Leisure

BRM Solicitors to sponsor Chesterfield Festival of Cricket

14th June 2019

Leading law firm and Chesterfield Champions BRM Solicitors take on naming rights of the popular Chesterfield Festival of Cricket after being involved in the annual event since 2013.

The BRM Solicitors Chesterfield Festival of Cricket, which returns to the picturesque Queen’s Park on Sunday 14 July, will see Derbyshire play Northamptonshire in four-day first-class cricket, before it rounds-off with the showpiece Twenty20 fixture against Yorkshire in front of what is expected to be a capacity crowd.

Jimmy Drew, Commercial Manager at Derbyshire County Cricket Club, said: “It’s great to extend our relationship with BRM Solicitors after they have been involved in the festival for a number of seasons.”

“We’ve had some exciting matches across both formats in recent years, including a memorable Vitality Blast win last summer, and we hope to see more of the same in 2019.”

“The festival is very well supported – less than 30 per cent of tickets remain for the Yorkshire fixture – and by taking on the headline sponsorship, BRM Solicitors’ name and branding will be highly visible across Chesterfield this July.”

Rob Woodhead (right), Executive Director at BRM Solicitors, added: “BRM is delighted to continue its support of the Chesterfield Festival of Cricket.”

“Queen’s Park is recognised as one of the best venues to watch cricket in the world and the Derbyshire/Yorkshire T20 Blast, on Saturday the 20 July, is the jewel in the festival’s crown.”

“From BRM’s perspective the opening of our Sheffield office, at Steel City House in 2018, brings added ‘spice’ to the Derbyshire/Yorkshire fixture. When the possibility of becoming the headline sponsor of the Festival arose, it was too good an opportunity to miss!”

Find more information for this summer’s BRM Solicitors Chesterfield Festival of Cricket here.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Leisure, Summer, Visiting

Tree Planted to Celebrate a Year of Success

13th June 2019

The Garden Secret Spa located in the grounds of Ringwood Hall Hotel and Spa celebrated their 1^stAnniversary this week.

A tree planting ceremony within the grounds took place, officiated by the Mayor and Mayoress of Chesterfield accompanied by Becky & Ricky, Peak FM’s Breakfast presenters.

The Luxury Spa has now been open exactly a year and located within the grounds of Ringwood Hall Hotel & Spa consists of a Vitality Pool, Herbal Sauna, Foot Spas, Himalayan Salt Sauna, Blossom Steam Room, Ice Fountain, Experience Showers, Relaxation Lounges, 7 treatment rooms and its own Brassiere.

Since opening its doors in June 2018, The Garden Secret Spa has already become established as one of Derbyshire’s newest luxury spas. In August 2018 the Spa was awarded the prestigious 5 Bubble award from the Good Spa Guide, making it the first in Derbyshire to receive this accolade, along with being a finalist for Best Newcomer.

The spa has also increased its facilities and offerings since its opening; In September the Jennifer Young brand was launched offering ‘Beauty Despite Cancer’ treatments and products allowing cancer patients the opportunity to enjoy a full spa experience. A new spa terrace was then built and launched In October, the terrace wraps around the full length of the spa, and allows access to the gardens from the pool hall.

Jemma Whitney, Spa Manager of the Garden Secret Spa said “We have had the most fantastic first year and would truly like to thank everyone that has visited and supported us since our opening. The concept of the spa was all about bringing the award winning gardens of Ringwood Hall into the spa. To be able to celebrate today by adding a stunning Acer into the grounds means we have been able to give back to our original inspiration. We hope that as our spa grows and develops throughout the years, changing through the seasons, that our new tree will also. We are very excited about the future plans for The Garden Secret Spa”

Posted in About Chesterfield, Leisure, Visiting

Team GB call-up for Liam Pitchford

12th June 2019

Chesterfield table tennis star Liam Pitchford has been named in the Team GB squad for the European Games in Minsk, the Belarussian capital, this month.

Liam (25) represented Team GB at the London 2012 and Rio 2016 Olympics. A top-three result in the singles at the European Games, being held between June 21-June 30, would mean automatic qualification for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.

Liam began playing table tennis when he was eight. He won the British Home Countries Championship in 2009 and two Commonwealth Games medals – silver in the team event and bronze in doubles – in 2010.

At the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow he picked up team and mixed doubles silver and men’s singles bronze.

In 2018 Liam competed at his third Commonwealth Games. He won gold in the men’s doubles, silver in the mixed doubles and bronze in the men’s team event. As of May 2019, Liam was ranked the no. 14 player in the world.

Liam was one of the first athletes to become a member of Derbyshire Institute of Sport (DIS) – the only organisation of its kind in the UK that was launched in 2012 as an Olympics legacy programme. It supports and complements the work of National Governing Bodies of Sport to help talented young Derbyshire athletes to perform at their very best on the world sporting stage. It also offer local businesses and organisations unique opportunities to benefit from a range of DIS partnerships that will raise Derbyshire’s profile globally.

Chloe Maudsley, head of operations at DIS, said: “We are incredibly proud of everything that Liam has achieved and we are looking forward to seeing him compete in Minsk.”

The five-strong Team GB table tennis squad also includes Liam’s English colleagues Paul Drinkhall, Sam Walker and Tin-Tin Ho, plus Charlotte Carey of Wales. Liam will compete in the men’s singles and the team event.

The games will feature 199 events in 15 sports (23 disciplines). Organisers expect around 4,000 athletes from 50 countries. Team GB will include around 100 athletes.

In June 2015, Liam was part of the Great Britain table tennis squad at the inaugural European Games in Baku, where he reached the quarter-finals.

Images: Table Tennis England

Posted in About Chesterfield, Leisure

CBeebies ‘Waffle’ Star Joins Chesterfield Panto

5th June 2019

Chesterfield Theatres have announced that star of CBeebies Waffle the Wonder Dog, Andrea Valls, will join the cast of this year’s traditional family pantomime, Jack and the Beanstalk, at the Pomegranate Theatre from Friday 6^th December 2019 to Sunday 5^th January 2020.

Instantly recognisable to youngsters (and their parents) as ‘Mum’ Jess, in CBeebies heart-warming family comedy show Waffle the Wonder Dog, Andrea will make her pantomime debut this Christmas as Princess Jess.

Andrea has enjoyed great success with BAFTA-nominated Waffle the Wonder Dog which first hit TV screens in Spring 2018. The critically acclaimed show, now in its third series, is broadcast in 30 countries worldwide and has been viewed by over 24 million people on BBC IPlayer alone. The programme which features the talking wonder dog Waffle, voiced by the aptly named Rufus Hound, and which focuses on the newly blended Brooklyn-Bell family was an instant favourite with viewers and critics alike, praised for its sensitive and humorous handling of the everyday issues that affect young children, helping viewers to understand and cope with confusing emotions.

Away from ‘Waffle’ Andrea, who trained at East 15 Acting School, has starred in Jack & Dean of All Trades alongside Jessica Hynes, Valentine’s Night for Sky Arts and is currently writing and developing a digital sketch series.

Pantomime producer Paul Holman said: “With her natural warmth, charm and energy not to mention a fantastic singing voice, Andrea is the perfect choice for our vivacious Princess Jess and if she can handle a talking dog I’m sure our Giant will be no match for her!”

Andrea joins the previously announced star of pop supergroup Steps, Lee Latchford-Evans, who takes the title role of Jack in this year’s spectacular production. Filled to the brim with toe-tapping pop songs, high energy dance routines, laugh-out-loud comedy and breathtaking special effects along with all the well-loved pantomime traditions and plenty of chances to join in the fun, Jack and the Beanstalk has something for all the family this Christmas.

Jack and the Beanstalk runs at Pomegranate Theatre from Friday 6^th December 2019 to Sunday 5^th January 2020. Tickets are on sale now and can be booked online at www.chesterfieldtheatres.co.uk or via the Box Office on 01246 345 222.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Christmas, Leisure, Visiting

The town centre comes to life at this time of year

5th June 2019

Peter Swallow, Chair of Destination Chesterfield‘s latest blogs looks forward to the great events happening this Summer in Chesterfield.

We’re half way through the year and the weather is warming up, which can only mean one thing – the events season is upon us and Chesterfield is certainly getting into the swing of it !!

The town centre fully comes to life at this time of year, with events drawing in visitors who are keen to experience something a little different. This is where being a market town gives us one of many advantages as Chesterfield the ready-made outside space in the market to host festivals and events.

I am delighted to see that event organisers are making the most of this space. In May we welcomed Chesterfield Street Food and Grooves Festival for a second year running and the brand new Vegan Knights Festival and of course the ever popular Artisan Market.

Events like these play a big role in encouraging footfall into the town centre, giving visitors the opportunity to see for themselves our great retail and food and drink offering. Often, people can run down the town, claiming in one breath that it is full of empty shops yet, in the same sentence, admit to never shopping in Chesterfield.

The town is most definitely not full of empty shops. In fact, Chesterfield is renowned nationally for having fewer vacant shops than the majority of towns and cities.

We owe our vibrant town centre in part to the plethora of independent businesses who are located there; long established retailers as well as new shops, stores and market stalls opening regularly.

The wealth of independent retailers has never been more apparent that in the shortlist for year’s Chesterfield Retail Awards. We had a record year for nominations with more than half of the 30 finalists being shortlisted for the first time in the awards. The strong shortlist not only mirrors the year-on-year success of these popular awards but also the town’s high-quality and varied retail scene.

It’s very encouraging to see so many people taking the time to nominate their favourites in both the Chesterfield Retail Awards. We have seen a similar picture in nominations for the Food and Drink businesses. Having such a varied shortlist only adds to the excitement of the awards and makes for a very special awards evening.

If you can’t make the Retail or Food or Drink Awards, don’t worry; there’s a whole plethora of things happening in and around Chesterfield this year which showcase the town’s vibrant retail and food and drink scene.

These events are not only an opportunity to have a great time, but also a way to shop local and invest in the economy. We can all play our part in helping make Chesterfield the place to live, work and invest.

Destination Chesterfield has an up-to-date list of events on its website at www.chesterfield.co.uk. You won’t be disappointed!

Posted in About Chesterfield, Blog, Business, Celebrate Chesterfield, Chesterfield Food and Drink Awards, Chesterfield Retail Awards, Destination Chesterfield, Leisure, Summer

New forum unites Chesterfield’s food and drink sector

5th June 2019

Skills, recruitment and marketing were top of the agenda for the brand-new Chesterfield Food and Drink Forum, which has been launched by Destination Chesterfield.

The new forum builds on the continued success of the annual Chesterfield Food and Drink Awards and is designed to further raise the profile of the town’s thriving food and drink sector.

Open to Chesterfield Champions, the group will meet twice a year and has been established to encourage a closer working relationship between businesses operating within the sector.

It aims to support business growth by providing access to training and development and signposting to local business advisers. It is also hoped the group will spark new marketing ideas to further boost the sector and encourage the whole town to get involved.

Hospitality and tourism is the UK’s fourth-largest industry, supporting 4.49 million jobs and generating one tenth of the country’s economic wealth. Chesterfield is no exception. The thriving sector is growing year-on-year with recent developments including the arrival of Deliveroo in Chesterfield in May, the creation of new food and drink units in the former Co-Op building on Elder Way and the redevelopment of the outdoor space at Vicar Lane.

The inaugural event was held at The Crafty Dog on Chatsworth Road and was attended by representatives from The Crafty Dog, Casa Hotel, Brampton Brewery, Stephenson’s Tea and Coffee House, R P Davidson Cheese Factor and Salute. It was chaired by Laura Ashby and Richard Alsop from Edge Events, the company behind the Chesterfield Food Festival and Street Food and Grooves Festival and included information for local producers from the Food and Drink Forum Ltd.

Richard Alsop explained: “As Laura and I work with businesses across the food and drink sector providing an event platform for them to deliver their products, as chairs of the forum, we are not only able to be objective, but also understand what matters to the individuals and businesses operating within the sector.

“The first forum went really well and feedback from the attendees was excellent. It has provided us with a great platform to build on. Now, it’s about increasing numbers, connecting people and ensuring we add value to all those who get involved.”

Future plans for the forums include guest speakers from local cookery schools, marketing support including websites and social media and attendance from Chesterfield Borough Council.

Peter Swallow, Chair of Destination Chesterfield commented: “Chesterfield’s food and drink scene is thriving as evidenced by the annual Food and Drink Awards which has grown year on year since its launch in 2013. Launching the forum was the next step in bringing together the many individuals and businesses that operate in the sector. The forum will enable them to work together to make the most of opportunities and also collectively find solutions for industry issues such as skills shortages. As the inaugural forum evidenced, together Chesterfield’s food and drink sector is definitely stronger.”

The next Chesterfield Food and Drink Forum will be held at The Tickled Trout on Wednesday 6 November.

If you are a business operating with Chesterfield’s food and drink sector and would like to attend the next meeting, please contact Tara Underhill on 01246 207207 or email tara.underhill@chesterfield.co.uk.

To find out more about becoming a Chesterfield Champion visit www.chesterfield.co.uk/champions.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Celebrate Chesterfield, Chesterfield Food and Drink Awards, Destination Chesterfield, Leisure

Historic Pub Tour launched in Chesterfield

4th June 2019

A new attraction launches in Chesterfield at the end of June. The Chesterfield Great Historic Pub Tour features 8 of the town centre public houses and the town’s historic sites along the way.

Taking place every Saturday from 12:00 noon, at the Pig And Pump on St Mary’s Gate, (formerly the White Swan), this walking tour takes 4 hours.

Launching on the 29th of June and running until the end of August, the tour costs just £5 per person, which can be paid in cash to the tour guide on the day as booking is not required.

“I am hoping to attract visitors from far and wide”, said the Tour’s Creator, Shaun Stevenson. “There is a great deal of interesting history behind many of the pubs in Chesterfield, and I want this Tour to be both enlightening and fun”.

A guidebook, which contains much of the historical information, directions and also an observational quiz, is currently being put together, with the help of local historian, Janet Murphy. The guidebook will be available to purchase from the Tourist Information Centre, and at each of the venues from August.

Shaun is hoping to attract local people interested in the history of Chesterfield through the summer and is also marketing the tour to coach companies.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Chesterfield Food and Drink Awards, Leisure, Summer, Visiting

Chesterfield Museum wins award for the Trench Experience

30th May 2019

Chesterfield Museum has won an award for its interactive display which commemorated the centenary of the end of the First World War.

The Trench Experience Exhibition, which ran from 12 October to 19 January at the popular Chesterfield Borough Council run attraction on St Mary’s Gate, received the award for enterprise and innovation at the recent Derbyshire Heritage Awards.

The awards, run by the Derbyshire Museums and Heritage Forum, celebrate the work taking place in museums and heritage organisations across the county.

Part of the museum’s art gallery was transformed into a section of a trench like those on the Western Front in France and Belgium from 1914 to 1918. Sights, sounds and smells were included to give visitors a good idea of a soldier’s life during the conflict.

Councillor Kate Sarvent, Chesterfield Borough Council’s cabinet member for town centres and visitor economy, said: “I am extremely proud of the hard work carried out by staff and volunteers at the museum to make this possible. It is great to see them recognised by the county for their innovative approach to marking the First World War.”

The exhibition was supported by many local organisations and was funded by Chesterfield Borough Council, a £1,500 grant from Museum Development East Midlands and donations from the many visitors to the Museum over the year.

The Trench Experience exhibition was extremely popular with both local people and visitors. The museum saw a 36 per cent increase in visitors while the exhibition was on show.

Chesterfield Museum is open each Monday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 10am to 4pm. Admission is free. For information on the current exhibitions, visit: www.chesterfield.gov.uk/museum.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Leisure, Visiting

Vicar Lane reveals community hero in their midst

30th May 2019

Vicar Lane Shopping Centre is proud to reveal the identity of an as yet, unsung hero who has been working under the cover of darkness to help local charities over the last 18 years.

Ken Harper is the centre’s Night Security Officer and, while undertaking his duties and nightly patrols of the centre, he collects the small denominations of change discarded by shoppers throughout the day, collecting them up to make a monthly donation to charity. Over the past 18 years Ken has donated this ‘loose change’ to charities including Hospices and St. John Ambulance and, most recently to Cancer Research and McMillan Cancer Support.

Each year, for the least 18 years, Ken has collected between £150-£190, donating over £1,000 in total to a variety of local charities, proudly pinning the monthly paying-in slip on the team notice board for all to see.

To explain, Ken says, “I thought this was a good way of helping these charities out. Not only do I collect the coins that have been discarded, but I also receive change that has been saved by the on-site cleaning, security and management teams, who bring it in and add it to the pot – it’s a real team effort. The charities I donate to are worthy causes that are dear to my heart.”

Shaun Brown, Centre Manager, Vicar Lane said: “For one individual to demonstrate such community spirit over all these years is incredible. Ken is an inspiration to the Vicar Lane team and wider community and we’re proud to have him as a long standing member of our team.”

Posted in About Chesterfield, Celebrate Chesterfield, Chesterfield Retail Awards, Leisure, Visiting

Extensive developments begin at Hotel Van Dyk

29th May 2019

An extensive two-million-pound development is well underway at Hotel Van Dyk on Worksop Road, Chesterfield.

An entirely new state-of-the-art hotel is in the process of being built at the venue that will house over fifty new bedrooms, a luxury spa, new restaurant and additional wedding, meeting and conferencing facilities.

The new hotel, which will be located next to the existing building, will see Van Dyk significantly boost the local economy by employing over one hundred new staff in a variety of positions.

The development is set to make Van Dyk the premier location within Chesterfield for accommodation, food and drink, weddings and conferences.

Building work at the site began in March and is expected to be completed by the end of November.

Marc Wildes, Managing Director at Van Dyk, said: “We’re all really excited with how it’s coming together, not long ago it was all just a plan. To see it start to take shape is amazing.”

“I’m so proud to be able to offer a venue like this to the people of Chesterfield, we wanted to put something together that ticked all the boxes. I can’t wait for everyone to see it when it officially opens.”

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Development, Leisure, Visiting

Redbrik Half makes strides with running club partnership

22nd May 2019

One of the region’s biggest running clubs has teamed up with the 2019 Redbrik Chesterfield Half Marathon.

North Derbyshire Running Club, which every year hosts a monthly 5k series No Walk in The Park as well as the Bolsover 10k, Hardwick 10k, Spire 10 miles and the Grassmoor 10k, which is new for 2019, has joined forces with the 2019 Redbrik Half Marathon and Peak FM Five Mile Run.

The partnership will see the club provide a minimum of three pacers for the event itself, as well as hold an information stand in Queen’s Park at the start/finish line.

The club will also provide support and advice for runners on all levels, from tips on ‘couch to 5km’ challenges to guidance for more experienced runners – with jog clubs, training nights and more.

Sarah Johnson, Secretary and Coach at North Derbyshire Running Club, said: “This is a really great opportunity for us to showcase what North Derbyshire Running Club is all about – we’re thrilled to be involved.

“The Redbrik Chesterfield Half will be one of our Club Challenge events and we’re excited to enter a team into this year’s race. The event is so popular with local people and gives the community an opportunity to get behind a fantastic mass participation event – it’s great for the town of Chesterfield.”

John Timms, event director at Redbrik Chesterfield Half Marathon, said: “We’re delighted that this partnership has come to fruition – it’s great to have joined forces with one of the region’s major running clubs.

“It’s very exciting to have North Derbyshire Running Club on board. The Redbrik Chesterfield Half Marathon is a great community-focused event, but we wish to appeal to both new runners just starting out on their ‘journey’ and those with more experience who are looking to challenge themselves.”

Destination Chesterfield is also an event partner of the Redbrik Half Marathon.

More information on the Redbrik Chesterfield Half Marathon, Peak FM or Blachford Fun Run

For more information on North Derbyshire Running Club visit https://northderbyshirerc.jimdo.com/.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Celebrate Chesterfield, Leisure