Visiting

Reasons to visit Chatsworth this Autumn

Autumn at Chatsworth is a chance to explore something new, from the changing colours of the landscape with a new garden trail to seasonal walks, talks and workshops and an abundance of best seasonal produce from the estate.

There are many reasons to visit, stay, shop and eat at Chatsworth this autumn.

  • Explore the great outdoors and enjoy the changing views and colours of the 105-acre garden with a new autumn trail. Discover 16 places with great views and learn more about the plants, trees and Capability Brown designed landscape. Enjoy the remodelling of the five-acre Rockery, the first part of the largest transformation of Chatsworth’s world-famous 105-acre garden for 200 years.
  • Get busy with the family outdoors with lots of autumnal activities at the farmyard. Create a hay crown, learn about wool craft, make a bug hotel, watch a dry stone waller or get up close with creepy crawlies this autumn in the farmyard.
  • Harvest events for food lovers include cream tea at the Cavendish restaurant with scones, bramble hedge jam & cream, and the Farm Shop to Table Top dinner in the Carriage House café on 25 October.
  • Try something new and explore the programme of autumn talks, walks and more. Find out what the foresters are busy with this autumn with a forestry walk through the woodlands; capture the changing colours with a watercolour workshop; find out more about the herbs, plants and flowers grown in the kitchen and cutting garden on a walking tour or join a plant hunters walk and talk inspired by the expeditions the 6th Duke encouraged from Chatsworth during the 19th century.
  • Capture the essence of autumn at Chatsworth in this photography competition for a chance to win a top prize of a deluxe package including an overnight stay for two at The Cavendish, a one year Gold Friends family membership, £250 vouchers for the estate farm shop, a ‘Paxton’ farm shop hamper, plus a brewery tour at Peak Ales. Find out more here. Post photos on Instagram using the #AutumnAtChatsworth tag for a chance to win first and second prizes for the best photo encapsulating autumn at Chatsworth primarily featuring the house or the best photo encapsulating autumn at Chatsworth primarily featuring the garden.
  • Shopping goes seasonal too with inspirational ideas to wrap up warm, all you need to get out dog walking, recipe books, hats, gloves and blankets and delicious seasonal produce to take home.
  • Explore the changing landscape with an autumn Tractor & Trailer ride from the farmyard. Suitable for all ages with commentary, the trailer riders are also fully accessible.
  • It’s also the last chance to see The Dog: A Celebration at Chatsworth which closes on 6 October: displaying a myriad of paintings and objects from letters, snuff boxes, jewellery, sculpture and ceramics to tapestries, drawings and painted ceilings this new exhibition celebrates the Cavendish family’s centuries-old relationship with dogs.

More information on Autumn at Chatsworth is available here.

Images: Chatsworth House Trust

Posted in About Chesterfield, Leisure, Visiting

Derbyshire businesses invited to one of Europe’s largest walking & cycling fairs

Derbyshire tourism businesses have the chance to reach thousands of potential international visitors at the Fiets en Wandelbeurs walking and cycling fair in the Netherlands next spring, thanks to an exciting opportunity offered by the area’s official tourist board.

Marketing Peak District & Derbyshire has announced that as part of their £1.2 million ‘Delivering a World Class Visitor Economy within Derbyshire’ project, funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), they will be flying the flag for the area at the Fiets en Wandelbeurs walking and cycling fair in Utrecht, from 28th February to 1st March 2020.

Fiets en Wandelbeurs is one of the largest events of its kind in Europe, attracting over 40,000 walking and cycling enthusiasts who are passionate about active holidays, excursions and experiences. The fair has a complete offering in walking and cycling, from routes and destinations to the latest equipment and innovations.

The tourist board is inviting a small number of businesses from the Peak District and Derbyshire to join them at the fair for the chance to promote their business and reach new markets, encouraging more international visitors to book a break – and discover great walking and cycling – in the area.

Jo Dilley, Managing Director of Marketing Peak District & Derbyshire, said: “This is a fantastic opportunity for Derbyshire businesses who are interested in reaching overseas visitors. Thanks to our beautiful countryside, amazing landscapes and fantastic walking and cycling opportunities, the Peak District and Derbyshire is already a popular destination for Dutch visitors and the Netherlands is one of our priority markets.

“Together with the help of passionate local businesses at Fiets en Wandelbeurs in Utrecht, we hope to encourage even more international tourists to book an overnight break and discover what we have to offer.”

To qualify for the opportunity to join Marketing Peak District & Derbyshire’s stand at Fiets en Wandelbeurs in Utrecht, your business must be:

  • Based in Derbyshire
  • An SME (less than 250 employees)
  • A visitor economy business (or part of its supply chain)

Successful applicants will be responsible for their own travel and expenses but will be provided with the trade show space free of charge due to the ERDF project funding.

The closing date for applications is 17:00 on Friday 25th October 2019. Successful applicants will be notified in early November.

To find out more and to apply for a space, please click here.

Image credit: Visit Peak District & Derbyshire

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

Look back at a successful summer

Like many other people, I enjoyed a break away this summer, and as always it was an opportunity to relax, sample new food, and overindulge!

A break away from the town gives us the opportunity to see it in a new light. Often, you don’t notice the progress and growth that has been achieved until you have time away from familiar surroundings. Sometimes we need that break from the town to realise how far it has come in recent years – and the ambitious plans it has for the future. More than a billion pounds worth of investment is happening here right now, bringing with it new homes, businesses and jobs.

In the past couple of months alone we have, for example, seen the opening of the new Multi Storey car park and the archaeological dig which will lead to the delivery of the new innovation centre at the Northern Gateway, the commencement of the new housing by Avant Homes at Chesterfield Waterside, and a planning application submitted for the ‘Adrenaline World’ leisure facility at Peak Resort. We have also seen premier league side Sheffield United visit the town to play a pre-season friendly against Chesterfield FC.

The Saltergate car park is owned and operated by Chesterfield Borough Council and is located on Saltergate. With 526 spaces, the new car park is open 24 hours and has wider spaces than the previous car park it replaces.

Amongst many other attractions, we have a superb food and drink scene in the town. This was celebrated recently with the highly successful Chesterfield Food and Drink Festival held in Queens Park. We are lucky to have authentic cuisine from around the world on our doorstep as well as home grown culinary talent and food producers right here in Chesterfield.

Peak: Gateway, Resort, Campus

PEAK plans to be an integrated leisure, health, sport and education destination on the edge of the Peak District National Park; set on the 300-acre Birchall Estate in Chesterfield.

Next month, at the annual Chesterfield Food and Drink Awards, we have the opportunity to recognise the people and produce that are helping put Chesterfield on the culinary map.

Remember, there are many things, including food, drink, scenery and a warm welcome, to name but a few, that we don’t even need to leave the town to enjoy; Chesterfield truly has much to offer.

Blog by Peter Swallow, Chair of Destination Chesterfield

The winners of this year’s Chesterfield Food and Drink Awards, in association with The Chesterfield College Group, will be announced at a glittering ceremony at the Winding Wheel on Wednesday 23rd October 2019.

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

Rate Cute pop up shop opens in Vicar Lane

The Rate Cute pop up shop opened at Vicar Lane Shopping Centre today (20 September), offering vintage clothing, accessories and more.

Rate Cute is a fashion brand owned by Charlotte Bolton (below), selling vintage, up-cycled clothing and handmade goods. As well as Charlotte’s own brand, the store will feature other small businesses and independent designer makers from all across the UK.

Charlotte said: “We’ll be stocking handpicked vintage clothing, handmade clothing, prints, accessories, greetings cards, ceramics, homeware – that’s all very modern and quirky.”

The shop will be located in the former Grainger Games unit, next to Iceland. The store will remain open until Christmas, however may remain open longer.

Charlotte Bolton says: “I’m super excited – I did the yarnbombing in Chesterfield a few years ago, to try and bring something fun and creative to the town, so now I’m really excited to be opening a pop-up shop which is definitely going to bring something different.”

Shaun Brown, Centre Manager at Vicar Lane said, “The addition of Rate Cute is really exciting for Vicar Lane. There is a growing trend for wearing more unique styles as well as a more ethical, conscious approach to fashion and shopping in general, so we’re sure the store will appeal to a number of new and existing customers at Vicar Lane.”

Vicar Lane Shopping Centre is home to a wide selection of fashion, homeware, jewelry and beauty stores to suit all tastes.

See more pictures on our Facebook page here.

Click here to read more about shopping in Chesterfield.

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

Chesterfield sporting pioneer recognised in first Lucozade Sport Movers List

Chesterfield’s John Croot, pioneer of walking football and CEO of Chesterfield FC Community Trust, has been included in the UK’s first Lucozade Sport Movers List.

From a paddleboard yoga enthusiast and a BMXer steering youths away from gang violence, to an ‘IronGran’ dedicated to keeping O.A.Ps fit, the Lucozade Sport team of researchers have recognised 50 individuals who inspire others to move.

John is non-executive director of the Walking Football Association and has played a key part in introducing walking football to the world. Walking football is credited with helping to stimulate mental and physical wellbeing for the older generation. The slower pace and less contact is perfect for people looking to keep active by playing the sport they love. Walking Football is now played in over 50 countries, and has over 60,000 players in the UK.

John said: “I’m delighted to be included in the first ever Lucozade Sport Movers List. It’s great to be recognised for the role I have played in the modern version of walking football. It’s unbelievable to think that a sport that started only a few years ago in Chesterfield has grown to be one of the fastest growing sports in the world.”

In June, Chesterfield’s Proact Stadium hosted the first ever Walking Football European Nations Cup. The weekend featured a national club tournament on Saturday, followed by the European Nations Cup on Sunday. There were around 250 players over the two days, involving Over 50s and Over 60s teams from different European nations.

You can view John’s Movers List profile here.

Photographer Gray Hughes

Posted in About Chesterfield, Celebrate Chesterfield, Leisure, Visiting

Explore lands far, far away with Chatsworth this Christmas

Be transported on a journey around the globe with Chatsworth this Christmas as you enter an immersive experience full of atmospheric lights, rich colours and the evocative sounds and scents of lands far, far away.

The grand rooms of the house are dressed in homage to countries traversed by generations of the family, so that you can follow in their footsteps led by famous explorers from fiction and life, Phileas Fogg and Amelia Earhart. Your guides will be sharing stories of adventure and derring do from all over the world, while a special children’s trail will add to the fun for families.

Wintry scenes abound with snow, frosty lights and a sleigh sure to deliver the essence of Christmas. The Chapel, inspired by a baroque Portuguese church, is set to look breath-taking with a classic Nativity scene complete with floating candles, mirrors and stained glass.

Blossom trees, Chinese lanterns and a 10-metre spiralling Chinese dragon bring a flavour of Eastern Asia, while Russian dolls and rustic stars dress the gigantic Nordic Fir tree taking pride of place in the Painted Hall.

Insights and anecdotes from historical Dukes and Duchesses of Devonshire are woven throughout your journey, including the letters between Victor (9th Duke of Devonshire) and his wife Evelyn, as she travelled in India with Queen Mary in 1911, and letters home from Canada while Victor was posted there as Governor General, describing a family Christmas and new experiences in a faraway land.

The team has delved into the collection to find a treasure trove of memorabilia from around the world, including a Christmas card from America’s first family, the Kennedys, who have many connections to Chatsworth.

Morocco, India, Holland, Italy, China, Japan, Portugal and America all feature in what is one of the most ambitious Christmas seasons staged by Chatsworth, famous for its festive displays. Venetian masks, pagodas, origami decorations, frosted ferns and Indian fabrics are just some of the props used to stage a rich, eclectic experience on a journey around the world.

Before they leave, visitors can hop into the hot air balloon basket for a photo opportunity.

Tickets go on sale today, 18 September 2019, priced at £25 per adult and £15 per child (aged between 3-16). Family tickets are also available.

For more information, visit www.chatsworth.org.

Pictures by Daniel Casson

Posted in About Chesterfield, Christmas, Leisure, Visiting

Win the Window at Vicar Lane

Vicar Lane Shopping Centre is excited to launch a brand new competition that will give customers the chance to win a new prize every month.

‘Win the Window’ launches on Thursday 19th September and the first prize up for grabs is a £30 gift card for F. Hinds.

Each month a new prize will be displayed in the winning window, located opposite F. Hinds at Vicar Lane.

The first competition runs until Thursday 10th October, so customers have three weeks to enter.

For the chance to win the prize, customers should simply visit the Centre’s winning window opposite F. Hinds and follow the simple instructions to enter.

Shaun Brown, Centre Manager, Vicar Lane said, “We’re really looking forward to giving our customers the chance to win a fabulous new prize every month! It’s a great opportunity to get your hands on a freebie from one of our stores.”

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

Chesterfield Investment Summit 2019 hears how localised social media could be key to revitalising town’s high street

With up to 74% of high street retailers not having an active social media presence, Polly Barnfield OBE, a member of the government’s High Street Task Force has urged Chesterfield’s shops and market traders to adopt social media and use it to deliver both improved footfall and sales on demand.

Speaking at the sell-out 2019 Chesterfield Investment Summit, Ms Barnfield, who has been named as one of the top 100 most influential women in technology, believes events and localised social media activity could be the key to revitalising and growing Chesterfield’s high street.

She said: “Social media is a resource that any business can use, and retailers should use this opportunity to engage with and understand their customers.”

“Social media is fundamentally changing the rules of doing business. It’s not a question of a business being online or offline anymore – they must be both. There has been a huge shift in human behaviour over the last 15 years driven by social media. For the first time ever, people now spend more time on their mobile phone than watching TV.”

However, she urged retailers not to just to focus on selling themselves on social media. “Engagement with the community around you is key. You can’t just sell your own product on social media if you want to be successful,” urged Ms Barnfield.

She advised: “Retailers should post on social media every day and talk to their audience not just about what is happening in their business but around them.”

Highlighting the power of social media on retail at the Investment Summit, it was revealed that ALTERIS, owner of the town’s Vicar Lane Shopping Centre, has successfully used the online platform Maybe* over the last six months to increase footfall by 29%.

ALTERIS bought Vicar Lane Shopping Centre out of administration earlier this year promising to create ‘a new town centre retail model for the post e-commerce world’.

Ms Barnfield was one of several speakers presenting at the annual Investment Summit which was held at Chesterfield’s Casa Hotel.

Addressing future investment and development opportunities in Chesterfield and North East Derbyshire, the event was organised by Derbyshire Economic Partnership, Destination Chesterfield and Marketing Derby.

Speaking at the event Dr Huw Bowen, Chief Executive of Chesterfield Borough Council, also revealed that the town had welcomed 330 business start-ups in the last 12 months.

He commented: “For Chesterfield to grow and survive it needs to be a place where people feel they can do business and do it successfully. This means ensuring we make the most of our competitive advantages in order to attract investment as well as optimise our current development opportunities including HS2, Chesterfield Waterside, Northern Gateway and Peak Resort. Our competitive advantages underpin our recently published Growth Strategy.”

Peter Swallow, Chair of Destination Chesterfield, highlighted the town’s successful public-private sector partnership approach to investment, commenting: “Chesterfield is a town of opportunity and we have the partners and collaboration in place to drive forward our ambitions to not only deliver our current development plans but also attract further investment and continue to grow.”

More than 200 people attended the 2019 Chesterfield Annual Summit. In addition to Polly Barnfield OBE and Huw Bowen, delegates also heard from Mark Warrilow, Skills Stakeholder Manager – Phase 2 (Skills Employment and Education) at HS2 Ltd; Peter Storey, Head of Markham Vale at Derbyshire Country Council; Mark Jones, Head of Technical at Kier Living; Cllr Tony King, Cabinet Member for Economic Development and Regeneration, Derbyshire County Council and David Higham, Commercial Director at Learning Unlimited, part of the Chesterfield College Group.

To keep up-to-date with investments and developments in Chesterfield, please visit https://www.chesterfield.co.uk

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Celebrate Chesterfield, Chesterfield Retail Awards, Destination Chesterfield, Development, Leisure, Made in Chesterfield, Visiting

Tourism sector in the Peak District and Derbyshire is worth £2.3 billion

Latest figures reveal the Peak District and Derbyshire’s tourism sector is now worth £2.3 billion to the local economy, with 42 million people visiting the area in 2018 and supporting over 30,000 jobs – marking another year of significant growth and a remarkable 7.4% increase on the previous year.

New research released by official tourist board Marketing Peak District & Derbyshire reveals significant yet sustainable growth across the area’s tourism industry.

In line with the tourist board’s long-term strategy to increase overnight stays and visitor spend, the area saw a 13.5% increase in overnight stays in 2018 with an extra 504,000 bed nights across the region. Meanwhile day visitor levels were maintained with a moderate 1.3% increase on last year.

Jo Dilley, Managing Director of Marketing Peak District & Derbyshire, said: “This is fantastic news for the visitor economy in the Peak District and Derbyshire. The significant rise in tourism’s overall value signals that our long-term policy to run innovative marketing campaigns that showcase the area as a great place to stay is really paying off.

“We know that these are testing times with the uncertainty around Brexit, however, our recent business survey suggests that confidence is high with 68% of respondents experiencing an increase in bookings during 2019.

The rise in overnight stays has contributed to the significant increase in the overall value of the sector, with overnight visitor spend increasing by 19%, contributing to a total spend of £823 million during 2018.

The sector continues to support and sustain a significant amount of jobs across the area, with the number increasing by 5.2% and breaking the 30,000 mark for the first time.

James Berresford, Chair of the Derbyshire Culture, Heritage and Tourism Board, said: “This significant increase in the value of tourism is fantastic news. Derbyshire is a wonderful destination, proved by the fact that people are voting with their feet.

“It is very encouraging to see the growth in overnight stays, which proves that more visitors are choosing to stay for longer than a day. This has led to an increase in visitor spend in the area, which is great news for local businesses and clearly demonstrates the importance of the tourism industry to the local economy.”

As well as highlighting the value of the tourism industry to the local economy, the latest figures also support the area’s bid to become a national Tourism Action Zone. Following the announcement of the Tourism Sector Deal in June, it was revealed that the Government is looking to create a number of Tourism Action Zones, which would offer opportunities to secure funding and support for selected areas to boost their visitor economy.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Leisure, Visiting

A summer spectacular attracts thousands to Chatsworth Country Fair

Star chefs, the UK’s leading motorcycle display team, and fierce Cossack warriors made up an action-packed programme at this year’s Chatsworth Country Fair, drawing in more than 70,000 thousand visitors.  

Joined by the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire in the Grand Ring, the daredevil motorbike riders Bolddog Lings FMX Display Team made their Chatsworth Country Fair debut with gravity-defying stunts alongside the Ukranian Cossack Stunt Team to open the annual event. Show-stopping entertainment also came from favourites including a Spitfire flyover, the Poppy Parachute Team, Global Stars Aerobatics Display and Pony Mounted Games, plus much more. 

One of the nation’s favourite cookery writers and television presenters, Mary Berry CBE drew in the crowds over in Stoves Cookery Demonstration Theatre on Friday with her culinary delights. Over the weekend, the star-studded line up of top food celebrities continued with live demos and book signings from James Martin on Saturday and The Hairy Bikers on Sunday. Top local chefs also joined the bill including Chris Mapp, owner of the award-winning The Tickled Trout in Derbyshire, nutritionist Eva Humphries, and James Payne, head chef at Derbyshire’s Baslow Hall.

As honorary Country Fair President, TV presenter Julia Bradbury went about her duties greeting visitors, performers and exhibitors (including a book signing on her own Outdoor guide stand) throughout the weekend: “I was brought up in Sheffield so Chatsworth has been and is still very close to my heart. it’s a real honour to have attended the Show as President and see the best of the British countryside in the flesh!”

The Duke of Devonshire said: “The Country Fair is a highlight for everyone at Chatsworth and a much-loved event for so many people in Derbyshire and beyond. The Bolddog Lings motorcycle stunt team were both thrilling and terrifying at the same time, and we were delighted to welcome The Hairy Bikers here to make their debut in the Cookery Theatre.”

Dates for next year’s Chatsworth Country Fair have been confirmed as 4th, 5th and 6th September 2020.

 

Posted in About Chesterfield, Leisure, Summer, Visiting

Chesterfield hosts annual well dressing festival

Residents and visitors to Chesterfield can enjoy a Derbyshire tradition as the annual well dressing takes place.

The wells will be in place from Saturday 7 to Saturday 14 September.

The well dressing at the town pump in the market place, designed by Chesterfield Borough Council, will feature Beauty and the Beast and the one in the porch at St Mary and All Saints’ Church, designed by church members, will feature All Things Bright and Beautiful – the famous hymn written by Cecil Frances Alexander.

This year will also see a third well dressing designed by the Friends of Spital Cemetery and on display at the cemetery chapel which celebrates the work carried out in the cemetery to dedicate an area as a garden of remembrance for those left behind after the First World War.

Councillor Kate Sarvent, Chesterfield Borough Council’s cabinet member for town centres and visitor economy, said: “Well dressing is an old Derbyshire tradition and each year, we receive hundreds of visitors to see the wells in place.

“It is a great opportunity to see the well dressings and support the shops and businesses in Chesterfield town centre.”

People can see the wells being dressed until Friday 6 September at the Pavements Shopping Centre in the mall from 9.30am to 4.30pm and at the ‘Crooked Spire’ church porch from 10am to 4pm.

There will be a blessing service at the church on Saturday 7 September at 10am followed by garland and Morris dancers in Rykneld Square from 10.30am.

Hallmark of Harmony and Sheffield Harmony will be performing a selection of songs from their repertoire on Saturday 7 September in the following locations:

  • 12.30pm to 12.50pm at Chesterfield Market Hall
  • 1.05pm to 1.25pm at the ‘Crooked Spire’ church
  • 1.50pm to 2.10pm at the Pavements Shopping Centre
  • 2.30pm to 2.50pm at Chesterfield Market Hall.

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

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