Cumbria Crack

5 days ago | cumbriacrack.com | Nigel Thompson

A Lake District town is set to see its cinema reopen later this year. Less than a year since the final film was projected onto the screen, the Royalty Cinema in Bowness is set to reopen with new operators aiming to ensure the venue will appeal to all. Rising prices were blamed for the venue closing last August, ending an association with the town going back to 1922. Now the cinema is being developed as a venue capable of hosting a variety of events, not just films.

1 week ago | cumbriacrack.com | Lucy Edwards

Over two million people have played a video game inspired by the Windscale disaster since it launched. Atomfall, created by Rebellion, officially launched to the public on March 27, and was quickly met with glowing reviews calling it ‘captivating’, ‘compelling’ and ‘one of the most enjoyable games of the year.’ Inspired by the 1957 Windscale disaster, Atomfall is a survival-action game with horror elements based in a post-nuclear apocalypse version of Cumbria and the Lake District.

1 week ago | cumbriacrack.com | Lucy Edwards

The countdown has started for the 2025 series of Uppies and Downies. Workington’s mass no-rules football game will return this year on Friday April 18, Tuesday April 22 and Saturday April 26. It’s a tradition that has a long and winding history in the town, where it has taken place for over 250 years. Part of that history also includes the throwing off of the ball – which sees an individual or youngster throw the ball over their head into the waiting crowd of players to begin each game.

1 week ago | cumbriacrack.com | Lucy Edwards

A new osprey has settled in at a South Cumbrian nature reserve. The male – named Blue 476 – has landed in a second nest at Foulshaw Moss nature reserve, near Grange-over-Sands and is patiently waiting for a female to join him. Cumbria Wildlife Trust, who own the reserve, said Blue 476 is a local lad, having hatched at a private site in the Lake District in 2021. The Trust added that while he’s been hanging around on his lonesome, they believe he won’t be on his own for much longer.

2 weeks ago | cumbriacrack.com | Nigel Thompson

A decision by the Lake District National Park Authority to offer a lease to sustain the future of the Brockhole visitor centre has been criticised by parish councillors. Lakes Parish Council said it was not formally consulted about the future of the venue which the national park says had to change because of fears it could be unsustainable and risk our ability to deliver other services across the national park.