Visiting

Have your Say on Plans for New Chesterfield Market Layout

16th March 2015

Residents and visitors are being invited to share their views on plans for a new Chesterfield Market layout.

A team from Chesterfield Borough Council will be at Market Place on Saturday 21st March to find out about current shopping habits and opinions of the current market and stalls on offer.

The survey will also be available to fill in online from Thursday 19 March to Friday 3 April

For members of the public
https://www.snapsurveys.com/wh/s.asp?k=142625911545

For market traders
https://www.snapsurveys.com/wh/s.asp?k=142650862269

Chesterfield Borough Council is working with consultants to address issues previously raised by traders which include:

increasing the number of market stalls in a prominent position and look outwards so they can be seen by shoppers;
the need for increased power supplies for refrigerators and tills
and creating more space for wheelchairs and buggies.

Councillor Amanda Serjeant, Chesterfield Borough Council’s Executive Member for Leisure, Culture and Tourism, said: “Although Chesterfield’s markets remain extremely popular, we are aware that there are issues which we need to address to improve the open market and attract new traders to Chesterfield.

“We are keen to seek the views of the people who use the market to help us in bringing forth plans to make improvements. So I’d encourage anyone who would like to take part to come along to the Saturday market on 21 March or fill in the survey online.”

Traders will also be asked for their opinions in a series of focus groups currently being held.

A further round of consultation will be carried out once the options for the new market layout are available. This is likely to be late summer.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Leisure, Visiting

Spireites Raise Funds For Comic Relief

13th March 2015

Chesterfield players and supporters have been making their faces funny for money, all in aid of Comic Relief!

Charitable Spireites headed to The HUB at the Proact Stadium to don a squidgy red nose or some funky glasses and have their picture taken by club photographer Tina Jenner.

Tina, who came up with the idea, talked about the fun she’d had during the day, with plenty of Spireites players joining in with the fun.

“The theme this year is to make your face funny for money so I just thought it was the perfect opportunity,” she said. “I saw the theme and I thought it would be good to get the lads involved from the team and then by doing it at The HUB we could get the Community Trust involved as well.

“The funny faces have not been too bad: Tommy Lee, Ritchie Humphreys, Jay O’Shea and Tendayi Darikwa came over and we had some fans in as well, which was really good fun.

“The whole point of Red Nose Day is to be daft and do daft things. I’m not really one for baked beans in a bath so I’m trying to use my skills to help people along the way a little bit.”

The Community Trust’s Rachel Booth took part in the shenanigans and made sure that club mascot Chester the field mouse made his funniest face for the occasion.

She said: “We’ve had Chesterfield FC Community Trust working alongside Tina Jenner Photography and Chesterfield Football Club to do our first ever Red Nose Day extravaganza. It’s been great fun and even Chester joined in!”

Supporters who had their photos taken will receive their photos by email, with the funniest faces joining the first team squad in a special poster to celebrate the day.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Leisure, Visiting

Cracking Good Fun to Enjoy at Chatsworth this Easter

12th March 2015

There’s something for visitors of all ages to enjoy at Chatsworth this Easter and plenty of treats in store as the estate opens up for its new season – complete with spring flowers and decorations.

As well as the hugely popular Easter Egg hunts in the Farmyard, catering for up to 1,000 egg hunters a day, children will also be able to climb aboard the magical Easter Eggspress setting off several times a day.

Visitors to the house and garden will also be able to join the in the fun spotting decorated eggs hidden inside to tie in with new items and old favourites while a dozen golden eggs hidden around the garden will draw attention to the spring highlights. Both house & garden egg hunt trails are free upon admission.

Free face painting will be on offer in Flora’s Temple, and there will also be the chance to spot the Easter Bunny who will be hopping by every day of the Easter weekend from 3 – 6 April.

There will be plenty going on over the whole school holiday period (28 March – 12 April), with spring themed craft activities taking place daily in the Oak Barn in the Farmyard and outdoor crafts and spring bulb planting on offer at the newly opened educational centre, The Stickyard.

Chatsworth re-opens after the winter break for the new 2015 season on March 28. For more information on activities, times and prices, visit www.chatsworth.org

Posted in About Chesterfield, Leisure, Visiting

Chesterfield Apprentices Battle it out in Town Centre Competition

11th March 2015

Apprentices from Learning Unlimited and business students from Chesterfield College will be battling it out at Chesterfield market on Thursday 12 March to decide the winning team of a challenge set to coincide with National Apprenticeship week.

The competition is the end of a 4 day challenge in which the teams were given £150 and a brief to create a product to sell to shoppers in Chesterfield town centre. The winning team will be the one that make the most profit at the end of the day. All profits will be donated to Ashgate Hospicecare and the winning team members will receive a prize of £50 of Love to Shop vouchers each.

During the week the apprentice teams have been putting their business, marketing, finance and production skills to the test, highlighting just how apprenticeships can prepare young people for a successful career in business.

Holly Thompson, apprentice at Learning Unlimited said: “Challenges like this really make you appreciate how much you learn on an apprenticeship. It gives you the knowledge and the practical skills you need to achieve so much. This competition has given us the chance to show others what we have learnt and the skills an apprenticeship can give you.”

Paul Champion, Operations Director from Learning Unlimited said: “I am looking forward to seeing the products that the teams are creating. I have seen them demonstrate some good business skills and fresh ideas so far and I can see how passionate they are about business. Apprenticeships give businesses so many benefits including making the most of this type of talent. Putting apprentices to the test like this proves what they are capable of when they have had the chance to earn and learn in a real business situation.”

Learning Unlimited advisers will be at Chesterfield Market on Thursday to talk to young people and businesses about how apprenticeships can work for them.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Visiting

Prizes on Offer to Celebrate Tourism in Chesterfield

9th March 2015

Visitors to Chesterfield can win prizes in a series of competitions run by Chesterfield Visitor Information Centre.

Designed to celebrate tourism in Chesterfield as part of English Tourism Week from 14th – 22nd March, competitions include:-

• A word search to win tickets for Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat at the Winding Wheel;
• A Chesterfield quiz to win a family ticket to Hardwick Hall;
• Name 25 things you can buy on Chesterfield Market to win a £5 market voucher;
• How to spend 24 hours in Chesterfield to win a voucher for Stephenson’s Tea and Coffee House.;

Entry forms cost £1.50 and are available from the Visitor Information Centre.

Councillor Amanda Serjeant, Chesterfield Borough Council’s Executive Member for Leisure, Culture and Tourism said: “We have a great range of attractions for people here in Chesterfield and these competitions encourage people to think about the variety of things to do in the town.

“I’d encourage anyone to call into the Visitor Information Centre to pick up an entry form and take part to win one of the great prizes on offer.”

The deadline for entries is Tuesday 7 April.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Leisure, Visiting

Psychic Sally Morgan Heads to Chesterfield

9th March 2015

One of the nation’s favourite mediums – Sally Morgan – is back on tour and due to bring her jaw-dropping show to Chesterfield this April.

Formerly medium to Diana, the Princess of Wales, International star, Sally has a long list of celebrity clients and has performed in front of a combined audience of over 750,000 people in hundreds of venues. Her TV show Sally Morgan: On the Road ran for three series and continues to be shown around the world. Sally is also the best-selling author of several books and is a regular guest and panellist on other popular television shows.

Sally says: “I love being on the road, reaching out to my fans and comforting people about life after death. Every night when I’m on stage amazing things happen and it’s a privilege to be able to pass on messages of love and comfort to the people I share my gift with.”

Sally Morgan comes to the Winding Wheel on Thursday 2nd April. Tickets are available at http://chesterfieldtheatres.co.uk/shows/sally-morgan.aspx#.VQFp4vmsV1Y

Posted in About Chesterfield, Leisure, Visiting

Chesterfield Chosen to Host National Canal Festival

6th March 2015

A popular national canal festival is to be held in Chesterfield for this first time in over ten years.

Organised by the Inland Waterways Association (IWA), the National Trailboat Festival will take place at Staveley Town Basin during the 2016 spring bank holiday weekend.

Highlights of the event include an illuminated parade of boats on the Saturday night and a convoy right up to the River Rother at St Helena’s on the Monday.

Robin Stonebridge Chair of Chesterfield Canal Trust said:

“We are delighted that the IWA has chosen to return to the Chesterfield for its 2016 Trailboat Festival.

“The boaters who came here in 2002 or 2005 will see a great change, both on the canal and in the surrounding area.

“Canals get restored by continuously making the case, by hard graft and by spreading the word and building support from across the country. Although we still have eight miles to restore, the festival will be a good way to celebrate the trust’s efforts thus far and for visitors to have a really good time here in North East Derbyshire.”

As with the yearly canal festivals held at Staveley, this national event will also include boat rides, canoeing, children’s rides, plenty of entertainment, dozens of stalls plus food and drink including a real ale bar.

The vital difference with this festival however – say Canal Trust members – will be the number of boats. It is expected that dozens of trailboats will be moored in the basin and back towards Constitution Hill Bridge. Many will be decorated, creating a really colourful spectacle.

As trailboats are towed, it will also be possible to be launch them down the slipway at Staveley Basin – where they will enter the stretch of water between Staveley and Kiveton Park which is currently inaccessible to normal canal boats due to ongoing restoration work.

IWA national chairman Les Etheridge said: “Our 2016 Trailboat Festival will help to demonstrate the community benefits that flow from the revival of functioning waterways. As well as providing a great day out, we hope the festival will stimulate renewed support from the public and local interest groups for the Trust’s sterling restoration work.”

Derbyshire County Council owns this section of the canal. The Cabinet Member for Highways, Transport and Infrastructure Councillor Dean Collins said: “The newly developed Staveley Basin has made Chesterfield Canal an attractive area for boats and we’re delighted to be hosting the National Trail Boat Festival in Derbyshire next year.

“We’re committed to helping to improve Derbyshire’s economy and tourism has a massive role to play.

“We’re looking forward to welcoming the boating community to Derbyshire to enjoy our beautiful county and all it has to offer.”

Chesterfield Canal Trust has previously run IWA Trailboat Festivals at Tapton Lock in 2002 and 2005. Both were hugely successful, as was the IWA Campaign Rally held at Kiveton Park in 2009.

For more information visit http://www.chesterfield-canal-trust.org.uk/

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

Young Spireites Winger Signs New Contract

6th March 2015

Exciting Spireites winger Gboly Ariyibi has signed a new two-and-a-half-year contract.

The former Southampton player has impressed in recent weeks after being given his chance in the first team.

Commenting on the news, Spireites Manager, Paul Cook said: “Gboly is a very, very exciting young prospect who has great ability and pace. He is still developing as a player so there has to be some patience shown by fans as he learns the game.”

Ariyibi, 20, joined Chesterfield in the summer after a spell at Leeds United. He made his debut in the JPT tie at Scunthorpe in September and has now made a total of eight appearances.

Born in Virginia, USA, before being brought up in England, Ariyibi is a USA Under-20 international.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Leisure, Visiting

New Artisan Market Set to Launch in Chesterfield

5th March 2015

A vibrant artisan market is coming to Chesterfield town centre this spring.

Starting on 31st May, the new attraction will take place on the last Sunday of every month and offers a wide selection of locally produced food and individually hand crafted items, showcasing the very best of products from Chesterfield and Derbyshire.

Councillor Amanda Serjeant, Chesterfield Borough Council’s Executive Member for Leisure, Culture and Tourism, said:

“We have an excellent track record of offering fresh produce on our market and now residents and visitors will be able to buy a new range of exquisite local produce and trinkets.

“They will be able to speak to the stallholders, ask about the products they have made, try new flavours and discover unique treasures.

“Local entertainers will also be performing each month to show their talents and add to the buzzing atmosphere.

“I’m sure this will be a popular addition to the successful markets we already run in Chesterfield, including the monthly farmers’ market and the weekly flea market.”

Joining forces with Chesterfield Borough Council, Denise Valente, Director of The Market Co said: “We are very excited to bring our artisan market concept to Chesterfield.

“The local area has so many incredibly talented artisans, all very eager to showcase their fantastic products.”

For more details about the artisan market, visit: www.themarketco.co.uk.

Chesterfield Market Place also hosts a variety of other markets each week with a general market each Monday, Friday and Saturday, a flea market each Thursday and a farmers’ market on the second Thursday of each month. For more details click here.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Leisure, Summer, Visiting

Proact to Host Funny Photoshoot for Comic Relief

5th March 2015

Players and staff at Chesterfield Football Club are inviting visitors to take part in a funny photoshoot for Comic Relief.

Club photographer Tina Jenner will run a pop-up studio at the Hub at Proact Stadium on Monday 9th March from 1.00pm – 6.00pm in return for a donation of at least £2 per image.

There will also be a funny face competition, with the winner receiving a print similar to the poster shown here with their image in the middle, signed by the featured players.

Those taking part will need to complete a photo consent form, which will act as a model release form, which can be downloaded from the Chesterfield FC Community Trust website. Under-18s who attend alone will need to bring a signed form with them.

The Trust’s sport & activity manager, Rachel Booth, said: “As a charity, the Trust is really happy to support such a good, charitable cause.

“We are really looking forward to working with the football club and Tina Jenner Photography to stage such a fun event at The HUB. All of the staff will be joining in and we can’t wait to see our funny photos!”

For more information on the event, please visit http://www.spireitestrust.org.uk/rnd2015/

Posted in About Chesterfield, Leisure, Visiting

Chesterfield to Host International Cricket in 2015

3rd March 2015

Queen’s Park, Chesterfield, will once again be in the media spotlight when international cricket returns to the town in an Ashes summer when England Under-19s face Australia Under-19s in the second of five One-Day internationals in August.

The match is to be played on Friday 14 August and is a chance for supporters to watch the England and Australia stars of the future, including a potential appearance from Derbyshire fast-bowler Will Davis who was recently selected for the Under-19s tour of Australia.

The match will bring a second helping of high quality action for the Chesterfield public following Derbyshire County Cricket Club’s annual Festival of Cricket, in association with Chesterfield Borough Council. This will be held in July and includes LV= County Championship action against Glamorgan and NatWest T20 Blast fixtures versus Northamptonshire Steelbacks and Yorkshire Vikings.

Chesterfield Cricket Club Chairman Mike Taylor said: “We are looking forward to another great summer of cricket here in Queen’s Park.

“In July, we will host Derbyshire County Cricket Club’s Festival of Cricket and it’s great that we’ll bring the curtain down with an Ashes battle between the best young players in England and Australia.

“Hosting both these high profile events is great news for the town and also great news for Chesterfield Cricket Club. Watching some of the best players around always inspires our youngsters at the Club and local schools and these big matches provide us with opportunities for us to raise funds which help us continue to run a very successful league cricket club.

“We’re proud to host Derbyshire‘s Festival of Cricket and hope the Festival will continue for many years. It’s been great to host additional matches in recent summers like the England Women, Yorkshire versus the Unicorns and now the England and Australia Under-19s.

“It’s well documented that Sachin Tendulkar called our ground the most beautiful he’s ever played on. Hopefully we’ll send some English and Australian stars of the future away with a similar view.”

Entry for the match is free of charge beginning at 10.30am.

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