Breaking News in Blackburn
Stay informed with the most pressing and breaking stories from Blackburn. From major events to urgent updates, find it here.
What’s On in Blackburn: Monday 11 August to Sunday 17 August
Looking for things to do in Blackburn & Darwen this week? Here’s your round-up of live music, family fun, theatre, workshops, and more — all happening from Monday to Sunday!
Local Sewing Shop Offers Surprise Gift With Every Zip Purchase
Blackburn’s long-standing sewing and crafting specialist Hobkirk is adding a little mystery and fun to your next project.
A night of story, song, and unmistakable vocals – live this October
Looking for things to do in Blackburn & Darwen this week? Here’s your round-up of live music, family fun, theatre, workshops, and more — all happening from Monday to Sunday!
Older Blackburn News
Did you miss out? Here are some of the older stories and news about Blackburn and Darwen
Poundland to Shut Blackburn Store on 31 August – Full List of 49 UK Closures Inside
Poundland has confirmed that its Blackburn branch at Cobden Court in The Mall will shut its doors for the final time on 31 August 2025, as part of a sweeping UK-wide restructuring plan affecting nearly 70 stores.
PureGym Blackburn Set to Relocate and Upgrade – New Site Opens This September
PureGym Blackburn is on the move – and the upgrade promises a brand-new fitness experience for members.
Named, Shamed, and Locked Up: Blackburn Men Jailed Over Homophobic Beating
A gang of men from Blackburn has been sentenced for a violent and homophobic assault that took place outside the town’s railway station—an attack described by a judge as “cowardly and shameful.”
Blackburn News Archive
All the archived stories from Blackburn Life – News about Blackburn and Darwen
Once a symbol of Blackburn’s Victorian pride, the Corporation Park Conservatory now stands boarded up, rusting and forgotten. But that could all change — and your opinion could help shape its future.
Blackburn is getting ready to burst into colour as Pride 2025 returns to the town on Saturday 21st June — and this year promises to be louder, prouder, and more inclusive than ever.
Big plans are rolling out across Blackburn with Darwen – and it’s not just about filling potholes.
Interest in new homes for sale in Blackburn has soared by 271%, reveals local housebuilder Countryside Homes.
Do you know someone who goes above and beyond to help others? Now’s your chance to say thank you.
In August 2023, it was announced that Blackburn was set to welcome a new drive-thru restaurant from popular Canadian coffee and doughnut brand Tim Hortons. Hopes were high for a swift opening at the proposed site on Townsmoor Retail Park — the former home of Carphone Warehouse. The plans promised 50 new jobs, a new food and drink destination, and a much-needed boost for the retail park.
New figures show that Blackburn motorists continue to face some of the highest petrol and diesel prices in the region, reigniting long-standing concerns that the town’s drivers are being unfairly penalised at the pump.
Music fans in Blackburn are in for something truly special this summer as a brand-new stage show about the legendary John Lennon arrives at the Blackburn Empire Theatre for one night only on Thursday 12 June 2025.
Hobkirks have launched brand new Brother sewing machine offers — now available online and in-store!
Blackburn’s nightlife has taken another hit with the closure of The Rock Box on King William Street. More than just a bar, The Rock Box had become a focal point for Blackburn’s live music scene and a rare haven for fans of rock and alternative culture. Now shuttered after months of financial difficulty, its closure raises bigger questions about Blackburn’s ability to sustain drinking venues and night-time culture in a rapidly changing town centre.
After a roaring start in Liverpool, complete with standing ovations and five-star reviews, Irish Annie’s is heading to the Blackburn Empire Theatre for one night only — and audiences are in for a real treat.
An unexpected and moving moment unfolded at Blackburn’s VE80 Fest in Witton Park, as a family visiting the event discovered a tribute to their own wartime relative on display at the Veterans Living History Museum CIC exhibition.
Considering your next home? Bovis Homes will provide tips for those looking to upsize, downsize or move up the property ladder at its special Home Movers weekend on 10th – 11th May.
Hobkirk Sewing Machines in Blackburn is offering a series of exciting deals throughout May – perfect for sewing enthusiasts looking to upgrade their equipment or try something new.
A full house, a standing ovation, and wave after wave of applause — Beauty and the Beast has roared into Blackburn Empire Theatre with style, spirit, and spectacle.
Witton Park in Blackburn is preparing to host one of the region’s most anticipated community events — VE80 Fest — marking the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day.
The highly anticipated Big Soul Night Out scheduled for Saturday 24 January 2026 at King George’s Hall in Blackburn has been cancelled.
An appeal has been lodged against the Council’s refusal of planning permission for an unlawful caravan site in Darwen – and while the appeal is underway, the Council’s enforcement action to remove the site is effectively paused.
Hobkirk Sewing Machines is offering a limited-time 20% discount on some of its most popular sewing threads — perfect for keen sewists planning their next project.
Blackburn’s Business Improvement District (BID) is recruiting for a new BID Manager, following a change in leadership.
Catch it in Cathedral Square from this Saturday for 5 weeks – covering both May Bank Holidays, VE Day, and half-term.
Blackburn Road Runners’ Lynne Knowles had more than one reason to celebrate last weekend — not only was it her birthday, but she also completed her first-ever marathon at the Manchester Marathon, overcoming a major injury along the way.
Workers’ Memorial Day was marked in Blackburn with Darwen this week, with a ceremony attended by union members, local representatives, and supporters from across the borough.
Another of Blackburn’s town centre bars could be set for change, with the Blackburn Times on Northgate now up for sale.
Improvement works across key junctions in Blackburn with Darwen are continuing as part of a major investment in local bus services – but residents are being advised to expect some disruption while the upgrades take place.
Children’s Services in Blackburn with Darwen have received a ‘Good’ rating across the board from Ofsted, marking a significant step forward since the previous inspection in 2022.
A former live music venue in Blackburn town centre is set for a new lease of life – as a new Chaii tea café.
Blackburn will welcome a familiar West End face this July, as singer and actor Lee Mead brings his brand-new live show, The Best of Me, to the Blackburn Empire Theatre on Friday 4 July 2025.
There’s no doubt the news that Marks & Spencer will leave Blackburn town centre will be met with disappointment by many. For decades, M&S has been a cornerstone of high street shopping in Blackburn, a familiar name on a changing landscape. But when it comes to the future of the brand in our borough, the newly approved move to Whitebirk is, in truth, the best Blackburn could have hoped for.
Something HUGE is making a splash at Darwen Leisure Centre – and you could be the first to try it out!
To the Batcave, Blackburn’s independent comic book haven, is gearing up for one of the most exciting days in the geek calendar – Free Comic Book Day 2025!
A brand-new exhibition celebrating 150 years of Blackburn Rovers Football Club has opened at Blackburn Museum and Art Gallery—just yards from where the club was first formed in 1875.
A much-missed bus service is making a welcome return in Blackburn – nearly a decade after it was withdrawn.
Refurbishment work is set to begin at Darwen Town Hall, following Council approval of plans to upgrade the building and prepare it for the relocation of joint Council and NHS services.
Witton Country Park will come alive this May Bank Holiday as Blackburn hosts a major community celebration to mark the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe (VE) Day.