced that gyms, fitness and dance studios, indoor swimming pools and sports clubs in Blackburn will be able to reopen from Tuesday 8th September.
The council have announced that some people who are shielding in Blackburn & Darwen will need to continue shielding until 21st September and people in the “eight lockdown wards” will
Blackburn with Darwen Council has been forced to remove five portable toilets from Darwen town centre after they were repeatedly vandalised by youths.
Lancashire bus operator The Blackburn Bus Company is today confirming many of its buses will return to normal timetables this weekend, with more buses added to ensure everyone can continue
Blackburn with Darwen council has confirmed that the extra local restrictions in some parts of Blackburn and Darwen have been lifted today. (Wednesday 26th August 2020) Government legislation has been
Jonathan Pie’s critically acclaimed sell out show FAKE NEWS finally returns, updated and remixed for a post-Corona world. His live show arrives in Blackburn at King George’s Hall on Saturday 29th May 2021 and tickets are on sale now.
Additional guidance will be introduced Blackburn to help curb a rising tide of COVID-19 cases, following careful consideration of rates across England yesterday. The rules come into place at midnight on Saturday (22nd August) and apply to 8 specific wards.
Maps of the 8 wards that are likely to be affected by new lockdown restrictions in Blackburn
A targeted approach to reducing the spread of Coronavirus in Blackburn with Darwen is set to be announced today.
Blackburn with Darwen Council’s Davyfield Road depot has been a hive of activity as a fleet of ‘covid-safe’ cabs were prepped to roll out in Blackburn with Darwen.
Blackburn with Darwen Council have announced that the clinically extremely vulnerable should continue to shield until 7th September. They are being sent letters and texts messages by the Government to
Blackburn with Darwen Council has announced it has developed local systems and council staff will now join in the contact tracing system, where the national system has not been successful.
Over 100 local restaurants, pubs and cafes have joined the Eat Out to Help Out scheme in and around Blackburn & Darwen.
New restrictions on household gatherings in parts of the North West including Blackburn and Darwen.
More restrictions are due to be lifted nationally this weekend to allow more businesses to reopen, but this will not be the case in Blackburn and Darwen.
The ‘Eat Out to Help Out’ scheme will see participating businesses offering a 50% discount to customers on dine-in meals which can be used unlimited times from 3rd to 31st August 2020.
Tickets go on sale at 10am tomorrow (Tuesday 27 July 2020) for Curtis Stigers at King George’s Hall.
For the food & service, it is definitely a 5 star rating from us.
The Government has tonight confirmed that people returning to the UK from Spain (including islands) from midnight tonight (25 July 2020) will need to self-isolate for 2 weeks.
Blackburn with Darwen Council have confirmed that the borough will be delaying the easing of lockdown, which will include indoor gyms and other indoor sporting centres that were due to
Blackburn with Darwen Council has announced it will look to open its leisure and community centres in August.
Nationally, the Government has said that gyms and swimming pools can re-open from July 25 if appropriate measures are in place.
However, the borough is currently in the top 10 list of local authorities that have higher rates of COVID-19 cases per 100,000.
And, in a bid to reduce the rates of infection to avoid a local lockdown, five new measures have been introduced for all residents.
They include reducing the numbers allowed to visit households to two, asking residents to wear a face covering in all enclosed public spaces and encouraging people to be tested.
Now, the council has announced that its leisure and community centres will instead look to open next month – on August 10.
Professor Dominic Harrison, Blackburn with Darwen’s Director for Public Health, said:
These decisions aren’t ever taken lightly. We know that these centres are popular with our residents and fundamental to their health and wellbeing.
We also don’t want residents to worry that this is part of a wider closure programme – it isn’t – we are doing everything in our power to avoid that.
Our staff had been working really hard to take the steps needed to make the facilities COVID safe and were really looking forward to being able to welcoming residents back safely.
However, as part of our dedicated approach to reducing the spread of Coronavirus in our borough, we are asking residents to play their part by adopting the five new measures we have introduced.
We’re also doing absolutely everything we can to stem the tide of infection rates.
Delaying the opening of these centres is another important step in our local outbreak response.
Full risk assessments and operational planning had been undertaken ready to reopen the centres on July 25, in-line with national guidance.
Now, staff are working hard on new offers – including live streaming of free classes for members and outdoor activities.
Professor Harrison said:
We have worked hard on a whole range of measures to be able to open our centres safely when the time is right.
This includes extensive and frequent cleaning, one way systems and pre-bookable slots.
However, with the number of cases of Coronavirus rising in Blackburn with Darwen at a rate above the national average, our number one priority remains the safety of our residents and our staff.
We are doing absolutely everything we can to prevent a second lockdown and have committed to reviewing the data again in two weeks’ time.
All membership fees continue to be fully suspended at the centres.
The five measures to be undertaken for the next month include:
A limit of two people from the same household allowed to visit another household
At the moment national guidance allows two families to meet indoors as long as they keep to social distancing guidance. We are asking residents to limit the numbers of people meeting indoors to people who live in the house plus only two members from a second household at any one time.
Wearing cloth face coverings in all enclosed public spaces
All residents will be strongly recommended to wear a cloth face covering (or non-surgical mask) in all enclosed public spaces. This means in all shops, workplaces, libraries, museums, health centres, hair and beauty salons etc.
Greeting and embracing
Rather than give handshakes or a hug, we’re asking people to only bump elbows with anyone outside of their immediate family. If we all do it, no one will be offended or think we’re being rude!
Support for small shops
We are stepping up our Public Protection advice and support to small shops across the borough to ensure that measures such as wearing face coverings, social distancing, good hygiene practice and increased ventilation are being followed to help reduce the risk of virus spread in these businesses.
Testing
We are doing more targeted testing this week, with the arrival of a mobile testing unit at Witton Park Academy in addition to the testing facility at Royal Blackburn Hospital. You don’t need to have symptoms to be tested – this will help us with case finding, identifying people who have no symptoms but who carry the virus.
Boris Johnson has announced that coronavirus restrictions will ease further in England under plans for a “significant return to normality” by Christmas.
Planet Ice in Blackburn, along with ice rinks across England, have had to put a pause on their anticipated reopening, as the Government say they were included in the guidance in error.
A temporary cut in VAT from 20% to 5% comes into force today allowing businesses in the food, drink and hospitality sectors to cut prices.
The Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rishi Sunak, recently announced the “Eat Out to Help Out” and local restaurants and cafes can register now.