The venue is offering schools and colleges across the region a way of ensuring their proms can take place and still obey government rules.
Rainton Arena, near Houghton-le-Spring, has come up with a solution which owners hope will save thousands of youngsters from disappointment.
The arena, which can normally take up to 2000 people for an event, is offering the venue for free, along with providing a free disco for schools which want to take advantage of the offer, limiting numbers so that anti-social engineering is maintained.
“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,” said Jay Johal, who owns the arena.
“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.”
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.
Anyone wanting further information should contact 0191 5848630 email info@raintonarena.co.uk
Photo by Hunter Newton
