Breaking News in Blackburn
Stay informed with the most pressing and breaking stories from Blackburn. From major events to urgent updates, find it here.

Snow White Panto Launched at Historic Hoghton Tower
The magic of Christmas came early this year as the cast of the Blackburn Empire Theatre’s 2025 pantomime, Snow White, gathered at the historic Hoghton Tower for the official launch of the show.

What’s On in Blackburn: Monday 15 to Sunday 21 September 2025
Looking for things to do in Blackburn & Darwen this week? 🎉 Blackburn’s biggest and busiest What’s On Guide is back — with events for every taste and age! From gothic exhibitions and live music to comedy gigs, drama, Pokémon tournaments and wellbeing workshops, it’s all happening right here.

Blackburn Museum & Art Gallery is preparing to launch what’s being described as its most ambitious exhibition to date — a breathtaking showcase of rare books, manuscripts, artworks, and ceramics that explores how nature has inspired creative expression across centuries, cultures, and religions. The Nature of Gothic opens this weekend and runs through to December.

Plans are underway that could bring the biggest shake-up to Blackburn with Darwen’s local government in over 50 years — potentially ending its status as an independent council and merging it into a much larger East Lancashire authority. Residents, businesses and community groups are now being urged to have their say before final proposals are submitted in November.
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Older Blackburn News
Did you miss out? Here are some of the older stories and news about Blackburn and Darwen

What’s On in Blackburn: Monday 8 to Sunday 14 September 2025
Looking for things to do in Blackburn & Darwen this week? 🎉 Blackburn’s biggest and most exciting What’s On Guide is back — featuring comedy clubs, music legends, soul tours, and a huge 3-day community festival! Plus, new events are added every day. It’s also free to add your own events to the guide!

Songs From The Rat Pack – A Swinging Big Band Spectacular
Yorkshire’s premier Big Band brings the golden age of swing to Blackburn with a spectacular Rat Pack celebration this September.

This Week in Blackburn (Mon 01 – Sun 07 Sept 2025)
Looking for things to do in Blackburn & Darwen this week? 🎉 Blackburn’s biggest and busiest What’s On Guide is back — with over 40 new events added in the last 7 days! From legendary live music and comedy nights to community festivals, bingo, gaming and family fun, it’s all right here. Don’t forget — it’s completely free to add your own events too.
Blackburn News Archive
All the archived stories from Blackburn Life – News about Blackburn and Darwen

Atique Malik has returned to Swansway Motor Group, taking on the General Sales Manager at Blackburn Audi.

Martha Hamill and Darwen’s Joanne Morton have been appointed manager and deputy manager respectively at New Care’s Egerton Manor on Blackburn Road in Bolton.

2023 saw car dealer group Swansway Motor Group donate a record-breaking yearly total of £20,940 to the not-for-profit organisation Circus Starr.

Alcedo Care Group continues to invest in its portfolio of nurse-led services with the appointment of two adult complex care nurses, based from the Blackburn office.

Members of the public are invited to take part in The Hobby Cave, the largest ever exhibition of the UK’s hobbies.

Blackburn Audi Receptionist Taylor Dobson is taking on a month-long challenge to raise money and awareness for Crohn’s and Colitis.

Blackburn with Darwen Council and Maple Grove Developments have agreed for Leyland DAF Trucks to use the former Thwaites brewery site in Blackburn as temporary storage for commercial vehicles.

Blackburn continues to be one of the most expensive areas to buy petrol and diesel in the region.

Swansway Motor Group has recently strengthened its mental health support for team members by adding a newly qualified mental health first aider, adding another to their team.

IF REDUCED utility bills, savings on mortgage rates and a home shaped around your lifestyle sounds appealing, then it’s time to buy a new Kingswood home in Lancashire. As families

Hampton by Hilton Blackburn proudly announces a monumental leap towards sustainability through the installation of cutting-edge solar panels.

Blackburn Audi sales executives Adam Ughratdar and Jonathan Cartwright have recently completed brand-administered Audi New and Used Car Sales Accreditation, with Adam also completing his Audi Sport New Car Accreditation.

Swansway Motor Group has recently completed the installation of defibrillators at all their sites, including Lancashire-based Blackburn Audi, Preston Audi, and Volkswagen Van Centre Preston.

Dawn Juson, based in Darwen , has been getting involved with Food for Life’s Cook and Share campaign through her volunteer-run Let’s Get Growing workshops. Dawn, alongside her colleague Simone

Car dealer group Swansway has kicked off its festive mission to bring smiles to children and families across the UK. For the 10th Christmas in a row, the motor group

Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council have announced they are to increase the cost of parking in Blackburn Town Centre from 5th February 2024.

In a remarkable display of dedication and community spirit, Darwen Food Share Community Interest Company (CIC) successfully raised £7126.55 during a challenging sleep-out event held at Whitehall Park, Darwen, on

This weekend, The Exchange invites the community to embark on a festive journey through time with its inaugural historic Christmas Tree Festival. A heartwarming celebration of past, present, and future.

A QUARTER of homes have sold at Kingswood’s new collection in Blackburn.

Swansway Motor Group, on behalf of Preston Audi, Blackburn Audi, and Volkswagen Van Centre Lancashire are partaking in Road Safety week by providing free road safety learning resources, through educational activity packs and advice pages on their blog.

Why do so few businesses take part in the BID voting process.

People across the borough have seized the opportunity to be part of the inaugural Christmas Tree Festival at the former Cotton Exchange on King William Street in Blackburn. For those who haven’t yet registered, there’s still a chance to join this unique celebration of community spirit.

Blackburn town centre is gearing up their Christmas lights switch-on event this year, with a show-stopping musicals extravaganza on the programme.
The ‘From Broadway to Blackburn: Christmas Lights Switch On Spectacular’ will take place on Saturday, November 25th from 2.30pm on King William Street.

“Proper” local radio is returning to Blackburn, Burnley and Darwen in November, with the launch of ‘Central Radio North West’

Most local towns have now announced details of their Christmas Lights Switch on Events and here they are

This week we begin our “Best of the Worst” to visit the worst rated restaurants or takeaways in Blackburn and Darwen.

Creams Cafe, the UK’s leading dessert restaurant brand, is excited to announce the grand opening of its new store in Blackburn on Thursday, 26th October 2023!

The current Top 10 sit down restaurants in Blackburn. Do you agree or is your favourite missing from the list?

Darwen’s Christmas lights switch on will be headlined by 90s dance act N-Trance on Saturday, November 18th.

In exciting news, The Butlers Arms will be opening its doors on Monday, October 23rd!

A local shopkeeper has contacted Blackburn Life about the “shocking state” of areas of Blackburn Town Centre, including a shoppers’ pay and display car park, dead plant displays and filthy entrances into the town.

Blackburn Wilko store is set to close its doors for the last time on Thursday, October 5, 2023.

Blackburn’s Panto Season to Get Off to a Roaring Start with Enchanting Meet & Greet in the Mall

Pan-Asian noodle chain Chopstix is set to reopen its Blackburn with Darwen store on Monday 25th September after a £100k revamp.

Fifteen people have been charged as part of a Lancashire Constabulary investigation into the supply of cocaine, ketamine, and cannabis across East Lancashire.

Artist impressions have been released for the first time of how Blackburn’s St John’s church could be transformed into a high-quality, sustainable workspace.