Sunday 1^st October will see the return of the hugely popular ‘Local Producers’ Market’ at Dronfield Hall Barn.

Founded by personal trainer, nutritionist and founder of Real Food Function, Jon Hodgkinson, the ‘Local Producers’ Market’ is a must-visit event for food and drink lovers everywhere.

Explains Jon:-

“Once again we’re delighted to welcome a whole host of producers from the local area who will be showcasing their products for visitors to sample and purchase. These producers include: Moss Valley Fine Meats, Frazer’s Coffee, Kevin’s Pies, Sheffield Organic Growers, Hedgerow Preserves and many more.

“Our aim is simple; we want to highlight the good quality, artisan food and drink that is available right on our doorstep. There is some truly delicious and healthy produce out there and it’s really easy to access and show your support for local farmers and producers.”

Continues Jon: “As a personal trainer and nutritionist, I really do believe that getting back to basics with food is where it all starts. If we can gain a greater understanding of how our food has been grown, raised or produced it helps us make more informed choices and promotes a healthier way of living.

“That’s exactly what these markets are about; they provide the ideal opportunity to connect with the producers themselves and learn more about their products.”

Social media users are being invited to share their stunning shots of what they think is unique and inspiring about the Peak District and Derbyshire in a new hashtag campaign aiming to spread the word about its most special and secret gems.

Marketing Peak District & Derbyshire, the area’s official tourist board, is about to launch #UniqueDistrict in a bid to promote the essence and spirit of the area with the help of the expanding online community.

Lindsay Rae, the tourist board’s Deputy Director, said:-

“We’re asking people to post images of their favourite features of the Peak District and Derbyshire – everything from breathtaking landscapes and fabulous attractions to their favourite cafés and restaurants serving locally-sourced food and drink.

“We’re looking for special shots that inspire them and will inspire other people too – and they can feature any subject, as long as it captures what’s best and beautiful about the area.

“We know the Peak District and Derbyshire is full of hidden treasures, and this is a brilliant opportunity to share them across the growing on-line audience.

“We’ll be posting the best entries across our Instagram and Twitter accounts, and there’ll be quality prizes on offer in a series of competitions from September to the beginning of November.”

#UniqueDistrict will be launched on the tourist board’s Twitter feed – @vpdd – on Friday September 1 at 1pm, when a video outlining full details of how to enter and details of the first prize give-away will be released.

After that, people can tweet their images, using @vpdd and #UniqueDistrict, and their submissions will go forward as competition entries until November 1. #UniqueDistrict will then continue to run for another ten months to encourage even more people to join the online conversation.

The video will become the campaign’s ‘pinned’ tweet and will stay at the top of the @vpdd Twitter page throughout September. It will also be posted on the tourist board’s website at www.visitpeakdistrict.com.

Ashgate Hospicecare is thrilled to announce that a combined total of £18,437 was raised at last weekend’s Summer Fair and Open Air Cinema.

Both events, which were based on Ashgate Hospicecare’s meadow, hosted over a thousand people throughout the day and raised vital funds for patients and their families across north Derbyshire.

Beth Cole, Events Assistant at Ashgate Hospicecare, said:-

“We would like to thank everyone who came and supported the hospice over the weekend. It was amazing to see so many families enjoying themselves.”

Throughout the day, families enjoyed an array of activities including fairground rides, games, donkeys, craft stalls, food, a bar and live music as well as over a thousand-local people settling down and watching a screening of Grease later in the evening.

Jill Ashmore, from Chesterfield, said:-

“What a great night. Film brilliant, lovely atmosphere and the meteor display …. inspired. Next please.”

Stewart Oldham, Long standing car park volunteer, from Chesterfield, said:-

“From the volunteers on car park duty thanks for everyone’s cooperation and understanding what a great atmosphere and event. See you all next year.”

Visitors to Chesterfield Museum can join in a range of activities for the museum’s open weekend.

The popular attraction, owned and run by Chesterfield Borough Council, hosts the event on Friday 25, Saturday 26 and Monday 28 August.

Activities on offer include:

• Creative crafts for children each day from 10am to 4pm
• Behind the scenes tours at 1pm and 2.30pm each day – tours are free but must be booked in advance, call (01246) 345727 to book
• Meet George Stephenson each day at 10am – find out more about the North East’s railway pioneer who made his home in Chesterfield
• A talk by the Derbyshire Records Office on Friday 25 August at 11am
• Spire stories at noon and 1.45pm on Saturday 26 and Monday 28 August

The current exhibition features the history of St Mary and All Saints’ Church – the ‘Crooked Spire’.

The church will be offering hour long tours of the tower on Friday 25 and Saturday 26 August at 2.30pm and Monday 28 August at 10.30am and 2.30pm.

Councillor Steve Brunt, Chesterfield Borough Council’s cabinet member for town centres and visitor economy, said:-

“We’re proud to welcome thousands of visitors to Chesterfield Museum each year. The open weekend gives people the chance to look round and find out more about this popular attraction.

“There are activities suitable for all ages so it is a great opportunity for families to enjoy themselves together this bank holiday weekend.”

Former boyband star turned award-winning farmer, with a passion for educating children about the origins of their food has been announced as the president for this year’s Chatsworth Country Fair.

JB Gill (30) rose to fame as a member of one of the UK’s biggest boybands – JLS. They dominated the charts for five years, boasting five number-one singles, over 10 million record sales worldwide and a multitude of awards.

Four years ago, JB set up a farm in the Kent countryside, where he lives with his wife, Chloe, and two-year-old son, Ace. Their smallholding successfully produces award-winning, KellyBronze turkeys and free-range Tamworth pork.

Now an established member of the farming community, JB has used his success within the entertainment industry to highlight his passion to educate children about the origins of their food and he is the lead presenter on CBeebies’ BAFTA-nominated television series, ‘Down On The Farm’ created for children aged 0–6 years, teaching them about life on a farm and outdoors. He also works closely with The Prince’s Countryside Fund, which seeks to celebrate and promote the value of family farms, rural affairs and the countryside to British society.

JB said: “I’m absolutely delighted to be named as president of the Chatsworth Country Fair 2017. The countryside is such an important part of our British society and I’m excited to represent, support and meet the many contributors and guests the fair will welcome over the weekend.

“I’ve always heard of the incredible beauty of Chatsworth Park and I was able to witness this incredible place whilst filming recently with BBC Songs Of Praise. Needless to say, I am overjoyed to have been asked to be Country Fair President 2017, joining the esteemed list of past presidents, who have all shared the same admiration that I have for this stunning countryside venue. My family and I are also looking forward to exploring the fair and getting stuck into everything it has to offer. It’s going to be an exciting weekend!”

In 2014, JB launched a diploma course at Sheffield College, ‘JB’s School of Entertainment Industries’, which teaches those enrolled a vast array of skills required to embark on a career in the entertainment industry.

He will be out and about exploring the country fair throughout the opening day (Friday 1 September).

As well as the thrilling line-up of Grand Ring entertainment, running from 10.45am to 6.30pm each day, the Chatsworth Country Fair also offers lots of shopping, fun and games for all the family, animal antics and much more. Well behaved dogs on leads are welcome, and there’s even the chance to enter the family pooch into a dog show!

The three-day celebration of the countryside set in the beautiful Chatsworth parkland is offering a feast of family entertainment, from the whirlwind that is Dzhigitovka! – The Way of the Cossack Warrior, to what is set to be one of the last displays by the army’s world famous motorcycle display team The White Helmets.

Sir Peter Luff, Chairman to the Board of the National Heritage Memorial Fund and Heritage Lottery Fund will visit Barrow Hill Roundhouse on Thursday 21^st September 2017 to view the comprehensive National Lottery-funded restoration and officially open the new entrance building at the unique Midland Railway roundhouse.

The celebrations to mark the completion of the £1.2 million restoration, made possible by National Lottery players, will continue as the Grand Reopening Gala commences on Friday 22^nd September, continuing on Saturday 23^rd and Sunday 24^th September. 

The gala will star two icons of steam, the National Railway Museum’s A3 60103 “Flying Scotsman” and A1 60163 “Tornado”.  This will be the first visit to the Roundhouse by “Flying Scotsman” since a Barrow Hill Roundhouse Open Day in 1974.

It will also be the first opportunity for many to get up close to the locomotive alongside her sister East Coast racehorse, the 100mph “Tornado” – recently the subject of a BBC4 documentary – against the unique and authentic backdrop of the Roundhouse.

Tickets are now also on sale for “Down the Line”, a professionally produced play commissioned as part of the celebratory events to mark the reopening of Barrow Hill Roundhouse and supported by The Arts Council.

The show will involve a cast of professional actors and hundreds of local people, including a community choir and Ireland Colliery Chesterfield Brass Band.  The audience will be an integral part of the play as they follow the drama in and around the Roundhouse building. The Roundhouse team is delighted to announce that the play will include a guest appearance by “Flying Scotsman”.

Mervyn Allcock, General Manager of Barrow Hill Roundhouse, said:-

“We are very honoured that Sir Peter Luff has agreed to open the new extension building and lead our celebrations.   We are looking forward to welcoming him to our unique Roundhouse and showing much we appreciate the financial assistance the Heritage Lottery Fund has given us.”

Sir Peter Luff, Chair of the Heritage Lottery Fund, said:-

“As the last surviving operational roundhouse, Barrow Hill has a unique role in telling the evocative story of the UK’s dazzling railway heritage. There’s no better way to learn about this history than getting up close to the buildings and locomotives that survive from that time, and that combination is what makes this place so special. That’s why I’m really excited to open the new extension, and see the finished restoration, all made possible thanks to National Lottery players.”

Chesterfield’s first botanical gin room is set to feature in a new Italian restaurant for the town, Cipollini Ristorante Italiano.

The new restaurant, which specialises in homely traditional Italian cuisine, is set to offer a new experience in the already booming Chesterfield Food and Drink scene.

The restaurant will be situated on the mezzanine above the The All Saints Tap – a new food, drink and live sports venue, specialising in craft beers, cocktails, artisan burgers and pizzas which opened its doors last weekend.

A spokesperson from Cipollini said:-

“Our concept is simple, we’re not messing about with the classic recipes and ingredients that’s been served in Italy for century’s – no twists, nothing but fine Italian food done right by our chef Fabrizio.

“We pride ourselves on staying true to our Italian roots and recipes, and serving them with a smile.

“Our Gin room will be open at weekends for pre meal drinks and available to hire out for celebrations with your own bar tender and music of your choice.”

With a focus on the Italian tradition of families dining together, the restaurant are offering all children under 12 to dine for free at all times. Every Sunday they will also be offering half price pizza and pasta between 12pm-8pm.

The prominent building on St Mary Gate now home to The All Saints Tap was previously occupied by York House, in the buzzing and vibrant Real Ale Quarter just 50 yards away from the famous Crooked Spire.

The restaurant joins an number of new businesses that have recently opened in the town over the last year – including Odyssey, Spire by Stephenson’s and Bottle and Thyme – who are nominated in the Best Newcomer category at this years Chesterfield Food and Drink Awards.