Featured

Comic-Con returns to Chesterfield this October

Chesterfield Comic-Con is back at Queens Park Sports Centre this October, with organisers promising yet another geeky, fun-filled event.

The Dark Lord, Darth Vader aka Spencer Wilding will be available for guests to meet on the day and he is sure to entice you over to the Dark Side of the comic-con galaxy. This will be Spencer’s first convention appearance in nearly two years.

Spencer is an actor, special creature performer and a martial artist. Although, he is well known for his role as Darth Vader in Star Wars Rogue One, Spencer has also appeared in so many other great movies and TV programs such as Doctor Who, Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw, Men in Black: International, Guardians of the Galaxy, Green Street 3: Never Back Down, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2, Game of Thrones andbBatman Begins.

Joining Spencer will be Phill Martin and Billy Mansell. Phill Martin is a giant of an actor, standing at 7ft tall, and he has used this to his advantage gaining roles as a ‘Ghost Engineer’ for Ridley Scott in Prometheus, he then quickly went on to secure roles in Jack the Giant Slayer and Joe Wright’s Pan. Phill has also worked in TV playing ‘Thomas Garlic’ in ITV Encore production The Frankenstein Chronicles and also ‘Lanky John’ in the BBC comedy production Mountain Goats. His other experience has included short films ‘Joe Wilkinson & David Earles Summer : Giddy up Gunty’ for the Sky comedy shorts summer season and also competition winning short ‘The Confession’.

Billy Mansell started his acting career after attending comic-cons as a cosplayer. Billy is a huge fan of Alien and had a dream come true when he secured a role on set playing an iconic engineer. Billy’s film roles didn’t stop there and he landed parts in big films such as Jurassic World 2, Fantastic Beasts 2 (Crimes of Grindelwald) Detective Pikachu and king of Thieves Mission Impossible Fallout, plus had roles in some major TV programmes like Eastenders, League of Gentlemen and most recently Outlander S5. All three actors are available to meet as well as to sign photos or memorabilia as well as offer advice to any budding Chesterfield actors.

Other displays on offer for visitors include a photo opportunity inside the mouth of Jaws from Steven Spielberg’s classic movie series, or even the Gremlins cinema set. There’s also the massive Transformers Bumblebee, the Superheroes Cosplay Group, The Mos Eisley Misfits in their Star Wars costumes and even Daleks for any timelords in the town.

As well as guests and attractions there are comic creators, authors and loads of geeky traders with tons of geeky toys, comics, collectables, art, jewellery, VR gaming and more…

Attendees are also encouraged to dress-up as a TV, movie, game or anime character and entering the cosplay competition with a chance to win prizes on the day.

Sharon Hall of Unleashed Events said: “Our previous events in Chesterfield have always been so popular and it is great to be back!

“As usual there is loads of geeky stuff going on for you to see and do as well as geeky traders where you can purchase items that you simply won’t find on the high street. Our events are not just for the ‘geeky’ they are for people of all ages who want to come along and enjoy a great day out, something that all the family can enjoy with loads of photo opportunities to be had!”

Find out more about the event here: Chesterfield Unleashed comic-con – Destination Chesterfield | Destination Chesterfield

 

Posted in Featured, Home, Leisure, Love Chesterfield, Uncategorised, VisitingTagged in , , , , , ,

Recent Strictly star set to host town’s sell-out Love Chesterfield Awards 2021

Strictly star and breakfast TV presenter Mike Bushell will be heading to Chesterfield on Wednesday 20 October.

A familiar face on weekday and Saturday morning breakfast TV, sports presenter Mike will host the town’s brand-new Love Chesterfield Awards at the Winding Wheel Theatre.

As well as presenting, Mike also holds the record for trying 560 different sports and activities, including ballroom dancing.

In 2019, he traded the TV newsroom for the ballroom and participated in Series 17 of Strictly Come Dancing where he was the seventh contestant to be eliminated.

He’ll be taking to the stage once again at the Winding Wheel Theatre later this month to announce the winners of the Love Chesterfield Awards. A total of 48 businesses and individuals have been shortlisted across 16 categories.

Organised by Destination Chesterfield in association with Entire FM – Complete Facilities Management, the sell-out Love Chesterfield Awards will celebrate the best of the town’s food and drink and retail businesses, entrepreneurs, regeneration projects, contribution to the local community, apprenticeships and sustainability.

Prior to moving into broadcasting in 1990, Mike was a journalist on the Derby Evening Telegraph so is familiar with Chesterfield.

Looking forward to hosting the 2021 Love Chesterfield Awards, Mike Bushell commented: “I’ve always loved coming to Chesterfield and the beautiful Derbyshire Dales and countryside around. The Spire, the old market town charm and the football club which I came to for a live BBC Breakfast broadcast in 2020 as football was trying to cope with the pandemic. I worked on the Derby Evening Telegraph in my early journalism days and so got to know the area well and am very excited about celebrating the success and champions in this gem of a town.”

Peter Swallow, Chair of Destination Chesterfield added: “We’re looking forward to welcoming Mike to Chesterfield. We’re all delighted to have been able to secure such a high profile presenter for the awards. It only adds to the excitement of holding our first in person awards in two years.”

Peter Currey, Managing Director at Entire FM – Complete Facilities Management added: “It’s been great to be involved with the run up to the Love Chesterfield Awards. It will be brilliant to see so many local businesses getting recognition for their hard work and effort that is put into delivering their products and services.”

See the full list of 2021 Love Chesterfield Awards finalists here: https://www.chesterfield.co.uk/lovechesterfieldawards/finalists/

The 2021 Love Chesterfield Awards are supported and made possible by a number of sponsors and partners, including: Addooco IT, Banner Jones Solicitors, BHP Accountants, Chesterfield Borough Council, Chesterfield Digital High Street, CMP Legal, The Chesterfield College Group, DBC Training, Derbyshire Times, East Midlands Chamber (Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire), Entire FM – Complete Facilities Management, Evoluted, Greatest Hits Radio South Yorkshire and North Derbyshire, Hoods Florist, JP Fire Safety Solutions, MSE Hiller, Peak Pharmacy, Reflections Magazine, Shorts Chartered Accountants, Spirecross Ltd and Van Dyk by Wildes.

For all the information on the 2021 Love Chesterfield Awards, please visit here: https://www.chesterfield.co.uk/lovechesterfieldawards/

Love Chesterfield Awards

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Destination Chesterfield, Featured, Home, Leisure, Love Chesterfield, Love Chesterfield Awards, Uncategorised, VisitingTagged in , , , ,

See the sparks fly at annual fireworks event

Chesterfield is set to be lit up as Chesterfield Borough Council’s fireworks extravaganza returns.

The council have partnered with Chesterfield Football Club to deliver the entertainment at this year’s fireworks extravaganza.

The event takes place at Stand Road Park on Friday 5 November, the gates will open at 4.30pm and close at 9pm.

Councillor Kate Sarvent, Chesterfield Borough Council’s cabinet member for town centres and visitor economy, said: “Our fireworks event is one of the most popular in the calendar with thousands of people coming along each year.

“It’s fantastic to be partnering with the football club to deliver this year’s event and I’m sure they will make it a great evening for everyone. Please wrap up warm, wear suitable footwear and come along to join in the fun.”

Bridget Ball, marketing manager at Chesterfield FC, said: “We are delighted to have been given the opportunity to organise and host this event, which is very popular.

“As a football club owned by a Community Trust, we are always looking at ways of engaging with the local community and this is an ideal opportunity to do that.”

The fireworks display will begin at the family-friendly time of 7pm and there will also be a selection of fairground rides and food vendors. There will be live entertainment for crowds to enjoy both before and after the fireworks.

Entry to the event is £2 per person – free for children under five. Visitors are asked to have the exact money ready as change cannot be given.

Parking for the event will be available at Chesterfield FC’s Technique Stadium for a donation of £3 per car, which will help cover the cost of stewards with any excess being given to charity.

There is also a bus stop on Sheffield Road which is less than a two-minute walk from the park, find more details about bus services that stop here on the Stagecoach website.

Visitors are reminded that they should not attend this event if they are experiencing any COVID-19 symptoms, including a high temperature, a new or continuous cough or a loss of their sense of smell or taste. There will also be plenty of space at Stand Road to ensure visitors can maintain social distancing.

The fireworks extravaganza is one of a series of events organised by Chesterfield Borough Council.

More information about entertainment and safety at the event will be released soon.

Chesterfield Football Club and Chesterfield Borough Council  support the marketing and economic growth of the town through Chesterfield Champions, a network of over 190 organisations across Chesterfield and North Derbyshire.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Featured, Home, Leisure, Love Chesterfield, Uncategorised, VisitingTagged in , , , , , ,

Successful Kickstart scheme extended to provide further boost to young people

More young people in Chesterfield and North Derbyshire could be given a chance to gain vital work experience after the Government extended the Kickstart Scheme by three months.

East Midlands Chamber has welcomed Chancellor Rishi Sunak’s confirmation the Government’s employment programme will continue to fund new starters on the six-month job placements until 31 March 2022, rather than the original 31 December 2021 end date.

This means it will continue to accept applications from employers and gateway organisations, such as the Chamber – which has already helped to create and fill more than 1,000 vacancies for 16 to 24-year-olds on Universal Credit or at risk of long-term unemployment – until 17 December this year.

Unveiling a £500m jobs support package at the Conservative Party Conference, Mr Sunak also confirmed an initiative to give businesses a £3,000 bonuses for each apprentice it hires will be extended until 31 January 2022.

East Midlands Chamber deputy chief executive and Kickstart lead Diane Beresford said: “This is really positive news for businesses as it comes at a crucial period in which many firms are now looking to grow again following the struggles they have endured over the past 18 months.

“The Kickstart Scheme has been a fantastic initiative that enables companies to trial new roles they may otherwise not have felt in a position to do, and we’ve received outstanding feedback from so many employers about the high standard of people they have recruited and the attributes they’ve brought to teams.

“This announcement also provides a big boost to young people, who have been disproportionately affected by the pandemic both in terms of their mental and physical wellbeing, and the significant amount of unemployment it has created.

“The Kickstart Scheme has been a lifeline for them to get the skills and work experience that will be vital to their future prospects, and this extension will enable potentially hundreds more people to make the first crucial steps in their career.”

How does the Kickstart Scheme help businesses and young people?

The Department for Work and Pensions funds 100% of the age-relevant National Minimum Wage, national insurance and pension contributions for 25 hours a week over a six-month period.

Employers can choose to top up this wage and are also eligible for a £1,500 Government grant for training people on a Kickstart placement.

Once applications are accepted, young people are referred into the roles via a Jobcentre Plus work coach.

East Midlands Chamber has had just under 2,800 placements approved among 860 businesses located in Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire and other locations. Of these, 2,325 have resulted in vacancies being created and 1,111 of those have now been filled, with dozens starting new roles every week – meaning hundreds more could benefit over the three-month extension.

Eighty percent of those who have finished their six-month placements have either secured jobs or moved into further study.

Nick Hogan, who owns Chesterfield Escape Rooms used the scheme to help build a workforce in order to ensure a successful launch for the new business.

He said: “When Kickstart came along, it allowed me to recruit and be selective in the recruitment process.”

“In working with these six people, it’s reminded me that everyone deserves a chance. The younger generation is tomorrow’s workforce and unless we give the opportunities to succeed, our businesses won’t survive.”

Frontline Sales & Marketing, in Chesterfield, has recruited 10 people via the Kickstart Scheme, with some of those resulting in permanent roles.

Director Vicky Anderson said: “The difference we are making together for these young people is just incredible.

“It’s a privilege to be a part of it, and I never thought it would be such a resounding success. I am absolutely convinced this will pay off economically, socially and for our wider community.

“There is nothing better than real work, structure, tasks and deadlines to shape a person, give pride and a new ‘professional’ identity.”

The latest Kickstart vacancies can be viewed at www.emc-dnl.co.uk/kickstart-vacancies

For businesses wanting to take part in the Kickstart Scheme, contact Pieter Eksteen on pieter.eksteen@emc-dnl.co.uk or 0333 320 0333 (Ext 2241).

East Midlands Chamber and Chesterfield Escape Rooms support the marketing and economic growth of the town through Chesterfield Champions, a network of over 190 organisations across Chesterfield and North Derbyshire.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Celebrate Chesterfield, Development, Featured, Home, UncategorisedTagged in , , , , , ,

New music studios at Chesterfield College provide industry standard facilities

New studios at Chesterfield College are giving music production students and local musicians a professional space to practice and record, using industry standard equipment.

The studios are the latest addition to the college’s new music department. They are designed to allow students the opportunity to develop the technical and creative skills they need for their future careers. At the same time, they will also provide a useful resource for musicians in Chesterfield to use as a collaborative recording space in the evenings and at weekends.

The new facilities provide a perfect mix of practical and academic spaces for a combination of classroom based learning and hands on experience at music making and recording. They are made up of three elements. These include a traditional classroom space with a suite of macs for learning and editing, a control room including a mixing desk and analogue equipment, and a ‘live room’ which has been designed for traditional collaborative music making. The live room has features which are designed to reflect acoustics and help musicians perform better together.

After spending the first week of term using the new facilities, level 3 music students Josh Clark and Connor Cartledge told us about the difference it had made to them.

Josh who is a rapper, singer and songwriter, with an interest in production said: “I am very happy that I have the opportunity to come in to use an actual studio and work with my peers. The course gives us the chance to learn lots of different skills and practice on different equipment that I don’t have at home. I am excited to know how I can use it next. I am hoping to record my own EP using the facilities we have here. I am really looking forward to that.”

Connor, who wants to be a producer or sound engineer said: “It has made a massive difference now we have this equipment. When we leave college to pursue a career in music, whether as a producer or as a musician we will have the knowledge we need.  We have top of the range microphones and a full studio which will mean any assignments and projects we work on will sound a lot better. Last year we had to record on whatever we had because we couldn’t be in college, so it is going to make a lot of difference. We have got a lot to learn about how to run and work the studio, but it is good to have it ready for the start of the new college year.”

Music tutor and musician, Jonathon Salisbury said: “Having the music studio gives us a professional environment the students can walk into and use. You don’t necessarily need that level of equipment to make good music but if you learn how to use this kind of facility you can always scale back to whatever you need. It is fundamental for students to understand how a professional studio works and get used to that kind of environment. It will help them build up an amazing portfolio of recordings which will launch them onto whatever they choose to do after college.”

“The studio is designed with analogue equipment so it works best for traditional collaborative music making. You can put a whole band in one space. There is real magic that happens when you get musicians together in one room. All the old great bands worked that way. The students who have used it so far have been amazed that they are in this professional space making music with other people again. They are definitely inspired by the quality of what they can produce in the new facilities.”

One local band has already used the space to record parts of their album and the college plans to hire out the new music studios to more local bands and musicians. They are particularly keen to offer the space to those just starting out who are looking for a resource like this on their doorstep.

To find out more about hiring the music studios contact hello@weststudios.co.uk.

To find out more about studying music at Chesterfield College visit https://www.chesterfield.ac.uk/music/

Chesterfield College supports the marketing and economic growth of the town through Chesterfield Champions, a network of over 190 organisations across Chesterfield and North Derbyshire.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Development, Featured, Home, Leisure, Love Chesterfield, Made in Chesterfield, UncategorisedTagged in , , , , , ,

Data shows a surge of interest from commuters eyeing up homes in Chesterfield

Interest in homes in and around Chesterfield has seen a significant rise, with data showing a jump in the number of commuters looking to relocate to the town.

New data from the UK’s biggest property website Rightmove reveals that the return to the office for many workers has led to a jump in buyer searches for commuter stations, with searches for Chesterfield going up by 30% between June 2021 and August 2021.

The analysis compares buyer searches for stations across Great Britain in June 2021 with August 2021, to measure the impact of the gradual return to the office, which has been encouraged by the government since July.

Peter Swallow, Chair of Destination Chesterfield, said: “The recent Right Move data is pleasing but not surprising. We have long known and appreciated the town’s connectivity. It is this which has been fundamental in the borough attracting more than £1 billion worth of construction projects which are currently underway.

“Chesterfield’s mainline rail station serves the town well. As Sheffield house prices have increased to a level which challenges affordability, the market in Chesterfield, being just 10 miles away by train from the UK’s fourth largest city, is benefitting.

“Having this station puts London St Pancras just 1hr and 50 mins away, and Nottingham just 40 minutes away which is ideal for commuters. The reality of this is you can get to central London by rail from Chesterfield in the same amount of time it takes someone to commute from 30 miles away!

“Demand for housing is strong, particularly close to the railway station. At Avant Homes Waterside Quarter development at Chesterfield Waterside, buyers are attracted by the fact they don’t need a car to live there as the train station is on their doorstep. This benefits everyone, not least Chesterfield Borough Council’s drive to become carbon neutral.

“It is exciting to see Chesterfield Borough Council investing significantly in the future of the railway station. The new station master plan, the first such scheme since 1870, will transform not merely the approach to the station but the whole of the north-eastern edge of the town centre, helping the town attract more residents and investment.”

Tim Bannister, Rightmove’s Director of Property Data comments: “More people are starting to return to the office for at least a few days a week, and so quick routes into major cities are rising up the priority list again.

“While the demand to relocate or search for more space has by no means gone away, the numbers suggest that this will need to be balanced with easy transport access on office days, which has understandably been lower on the agenda for many over the last eighteen months.”

Champions Event

Posted in About Chesterfield, Celebrate Chesterfield, Destination Chesterfield, Development, Featured, Home, Leisure, Love Chesterfield, Property and Construction, Uncategorised, VisitingTagged in , , , , , , , ,

Famous ‘Knife Angel’ sculpture set to visit Chesterfield

Chesterfield is the latest town to be chosen as one of the locations across the country hosting the National Monument Against Violence and Aggression.

The visit follows the monument’s other visit to the county in October 2019, when more than 200,000 people came to see the structure outside Derby Cathedral

Known as the ‘Knife Angel’, the spectacular 27ft sculpture, made from up to 100,000 bladed weapons collected in knife banks during police amnesties across the country, will be based next to the Church of St Mary and All Saints on Church Way in the town, from Monday, 4 October.

Created in collaboration with all 43 police forces, the Home Office, Anti-violence groups and hundreds of families who have been affected by knife crime, the monument is a symbol of the nation’s intolerance to violence and aggression.

It was created by the British Ironwork Centre, by sculptor Alfie Bradley to highlight the impact knife crime has on people, families and communities.

Derbyshire Police and Crime Commissioner Angelique Foster said: “The Knife Angel is a powerful statement on the struggle to curb knife crime and prevent more families from suffering senseless pain and loss.

“A number of partner organisations worked together to make the sculpture’s first visit to Derby possible and we are proud to see the Knife Angel back to the county, this time in Chesterfield.

“The Knife Angel vividly reminds us not only of the devastating consequences of violence but also our collective responsibility to take action and change the future for the next generation. I hope that the Knife Angel presence in Chesterfield provides educational value for many families and youth organisations by helping to initiate difficult conversations about violence and knife crime and questioning the tragic loss of so many lives.”

Councillor Jill Mannion-Brunt, Chesterfield Borough Council’s cabinet member for health and wellbeing, said: “I’m really pleased that through the Community Safety Partnership we can support the visit of the Knife Angel to Chesterfield.

“It not only serves as a poignant memorial to reflect on and commemorate lives lost through violence across the UK, it will also serve to engage people and help educate them to ensure that knife crime does not become an issue locally. There will also be a series of engaging sessions for young people including community theatre that aims to further strengthen this message.”

Chief Superintendent, Hayley Barnett, who is in charge of policing in the north of Derbyshire, said “We are very happy to be supporting the visit of the Knife Angel to Chesterfield.

“The visit of the structure to Derby two years-ago was a success, in that it gave people the opportunity to reflect on the implications that violent crime has on the victims, families and in-fact all those affected by knife crime in-particular.

“We had lots of feedback asking to try and bring the powerful monument back to the north of the county and so we are pleased that Chesterfield has been chosen as the latest location.

“Our work to prevent violent crime, particularly those crimes involving weapons such as knives continues through the year with intelligence-led operations and supporting the education of young people in-particular in the dangers of carrying a knife.”

In support of the visit we will be holding and backing a number of events including: a ‘drop the knife’ performance held at Spring Well High School by the Salt Mine production company, several public engagement sessions at the Knife Angel and a knife disposal bin will be at the monument on a  Monday-Wednesday-Friday  between 11am and 2pm.

For more details of these related events, follow the local Safer Neighbourhood policing team on Facebook @ChesterfieldTownCentreSNT and Twitter @ChesterfieldSNT

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Destination Chesterfield, Featured, Home, Leisure, Love Chesterfield, Uncategorised, VisitingTagged in , , ,

Vicar Lane Shopping Centre to host spooktacular Halloween

Visitors to Vicar Lane Shopping Centre in Chesterfield should prepare themselves for a right howl this Halloween as the Centre is set to celebrate the spookiest night of the year.

Families are encouraged to head to Vicar Lane’s pumpkin patch from 10am – 4pm on Saturday 23rd October, where they’ll be able to take their pick of a great collection of pumpkins and get a menacing makeover from the face painter. All completely free.

Vicar Lane has also teamed up with fellow Chesterfield Champion, Salute Prosecco to offer customers the chance to celebrate with a special outdoor screening of Hocus Pocus on the big screen on Saturday 23rd October at 6:30pm.

Spaces are limited and are expected to go fast, so anyone interested in the event is being advised to book early to avoid disappointment: https://www.salute-prosecco.com/open-air-cinema-packages.

Food and drink packages are also available to purchase from Salute, including pizzas and cheeseboards.

Shaun Brown, Operations Manager, Vicar Lane said, “We’re really looking forward to welcoming the people of Chesterfield to Vicar Lane to help us celebrate Halloween. We’re sure it will be a spooktacular day of fun!’’

Based in the heart of Chesterfield, Vicar Lane Shopping Centre is  home to a range of popular high-street retailers and a mix of unique independent stores. It is also the home to popular independent cafes, such as The Vintage Tearooms and Qoozies.

There’s plenty happening across Chesterfield and North Derbyshire throughout the October half-term and during Halloween. Find out more about what’s on in the town on our half-term page here: Half Term in Chesterfield | Destination Chesterfield

For more activities taking place across Chesterfield, head over to our events page: Chesterfield Events | Destination Chesterfield

Salute and Vicar Lane support the marketing and economic growth of the town through Chesterfield Champions, a network of over 190 organisations across Chesterfield and North Derbyshire.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Destination Chesterfield, Featured, Home, Leisure, Love Chesterfield, Uncategorised, VisitingTagged in , , , , , , ,

New Chesterfield business provides hours of fun with Nintendo Switch consoles and giant golf simulator

A new business open in Chesterfield promises to provide people of all ages with fun activities, with the ability to host huge multiplayer games on Nintendo Switch consoles, along with a state-of-the-art golf simulator.

Leisure Pod is based at Tapton Park Golf Course, providing people of all abilities the chance to work on their swing indoors when the conditions outdoors are less than favourable.

The golf simulator technology transports players virtually to some of the world’s most famous courses, such as The Belfry. It can be booked by more serious players looking to perfect their game, or those looking to have a bit of fun.

Leisure Pod can also be booked for parties, with youngsters (or those young at heart!) able to play on Switch Games such as Ring Fit, Just Dance and Mario Kart.

The venue is kitted out with gaming chairs for the ultimate immersive experience. Disco lights are also provided, so the room can also be used for other functions, parties and activities.

Speaking recently on The Chesterfield Show Podcast, founder Kelvin Wilson said: “Back during the first lockdown I bought a golf simulator for personal use.

“But then I quickly realised with the help of my family that it could be a cinema, we could hook Nintendo Switch consoles up to it, put disco lights in and use it as a party space; and that’s how Leisure Pod was born.

“The venue is brilliant for corporate parties, kids parties and individual use too. The reason we chose Nintendo Switch is because my background is in health and fitness. I want people to be active.”

Kelvin also has optimism for other leisure businesses in the town which have opened recently in the wake of the pandemic.

He said: “The leisure industry, like every industry during Covid has taken a massive hit, but I think that coming out of it now, it is definitely going to flourish.

“Golf has had a massive uptake so I want to keep that golf offer for when it gets dark and the weather isn’t great outside. We are not elitist in this room, I don’t care if people haven’t picked a golf club up in their life; It is about the enjoyment.”

Leisure Pod also has the ability to bring Nintendo Switch parties to your house or other external venues. For more information about the new business, go to: https://leisurepodhire.com/

 

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Destination Chesterfield, Featured, Home, Leisure, Love Chesterfield, Uncategorised, VisitingTagged in , , , , , , , ,

Chesterfield wins Gold in East Midlands In Bloom

Chesterfield has won Gold in the small city category at the East Midlands In Bloom Awards.

Representatives from the Chesterfield In Bloom committee and Chesterfield Borough Council were presented with the award at a ceremony on Wednesday 22 September.

They were also presented with a Judge’s Award for the development of Edinburgh Road Pocket Park and received commendations in the Least Littered and the Wildlife and Conservation Area categories.

Councillor Jill Mannion-Brunt, Chesterfield Borough Council’s cabinet member for health and wellbeing, said: “It’s fantastic to receive this recognition for our marvellous floral displays. It is a real testament to the hard work of both local volunteers and our officers in ensuring our borough is a bright and beautiful place to live, with lots of fantastic green spaces for everyone to enjoy.”

Chris Turner, chair of the Chesterfield In Bloom committee, said: “I’m delighted that we’ve been recognised for all our hard work over the last year. It takes a lot of effort from many different community groups and the council to ensure the borough is looking its best in time for judging. In Chesterfield we have lots of great green spaces and the work done helps ensure these are looking their best.”

Judging for East Midlands In Bloom took place in July and the judges were taken on a tour of the borough, starting in Queen’s Park, they visited the town centre, Holmebrook Valley Country Park, the Britannia Inn, Hunloke Allotments, Brimington Circle and the new pocket park on Edinburgh Road Park.

Edinburgh Road Pocket Park was completed earlier this year and features a number of raised beds that have been planted with wildflowers and plants to support pollinators like bees, new paving and local urban artist Peter Barber has created a wall mural that celebrates nature behind the raised beds.

Chesterfield is also competing in Britain In Bloom and will find out the results later this year.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Celebrate Chesterfield, Destination Chesterfield, Featured, Home, Leisure, Love Chesterfield, Summer, Uncategorised, VisitingTagged in , , , ,

New soft play, entertainment and dessert venue open in Chesterfield

A brand new venue for children is set to open in Chesterfield, which will house family-friendly entertainment, a soft play area and mouth-watering desserts.

Kooca will be open seven days a week, from 10am to 6pm to help provide fun for your little ones, while you, your family and friends tuck into an indulgent treat.

The venue on Beetwell Street will officially open its doors to the public from Saturday, 2nd October, with toy cars and pony cycles also included to enable children to have a fun experience.

Special events such as Halloween and Christmas parties will also be lined up at the new venue, which aims to provide hours of fun for youngsters across North Derbyshire and beyond.

Operations Director Ian Biggin said: “Our intention is simply to be Chesterfield’s Premier Children’s Soft Play, Entertainment, Party and Dessert Venue.

“Kooca features the latest in soft play design, along with a family friendly entertainment venue which will host shows and events throughout the year.

“We can offer bespoke party packages from tailored group experiences including food and drink packages up to exclusive venue hire for your special event.”

Kooca will be offering guests a delicious range of treats for guests, including freshly made waffles topped off with locally-made Frederick’s ice cream, coffees with flavoured shots, milkshakes and much more.

Further plans for the new business include the development of ‘Our Tiny Town’ in which the business’s owners will work with teams from Chesterfield borough council and Chesterfield College to create a miniature replica of Chesterfield within the building.

You can find out more about Kooca, and all the exciting events taking place there over on the venue’s Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/koocaltd or by calling 01246 604670.

There is so much to do across Chesterfield to keep the whole family entertained. Find out what you could be getting up to in the town on our ‘Places to Visit’ page.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Featured, Home, Leisure, Love Chesterfield, Uncategorised, VisitingTagged in , , , , , , , , ,