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Chesterfield taxi firm announces rebrand

Chesterfield’s leading private hire service City Taxis is changing its name to Veezu, following their acquisition by the Veezu Group earlier this year.

This rebrand marks a significant milestone in their journey towards revolutionising transportation services in Chesterfield and neighbouring areas.

Established in the 1980s, City Taxis began with 34 cars and a paper booking system. Over the years, City Taxis has grown exponentially and extended its reach across South Yorkshire and Derbyshire, largely thanks to strategic acquisitions, including the well-loved Chesterfield taxi company Club Taxis, in 2016.

In February 2023, City Taxis joined forces with Veezu, an alliance that promises not only a name change but a complete transformation of the way driver-partners connect with passengers and their communities.

Veezu’s Group Innovation Director, Scott Ashmore, expressed his excitement, saying: “The rebrand is more than a name change. We are firmly putting the Veezu name on the map in Chesterfield and are committed to serving the local community. We’re introducing new technology to make it easier for people to access transportation and are building on our hyperlocal activities to ensure we remain at the heart of our communities.”

Whilst passengers can call the usual Chesterfield number 01246 222 222, Veezu is introducing a new mobile app so that passengers can skip call queues and book their rides in a matter of seconds. Veezu offers multiple payment options, including Google Pay, Apple Pay, AirPay, card, or cash, making travel even more convenient for passengers.

Veezu is proud to be the UK’s fastest-growing private hire technology platform, with a track record of helping passengers in local communities complete an average of one ride every two seconds in 2022.

As part of its rebranding efforts, Veezu is excited to unveil an extensive marketing campaign entitled ‘Smarter Local Rides’ in the Derbyshire PHV market. The campaign also introduces its ‘funded by Veezu’ local community initiatives to residents across South Yorkshire and Derbyshire.

Driver-partners, local businesses and passengers are invited to embrace the Veezu identity and continue its mission to provide safe, efficient, and affordable transportation services to the communities of Chesterfield and beyond.

The new Veezu app is available for download at www.appsend.me/veezu

Veezu supports the marketing and economic growth of the town through Chesterfield Champions, a network of over 200 organisations across Chesterfield and North Derbyshire.

City Taxis rebrands to Veezu (Chesterfield)

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Top marks for Chesterfield in regional ‘In Bloom’ competition

Chesterfield has scored top marks in the East Midlands In Bloom competition.

The town has once again won the Best Small City category, alongside a Gold Award – improving its score from last year.

As well as winning the overall Small City category, the town also won a number of other awards including a Judge’s Discretionary Award for Hunloke Allotments, Least Littered Community, a Gold Award for the Britannia Inn and Best New Permanent Landscape for the Northern Gateway Enterprise Centre.

Representatives from the Chesterfield In Bloom committee and Chesterfield Borough Council were presented with the award at a ceremony on Wednesday 20 September.

Councillor Jonathan Davies, Chesterfield Borough Council’s cabinet member for health and wellbeing, said: “It is absolutely brilliant that we have managed to win this competitive category once again and the other awards are also a fantastic victory for our borough. I want to thank all the volunteers and officers who put their time and effort into supporting our entry every year.

“Awards like this are important because they help raise the profile of our town but also recognise the way in which fantastic green spaces can have a positive impact in our community.”

Chris Turner, chair of the Chesterfield In Bloom committee, said: “There is a lot of preparation from many different community groups and the council to ensure the borough is looking its best in time for judging. I’m delighted that we’ve won this award again, it’s fantastic to be recognised for our efforts.”

Judging for East Midlands In Bloom took place in July and the judges were taken on a tour of the borough, starting in Queen’s Park, they visited the town centre, the Dementia Awareness Garden, the Northern Gateway Enterprise Centre, Holmebrook Valley Country Park, the Britannia Inn, Hunloke Allotments, Brimington community garden and the pocket park on Edinburgh Road Park.

Find out more about visiting Chesterfield – a great day out or to stay, located in the centre of the UK.

Chesterfield in Bloom July 2023

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Chatsworth begins countdown to Christmas by revealing this year’s festive attractions

The countdown to Christmas has begun at Chatsworth, as the house is set to be transformed into ‘The Palace of Advent’ for the festive season.

From 4 November – 7 January, 24 themed rooms will be filled with Christmas wonder, and the sights, sounds and scents of the season. Visitors will be invited to travel under archways adorned with candy canes, handmade Christmas stockings and mistletoe; wander through infinite snowflake showers and a glittering Christmas tree brooch forest; and get caught up in the hustle and bustle of Father Christmas’ workshop, with mischief-making elves and a giant exploding Christmas cracker.

The celebration continues in the garden, where an illuminated light and sound trail will embrace some of Chatsworth’s best-loved garden landmarks, including the historic Cascade, whose 24 stone steps will be transformed into an illuminated, interactive musical instrument that visitors can play, the giant keys lighting up to the sound of hand bells.

The light trail will culminate in a spectacular animated lightshow that transforms the house into a giant advent calendar. Created by Derbyshire-based digital artists Illuminos, the light installation will animate 24 Christmas scenes emerging from 24 windows on the south façade of the house. These will reflect the Christmas scenes within the house as well as Chatsworth’s extensive collection of art and artefacts, creating a dazzling view. The farmyard will also be transformed with lights and decorations, and families can join Father Christmas for story time in his grotto.

Paul Hayes, Visitor Experience Manager at Chatsworth said: “We’ve spent more than a year planning our celebration of advent, working with wonderful artists and creative partners to ensure that every visitor finds moments that mean Christmas to them. We’ve set out to create a sense of wonder for adults and children alike as they journey through the house and garden, and we invite everyone to become immersed in, and contribute to the displays. Christmas is a magical time at Chatsworth, and we can’t wait to share the Palace of Advent.”

Building on Chatsworth’s longstanding role as a place of art and creativity, the design team has worked with contemporary artists to create new works for the Christmas experience, including a large-scale paper cut artwork by artist Bethan Maddocks.

The work, which will be revealed in the windows of the Chapel Corridor, celebrates the generations of people who have worked at Chatsworth to maintain the house, garden and parkland for everyone to enjoy.

A highlight in the house will be a glittering Christmas tree brooch forest featuring 2,000 brooches from the extensive Guinness World Record breaking collection of Adam Wide. Adam will be at Chatsworth on Thursday 30 November to give a talk and answer questions about his collection – one of many festive talks, tours and workshops planned at Chatsworth this season.

Chatsworth’s annual Christmas market also returns from Saturday 4 to Sunday 26 November, with over 100 exhibitors offering Christmas crafts, gifts and decorations, as well as festive food, drink and live music. Chatsworth’s Orangery and Stables shops will be open all season, with Christmas gifts, homewares and clothing made by some of the region’s finest sustainable producers, designers and craftspeople.

More information about the event and ticket details can be found at our Christmas at Chatsworth event page.

For a full list of festive activities, events, and a guide to your perfect Christmas is Chesterfield, head over to the Christmas in Chesterfield page.

Chatsworth supports the marketing and economic growth of the town through Chesterfield Champions, a network of over 200 organisations across Chesterfield and North Derbyshire.

Chatsworth Lights exterior

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Replica spitfire, classic cars and military vehicles to go on display at Chesterfield’s 1940s market

The 1940s market is coming back to Chesterfield this half-term, promising music, fancy dress, classic cars and plenty of family fun.

Residents and visitors are invited to flock into the town centre on 2 November 2023 from 10am to 3.30pm to sing along to 1940s music, see classic cars and military vehicles and meet market stall holders who will be dressed in 1940s clothing.

There will be street performers in the town centre throughout the event, with the Kalamazoo dance band back again by popular demand, performing in New Square.

The event is taking place alongside the weekly flea market, and as always there will be a competition for the best dressed stall holders.

Councillor Kate Sarvent, portfolio holder for the town centre and visitor economy, said: “Visitors to the market are encouraged to get into the spirit and dress-up in traditional 40s outfits where possible, although this is not essential! This is a fantastic event, and everyone is welcome to attend. There are not many events you can go along to where you can see this much free entertainment, so why not give it a try if you haven’t been before.”

people dancing in new square at Chesterfield 1940s market

The must-see attraction at this year’s event is the replica spitfire which can be seen in Rykneld Square (opposite the Visitor Information Centre) throughout the event. There will also be a display of classic cars, a vintage fire engine and a variety of other entertainment around the town centre to see including an escapologist.

Chesterfield Museum staff will also be attending with handling objects from their World War Two education box, as well as doing a make-do and mend activity with Transition Chesterfield.

Those attending the event are encouraged to use public transport to travel into Chesterfield, if possible, but there is also lots of parking available around the town centre too. Check out our guides to visiting Chesterfield.

A full list of entertainment on the day will be shared closer to the time. Keep up-to-date on the event here.

To stay in touch with what’s on across Chesterfield, head over to our events page.

Replica spitfire on display at Chesterfield 1940s market

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Queens Park to host inclusive activity day

An inclusive activity day is set to take place in Queen’s Park this month, including a range of fun events and sports for those attending to join in with.

The event is being organised by Chesterfield Borough Council, East Midlands Housing Care and Support, and the Chesterfield Health and Wellbeing Partnership.

Taking place on 21 September, from 10am to 3pm, activities are planned to take place both inside Queen’s Park Sports Centre and outdoors in the park, depending on the weather.

Attendees will be able to enjoy sessions including seated dance, adapted cycling, Xplorer (similar to a treasure hunt), boccia (similar to bowling) and community boxing project, OzBox.

The event has been organised for anyone with learning difficulties, adults who may be isolated, those who have additional support needs and those who may find it difficult to access sports or exercise clubs, groups or activities due to a disability or health issue.  It is a drop-in session, meaning attendees can come along and leave at anytime from 10am to 3pm.

Councillor Jonathan Davies, cabinet member for health and wellbeing, said: “This is the third time this event is taking place in Chesterfield, with us receiving a range of positive feedback from many of those who joined us last year. It is set to be a packed day, with a range of activities for attendees to get involved in. It is also a great opportunity to meet other local people who enjoy similar activities.”

If you are an individual, organisation or service provider wanting to book please contact Wendy Blunt by calling 01246 959657 or emailing wendy.blunt@chesterfield.gov.uk.

If you are coming along, please make sure you wear suitable clothing and footwear and bring a picnic if you like. Facilities, refreshment and accessible toilets are available at the park and leisure centre. Please meet at the band stand in Queens Park, Chesterfield, S40 2ND.

Find out about the wide range of events and activities taking place across Chesterfield at: https://www.chesterfield.co.uk/visiting/events/

queens park

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Organisers celebrate record-breaking year for Tapton Lock Festival

Chesterfield’s Tapton Lock Festival celebrated a record-breaking attendance this month, with a host of new activities and performances for local families to enjoy.

Over 3,000 people attended the two-day festival at the Tapton Lock Visitor Centre, making it the most-attended year since it started in 2012.

The free annual event is organised by Junction Arts and Derbyshire County Council, bringing outdoor theatre, music and dance, arts and crafts workshops, stalls and activities to the banks of the Chesterfield Canal.  The aim is to encourage families and friends to come together to enjoy the outdoors and promote better health and well-being.

This year, visitors took part in a number of arts and crafts activities, music and dance workshops, ‘have a go’ canoes and boat rides.

Firm favourites, the bubbleologist, storytellers, circus skills and the climbing wall all returned, but there was also some new entertainment for 2023, which included performances from Bollywood dancers, African drummers, and the Babbling Vagabonds Magical Market Stall!

Visitors also tried their hand at Lego printing, clay sculpting, creating wire bubble wands and forest school activities.

tapton lock 2023 bubbles

Junction Arts Project Coordinator, Jane Wells said: “The Festival was a huge success and the nice weather encouraged even greater numbers this year!  We had a really varied programme, including amazing outdoor theatre from the Babbling Vagabond’s and their Wagon of Wonder, incredible performances by visitors of all ages who took part in Nisha Lall’s Bollywood dance workshops and lots of arts and crafts activities for people to take part in, and all for free.”

“We were also thrilled that visitors could experience the rich cultural heritage of Chesterfield with representation from the Chesterfield Asian Association, the African Caribbean Community Association, Polonia Chesterfield and Verba, the Ukrainian Social Group.  Lastly, we would like to take this opportunity to thank all the volunteers who helped make this such a successful event and to all our funders and sponsors.”

Find out more about events and activities for the whole family taking place in Chesterfield at: https://www.chesterfield.co.uk/visiting/

Junction Arts supports the marketing and economic growth of the town through Chesterfield Champions, a network of over 200 organisations across Chesterfield and North Derbyshire.

tapton lock festival 2023 families

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Ashgate Hospice to launch 1st ever Superhero Night Walk at Queen’s Park

Ashgate Hospice is set to host a brand-new event in Chesterfield, with participants encouraged to wear their capes, masks and facepaint for the first-ever Superhero Night Walk.

The event is being launched following the success of this year’s Sparkle Night Walk, which saw more than 3,000 people take on the 10-kilometre course around Chesterfield in memory of their loved ones.

Sparkle Night Walk 2023 Tom Hodgson Photographyby

Sparkle Night Walk 2023 by Tom Hodgson Photography

Ashgate’s new Superhero Night Walk will take place in Queen’s Park, Chesterfield on Saturday 14th October, and provides youngsters with the chance to raise vital funds for the hospice.

Tickets cost just £5.50 per child and adults go free. The walk will start at 6:30 pm with doors opening from 4:30pm.

Among the hundreds of participants expected to take part in this year’s event are Molly, (10), Theo, (6) Jesse, (5), and Noah, (4) – who are walking in memory of their Nannan Linda Ellison, who passed away at the hospice in October last year, aged 65.

Linda’s daughter, and Jesse’s Mum, Liz Riley from Killamarsh, said: “Mum’s life was dedicated to her four grandchildren, she idolised them and helped to care for them since they were babies. The grandchildren adored Mum. She would always spoil them with treats and give them lots of kisses and cuddles.

“Having never been to the hospice before, she was worried that it wouldn’t be suitable for them. But she was relieved to find out that they had lots of family rooms that we could use so we could keep the kids entertained whilst they were visiting their Nannan.”

“The grandchildren miss their Nannan so much. That’s why they’ve decided to take on the Superhero Night Walk together and do something positive to remember her by.

“The date of the walk will be very close to the first anniversary of Mum’s death, so it’s going to be a special event for the whole family to get together.

“They’ve raised over £350 already which is amazing, and they’re aiming to raise even more so that more people like their Nannan can receive care from the hospice.”

Every participating child will receive a fundraising pack, superhero cape and a glow in the dark mask to wear whilst taking part in the event.

Sign up or find out more about the event by going to www.ashgatehospice.org.uk/superhero-night-walk-2023 or calling 01246 567250.

Ashgate Hospice supports the marketing and economic growth of the town through Chesterfield Champions, a network of over 200 organisations across Chesterfield and North Derbyshire.

QueensParkTaraUnderhill

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Chesterfield Champions announce new team members, mergers and collaborations

Businesses in the town’s network of Chesterfield Champions are continuing to grow.

Recently, several businesses have added new members to their teams. Meanwhile, firms have also announced collaborations, mergers and even growth in international export markets.

Find out about the latest news from businesses in Chesterfield below.

Franklin & Sons announces international partnership

Global Brands‘ Franklin & Sons beverage range has announced an exclusive partnership with De Monnik Dranken (DMD), a leading firm in the Dutch drinks market.

The partnership will enable Franklin & Sons’ mixer products to pair alongside DMD’s range of spirits. The company posted the update on it’s LinkedIn page:

Chesterfield’s SMH Group strengthens presence in Leeds

SMH BCL Accountants has announced a merger with D’Arcy Howard & Co, a firm of Chartered Certified Accountants in Leeds. This strategic partnership reflects a shared vision to enhance client services, expand business development opportunities, and ensure sustained growth for the future.

The merger took place on 1st July 2023, resulting in the formation of a new entity called SMH D’Arcy Howard & Co Limited. The integration of the two firms brings together a wealth of expertise and resources to offer an extensive range of services from the newly consolidated office.

Stacey Pocklington, Partner and Director of SMH BCL Accountants, adds: “We are thrilled to welcome D’Arcy Howard into the SMH family. By combining our strengths and expertise, we are better positioned to deliver a seamless service to our valued clients.”

Fellow Chesterfield Champion business, CMP Legal were also involved by providing legal advice on the transaction.

Workpays and the Education and Training Foundation Join Forces to Enhance Staff Training

Workpays and the Education and Training Foundation (ETF) held a recent meeting to discuss the importance of allowing staff members to grow their own skills through training.

The ETF aims to improve the quality of teaching and leadership in the further education and training sector. To do this, they look to give more training opportunities to independent providers.

Workpays strongly believes in developing its own people and are excited to have even more opportunities for its staff to pursue continuous professional development.

Director of Excellence, Kevin Dowson, organised the day to demonstrate the important role we play in the FE system.

He said: “Workpays delivers a wide range of courses to help people enter a working environment and develop the skills and knowledge that they need. This can be through the development of literacy and numeracy skills, the provision of vocational training, such as construction or health and care, or specific technical training through our apprenticeship programmes.

“It was great to meet with Katerina, CEO of the ETF, as she understands just how important Workpays’ position in the sector is. We look forward to continuing to work with the ETF and build on our workforce development plans by investing in the professional development of our employees.”

BRM Solicitors appoints new Dispute Team Director

BRM Lewis Hastie

Regional law firm BRM Solicitors has appointed Lewis Hastie as a Director of its Dispute Team

Lewis joins the firm with more than 14 years’ post qualified experience, specialising predominantly in contentious probate cases and acting in contentious Court of Protection proceedings.

Strengthening both the Dispute and Private Client teams, Lewis joins at a time of expansion for the departments.

Lewis said: “I am very excited to be joining BRM, a firm that is expanding quickly and is fully committed to providing the best possible service for its clients, really going above and beyond for them. I look forward to bringing my strong experience in contentious probate and contentious Court of Protection cases to the firm and positively contributing to the firm’s vision for the future.”

“I look forward to working with the team and helping to expand its growing client base, building on the excellent progress it has made.”

Central Technology announces new Sales Director

Central Technology Steve Dono

Chesterfield’s Central Technology has announced the appointment of Steve Dono to its leadership team.

Steve brings with him a wealth of expertise, having previously held pivotal roles as Sales Director in major IT companies. His impressive track record in sales leadership and business development within the Telecoms and IT industry makes him an invaluable addition to the Central Technology team.

Steve Dono’s entrance marks a pivotal moment in Central Technology’s journey, promising an era of growth, innovation, and collaboration. With his leadership skills, coupled with his rich experience and commitment to excellence, the company is looking forwards to a successful 2024 and beyond.

Commenting on his appointment, Steve said: “What truly drew me in was the strength of the Senior Management Team (SMT). A robust leadership team is essential for any organisation’s growth, and CT’s cohesive blend of knowledge, experience, and united purpose resonated profoundly with me.

“Central Technology boasts a commendable 20-year legacy of customer loyalty, built upon consistent service delivery. However, both CT and the IT & Telecoms industry have evolved rapidly. Our commitment to service excellence remains unwavering.”

Former Tupton Hall Student Lucy celebrates A Level success with DBCP apprenticeship

Lucy Jones - DBCP

A former Tupton Hall Sixth Form student is celebrating her A level success by embarking on an apprenticeship.

Lucy Jones, who achieved three A’ Levels last week, including an A in Art, has secured a Level 3 Business Administration apprenticeship with DBCP, the leading provider of building control services across Derbyshire and Staffordshire Moorlands.

She has joined DBCP’s Chesterfield-based technical team supporting the company’s team of building inspectors.

She explained: “I am really excited to start my career at DBCP. University wasn’t for me; I wanted to get a job and start working immediately. DBCP has given me the opportunity to continue my learning with an apprenticeship. There is also the option to go on and do a degree level apprenticeship in building control and eventually become an inspector which really appeals to me.”

DBCP’s long-running apprenticeship programme is helping the business attract local young people who want to progress their careers within the field of building control. The company currently employs seven apprentices who are at different stages of their training, including degree level.

David Pratt, Building Control Manager at DBCP, welcomed Lucy to the business saying: “Apprentices like Lucy, are key to the building control industry addressing its current skills shortage. We’re delighted to have Lucy onboard and very much hope she chooses to build her career within the field of building control beyond her level 3 apprenticeship. There are many opportunities at DBCP and within the industry to build a long and very rewarding career.”

New Finance Director appointed at Hopkinson Waste Management

Hopkinson Waste Jules and Adam

Adam Hadfield has officially joined Chesterfield-based Hopkinson Waste Management’s finance team.

The appointment has been announced as the firm begins its second year of ownership with some very ambitious growth plans.

The company’s Managing Director, Jules Gaynor commented: “Adam is joining us at a crucial time. We’ve grown massively in year one, but the next year will be lift-off as we are ideally placed to provide waste management and recycling services as Chesterfield’s own growth plans are realised.”

Adam added: “The Hopkinson growth plans are simply stunning. A 32-acre fully permitted waste and recycling centre in Chesterfield is a hidden gem. We have instant capacity to treble our operation in size.

“Balancing the financials will be my job. Jules is freed up now to do the business development work with Natalie Hirst, our Head of Commercial. I’m thrilled to be here, it’s an amazing place to work with a totally unique culture.”

The businesses featured in this article support the marketing and economic growth of the town through Chesterfield Champions, a network of over 200 organisations across Chesterfield and North Derbyshire.

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£1.9m funding announced for new leisure centre in Clay Cross

North East Derbyshire District Council has announced a £1.9m funding boost from Sport England as part of the development of the new Clay Cross Active Leisure Centre.

Sport England has been working closely with North East Derbyshire District Council for more than 8 years, assisting with strategy work, playing a key part as active members of the Clay Cross Town Board and generally supporting the development of the new facility which will replace the current sports centre at Sharley Park.

The £1.9m funding will go towards delivering the project, which will boast a range of sport, wellness and community assets:

  • 6 lane x 25m pool & spectator seating
  • Teaching Pool
  • 4 badminton court sports hall
  • 100 station fitness suite,
  • 2 studios, (1 group exercise, 1 group cycling)
  • Treatment room
  • Soft play & TAG active
  • Multi-purpose room
  • Full size, floodlit 3G pitch,
  • Citizens Advice
  • Clinic Facilities
  • Café
  • Wellness Suite to cater for people of all fitness levels, those less mobile, suffering from illness or undergoing post-operative rehabilitation

The facility is set to open in the winter of 2024 (timings estimated at this stage) and is part of the wider Clay Cross Town Deal regeneration and developments which will transform the town.

North East Derbyshire District Council Cabinet Member for Health and Leisure, Cllr Kathy Rouse said, “We are genuinely delighted to have Sport England on board as a partner and are grateful for their funding contribution to help deliver this fantastic project. Their support and expertise has ensured the new centre meets the needs of the community and includes learning from other new build leisure centres from across the country.

“You can see the progress being made on site and I can’t wait for Clay Cross Active to open. If you want to keep track of progress or see information about what’s included in the facility visit: www.claycrossactive.co.uk”

Lisa Dodd-Mayne, Executive Director of Place, Sport England said: “This is an exciting project that will enable a community to come together and reap the benefits of sport and physical activity.

“We will continue to work with North East Derbyshire Council as development of the Clay Cross Active leisure centre reaches a critical stage, supporting in the construction of the facility to ensure the centre delivers on its promise of being a low carbon, low energy facility and a hub for all the community for years to come.”

clay cross active construction councillors and representatives on site

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Luxury holiday lettings provider becomes latest patron of Visit Peak District & Derbyshire

A Peak District-based property management company specialising in luxury holiday lets and venues is the latest business to become an official patron of Visit Peak District & Derbyshire.

Coverland UK has joined a dedicated network of tourism-related businesses who share Visit Peak District & Derbyshire’s core aims to grow the visitor economy and promote the area as a world-class tourism destination.

As a patron, Coverland UK will support Visit Peak District & Derbyshire’s ongoing mission to increase visitor spend, extend the tourism season and boost overnight stays, whilst helping to grow the tourism sector in an inclusive, accessible and sustainable way.

Coverland UK has expertise in purchasing, developing and managing properties within the Peak District and Derbyshire. Last year, the company expanded its portfolio to include Beyond Venues, a luxury holiday lettings and venues provider.

The Beyond Venues portfolio currently includes the impressive Bleaklow Farm at Hassop, a 15-bedroom venue with panoramic views of the Peak District National Park, meticulously designed interiors and a Grand Barn ideal for special events, celebrations, business meetings and training days.

Beyond Venues also operates several smaller properties, sleeping six to eight guests, including The Carriage House at Ashford-in-the-Water, a picturesque cottage ideal for family holidays and weekends away with friends.

Delivering top-class service throughout the customer journey is at the heart of their business, and many guests return numerous times for both business and pleasure.

Visit Peak District & Derbyshire, together with Visit Derby, forms the Visit Peak District, Derbyshire & Derby Local Visitor Economy Partnership (LVEP). Developed and administered by national tourism body VisitEngland, the national portfolio of accredited LVEPs work locally and nationally on shared priorities and targets to grow the local visitor economy.

John Jarman, Property Director at Coverland UK, says: “Beyond Venues loves the Peak District so supporting Visit Peak District & Derbyshire as a patron is a no brainer for us. We think everyone should want to visit the area and we want to ensure the Peak District delivers beyond our guests’ expectations.

“Our beautiful homes are only a small part of what we offer; our local knowledge, amazing team and stunning settings all add together to create a truly unforgettable experience for those that stay with us.

“We are so excited by the growth of the Peak District and Derbyshire’s tourism and hospitality sector in recent years and can’t wait to share Visit Peak District & Derbyshire’s knowledge further with our guests.”

Jo Dilley, Managing Director of Visit Peak District & Derbyshire, says: “It’s excellent to welcome Coverland UK on board as our latest patrons, especially following the exciting addition of the Beyond Venues portfolio last year. Our beautiful landscapes, unique accommodation and warm welcome are what set the Peak District and Derbyshire apart as a destination, and Coverland UK are knowledgeable and experienced advocates for the tourism industry.

“Our patrons are a core network of organisations who want to see the visitor economy grow and prosper for the benefit of everyone. As well as maintaining our strong visitor offer, identifying new opportunities for growth – such as the meetings and incentives market – is fundamentally important to the sector’s future success.

“We look forward to working with Coverland UK and drawing on their expertise to help strengthen the Peak District and Derbyshire’s offer even further.”

Coverland UK joins existing patrons who are also part of Destination Chesterfield’s network of Chesterfield Champions:

Businesses interested in becoming a patron of Visit Peak District & Derbyshire should contact Lisa Woolhouse, Membership & Sales Manager, at lisa.woolhouse@visitpeakdistrict.com.

More information on Coverland UK can be found at www.coverlanduk.com. More information on Beyond Venues can be found at www.beyondvenues.co.uk.

Coverland UK and Visit Peak District & Derbyshire support the marketing and economic growth of the town through Chesterfield Champions, a network of over 200 organisations across Chesterfield and North Derbyshire.

John Jarman, Property Director at Coverland UK, pictured with Jo Dilley, Managing Director of Visit Peak District & Derbyshire

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Research shows how town centre hotel boosts visitor spending

Research has found that guests staying at Premier Inn Chesterfield Town Centre, which is located in the former Co-op department store on Elder Way, are each spending, on average, £79 a night in the local area.

Whitbread PLC, the UK’s largest hospitality business and owner of Premier Inn, carried out the research. It found that Premier Inn guests typically spend £137 externally on items such as entertainment, with £79/night (56% of the total spending) being spent in the local area within which their chosen Premier Inn is located.

The comprehensive study by Whitbread involved surveying more than 12,600 Premier Inn guests staying in 357 Premier Inn hotels across the UK within 24-hours of check-out.

Alex Flach, UK Development Director in the UK & Ireland for Whitbread, said: “From shopping to sight-seeing, local dining to local drinks, this analysis shows the positive economic impact of Premier Inn hotels on local economies across nations and regions of the UK.

“As a business, we are committed to using our scale and national footprint to make a positive difference to people’s lives and to create long-term value. We are delighted that, for the first time, we can demonstrate clear evidence of the economic impact our hotels have on the communities they serve.”

The Premier Inn Chesterfield Town Centre, which is located on the upper two floors of the former Co-op department store on Elder Way, has proved popular since opening, with nearly 90% of guests rating it as either excellent or very good on TripAdvisor.

The 92-bedroom hotel was opened in 2019 following the transformation of the upper floors of the iconic building by regeneration specialist Jomast. The hotel also benefits from the proximity of a secure car park, Saltergate Multi-Storey, which opened the same year.

Jomast subsequently went on to transform the ground floor of the building into eight large street-level units with contemporary glazed frontages.

There are currently a number of leasing opportunities available at the 21,761 sq ft scheme, from smaller E Class and Sui Generis Bar units of 1,420 sq ft upwards to larger units of up to 4,704 sq ft.

Joint agents for Elder Way, WSB Property Consultants and FHP are now marketing the units at food, drink, entertainment, retail and clinical operators.

Mark Hill, Commercial Property Director of Jomast said: “We have worked with Premier Inn to bring the hotel chain to a number of Jomast’s developments throughout the country. We recognise that having Premier Inn as an anchor tenant is very attractive to tenants of our schemes, and Whitbread’s research into guest spend in the local area supports this.”

Food and drink and entertainment were the top categories of spending for Premier Inn guests followed by non-food shopping and travel.

Whitbread calculates that spending by its guests on food, drinks, entertainment, shopping, and local transportation could be contributing £1.6 billion annually to those catchments that have a Premier Inn. This is equivalent to an average annual benefit of £3.3 million in visitor expenditure for local businesses in each Premier Inn hotel location.

Chesterfield’s businesses are set to benefit from further hotel investment in the town after the Holywell Hotel by Voebeg received the green light from planning officers recently.

Located next to the town’s well-known Holywell Cross or ‘Donut’ roundabout in the heart of Chesterfield, developer of Holywell Hotel, Voeberg, is set to undertake a £1 million refurbishment of the Grade II listed building.

The building will be converted into one two-bedroom and eight one-bedroom apartments for use as short-stay accommodation.

Emily Smith, Property Investor and Mentor at Voeberg commented on the ‘imminent’ Holywell Hotel saying: “It’ll complement other hospitality and retail businesses’ offerings in the town and we’re looking forward to partnering with many local businesses through the development and then the running of the hotel.”

Councillor Kate Sarvent, Chesterfield Borough Council’s cabinet member for town centres and visitor economy, said: “We are aiming to attract more tourists and visitors over the next four years and there are a number of new hotel developments planned to support this growth. It is useful to understand how guests at hotels support our wider town centre economy and provide a boost for local businesses.”

If you’re a business looking to benefit from the opportunities on offer at Elder Way, contact Alan Pearson at FHP on 07587 133540 or Adam Mobley at WSB Property Consultant on 0113 234 1444, or visit www.elderway.co.uk.

Find out more about the wide range of benefits associated with locating your business in Chesterfield.

Chesterfield Elder Way, Holywell Hotel by Voeberg and Chesterfield Borough Council support the marketing and economic growth of the town through Chesterfield Champions, a network of over 200 organisations across Chesterfield and North Derbyshire.

Chesterfield Elder Way

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Celebrate Chesterfield, Development, Home, Leisure, Love Chesterfield, Property and Construction, Uncategorised, VisitingTagged in , , , , , , ,

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