Rainton Arena offers to host socially-distanced proms for schools and colleges during Covid-19 pandemic

Students may be able to go to the prom after all, as the owners of one of the North East’s biggest event spaces, Rainton Arena, have come forward to suggest a solution which they hope will save thousands of youngsters from disappointment.

With a capacity of up to 2,000 people for an event, the Houghton le Spring arena hopes to be able to host proms that are socially-distanced by using its large space to spread out tables.

Arena bosses are offering the venue free of charge for the proms, along with providing a free disco for schools, limiting numbers so that social distancing is maintained.

It comes as many of the annual balls are currently unlikely to go ahead because of the ongoing restrictions during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Although the arena acknowledges that any event will be subject to current Government guidelines on gatherings, owners hope that its solution will offer students across the region a way of ensuring their proms can take place and still stay within safety guidelines.

Jay Johal, who owns the arena, said: “We’re lucky because we have such a large space that we can easily spread tables out and put all the necessary measures in place to ensure that everyone can enjoy themselves safely.

“We know how disappointed everyone must be to miss something that’s such an important event and we believe that we can still give young people a night to remember.

“We can easily accommodate up to 500 young people and keep to social distancing guidelines.”

The venue has also teamed up with Italian restaurant chain, Sambuca, to offer food options for the proms if required.

Any event will be subject to current Government guidelines on gatherings.

The guidelines currently state that family and friends can now meet up in parks and private gardens in groups of up to six people from different households, providing social distancing is maintained, with people keeping two metres apart.

Anyone wanting further information should contact Rainton Arena on: 0191 5848630 or email: [email protected]

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