Houghton-le-Spring - Today

Today

Houghton-Le-Spring's main shopping area is located in Newbottle Street which includes a supermarket, a library, the Post Office, and various other outlets including a Computer Repair shop. Pubs in Houghton-Le-Spring include The White Lion, The Copt Hill, The Mill, The Burn, The Britannia, The Golden Lion and The Wild Boar which is part of the Wetherspoons chain.

Houghton's Newbottle Street now includes a B&M Bargains superstore, and two fashion stores in Store 21 and JD Fashions. Unfortunately, two shops closed down in Newbottle Street, they were Best Wishes (a card and sweet shop) and The Games Emporium (a games, sweet and DIY shop).

Speedway racing was staged at the racecourse. Contemporary newspaper reports indicate the sport was staged in 1930 but it may have operated at other times. Horse racing last featured at the site in 1938 owing to the outbreak of World War II the following year, and was replaced with Greyhound racing.

Nowadays, locals often travel the short distance to the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust reserve at Joe's Pond between Chilton Moor and East Rainton for walks and relaxation.

The local branch of Woolworths shut down when the company went into administration and there were rumours of a Wetherspoons pub moving in or a Tesco Metro. However, in March 2010, the store was refurbished and is now a Store Twenty One.

Houghton Dance & Performing Arts Academy (originally Anne Thompson School of Dancing) announced a new name "ZAZZ" in January 2010. The Academy is housed in Empire House which was the original Empire Cinema in Houghton le Spring. Nowadays Zazz hosts many theatre productions throughout the year.