Visitors to Revolution House can find out about the house’s history including its part in a plot to overthrow a king as it opens for the summer.
The popular visitor attraction at Old Whittington opens this Saturday for the summer season.
The house, then the Cock and Pynot Inn, was the meeting place of the 4th Earl of Devonshire, Lord Delamere, John D’Arcy, and the Earl of Danby as they plotted to overthrow King James II in 1688.
Alyson Barnes, Chesterfield Borough Council’s tourism, museums and events manager, said: “Revolution House is a popular attraction. Each year we have visitors asking about the house’s history and, this year, they will be able to find out more in this exhibition.”
This Sunday, 7 April, will also see the house host an event led by the Derbyshire Wildlife Trust where youngsters can learn more about nature by leaf bashing – crushing and bashing leaves, using mallets, to make imprints onto a piece of material which can then be made into a flag.
If you are planning to visit the Revolution House, Admission is free but donations towards the upkeep of the house will be welcome. It is open each Saturday, Sunday and bank Holiday Monday until Sunday 28 September from 11am to 4pm.
The multi-million-pound transformation of the former Co-op department store on Elder Way in Chesterfield has been completed by Jomast Developments.
The fully accessible 92-bed hotel, which is located in the building’s upper two floors, has now been handed over to Premier Inn ahead of its opening by the hotel chain on 11 April 2019.
Occupying a pivotal site in the town centre, Elder Way is a landmark mixed-use leisure scheme, which is breathing life into the town’s famous 1930s, Mock-Tudor former Co-op.
The building was acquired by Jomast Developments in 2016 with work on the new hotel beginning last year. As part of the transformation, the building’s exterior has been restored to its former glory.
Premier Inn is the first occupier of the building and paves the way for Jomast to now transform the basement and ground floor into leisure and hospitality space.
Jomast is one of the UK’s leading property development, investment and regeneration specialists. The Chesterfield site is the company’s first development in Derbyshire.
Commenting on the handover to Premier Inn, Mark Hill, Commercial Property Director at Jomast Developments said: “I am delighted that we have been able to preserve such an iconic building in Chesterfield. The position and location of the site at times has been challenging but our ongoing collaboration with Chesterfield Borough Council has enabled us to bring this much-loved building back into use. I am confident that Premier Inn will be a welcome addition to the town centre and the Northern Gateway Scheme.”
Marie Dukes-Brown, New Openings Project Manager for Premier Inn, said: “We have been seeking a presence in Chesterfield town centre for many years. Being a few days away from opening our doors is a really exciting moment for us, and we can’t wait to welcome the first guests to our latest format Premier Inn in the heart of town.
“Premier Inn hotels in market towns like Chesterfield trade really well. They appeal to a broad mix of business and leisure travellers throughout the year and as our style of accommodation is so flexible, we find that many of our guests eat and drink out when they stay with us, helping to support established businesses.
“Playing a positive role locally, including creating new jobs, and helping to bring the former Co-op store back to life is a win-win for us and we look forward to playing our part in the future success of the town centre.”
Thirty-eight jobs have been created at the new hotel, however jobs will be delivered by the Elder Way development as a whole once completed by Jomast.
Work will now begin on the transformation of the 16,000 sq ft basement and 21,000 sq ft ground floor area into leisure space which Jomast is targeting at independent operators. The ground floor units will all benefit from their own shop fronts/entrances. Additionally, Jomast will be creating a new courtyard area for outside eating/drinking. Chesterfield Borough Council will also shortly begin work to refurbish the public realm to the Elder Way frontage and widen public footpaths.
Mark added: “We are now in a position to move forward with phase 2 of Elder Way and the transformation of the basement and ground floor into self-contained units. We anticipate high interest from lifestyle and hospitality operators based in Chesterfield and the surrounding areas.”
The development is part of the Chesterfield Borough Council-led Northern Gateway scheme which will also see a new multi-storey car park completed later this year and work will begin on a new enterprise centre for small to medium sized businesses on part of the site of Holywell Cross (Donut) car park.
Visitors to the Peak District and Derbyshire are encouraged to indulge in an eclectic range of experiences this summer, ranging from climbing, caving, hiking and biking to sleeping under the stars and sampling local delicacies, following the launch of the ‘Ultimate Peak District and Derbyshire Bucket List: 101 Great Things to Do’.
Compiled by Marketing Peak District & Derbyshire, the area’s official tourist board, the release of the Ultimate Peak District and Derbyshire Bucket List coincides with English Tourism Week (30 March – 9 April), which celebrates the quality and breadth of tourism in England.
From ordering a pint in the real ale capital of the world to climbing the Crooked Spire, exploring the UK’s first National Park and discovering Britain’s oldest Ice Age cave art, the list provides a showcase for 101 of the best things to do in the Peak District and Derbyshire.
Food and drink experiences – such as sampling Hartington Stilton, learning how to make a Bakewell Pudding and dining at the area’s only Michelin-star restaurant – are also vital ingredients on the list, complementing Marketing Peak District and Derbyshire’s ‘Eat, Drink, Explore’ campaign, which celebrates local food and drink.
Run by VisitEngland, English Tourism Week marks the start of the tourist season and offers an opportunity to raise awareness of the value and contribution that tourism makes to the UK economy. The tourism industry in the Peak District and Derbyshire generated £2.15 billion in 2017 – attracting 40.45 million visitors annually and supporting 28,630 jobs.*
Throughout English Tourism Week, Marketing Peak District and Derbyshire is encouraging visitors and locals to share their own favourite ‘bucket list experiences’ using #UniqueDistrict and #EnglishTourismWeek19 on social media. There will also be the opportunity to win a selection of prizes at www.visitpeakdistrict.com/competitions.
“English Tourism Week is about celebrating the quality and value of England’s tourism offer, shining the spotlight on our amazing attractions and heritage, raising the profile of our tourism businesses and encouraging more visitors to discover and explore the Peak District and Derbyshire,” said Jo Dilley, Managing Director, Marketing Peak District & Derbyshire.
“We hope our Ultimate Peak District and Derbyshire Bucket List will inspire more people to book a break in this wonderful area to enjoy the vibrant range of experiences on offer. We also hope it will encourage locals to explore what’s on their doorstep – and hopefully find some hidden gems too!”
Local manufacturer and employer, Blachford UK has confirmed its sponsorship of the 1km Fun Run at the Redbrik Chesterfield Half Marathon for the second year running.
The family-friendly Blachford Fun Run will form part of the Redbrik Chesterfield Half Marathon events on 20 October 2019, along with the Peak FM Five Mile Run and Pronto Paints Wellbeing Challenge. The Fun Run will be open to people of all ages – and dogs!
Starting at 9.40am, the Fun Run will start and end in Queen’s Park, with entry priced at £5.
Based in Holmewood, Blachford UK is one of Europe’s leading designers and manufacturers of noise reducing trim and insulation for industrial vehicles.
In addition to its sponsorship of the Fun Run, the firm will enter its own team into the event, as well as the Pronto Paints Wellbeing Challenge, Peak FM Five Mile Run and Redbrik Chesterfield Half Marathon, to help raise money for local good causes.
Around 1,500 people signed up to Redbrik Chesterfield Half Marathon events in 2018, almost double the sign-up total from the previous year.
The Redbrik Chesterfield Half Marathon has raised around £100,000 for good causes since its inaugural event in 2017, including for the event’s charity partners Ashgate Hospicecare and Bluebell Wood Children’s Hospice.
Jason Lippitt, Managing Director of Blachford UK, said: “It’s a great honour to be part of the fundraising efforts to support local charities. Many of our staff live in Chesterfield so this is a great way for us to contribute to and get involved with the wider community.”
“Many of the Blachford team are, once again, looking forward to pulling on their running shoes and taking part in all of the Redbrik Chesterfield Half Marathon’s events, and to help raise more money for charity.”
Martin Ross, who took part in the 2018 Blachford UK Fun Run with his five-year-old grandson, said: “The 1km event last year was great fun and a good addition to the Redbrik Chesterfield Half Marathon events.
“I’m looking forward to taking part again in 2019 and seeing the Fun Run help the Redbrik Chesterfield Half Marathon continue to grow into one of the region’s biggest mass-participation events. I’m sure my grandson will beat me again!”
John Timms, Event Director at Redbrik Chesterfield Half Marathon, said: “We’re delighted to have Blachford UK on board for 2019 after the success of the 2018 Blachford UK Fun Run.”
“Partnerships with local businesses such as Blachford are crucial to us as one of the region’s fastest-expanding mass-participation events. The firm has good community roots and we’re excited to see this partnership continue to develop.”
Entries close to the Blachford Fun Run close online on Sunday 6 October, however entries will also be taken on race day before 9am. For more information or to sign-up, click here.
Chesterfield College have launched their annual competition to find the local Young Artist of the Year. They are urging school children in Year 4 to Year 13 to get creative and produce an illustration, a painting or collage, photography or a 3D sculpture on the theme of “The environment and me”.
Finalists’ artwork, across a range of age and competition categories, will be exhibited as part of the college’s Art’s Festival taking place from 14 – 28 June 2019. The young artists will be invited to a special ceremony where the winners will be announced and presented with prizes.
James Marples, Marketing Manager at Chesterfield College said: “Over the last few years we have seen some amazing artwork from the young artists of Chesterfield. We are excited to be running the competition again this year. It is brilliant to be able to exhibit work from the artists of the future at our Arts Festival. The theme for this year is very topical and one which I hope will inspire people to get creative.”
Joseph Higgingbotham (below), winner of the Visual Arts Year 12-13 category in 2018 said: “It’s great to see my work on the wall of an actual gallery open to the public, I’m very proud of myself to be honest!”
Oliver Lea(right), winner of the 3D category last year explains, “It’s a great competition and I’m really happy to have won. I’ve produced a few pieces with PLA plastic going through a 3D pen that I then draw with to produce sculptures.”
The closing date for the competition is 10 June 2019. More details, including how to enter and terms and conditions of the competition can be found here.
The Rose and Crown Brampton has been awarded Chesterfield CAMRA Branch Cider Pub of the Year (CPOTY) 2019. They were also awarded Chesterfield CAMRA Pub of the year back in 2018 thus giving them a fantastic double achievement.
The Rose and Crown Brampton is no stranger to such awards having also been Summer and Spring ‘Pub of the Season’ on a number of occasions.
This Rose and Crown is one of three local pubs owned by Brampton Brewery. The Tramway Tavern is situated on Chatsworth Road, a mere 30 yards from the brewery, and in February the Glassworks was opened, situated on Sheffield Road directly across from the Proact Stadium.
On being presented with the award by CAMRA cider champion Yvonne Nolan, The Rose and Crown landlord Mat Randall said “We are delighted to be voted Chesterfield Cider Pub of the Year for 2019. We are extremely proud of our constantly changing wide range of ciders and perries and are always happy to find new ones to add to our list and encourage more people to try real Cider and Perry”.
Yvonne said “Cider is a natural product with great variety and is increasing in popularity. Regularly offering over 15 ciders and perries The Rose and Crown is a fantastic example of promoting cider in pubs. It is a worthy winner of Cider Pub of the Year and now goes forward to the regional round of the competition.”
Retail managers and shop owners are being called on by the event organiser, Destination Chesterfield, to nominate promising young apprentices for the 2019 Apprentice of the Year award.
Last year the coveted award was won by Hair and Beauty Apprentice Chloe Hall from The Therapy Lounge in Hasland (below).
The take up of retail apprenticeships in Chesterfield is strong compared to the national picture. In 2017/18 there were 110 retail apprentice starts in Chesterfield.
And it’s not just apprentices who are being recognised at the prestigious awards. The search is also on to find the Apprentice Employer of the Year.
The apprentice categories are part of a 15-strong award line-up, the winners of which will be announced at a glittering black-tie awards ceremony being held at Casa Hotel on 19 June later this year.
Peter Swallow, Chair of Destination Chesterfield said: “Apprentices play a vital role in the town’s food and drink sector and we’re delighted to be able to recognise the young talent we have here in Chesterfield, as well as the employers that are supporting them through their apprenticeships. However, we can’t recognise the town’s rising stars unless they are nominated. If you think there is an apprentice who deserves recognition for their hard work and determination to succeed, then please make sure you let us know.”
The Apprentice of the Year and Apprentice Employer of the Year categories are sponsored by Apprentice Town, (led by Chesterfield Borough Council) and Learning Unlimited (The Chesterfield College Group) respectively.
The introduction of the Apprentice and Apprentice Employer of the Year categories to the Retail Awards line up last year followed the announcement that Chesterfield had become the first town in the UK to declare itself an Apprentice Town.
The Apprentice Town initiative demonstrates Chesterfield’s commitment to growing the future careers of young people alongside business and the economy by retaining and developing young talent in the town, helping attract more employers to invest here.
Councillor Tricia Gilby, Chesterfield Borough Council’s leader, said: “As the lead partner in the Apprentice Town initiative, Chesterfield Borough Council is committed to developing new talent through apprenticeships.”
“With more than 100 people taking up retail apprenticeships each year, the awards are an opportunity to reward and recognise the work and dedication put in by these apprentices – so I would encourage people to nominate their apprentice and apprentice employer of the year at the Chesterfield Retail Awards.”
In addition to Apprentice Town (led by Chesterfield Borough Council) and Learning Unlimited (The Chesterfield College Group), the 2019 Chesterfield Retail Awards are supported by Chesterfield Borough Council, East Midlands Chamber (Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire), eBusiness Works, In the Works PR, Jumble Creative Design, JP Fire Safety, Spire Radio, Temple Safety and University of Derby.
You can nominate an aspiring apprentice and\or apprentice employer in Chesterfield’s retail sector online at www.chesterfield.co.uk/retailawards. Nominations can be made until Monday 15 April 2019.
Work is starting to create the new artificial sports pitch on the site of the former Queen’s Park Sports Centre.
The new all-weather sports pitch, which will be owned and operated by Chesterfield Borough Council will support seven-a-side and five-a-side football games as well as other sports.
The area surrounding the pitch will be landscaped with trees, shrubs, bedding plants and grass to support a planting scheme that is sympathetic to the original park design by William Barron that was in place before the old Queen’s Park Sports Centre was built in 1968.
Work on the pitch is due to be completed in the summer.
Councillor Chris Ludlow, the council’s cabinet member for health and wellbeing said: “The pitch will be available for hire by individuals, groups and clubs and from April we will be seeking expressions of interest from those interesting in hiring this excellent facility. We want to ensure a range of user groups can access the facility to support increasing physical activity and healthier lifestyles.”
“The pitch helps to meet a need identified by Sport England to increase the number of artificial pitches available in the borough. We are really pleased that this development is taking place and the positive impact that this will have on Chesterfield’s sporting infrastructure.”
Work is progressing well on Chesterfield Borough Council’s new Saltergate multi-storey car park, ahead of its opening this summer.
Work is now being carried out to pour the concrete that creates the decks of the new car park.
With 526 spaces, the new car park will be open 24 hours, have wider spaces and more disabled spaces than the previous car park it replaces and will also have six electric vehicle charging points with the option to add a further ten according to the demand.
Councillor Terry Gilby, Chesterfield Borough Council’s cabinet member for economic growth, said: “It’s exciting to see the new car park nearing completion. The work has been carried out to programme and to budget.
“People using the car park will notice a real difference with 24 hour secure parking and better facilities. The car park will be open to the public as well as serving the new Premier Inn hotel on Elder Way.”
The new car park is built as part of the Northern Gateway development which includes the privately-led Premier Inn hotel and street improvements to Elder Way and Knifesmithgate.
Work is also due to begin in the coming months on Chesterfield Borough Council’s enterprise centre on part of Holywell Cross (Donut) car park. The main works are scheduled to begin after the the Saltergate multi-storey car park is complete.
Chesterfield Craft – the town centre’s craft beer shop – has partnered with Stasher, to provide the first left luggage service in Chesterfield.
A common problem to visitors to any town, is what to do with their bags and cases. Not all accommodation providers allow guests to leave their luggage at the accommodation prior to check-in or after check-out and not all transportation hubs have left luggage services. Spotting this gap in the market, Stasher was created to match up people requiring luggage storage, with shops and businesses that have space with which to provide luggage storage.
Chesterfield Craft is the town’s first Stasher Stashpoint. Luggage can be left at Chesterfield Craft’s shop, leaving visitors to enjoy their time in the town, without their bags. Prices are set by Stasher, at £6 per item for 24 hours of storage. All luggage must be pre-booked at www.stasher.com and this provides users of the service with £750 insurance for their stored belongings. Bookings are valid immediately.
Richard Young, Owner of Chesterfield Craft, said “As someone who loves travelling myself, I’ve made extensive use of luggage lockers in train stations overseas. I know first-hand the convenience that left luggage services provide to travellers. By joining Stasher’s network of Stashpoints, Chesterfield Craft can provide visitors to the town with the same convenience.”
Chesterfield Craft is active now on Stasher, and ready to take bookings!
Chesterfield’s Women at the Game event, staged last weekend when the Spireites faced Eastleigh at the Proact, has been hailed as a great success.
Held as part of a nationwide initiative to encourage more females to attend football matches, the event was attended by around 60 women. They mixed with VIP guests in the HUB, including the Chesterfield mayoress, Anne Brittain and former Miss World Europe Stephanie Hill, before taking their seats in the stand.
Associate Director Alison Richardson, who organised the event, was delighted with the response. She received some very positive feedback from those in attendance, some of whom were attending a football match for the very first time, such as the comments below:
‘I really enjoyed the match and the atmosphere. It brought back happy memories of going to football with my dad when I was a child and I’ll definitely be coming back to watch the Spireites again.’
‘This was my first football match and I have planned to go back and watch another with my family.’
‘Was a great first introduction to football. Felt very comfortable, met some lovely people, really enjoyed the game and the cupcakes were awesome!!’
Alison added: “I would like to thank the Community Trust for their help in putting the event on and thanks also to everyone who took part.”
Women at the Game was introduced by the late Jacqui Forster. Her widower, Pete Baker, who attended the match, praised the club’s efforts. He said: “Jacqui loved her football, going to games since she was five. She wanted to reach out to women who liked football but had never attended a live game, to remove the fear factor of what’s beyond the turnstiles.”
“It was great to see Chesterfield putting a lot of effort in on Saturday and get a large number of ladies to attend the match in a welcoming environment – exactly what Jacqui wanted.”
“She would have been so happy with what was achieved. I loved the themed cakes, too. Top job, Chesterfield!”
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