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

Spies, Secrets and Lies – Cold War Drama Comes to Blackburn Empire
This November, Blackburn Drama Club brings suspense and intrigue to the Blackburn Empire Theatre with their latest production, Pack of Lies.

£20m Pride in Place plan sets out vision for future investment in Darwen
A £20 million Pride in Place plan has been unveiled for Darwen, setting out priorities for investment in the town centre, parks, skills, and community projects over the next decade.

Spies, Secrets and Lies – Cold War Drama Comes to Blackburn Empire
This November, Blackburn Drama Club brings suspense and intrigue to the Blackburn Empire Theatre with their latest production, Pack of Lies.

£20m Pride in Place plan sets out vision for future investment in Darwen
A £20 million Pride in Place plan has been unveiled for Darwen, setting out priorities for investment in the town centre, parks, skills, and community projects over the next decade.

What’s happening in Blackburn & Darwen this week? From Remembrance services and 1940s variety shows to community choir performances, spiritual experiences under Gaia, and candlelit concerts — it’s a week full of reflection, remembrance and inspiration.

Blackburn Cathedral has established a Safeguarding Improvement Board to oversee reform following years of safeguarding failings and the 2025 INEQE audit, which found arrangements “inadequate and requiring immediate action.”
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Older Blackburn News
Did you miss out? Here are some of the older stories and news about Blackburn and Darwen
Remembrance events across Blackburn with Darwen
Remembrance events and services will take place across Blackburn and Darwen this November, giving communities the opportunity to honour those who served and remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice.

The ultimate gift: celebrate Christmas in a new Blackburn home
Homebuyers could celebrate Christmas in their new home thanks to Bovis Homes’ commitment to reducing upfront costs.

Blackburn Gilbert & Sullivan Society invites new members to join 2026 production of Patience
Blackburn Gilbert & Sullivan Society is welcoming new members for its next production, Patience, coming to Blackburn Empire Theatre in April 2026.
Blackburn News Archive
All the archived stories from Blackburn Life – News about Blackburn and Darwen
Caribbean restaurant and bar Turtle Bay Blackburn has launched its Christmas offering and its sunkissed tropical escapism all the way.
Work to finish a new Darwen-themed play area at Blacksnape Playing Fields is due to be completed in the coming days and is the renovated area is promised to “provide local young children and families’ hours of outdoor fun and games for years to come.”
Blackburn’s King George’s Hall will again host a Remembrance Concert after two years’ absence due to the pandemic.
The BBC have announced that their Christmas Services on both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day will be broadcast from Blackburn Cathedral.

Mobile network services are being upgraded in Blackburn boosting speed, performance and coverage. There is a small chance these improvements may cause interference to TV received through an aerial such as Freeview, BT, TalkTalk and YouView.
The Mall Blackburn has an out of this world line-up of free activities this half-term, which will culminate in a visit from Britain’s Got Talent’s super-sized semi-finalist Titan the Robot!
It’s been almost 50 years since Steeleye Span first performed at Blackburn’s King George’s Hall in September 1973!
The cast of the brand-new production of Cinderella at Blackburn Empire Theatre officially launched their Pantomime with a visit to Blackburn Town Centre this weekend.
With only three UK dates, dance sensation The Royal Family Dance Crew are bringing their European Tour to Blackburn on Sun 23 Oct 2022.
Turtle Bay Blackburn has announced a brand new cocktail menu as well as two new “Steel Bottom Beers” which will launch on 12th September, serving up some much needed sunshine as the Autumn months beckon.
As part of the Lancashire Encounters Festival 2022, 150 people will HOWL inside King George’s Hall as part of an arts festival.
Changes to business hours and opening for a whole range of local shops, venues and leisure attractions in the area.
Blackburn Cathedral will host a County Service of Thanksgiving for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on Sunday 18th September 2022 at 2pm
Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council have announced a raft of closures and changes to council services for Monday 19 September, the day of the Queen’s funeral.

Official proclamations to mark the accession of the new monarch King Charles III will take place in Blackburn & Darwen on Sunday 11 September 2022.
Following its hugely successful weekly quiet hour for shoppers, The Mall Blackburn is extending the initiative to run six days a week.
Corporation Park is now home to a new Duck Feed Dispenser, becoming one of only a handful of councils in the UK to embrace this step in the ‘Feed the Ducks’ initiative.

Blackburn Museum & Art Gallery is holding its very first ART OPEN this October to showcase local art and talent.
The Search is on for Prince Charming to join the cast in a star-studded Cinderella Panto this Christmas
The Mall Blackburn is bringing the seaside inland with a two-week beachy bonanza of nautical themed free arts and crafts.
A new People’s Jury on the Climate Change Crisis is set to be held in Blackburn with Darwen.
King George’s Hall in Blackburn have announced their brand new Classics Season for 2022/23 and, as well as some familiar events, this season sees the CBeebies Prom come to town. You can also enjoy the magic of the James Bond Movies’ Music at a special concert.
The BBC has published a photo from one of its “Weather Watchers” stating it was taken in Blackburn.
Blackburn is to gain yet another Greggs bakery, this time in the heart of The Mall, in between Primark and H&M.
A popular pub in Darwen, The Crown and Thistle, on Roman Road, announced it would be closing its doors on Saturday 23rd July.
An Australian living in London has gone viral with her top tips to keep cool and manage in the current heatwave based on her experience from Down Under.
The Bishop of Blackburn, Rt Rev. Julian Henderson, and his wife Heather said farewell to The Church of England in Lancashire on Saturday during a service at Blackburn Cathedral.

Blackburn with Darwen Council’s health bosses are reminding people to stay safe in the expected extreme heat and follow relevant health advice.

The Tiger Who Came to Tea is celebrating 12 years on stage and over 50 years as Britain’s best-loved picture book! David Wood OBE is undisputedly the country’s leading writer and director of plays and musicals for children.

Blackburn Cathedral are appealing for 8 to 10 year old boys and girls to become part of the Cathedral Choirs.

A whole host of world-famous pianists will have an unprecedented opportunity to perform on the new generation flagship Yamaha CFX piano
Blackburn with Darwen will welcome the Queen’s Baton Relay in July – part of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.
Our three local theatres, Blackburn Empire, King George’s Hall and Darwen Library Theatre have all now revealed their Christmas shows.

Supermarkets in Blackburn are facing scrutiny over their pricing of fuel, with concerns raised about the higher costs compared to nearby towns such as Preston and Bolton. The price disparity
Councillor Phil Riley, Leader of Blackburn with Darwen Council, has written a message to the borough’s residents.
After several recent stories on social media about littering in the town and videos of the dumping of take-away rubbish in our streets, surely it’s time to clamp down on this disrespect for our town?