Runners taking part in the Chesterfield and Derbyshire Marathon are being asked to collect their race number for the event in the two days leading up to the big day.

Official registration for the marathon will take place at the Casa Hotel in Chesterfield on Friday 12 September between 10am and 9pm and on Saturday 13 September from 10am to 5pm, where runners can pick up their race number with disposable chip time attached.

Everyone will also be provided with a race day goody bag which will include an official t-shirt, water bottle and additional items.

A full information pack has been sent to runners via email this week, which provides details about the registration process, race route, as well as an update on water stations, car parking, baggage storage, timings, first aid, festival zones and event activities across Queen’s Park.

More than 1,500 people have already signed-up to take part in the Chesterfield and Derbyshire Marathon, which starts and finishes at Queen’s Park in the town centre.

Runners can take part in a full 26-mile marathon, half marathon, fun run or relay race, with the main events starting from 8:30am. Anyone interested in entering any of the distances needs to sign up before August 31, however fun run registrations are open right up until the day of the event.

Each runner will be presented with a medal on the finishing line, with a trophy presentation for certain categories.

Chesterfield-based Kids ‘n’ Cancer UK is the primary charity for the race, but a number of additional cancer related charities and good causes will also benefit from the race.

Entry into the events costs £45 (full marathon), £35 (half marathon), £100 (relay), and £5 (fun run). Runners raising £200 for Kids ‘n’ Cancer will be able to gain free entry.

Anyone unable to pick-up their race number and chip should contact Chesterfield and Derbyshire Marathon on 01246 236 566. For more information or to sign-up for the race visit www.chesterfieldmarathon.co.uk

Source:Chesterfield Marathon

Twenty four food and drink businesses have been shortlisted across nine categories in the 2014 Chesterfield Food and Drink Awards, organised in association with Chesterfield College – headline sponsor of the awards for the second year running.

The shortlisted establishments were selected from hundreds of nominations received by the competition organisers Destination Chesterfield.

Four of the nominees – Calabria, Stephenson’s Coffee and Tea House, Barca Bar and Tramway Tavern – are hoping to retain their titles in 2014 after winning in their nominated categories at last year’s Food and Drink Awards.

The Restaurant of the Year category has proved hugely popular for nominations, with five restaurants being shortlisted for the award this year, including last year’s winner of the prestigious title, Calabria.

Five establishments have also been nominated across two categories, including Calabria, Lombardis Ristorante Italiano, Stephenson’s Coffee and Tea House, St Thomas’ Coffee Bar and Coco Bar Bistro.

This year there are more opportunities for food and drink establishments to win with the introduction of two new categories – International Restaurant of the Year and the Family Friendly Award.

A secret panel of judges is now set to visit the shortlisted businesses in order to decide the winner of each category.  TV chef and presenter Ainsley Harriott will be announcing the winners, as well as those of an additional four categories, at the glittering award ceremony being held on Wednesday 29 October at Chesterfield College’s Heart Space Building.  The public will be able to follow proceedings on Twitter during the evening – using the hashtag#cfda14.

Chair of Destination Chesterfield, Peter Swallow said: “The awards are recognition of the contribution Chesterfield’s thriving hospitality industry makes to the local economy. I’m delighted to see how the community has once again got behind the myriad of eating and drinking establishments both locally and further afield and nominated so many of them.

“We have a number of strong contenders in each category, however the proof will be in the eating and our judges will be visiting each and every establishment to check whether they all live up to the claims.”

The full list of finalists are below:-

Restaurant of the Year – sponsored by Chesterfield Borough Council

• Blu Bistro & Coffee House
• Calabria
• Cocina @ Casa Hotel
• Lombardis Ristorante Italiano
• The Old Post Restaurant

Café/Tea Room of the Year 

• Meringue Bakery & Café
• Stephenson’s Coffee and Tea House
• St Thomas’ Coffee Bar

Gastro Pub of the Year

• Barca Bar @ Casa Hotel
• Coco Bar Bistro
• The Market Pub

Pub / Bar of the Year – Sponsored by Redbrik Estate Agents

• Coco Bar Bistro
• The Grouse Inn
• Tramway Tavern

Best Newcomer – sponsored by Barber Harrison and Platt

• Little Red Smokehouse
• The Galleon Steakhouse
• Wingerworth Pub & Kitchen

Best Customer Service – sponsored by Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire Chamber of Commerce

• Calabria
• Lombardis Ristorante Italiano
• Stephenson’s Coffee and Tea House

Best Out of Town – sponsored by Northern Tea Merchants

• Fox & Goose Inn, Pudding Pie Hill
• Kathmandu Gurka
• The White Horse at Woolley Moor

International Restaurant of the Year – sponsored by BRM Solicitors

• Dehli 41
• O Tokuda
• Star of Sall

Family Friendly Award – sponsored by Jumble Design

• The Lock Keeper
• The Manor at Brampton
• St Thomas’ Coffee Bar

Other supporters of the awards include Natwest, Banner Jones, Franke Sissons, In the Works PR, MSK Ingredients and the Derbyshire Times.

A limited number of sponsorship opportunities still remain.  If any businesses are interested in becoming a sponsor of the 2014 Chesterfield Food and Drink Awards they should contact Dominic Stevens or Tara Underhill on 01246 207207 or email dom.stevens@chesterfield.co.uk.

Further details about the Chesterfield Food and Drink Awards is available atwww.chesterfield.co.uk/foodanddrinkawards.

Source:Destination Chesterfield

Two families are being sought to uncover Chesterfield’s most family-friendly restaurant or café.

Destination Chesterfield, organiser of the town’s annual Food and Drink Awards, is looking for two families with children aged under 12, to judge shortlisted family-friendly establishments.

As well as having an all expenses-paid meal for four, the lucky winners will also receive two tickets to attend the glittering awards ceremony which is being hosted by TV chef Ainsley Harriott.

The Family-Friendly Award is a new category for the 2014 Chesterfield Food and Drink Awards. It seeks to find the town’s ultimate eatery that offers great food, excellent facilities for young children, special menus and goes that extra step to make sure families can enjoy their dining experience.

As well as enjoying a meal, the winning families will be required to mark the establishments on food, ease of access, cleanliness and the quality and variety of children’s food.

Destination Chesterfield Manager Dominic Stevens commented: “The Food and Drink awards were a huge success last year and we wanted to welcome them back again with a brand new category that recognises the wealth of family friendly restaurants that we have here in Chesterfield, and who better to judge them than families.

“This competition is a great chance for families in the area to voice their opinion and get to enjoy a meal out too!”

If you want to get involved then simply enter online at http://www.chesterfield.co.uk/foodanddrinkawards/chesterfield-food-and-drink-awards-become-a-judge-competition or send the names and ages of your family members and 200 words explaining why your family would make the perfect judges, to  :

Food and Drink Awards Competition,

Destination Chesterfield

Chesterfield Commerce Centre

Canal Wharf

Chesterfield

S41 7NA

The closing date for entries is Monday 21^st July. The winning families will receive a meal for two adults and two children in up to three shortlisted establishments. The adults will also receive two tickets to attend the awards ceremony.

The awards ceremony, which will be held in autumn, promises to be a glittering affair. If any businesses would be interested in becoming a sponsor of the new awards contact Dominic Stevens on 01246 207207 or emaildom.stevens@chesterfield.co.uk.

Source:Destination Chesterfield

11 of Chesterfield’s retailers have fought off stiff competition from more than 240 businesses to be named the very best in the town.

The winners of the first Chesterfield Retail Awards, organised by Destination Chesterfield and sponsored by Slic Training, were named at an awards ceremony held at the Assembly Rooms at Chesterfield Market Hall on the 18 June 2014.

Pelican Cycles, based on Old Road in Brampton, scooped awards across four categories, including the coveted Retailer of the Year award. The cycle shop was opened in 2012 by owner and keen cyclist Neil Armitage. It stocks an extensive range of cycling parts and accessories, including big name quality brands, as well as offering a full workshop repair and maintenance service. Outside the shop, Pelican Cycles holds free weekly evening road rides in the summer and holding private indoor cycle spinning sessions for customers at Queens Park Leisure Centre during winter.

Prior to opening the shop Neil had never worked on retail. He said: “I followed a dream when I opened Pelican Cycles. I was genuinely gobsmacked to win the awards. We have worked our socks off but it’s worth it.”

Since opening, the business achieved a six figure turnover in year 1 with turnover growing by more than 50% in its second year of trading. Neil said: “We pride ourselves on offering a friendly and personal service. We have created a welcoming informal atmosphere in the shop with the use of touches like an espresso machine and screen showing Tour De France highlights. Because of these touches and our approach to customer service we have developed a loyal repeat customer base.

“I was convinced there was a gap in the local market for a quality cycle shop that treated people with respect and gave a good, honest and personal service. Essentially I wanted to provide what I had been looking for. To receive these awards shows that we have achieved this. I am delighted.”

Multiple awards were also won by new business M Markovitz Ltd Kitchens, Bathrooms and Bedrooms based on Sheffield Road in Whittington Moor. It was named as the Best New Store and National/ Multiple Retailer of the Year. The family run business, which opened its first store in Tideswell, Derbyshire in 1935, launched in Chesterfield in 2013.

Some of Chesterfield’s oldest businesses also won awards at the ceremony, including John Stevenson Jewellers, Northern Tea Merchants and Fred’s Haberdashery who, between them, have been serving customers in the town for more than 120 years.

Hair and Beauty Business of the Year

• Viviennes Hairdressing

Fashion and Footwear Retailer of the Year – Sponsored by Oxspring Technical Ltd

• Zebra Menswear

Jewellery and Accessories Retailer of the Year – Sponsored by The Pavements Shopping Centre

• John Stevenson Jewellers

Home and Gifts Retailer of the Year

• Bigwicks

Children’s Clothes, Toys & Accessories Retailer of the Year

• Babyluv

Food and Drink Retailer of the Year – Sponsored by Barber Harrison & Platt

• Northern Tea Merchants

Phones and Technology Retailer of the Year

• aGeek

Leisure Retailer of the Year (Sports, Hobbies, Crafts or Outdoor)

• Pelican Cycles

Market Trader of the Year – Sponsored by Chesterfield Borough Council

• Unstone Plant Centre

Independent Retailer of the Year – Sponsored by Jumble Design

• Pelican Cycles

National/ Multiple Retailer of the Year – Sponsored by the Source

• M Markovitz Ltd Kitchens, Bathrooms and Bedrooms

Excellence in Customer Service – Sponsored by ChesterfieldCollege

• Pelican Cycles

Market Hall Business of the Year

• Fred’s Haberdashery

Best New Store (Opened 2013/2014) – Sponsored by Banner Jones

• M Markovitz Ltd Kitchens, Bathrooms and Bedrooms

Retailer of the Year – Sponsored by Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire & Leicestershire Chamber of Commerce

• Pelican Cycles

Destination Chesterfield manager Dominic Stevens said: “The awards were a runaway success. From the offset we were overwhelmed with nominations for so many retailers in the town. The shortlisting and judging process was incredibly difficult with so many strong contenders in each field.

“Chesterfield is envied nationally for its retail success. While other town and city centres are struggling, ours is thriving and it’s no wonder seeing the passion, innovation and customer service so many of the town’s retailers are delivering on a daily basis. These awards recognise this.”

Other supporters of the awards included Vicar Lane Shopping, The Pavements Shopping Centre, eBusiness Works and the Derbyshire Times.

Find out more about the awards at www.chesterfield.co.uk/retailawards

Source:Destination Chesterfield