Alun Armstrong Theatre

The Alun Armstrong Theatre sits in Stanley, a former mining town that's quietly reinventing itself. This is a proper working venue - amateur dramatics, touring productions, the occasional comedy night - the kind of place where you'll bump into locals who actually know the bar staff. It's intimate rather than grand, which means decent sightlines from almost anywhere and that lovely theatre warmth you don't get in massive auditoria.

Who'll enjoy it most? Anyone after a genuine night out rather than West End theatre tourism. If you're staying at one of the nearby glamping spots - Beamish Glamping or Derecroft Luxury Lodgepods are both within four miles - it's an easy evening without the drive into Newcastle or Middlesbrough. The theatre plugs into what's actually happening in the community rather than serving it up pre-packaged.

The programmes vary wildly. You might catch a local operatic society one week, a stand-up comedian the next, then pantomime season rolls around and families pack the place. Worth checking what's on before you book your stay, because seeing a decent show beats scrolling Netflix in your pod. Admission costs vary by production - nothing outrageous. Allow an evening, grab a drink beforehand in Stanley town centre if you fancy it.

Honestly, it won't change your life. But if you're based nearby - especially at Haystax Holiday Park or the glamping options - and something decent is on, it's a proper local experience that beats another chain pub night.