If you want to see a terrible run down town, visit Spennymoor, loads of closed units and it just looks totally grim.

In regards to nowhere being open in Bishop Auckland on Boxing Day, I think most of the major shops in the town centre will be open such as Asda and Morrisons then I imagine the likes of Topshop/Topman, Scotts, Grainger Games, Wilko, Poundland and Poundworld will be open in the town plus Sainsburys, Tesco Extra, Next, TK Maxx, M&S and JD will probably all be open up at St Helens Auckland (Tindle Crescent).

Mind saying about shops opening on Boxing Day, there is currently a petition wanting to ban shops from opening on Boxing Day, if the attempts are successful, I think that would seriously impact any chances of services operating on a commercially successful basis a struggle, about the only thing that would probably keep numbers up on Tyneside would be Newcastle United playing at home, if they are away, it could be a disaster.