Leisure

Escape Room arrives in Chesterfield

28th June 2016

Enter. Solve. Conquer [ESC] is Chesterfield’s new premier live action escape rooms. An alternative experience that differs from traditional Chesterfield nightlife; the live action escape rooms are an interesting and unique group activity where teams must work together to solve puzzles, crack codes and figure out how to escape the room before the time limit runs out.

The rooms not only let guests indulge in a variety of games and puzzles, but also provides a creative insight into the towns local history.

Gazz Hayes, speaking on behalf of Escape. Solve. Conquer, said:-

“I feel that Chesterfield was an obvious choice as the place to launch this business, as the vibrant nightlife and entertainment industry here will definitely welcome an escape room. We have plenty of choice for restaurants and drinks and now we can add something a little different.

“Being born in Chesterfield it felt very important for me to use the rich history of our area in the stories of the rooms, particularly in the first trio of rooms. The shadow of the Spire looms largely over the second room and the region as a whole is very much a character in the story.

“I don’t want to give too much away but this is a story that could not have been told anywhere else.”

Posted in About Chesterfield, Leisure

Young Chef of the Year lands a job with top chef

28th June 2016

Since winning the accolade of Young Chef of the Year at the Chesterfield Food and Drink Awards last October, Chesterfield College student, 19 year old, James Greatorex’s career has gone from strength to strength. His passion for food and expertise in the kitchen has just landed him his dream job with famous chef Heston Blumenthal.

The young chef is due to start working in Blumenthal’s famous restaurant, the Fat Duck in Berkshire, next month where he will work alongside other expert chefs in one of the many kitchens at the establishment, preparing food for customers who pay £255 for a unique dining experience.

James’ passion for cookery started at home at a young age where he would experiment with creating menus for his family. After leaving school he got a part time job in a kitchen of a local pub and came to college to enhance his skills. Following the his competition win last autumn, one of the judges, Chris Mapp from the Tickled Trout was so impressed with James that he gave him a job where he has been able to enhance the skills he was learning at college.

James said:

“Working in a professional kitchen, studying at college and taking part in the Young Chef of the Year competition has really helped me to get to this stage in my career. I have had a brilliant lecturer who has always allowed me to develop and experiment which meant I could practice new techniques. I learnt skills at college that I hadn’t seen before and then was able to put them into practice in a commercial environment at work. The competition taught me a lot about cooking under pressure and was good practice for when I did my trial at the Fat Duck.”

Ian Matthews, lecturer at Chesterfield College said:

“When James came for his interview before he started his course it was clear that he had massive potential. For someone of his age, the way he spoke about food, the recipes he’d worked on and his drive to work in the industry stood out. I am not surprised that he has been snapped up by such a high profile restaurant so early in his career and we know he’ll go on to achieve great things.”

James has also been a massive inspiration for the three finalists in this year’s Young Chef of the Year competition. The finalists found out about James’ new job just before they completed their cook off for the 2016 competition. Winners will be announced in October at Chesterfield’s Food and Drink Awards.

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

Museum looks for Chesterfield’s wedding stories

28th June 2016

Chesterfield Museum is asking residents for their stories of love and marriage ahead of a new exhibition this autumn.

The exhibition, Rites of Passage, will be held at the popular Chesterfield Borough Council run attraction from 8 October to 17 January.

It will explore customs relating to birth, marriage and death in the borough’s history as well as telling the stories of first school, first job, first house; the milestones that make us who we are.

As part of the exhibition, the museum is asking for Chesterfield residents to share stories from their own weddings.

Councillor Amanda Serjeant, Cabinet Member for the Town Centre and Visitor Economy at Chesterfield Borough Council, said:-

“We have a wonderful variety of objects relating to the rituals around births, marriages and deaths in the stores at Chesterfield Museum but we want to make this exhibition more personal by including the stories of Chesterfield people.

“From wedding stories to help us reminisce about our own special day, stories to bring a lump to the throat and marriages that represent different communities and cultures, we are asking for people to share their stories with us.”

Anyone who would like to take part can bring in a photograph from their wedding day along with their stories to the museum on St Mary’s Gate during normal opening times. Staff will also be on hand to help record memories. They can also email them to museum@chesterfield.gov.uk.

Chesterfield Museum is open each Monday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 10am to 4pm. Admission is free.

Chesterfield Museum

Posted in About Chesterfield, Leisure, Visiting

Hooper’s to sponsor Summer Nights Film Festival

28th June 2016

Hooper’s Alcoholic Fruit Brews are fast becoming a feature of the best British events throughout the summer months. The next event in the Hooper’s calendar is the spectacular Summer Nights Outdoor Film Festival, a series of outdoor events screening popular films in beautiful heritage locations.

The Summer Nights Outdoor Film Festival arrives at Hardwick Hall on Friday 19^th and Saturday 20^th August and promises a picture-perfect cinematic experience that consumers will never forget.

Whilst the audience enjoy screenings of Ghost (12A) and Spectre (12A), Hooper’s will be providing a relaxed bar and picnic seating area, where attendees can try each of the six flavours.Hooper’s Alcoholic Fruit Brews are a collection of premium drinks, with six flavours including Cloudy Lemonade, Strawberry & Elderflower, Raspberry & Nettle, Dandelion & Burdock, Ginger Brew and Plum & Sloe, all of which complement the flavours of traditional British dishes.

Simon Green, Marketing Director of Global Brands, said:-

“Summer Nights Outdoor Film Festival is a chance to enjoy the British summertime with Hooper’s refreshing, nostalgic flavours at beautiful English heritage sites.

“The events embrace Hooper’s #GreatBritishPicnic campaign to support new ways to enjoy the British summertime. We are incredibly excited to be exclusive drinks vendor, especially as this is the first year hospitality options have featured onsite.”

For more information about the Summer Nights Outdoor Film Festival please see our event page.

To enter our competition to win two free tickets to the festival, please click here .

Posted in About Chesterfield, Leisure, Summer, Uncategorised

Spireites announce new match-day programme deal

27th June 2016

Chesterfield Football Club and O Publishing Media are delighted to announce a new three-year partnership.

The agreement will see the UK’s leading sports publisher produce the Chesterfield match-day programme from the start of the 2016/17 season.

O Publishing Media’s clients include the EFL, the Welsh Rugby Union, the Scottish FA and over 40 football and rugby clubs.

Richard Herrick, Managing Director and Founder of OPM, said:-

“We are delighted to have Chesterfield on board – I was impressed by the club’s desire to work closely with ‘O’ in developing and producing their new, impressive match-day programme.

“I am confident the fans and club will see a huge improvement in quality and we are looking forward to a successful partnership.”

Kevin Fitzgerald, Head of Commercial & Marketing at Cheserfield Football Club, said:-

“I have known Richard and OPM for a number of years now and I know that their quality and professionalism is second to none.

“I’m already looking forward to the first home game of the new season to see the fresh, new match-day programme that we will have on offer. It will be a fantastic product for our supporters.

“I would like to take this opportunity to thank our previous programme publisher, Rubicon Print and wish them all the best for the future.”

Posted in About Chesterfield, Leisure

Young chefs shortlisted in 2016 Food and Drink Awards

23rd June 2016

Hoping to follow in the footsteps of last year’s winner of the Young Chef of the Year award, James Greatorex who has recently joined Heston Blumenthal restaurant The Fat Duck, three catering students from Chesterfield College have been shortlisted for the prestigious title in the 2016 Chesterfield Food and Drink Awards.

Jordan Elliott (18) from Codnor, Sophie Warren (18) from Bolsover and Josh Clark (17) from Walton, level 2 catering students at Chesterfield College, have all been shortlisted for the Young Chef of the Year Award.

A live ‘cook-off’ involving the three students preparing a main course and a dessert which were tasted and judged by three professional chefs – Adam Warwick, head chef at Blu Bistro on Chatsworth Road, Chris Mapp chef and owner of The Tickled Trout in Barlow and Adam Stockton, head chef at Calabria Cocina on Glumangate, was held recently to decide the winner.

Sophie prepared a cod fish pie on a bed of warm tartar sauce followed by chocolate fondant with spiced pear and Chantilly cream. A nervous, but happy Sophie commented: “It was great to be shortlisted; it was not something I expected. Everything went to plan and I was very pleased with the two dishes that I produced. The competition has really helped my confidence.”

Josh wowed the judges with rack of lamb with summer vegetables followed by gooseberry and custard tart. Josh, who sites Gordon Ramsay and Keith Floyd as his food heroes, added: “It was a great experience. My dad and grandma got me into cooking. Her meat and potato pie is the absolute best; even my dad agrees.”

Jordon, who described the competition as ‘nerve-wracking’, prepared roast rump of lamb and baby lettuce followed by strawberry and black pepper sponge cake for the judges. He said: “I don’t like competitions as I am out of my comfort zone, however I really enjoyed the cooking and learnt a lot of helpful tips from the judges.”

The Rev Patrick Coleman from the Crooked Spire Church (St Mary’s Church) which sponsors the award category also took part in the judging. He said: “I was really interested and excited to see three young people doing such great work. The Church encourages young people on their way through life and the Young Chef of the Year Award is a great foundation for any young chef’s future career.”

The winner of the Young Chef of the Year title will be announced at the glitzy award ceremony at Chesterfield College’s Heart Space building on Wednesday 26 October. This year, the ceremony is being hosted by celebrity cake maker to the stars and royalty Mich Turner MBE who will announce the winners of 12 award categories.

Organised by Destination Chesterfield in association with headline sponsor the Chesterfield College Group, the awards aim to showcase the very best in the town’s thriving food and drink sector.

The College also uses the awards ceremony as a learning exercise for its hospitality students. This year, 50 students from the College will also be catering and silver serving a two course meal to more than 250 people attending the event, working over three days on all areas, including kitchen and front of house. Last year Jordan, Sophie and Josh worked at the awards serving the food. This year, they will get to enjoy the two-course meal prepared, cooked and served to them by their fellow students. Chris Mapp from the Tickled Trout advised them to “make the most of it and enjoy every minute.”

Adam Stockton from Calabria added: “College and work situations are a very different environment and Sophie, Jordan and Josh should be very proud of themselves and what they produced today. They all did extremely well.”

Other supporters of the awards include arvarto, Banner Jones Solicitors, BHP Accountants, Black Eyed Susan, Casa Hotel, Central Technology Ltd, Chesterfield Borough Council, Custom Solar, Derbyshire Times, East Midlands Chamber, Holdsworth Foods, Kier, Jumble Design, Mitchells Chartered Accountants and Business Advisors, MSE Hiller, Peak FM, ra Information Systems and Reflections.

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

Schools invited to nominate sporting stars for annual awards

23rd June 2016

Derbyshire’s brightest and best sporting stars are to be recognised at a special awards ceremony later this year – with schools now encouraged to nominate their talented youngsters to ensure they don’t miss out.

The annual awards will return to Chesterfield’s Proact Stadium on October 19th – and teachers, schools, sports associations and area associations can now put forward outstanding performers who deserve recognition.

The Derbyshire Schools’ Sports Association (DSSA) Sports Awards honour young people who have excelled whilst competing in school sport or sport outside of school, as well as young people and adults who have been involved in voluntary roles off the playing field, court or gym floor.

Nominations are invited for individuals and teams from primary, secondary and special schools in Individual Achievement, Team Achievement, Young Leaders / Ambassadors and Adult Volunteer categories.

There is also a Special Award, for media and arts contribution to school sport, which recognises individuals and groups who have produced exceptional work such as photography, film, written reports, music or dance in relation to school sport.

The Individual Achievement, Team Achievement and Young Leaders / Ambassadors awards will be divided into Primary and Secondary School categories, as well as a disability category.

More information about the awards can be found at www.derbyshiresport.co.uk/dssa-awards, where an online nomination form is available. A nomination form can also be downloaded.

The closing date for all nominations is 5pm on Friday, July 29th.

Secondary School Team of the Year
Secondary School of the Year 2015: Tupton Hall School Under-12s Girls Football Team

Posted in About Chesterfield, Leisure, Made in Chesterfield, Uncategorised

Chesterfield College inspires town to cycle at Aviva Women’s Tour

22nd June 2016

Chesterfield College students supported Chesterfield Borough Council’s role in the Aviva Women’s Tour of Britain cycling event last week, by helping school children, and members of the public, to get involved and get pedalling.

Students who are currently studying Public Service were involved in marshalling the event route and helping to run the schools event, where children got to ride part of the route and have a go on balance bikes in the market square. The students put their skills to the test to help with managing the crowds and ensuring the safety of spectators and riders.

Sports students and staff challenged members of the public in New Square, in the town centre, to see how far they could cycle in 2 minutes using a spinning bike. They were also on hand to encourage and advise women to take part in sporting activities, as well as carrying out fitness testing.

Stuart Allen, Director of Learning from Health, Wellbeing and Society, said:-

“This kind of high profile sporting event really brings communities together and inspires people to take part in sport. We’re delighted the college has been invited to play a role to help make it happen and to show how the people of Chesterfield can improve their health, fitness and wellbeing. Our students did a fantastic job at sharing their skills and expertise with people, young and old, in order to help them improve their health and fitness.

“I want to thank staff and students from our public services and sport courses for working so hard to make our involvement in the Aviva Women’s Tour so successful.”

Sports students from Chesterfield College encouraging members of the public to take part in a cycling challenge at the Aviva Women’s Tour event

Posted in About Chesterfield, Celebrate Chesterfield, Leisure, Uncategorised

Chesterfield FC launch summer Soccer School

20th June 2016

Chesterfield FC Community Trust are set to launch a series of Soccer School sessions for 5 – 13 year olds this August.

Taking place at St Mary’s Catholic High School, the sessions will be delivered by FA qualified Chesterfield FC coaches in a fun environment and feature a technique and skills masterclass, as well as free-kick and penalty challenges.

Michael Noon from the Chesterfield FC Community Trust said: “We are delighted to announce the launch of the Chesterfield FC Soccer School. Our aim is for the kids who attend to receive top quality coaching and enjoy themselves at the same time.

“There will be appearances from club mascot Chester the Field Mouse and we will also have tours of the Proact Stadium on Friday afternoons.”

The sessions are open to ages 5-13 and will take place from 9am to 4pm. Those attending need to bring trainers/shin pads and football boots (if available), along with a packed lunch.

Pre-booking costs just £15 per day or £60 per week while pay on the day costs £20. All those pre-booking will be entered into a prize draw to win a signed Spireites shirt.

To book, please phone 01246 264030 or email activities@chesterfield-fc.co.uk.

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

Lizzie Armitstead takes stage win and Aviva Yellow Jersey in Derbyshire

17th June 2016

Lizzie Armitstead powered to an emotional victory in Chesterfield at the end of the third stage of the Aviva Women’s Tour, outsprinting a trio of breakaway companions to move into the Aviva Yellow Jersey of race leader with two stages remaining.

See pictures from the finish in Chesterfield

The reigning World Road Race Champion crossed the line pointing to the sky, dedicating her win in Derbyshire to the memory of Jo Cox, the Birstall MP who was murdered yesterday.

Armitstead crossed the line clear of second placed Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio to now enjoy a five second lead over the Cervelo Bigla rider on the Aviva General Classification, with overnight leader Marianne Vos leading the bunch in for fifth, 36-seconds down.

The Boels Dolmans rider had led Moolman-Pasio and Wiggle HIGH5’s Elisa Longo Borghini across to the day’s breakaway group, catching the group of 11-riders shortly after the Strava Queen of the Mountains climb of Bank Road in Matlock.

Those eleven, who went clear after the feed zone and around 47-kilometres of racing, included the likes of Hannah Barnes, Chantal Blaak and Australian national champion Amanda Spratt, who went on to finish fourth.

While the break were working well together, they were powerless to stop the pursuit of Armitstead, Moolman-Pasio and Longo Borghini, with the trio making the junction after the summit of Bank Road having gone clear on the flatter valley roads following the Chain Reaction Cycles Sprint at Darley Dale.

Having missed the move, Vos and her Rabo Liv team chased hard, but with around 15-kilometres to go Armitstead attacked again, at first joined by just Moolman-Pasio before Longo Borghini and Spratt also made the junction.

The quartet worked well to hold off the chasing Rabo Liv, whose pursuit saw the remnants of the breakaway caught, allowing them to contest the finish in Chesterfield’s Market Place, with Armitstead leading out the sprint to take victory, her second ever stage win in the Aviva Women’ Tour.

Behind Vos outsprinted Armitstead’s Boels Dolmans teammate Amalie Dideriksen for fifth, ahead of Leah Kirchmann and Giorgia Bronzini.

In addition to the Aviva Yellow Jersey and a five second lead overall, Armitstead also retained the Adnams Best British Rider Jersey, with Dani King her nearest challenger in that competition, 47-seconds back in 15th overall.

Despite losing yellow Marianne Vos retains the Chain Reaction Cycles Points Jersey, 11-points clear of Stage One winner Christine Majerus, with Vos’ compatriot Floortje Maackaij holding a 34-second lead in the Best Young Rider classification presented by Stoke-on-Trent, European City of Sport.

Having been in the day’s 11-rider move, Katie Hall led the race across both Strava Queen of the Mountains climbs at Winster and Matlock to take a 14-point lead over Ilona Hoeksma.

Highlights of Stage Three will be shown on ITV4 at 23:00 on Friday 17 June, with a repeat on Saturday morning at 08:55. The programme will also be available on demand via the ITV Hub catch-up service for 30-days.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Leisure, Summer, Visiting

Marking the centenary of the Battle of the Somme

17th June 2016

Chesterfield residents are invited to mark the centenary of the Battle of the Somme on Friday 1st July.

On the day Chesterfield’s mayor, Councillor Steve Brunt will blow a whistle three times at 7.30am to signal the exact time that the whistles were blown at the Somme to signify the beginning of the battle.

The event will also include a march with standards, a rendition of the Last Post and a two minutes silence followed by a wreath laying ceremony.

Councillor Sharon Blank, Chesterfield Borough Council’s cabinet member for governance, said: “The Battle of the Somme was a terrible event in which hundreds of thousands of servicemen were killed within hours of the battle starting.

Chesterfield’s Battle of the Somme commemoration takes place at the war memorial on Rose Hill, opposite the Town Hall on Friday 1 July. People are asked to be in place for 7.10am.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Leisure, Summer, Visiting