Kielder Observatory is set to take over residency of the Twice Brewed Inn’s stargazing venue near to Hadrian’s Wall
Northumberland’s dark skies projected onto the planetarium at the Twice Brewed Inn(Image: Handout)
A Northumberland observatory is set to take its “biggest leap forward” by taking over residency of a stargazing venue in the National Park. Kielder Observatory is set to bring its astronomy experts and events to the Twice Brewed Inn, which is home to a 30-seater planetarium and two dozen powerful telescopes.
Kielder Observatory has welcomed 250,000 visitors to its remote base since opening in 2008, and hopes to build on the legacy of the Twice Brewed’s own stargazing events, which have proven incredibly popular in recent years. Leigh Venus, CEO of Kielder Observatory, said that the expansion gives its astronomers “a new way to share the night sky”.
He added: “This is the biggest leap forward for Kielder Observatory since we opened back in 2008. It’s the start of an exciting new chapter, bringing together world-class astronomy in two incredible places, powered by our fantastic teams, all with the same warm welcome under some of the most spectacular dark skies you’ll ever see.
“We’ll be offering two different but perfectly complementary experiences, each with its own unique magic, and we can’t wait to welcome people to enjoy both.”
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Kielder Observatory has made a number of partnerships in recent years, recently hosting events on the roof of Fenwick’s in Newcastle city centre and offering stargazing experiences with Ad Gefrin. The observatory played a part in bringing protected dark sky status to Northumberland, which was granted in 2013.
Its new partnership with the Twice Brewed Inn could drive further astrotourism to one of the best-known areas of Hadrian’s Wall – with the Twice Brewed Inn the closest pub to where the Sycamore Gap tree previously stood.
Steve Blair, manager of the Twice Brewed Inn, said: “This collaboration, linking up with the world-renowned Kielder Observatory, will be a new chapter for Twice Brewed stargazing. Together, I’m sure we’ll go from strength to strength and allow even more people to enjoy the wonders of the night sky, whether it’s identifying stars, locating famous constellations, exploring distant galaxies and planets or unravelling the secrets of the Milky Way.”
Kielder Observatory will officially take over the Twice Brewed Inn’s stargazing experiences on September 1, 2025.
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