Former DLI museum could be transformed into new restaurant and gallery

The Durham Light Infantry (DLI) museum at Aykley Heads, Durham closed in 2016 and has since been described as falling into a state of disrepair.

But plans to redevelop the site have taken a step closer, after Durham County Council released more information on what the facility could include.

Developers have outlined plans for a refurbishment of the building’s three floors before reopening as an exhibition centre, gallery and hospitality venue including a restaurant.

Between 60,000 to 150,000 visitors are expected to visit the site per year, the council said.

A planning application detailing initial redevelopment ideas for the site has now been submitted following a public consultation on the plans.

Read more: Getting the full story on The Story, Durham's new archive

What is included in the new venue?

The lower ground floor will have the main visitor entrance, an entrance, reception, gift shop and café.

The ground floor will have a dedicated Durham Light Infantry (DLI) gallery and a visitor restaurant.

The upper floor will have new galleries to host a wide range of exhibitions including loans from national museums and art galleries.

A flexible education and engagement suite is also proposed to host a range of uses including school visits and small leisure events.

Inside the empty DLI Museum (Image: The Northern Echo)

The DLI collection is now in the process of being transferred to The Story at Mount Oswald – a new £20million history centre based out of the Grade II listed Mount Oswald Manor House, a project initiated by the authority’s former Labour administration.

But opposition councillors have questioned the council’s plans for the former DLI site, labelling it an ‘exclusive eatery’.

Labour Deputy Leader, Cllr Rob Crute, said: “The coalition has played on the emotional connection people have with our proud DLI history, dangling the carrot of its re-opening and claiming it’s fulfilling an election promise to “reopen the DLI Museum”, but the building is practically derelict and deemed unusable by the DLI Trustees.

“The coalition revealed proposals last year to create a high-end restaurant, exhibiting a few items from the DLI collection as a token gesture, to try and hide the fact it wanted to use taxpayers’ money to fund what is nothing more than an exclusive eatery.”

However, the council has hit back and said the former museum will host a rotating display of DLI memorabilia as well as at The Story.  

The DLI museum at Aykley Heads, Durham closed in 2015 and has since been described as falling into a state of disrepair. (Image: The Northern Echo)

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Cllr Elizabeth Scott, on behalf of the joint administration, said: “The museum’s restaurant and other exhibition space will enhance the financial sustainability and appeal of the attraction and, crucially, we will actively promote it, and the new garden of remembrance and reflection.

“All of this is in stark contrast to Labour’s approach, which, in sequence, was to keep the same items on display all the time, then refuse to promote the museum, then refuse to invest in it, then finally to close it in 2016 so no-one has been able to enjoy any of the collection since.

“That was a disgraceful dereliction of duty and insult to the memory of the Durham Light Infantry. The Joint Administration is doing the opposite and will create a vibrant cultural venue for County Durham that will allow residents and visitors to the area to celebrate and commemorate the DLI.”