Calabria, located on the sought-after Glumangate and a Chesterfield Champion, is the first establishment in Derbyshire to have been awarded the Marchio Ospitalitá Italiana Seal of Quality, which recognises the restaurant’s commitment to a truly authentic taste of Italy and accurate representation of the country’s distinctive gastronomic culture.

Restaurants must meet a list of strict criteria to qualify for the award, which includes high quality Italian-sourced produce, distinctive Italian interior design, and a great range of authentic Italian wines, among many others.

Calabria is in good company as the title is only given to the very best Italian restaurants in the world. In the UK fewer than 40 restaurants lay claim to the award and Calabria is among a select few outside London.

Since opening Calabria in January 2010, brothers Sev and Vittorio ‘Vic’ Risorto, whose family hails from the region in South Italy, have taken the restaurant from strength to strength. They have been rewarded with an impressive list of accolades along the way including Best Italian Restaurant at the Westside Restaurant of the Year Awards, Best International Restaurant in the Derbyshire Food and Drink Awards, and Team of the Year at the Derbyshire Times Business Awards.

Vic said: “We’re honoured to have received this prestigious award. Everyone in the team here plays an important part in delivering the quality that has been recognised. I’m ever grateful to Delitalia, our Italian product supplier, and all the businesses we work with directly in Calabria.

“It’s the combination of these quality Italian ingredients and the talents of the combined team that have gained this latest award. My brother and I have dedicated it to our parents, Benito and Lauretta. They have always put our needs before their own and we hope this proud moment goes some way towards thanking them.”

George Cowcher, Chief Executive of Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire Chamber of Commerce (DNCC), said: “Calabriais a valued member of the DNCC and the local business community and we would be delighted to work with the Italian Chamber of Commerce to recognise this well-deserved reward. Many congratulations to this excellent operation.”

Councillor John Burrows, Executive Leader of Chesterfield Council, said: “What a magnificent achievement for this taste of Italy in Chesterfield. But, of course, anyone who has visitedCalabria will not be surprised; the food quality, the hospitality, and the ambience make every visit a sheer pleasure.”

By day or by night,Calabria’s breakfast, lunch, a la carte, dinner & show, optional mid-week set and seven-course tasting menus take you on an unforgettable culinary journey. In addition, outside catering is available for corporate events and private celebrations, with the choice of a BBQ, meat roast, table or buffet-style menu served, as well as the facility to provide a licensed bar.

‘Mangiate, bevete e divertitevi’ – eat, drink and enjoy – with Calabria.

Source:Calabria

Latest tourism figures for Chesterfield show the town is growing in popularity as a place to visit.  In 2011 there was an increase of 9% in visitor numbers with over 3 million day visitors and 320,000 booking an overnight stay.

The boost in the number of tourists has also increased the amount of money being spent in the town by 11% since 2010.  Tourists spent over £142 million across our hotels, visitor attractions, restaurants and shops. The 11% increase is way above the 2% increase for the East Midlands region and also tops the 7% increase for the Peak District and Derbyshire figures.

The positive news also extends to the job market where the number of people employed full time in the sector now stands at 2,035, an increase of 11%.

Councillor Amanda Serjeant, Executive Member for Leisure, Culture and Tourism at Chesterfield Borough Council said: “More people are opting to holiday in the UK and we need to make sure Chesterfield promotes its many assets to attract this growing market.  We’re delighted to see these increases across tourism figures as it’s a good indicator that we are promoting and positioning the town in a positive way.”

Peter Swallow from Destination Chesterfield said: “Chesterfield is now a serious contender for attracting day trippers and longer stay visitors which is a great boost for our local economy. “

Source:Chesterfield Borough Council

History was made in Chesterfield at the weekend with the biggest concert ever held in the town as Sir Elton John, CBE, wooed a record crowd of 15,019 at the Spireites’ B2net football stadium, and the football club is wanting feedback from those who attended as a record of this land-mark event.

The 65 year old rocker put on an amazing non-stop show that entranced the crowd for two and a half hours as he performed songs from his endless back catalogue of hits from the last four decades, but what was it like for those who attended?

During the show Elton John said: I never thought I would ever play in Chesterfield, it’s a great stadium, so well done Chesterfield.”

After a week of heavy rain the sky amazingly cleared and even the sun came out to provide perfect dry weather to which Elton John remarked: “Thank you God for stopping the rain and keeping it dry for tonight’s show.”

Just like great football match days, the Spireites B2net Stadium was bouncing to the sound of Sir Elton’s music with the large crowd made up of concert-goers of all ages.

Were you in the audience and what was the atmosphere like for you?

Elton John said: “Thank you to everyone at Chesterfield Football Club for making tonight’s show possible and to the people of Chesterfield for supporting it. It’s truly amazing.”

So from Las Vegas to Chez Vegas it certainly was a night to remember in the history of Chesterfield Football Club and a proud town of Chesterfield.

Let us have your feedback

What did you think of the Elton John Concert? Let Chesterfield FC know what your experience was like? Send your feedback and to feedback@chesterfield-fc.co.uk or send it via Facebook or Twitter. Full details on the club’s website www.chesterfield-fc.co.uk.

Source:Chesterfield FC

Chesterfield Visitor Information Centre has been named as a finalist in the Visitor Services category of the prestigious VisitEngland Awards for Excellence 2012.

As a finalist the Centre now goes forward to the glittering Awards Ceremony which is being held on 22 May 2012 at Athena, an art deco gem located in the heart of Leicester’s cultural quarter.

The Information Centre will have to wait until then to find out which award they will receive. All finalists are guaranteed to receive either a Gold, Silver, Bronze or Highly Commended Award. The other Information Centres in the Visitor Services category are Bodmin, Greenwich, Harrogate and Manchester.

Commenting on the finalists James Berresford, VisitEngland’s Chief Executive said: “I would like to congratulate all those nominated as VisitEngland Awards for Excellence finalists this year. This is no small achievement in a year when we have received a record number of submissions. The quality of submissions this year has been outstanding and Chesterfield Visitor Information Centre can justifiably take credit and pride in earning a place at the top of their category in England. I wish everyone all the best for the final in May.”

Cllr Nick Stringer, Executive Member for Leisure, Culture and Tourism at Chesterfield Borough Council said: “We’re delighted to have reached the finals of these prestigious awards and thanks must go to all the staff at the Centre who provide a quality service to visitors throughout the year. Tourism is such an important part of our local economy so it’s good to know that our visitor services are being recognised by VisitEngland.”

Source:Chesterfield Borough Council

New welcome signs have this week been installed on the key gateways into Chesterfield. The signs, incorporating the Destination Chesterfield branding which is based on the crooked spire, have interchangeable sections that will allow major events and the historic market to be promoted.

Peter Swallow, Chair of Destination Chesterfield said: “The impression we give visitors when they arrive in Chesterfield is vital. The objective of our Warm Welcome Campaign is to improve the arrival at key gateways into the town and also turn them into promotional opportunities.”

The Warm Welcome Campaign, which was an idea by the Chesterfield Champions, the network of businesses in Chesterfield that support and shape the activity of Destination Chesterfield, aims to provide a more consistent and contemporary welcome to the town. The signs are the latest public realm improvements which follow the refurbishment of Chesterfield Visitor Information Centre, new canopies on Chesterfield Market and upgrades to car parking signage. Future projects include improving roundabouts, bus shelters and the coach station.

“The unique idea of these new signs came from a Chesterfield Champions meeting. As local businesses we recognised that many potential visitors to the town drive straight through on their way to and from the Peak District without stopping. By upgrading the signs to include the latest events and to promote the market we can now use the signs to attract people into the town centre,” said Steve Gordon of Banner Jones Solicitors, a Chesterfield Champion.

Cllr John Burrows, Leader of Chesterfield Borough Council said: “We want people to receive a consistent message about Chesterfield through the branding they see before they visit the town, when they arrive and while they are here. This all helps to give Chesterfield a unique identity and is one of many projects that the Council is working in partnership with Destination Chesterfield to achieve.”

The production and the erecting of the eleven new signs, costing £10,000, have been funded through the European Regional Development Fund as part of the Destination Chesterfield project.

Source:Destination Chesterfield

The doors were opened today (Friday 16th March) on Chesterfield’s new look Visitor Information Centre. The Centre has recently undergone a £40k refurbishment from the Destination Chesterfield project with funding from the European Regional Development Fund.

The Centre was opened by Councillor Peter Barr, Mayor of Chesterfield, MP Toby Perkins and James Berresford, Chief Executive of VisitEngland.

The refurbishment includes a new-look interior that reflects the Destination Chesterfield branding, a dedicated section on “Our Future” which features images of developments coming to the town, and quotes from famous people associated with the town including George Stephenson, Bess of Hardwick, Gordon Banks and Lady Baden-Powell.

Councillor Nick Stringer, Executive Member for Leisure, Culture and Tourism said: “The whole interior is a lot more welcoming and open so people can find information quickly. The use of quotes from famous people inside and outside gives visitors and residents a new connection to the town which hopefully inspires pride and interest in what Chesterfield has to offer.”

Peter Swallow, Chair of Destination Chesterfield said: “I think the refurbishment looks fantastic. The whole Centre makes a great first impression for people visiting the town and will certainly help in our aim to promote Chesterfield as a modern, vibrant and contemporary destination.”

David James, Chief Executive of Visit Peak District & Derbyshire, the area’s official tourist board, added: “Chesterfield’s rebranding of its Tourist Information Centre as a Visitor Information Centre, linking in with the work of Destination Chesterfield, illustrates the importance of tourism as a key tool in economic regeneration and the town’s growing role as an eastern gateway to the Peak District.”

The Centre welcomed 155,841 visitors in 2011, an increase of over 12,000 from 2010. The Centre has won the English Tourist Board’s National England for Excellence Awards in 2005 and 2009 and 95% of people interviewed in a customer satisfaction survey last year thought that the service offered was either good or excellent.

Source:Chesterfield Borough Council