Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Evening Standard
Evening Standard
National
Rebecca Speare-Cole

Barnard Castle staycations sees 160% rise in searches after Dominic Cummings' lockdown visit

People posing as Dominic Cummings have posted a series of reviews of Barnard Castle on Tripadvisor (Picture: PA)

Searches for Barnard Castle staycations have soared since Dominic Cummings' visit to the Durham town during lockdown prompted a huge row in Westminster.

Hotels.com said it saw a 160 per cent rise for search for accommodation near the town from May 22 to 27, compared with the week before.

The Prime Minister's chief adviser said he made the journey to the North East in March because he was worried he and his wife may not be able to look after their child if they both fell ill.

Before he returned to work in London on April 11, Mr Cummings was spotted in Barnard Castle near the home of his parents.

In an address to the nation on Monday, Mr Cummings said he went on a "short drive" to the small town to test his eyesight, which he claimed had been affected by the disease, as his wife did not want to risk the long drive back to London.

Even though lockdown measures are still in place, Mr Cummings' quick trip to the historic town appears to have piqued the public's interest as Hotels.com reported the steep increase in searches after the scandal broke.

Dominic Cummings is facing ongoing anger from MPs over his alleged breach of lockdown (Jeremy Selwyn)

Boris Johnson and his Cabinet ministers have stood behind his top aide with the PM saying he considers the matter closed.

But MPs across the political spectrum are still calling for his resignation with many expressing concerns that his actions have undermined the Government's lockdown message to the public.

Durham police said his journey to Barnard Castle , which he made while he was isolating at his parents' estate, may have broken regulations but he will face no more action.

Environment Secretary George Eustice said on Thursday that pubs and restaurants with beer gardens or open areas will likely be the first hospitality venues to reopen come July, when more lockdown measures are planned to be eased.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.