chesterfield news

Derbyshire-based PR firm confirms expansion into Chesterfield

A public relations professional who started her career covering Chesterfield FC matches as a football reporter is making a return to the town to lead her company’s latest expansion.

Kerry Ganly, account and social media manager at Penguin PR in Derby, is heading back up the A38 to help the company establish its new office in Dunston Road and seek new business opportunities in the Chesterfield area.

Her last professional appointment in the town was covering Spireites matches on behalf of the Derby Telegraph, following her landmark appointment as the newspaper’s first-ever female sports reporter in 2001.

She worked at the newspaper for a further 17 years before joining Penguin PR as a PR and social media manager in 2019, managing the accounts of businesses including Colleague Box, Cosy Direct, Progressive Sports, E4E, Vibrant Accountancy and St Giles School.

Kerry has now taken on the task of establishing its first-ever regional office and is looking forward to the challenge.

She said: “I have so many brilliant memories of covering Chesterfield FC at their former home Saltergate, when I joined the Derby Telegraph some 20-odd years ago.

“From gripping FA Cup games to crucial league matches under the guidance of the legendary Roy McFarland, the early 2000s were a great time to report on the Spireites and I’ve always had a fondness for the town, its people and communities.

“I believe that Chesterfield has so much potential; there is a real buzz around the town and surrounding area.

“It’s an exciting time for the town, and for Penguin PR. Our growth over the last couple of years in particular has firmly established us as one of the most respected PR companies in Derby and I believe that as well as attracting new business, the expansion will also benefit existing clients, creating opportunities and new relationships.”

Penguin PR director Simon Burch said: “We’re hugely excited at the prospect of opening a new office in Chesterfield, which is very much a town on the up with a number of exciting plans in place for further growth.

“Not only does Kerry have strong links with the town, her warm personality and people skills means she excels at building business networks, so we could not think of anyone who is better suited to establishing a presence for us in Chesterfield.”

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Development, Home, UncategorisedTagged in , , ,

Three categories added to Enterprising Women Awards 2022 to mark International Women’s Day

Three new categories – including a Lifetime Achievement Award – have been added to the Enterprising Women Awards for 2022 as the East Midlands Chamber-run network celebrates its 25th anniversary.

A Diversity Champion and Rising Star award are also on the bill for the annual showpiece, which takes place on 30 September at a venue to be announced in the coming months.

The awards were launched today (Tuesday 8 March) at an International Women’s Day celebration event at Casa Hotel, in Chesterfield.

Natalie Bamford, the managing director of Derby-based Colleague Box who was crowned Business Woman of the Year at the 2021 awards, was the guest speaker.

Enterprising Women’s roots go back to 1997 and the awards have been held in their current guise across Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire since 2013. Jean Mountain and Eileen Richards MBE continue to lead the network as co-chairs.

Jean, who was named Businesswoman of the Year at the Nottinghamshire Live Women in Business Awards for her contributions to helping other professional women “break the glass ceiling”, said: “We’re so excited about ramping up the celebrations for our 25th year as a network and to top it off, we wanted to create an extra-special edition of our Enterprising Women Awards.

“Adding three new categories offers a great opportunity to recognise even more successful people who are fantastic ambassadors of enterprising women.”

Eileen, who was East Midlands Chamber’s president in 2021, added: “Last year’s awards were an incredible occasion as we were able to return to celebrations in person but the 2022 edition promises to be the biggest and best we’ve ever had.

“We’re looking forward to another extremely high calibre of applications to reflect the huge pool of female talent we have in this brilliant region.”

Entries are now open and the deadline is 29 April. To enter, visit www.emc-dnl.co.uk/ewawards.

Enterprising Women Awards 2022 categories

Business Woman of the Year (sponsored by Futures Housing Group)

Female Entrepreneur of the Year (sponsored by Midlands Engine Investment Fund)

Social Commitment Award (sponsored by She Inspires)

Small Business of the Year (sponsored by Unique Window Systems)

Female Employee of the Year (sponsored by Smallman & Son)

Team of the Year (sponsored by PPL PRS)

Business Woman in STEM (sponsored by Pick Everard)

Apprentice of the Year (sponsored by EMA Training)

Diversity Champion (sponsored by Breedon Consulting)

Rising Star (sponsored by The Turnaround CEO)

Lifetime Achievement (sponsored by Paradigm Wills)

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Development, Home, UncategorisedTagged in , , ,

Matlock Farm Park in double success at Peak District & Derbyshire Tourism Awards

Shining stars of the local tourism industry were celebrated at the Peak District & Derbyshire Tourism Awards last week, with Matlock Farm Park taking two gold awards on the night.

Designed to recognise and reward excellence and outstanding achievement in the Peak District and Derbyshire’s valuable tourism sector, the awards brought together 41 finalists in 15 categories for a glittering ceremony at Chesterfield’s four-star Casa Hotel.

Some of the area’s finest pubs, restaurants, attractions, experiences and accommodation providers were amongst those recognised at the awards evening, organised for the second year by Marketing Peak District & Derbyshire with support from the European Regional Development Fund.

In recognition of the exceptional challenges faced by tourism businesses during the Covid-19 pandemic, two new core categories were added for 2022: the ‘Unsung Hero Award’ and the ‘Resilience and Innovation Award’.

Two new local awards – ‘Team of the Year’ and ‘Tourism Young Achiever’ – were also added to recognise the thousands of jobs supported by tourism across the Peak District and Derbyshire.

Demonstrating the variety and quality of tourism businesses in the area, awards were hotly contested and nominees progressed through shortlisting, mystery shopping and a rigorous judging process by an independent panel of experts to arrive at last night’s awards ceremony.

Host Andy Miller compered the event as Gold, Silver and Bronze award winners were revealed. Gold winners were each presented with hand-crafted awards, designed and made by Derbyshire-based C W Sellors Fine Jewellery & Luxury Watches, whilst Silver and Bronze winners each received a certificate identifying them as one of the best tourism businesses in the area.

In a further boost, Gold winners in each of the 13 core categories will now progress onto the national VisitEngland Awards for Excellence 2022, which represent the highest accolades in English tourism.

Jo Dilley, Managing Director of Marketing Peak District & Derbyshire, said: “Following two years of unprecedented challenges, we’re delighted to recognise the inspirational businesses and passionate individuals who continually raise the bar of the Peak District and Derbyshire’s world-class visitor offer.

“Not only does our tourism industry offer incredible experiences for those who holiday here, it supports thousands of local jobs and makes a vital contribution to the local economy, helping to make the Peak District and Derbyshire such a great place to live, work and visit.

“This year’s awards are also a timely reminder of the determination, innovation and commitment of our local businesses who have worked incredibly hard to adapt and rebuild, and to continue to provide visitors with a first-class welcome.”

Peak District & Derbyshire Tourism Awards 2022: THE WINNERS

Accessible and Inclusive Tourism Award

  • GOLD: Croft Bungalow Accessible Holiday Let, Birchover

B&B and Guest House of the Year

  • GOLD: Grendon Bed & Breakfast, Buxton
  • Silver: Sheldon House, Monyash

Camping, Glamping and Holiday Park of the Year

  • GOLD: Landal Sandybrook, Ashbourne
  • Silver: Boutique Camping at Scaldersitch Farm, Sheen
  • Bronze: Beech Croft Farm Caravan & Camping Park, Taddington

Ethical, Responsible and Sustainable Tourism Award

  • GOLD: Pure Outdoor Ltd
  • Silver: Landal Darwin Forest, Matlock
  • Bronze: Fischer’s Baslow Hall

Experience of the Year

  • GOLD: Pure Outdoor Ltd
  • Silver: myGuidedWalks
  • Bronze: Drive Dad’s Car, Great British Car Journey

Hotel of the Year

  • GOLD: Rafters at Riverside House, Ashford-in-the-Water
  • Silver: The Cavendish Hotel, Baslow
  • Bronze: Casa Hotel, Chesterfield

New Tourism Business Award

  • GOLD: Manor House Farm Cottages, Sheldon
  • Silver: Great British Car Journey, Ambergate
  • Bronze: Country Luxe Derbyshire

Pub of the Year

  • GOLD: The Devonshire Arms, Pilsley
  • Silver: The Prince of Wales, Baslow
  • Bronze: The Yorkshire Bridge Inn, Bamford

Self-Catering Accommodation of the Year

  • GOLD: Stainsborough Hall, near Wirksworth
  • Silver: Manor House Farm Cottages, Sheldon
  • Bronze: Oaker Farm Holidays, Hope

Taste of the Peak District & Derbyshire Award

  • GOLD: Fischer’s Baslow Hall
  • Silver: The Cavendish Hotel, Baslow
  • Silver: The George, Alstonefield

Visitor Attraction of the Year

  • GOLD: Matlock Farm Park, Matlock
  • Silver: Treak Cliff Cavern, Castleton
  • Bronze: Bluebell Dairy Ltd, Spondon

Resilience & Innovation Award

  • GOLD: Matlock Farm Park, Matlock
  • Silver: White Peak Distillery, Ambergate
  • Bronze: Treak Cliff Cavern, Castleton

Tourism Young Achiever Award

  • GOLD: Luke Henshaw, Great British Car Journey
  • Silver: George Finlay, Matlock Farm Park
  • Bronze: Jack Boam, Tagg Lane Dairy

Team of the Year Award

  • GOLD: The Welcome Team Ltd
  • Silver: Pinelodge Holidays Ltd
  • Bronze: Rafters at Riverside House

Unsung Hero Award

  • GOLD: Rob Hattersley, Longbow Bars & Restaurants
  • Silver: John Whelan, Rafters at Riverside House

Matlock Farm Park, Casa Hotel and Marketing 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.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Home, Leisure, Love Chesterfield, Uncategorised, VisitingTagged in , , , , , , ,

Support for Chesterfield residents looking for work and learning opportunities

Local people are being encouraged to access support and advice from Derbyshire Careers Service as part of National Careers Week, taking place from today (Monday, 7th March 2022)

The team from Derbyshire County Council is encouraging residents to attend a drop-in session or register their interest in attending an online workshop.

There are weekly drop-in sessions with highly qualified local career coaches across the county and regular online workshops to support with interview skills, CV and searching for jobs, as well as specific support for over 50’s.

The sessions are free and open to anyone over the age of 19 and 18-year-olds who are not currently in education, employment, or training. Support is available year-round for anyone unable to attend during National Careers Week.

Derbyshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Education, Councillor Alex Dale, said: “Ensuring local people have access to the support and advice they need to be successful in the workplace is really important to the Council.

“The Derbyshire Careers Service is a great resource for residents looking for advice on changing their career, preparing for interviews, or searching for jobs.

“I would encourage people to attend one of the workshops or drop-in sessions during National Careers Week or to reach out to the team if you need support in the future.”

For more information on virtual workshops, please visit – Careers workshops – Derbyshire County Council and for information on regular drop-in sessions and details about local career coaches visit – Careers service – Derbyshire County Council.

Chesterfield is the first town in the UK to declare itself an Apprentice Town – demonstrating its commitment to growing the future and careers of young people alongside business and the economy by retaining and developing young talent in the town in order to attract more employers to invest here.

Businesses throughout North Derbyshire employ a large number of apprentices and there are currently hundreds of vacancies available in and around Chesterfield. Find out more: https://www.chesterfield.co.uk/apprenticeships/become-an-apprentice-in-chesterfield/

ApprenticeTown

Posted in About Chesterfield, Apprentice Town, Business, Development, Featured, Home, Made in Chesterfield, UncategorisedTagged in , , , , , , ,

Plans to boost town centre to be put under the spotlight at Celebrate Chesterfield

After securing nearly £20m of Levelling Up funding, plans to boost the town centre and enhance its cultural offering are set to be unveiled at the annual Celebrate Chesterfield event on Wednesday 23 March.

At the event, Chesterfield Borough Council will unveil its plans for the modernisation and further development of the town centre as part of its journey to become a go-to destination for residents, retailers, and visitors.

A new Inward Investment Campaign for Chesterfield, focused on attracting further investment to the town, will also be launched at the event.

Now in its twelfth year Celebrate Chesterfield, which is organised by Destination Chesterfield in association with The University of Derby and sponsored by CT and Markham Vale, is one of the most hotly anticipated business events in the area attracting around 250 delegates.

This year, the event will also host the Derbyshire Festival of Business Exhibition, designed to showcase Derbyshire’s extensive business offer and capabilities.

Fully booked every year, businesses are being urged to book their tickets now to the free in-person event which is being held at the Winding Wheel from 7.30am – 11.00am.

Speakers at the event include Dr Huw Bowen, Chief Executive of Chesterfield Borough Council and Professor Warren Manning, Provost Innovation and Research at the University of Derby

In addition to plans for the town centre, the conference speakers will also address progress on the town’s multi-million pound commercial and residential developments, office space and the Digital High Street programme.

Last year the popular Celebrate Chesterfield event was held online. Peter Swallow, Chair of Destination Chesterfield commented: “Chesterfield’s business community demonstrated resilience through the pandemic and continued to make significant progress in all areas. I am pleased we can finally come together in person and celebrate all that we have achieved in such testing times. It’s also important we look to the future and capitalise on the progress we have made to ensure the town remains a place where people want to live, work and invest.”

Dr Peter Dewhurst, Director, Strategic Projects at the University of Derby said: “The University is once again proud to be the headline sponsor of the Celebrate Chesterfield event, which we see as presenting an excellent opportunity to bring together and showcase the talent that is helping Chesterfield recover from the challenges of recent times. What’s more, this year’s event is being promoted as part of the inaugural Derbyshire Festival of Business that is being used to elevate our fabulous county as a great place to launch and grow a successful business.”

Ian Snow, Managing Director of CT said: “CT is delighted to sponsor this event and continue our support to promote Chesterfield as a great business destination. We are proud that our roots are in Chesterfield. The fantastic central location, together with the investment into Chesterfield to build a town people want to both live and work in, is supporting the growth of our business to offer a nationwide IT service. We are lucky to be in good company, surrounded by exceptional businesses from the legal, manufacturing and engineering sectors and we look forward to meeting everyone at this great event later this month.”

Anthony Clitheroe, Director at HBD which is jointly developing Markham Vale in partnership with Derbyshire County Council, said: “Markham Vale is at the heart of the business community, so we’re pleased to be able to support Celebrate Chesterfield and the launch of the Derbyshire Festival of Business – there’s no better advert for Derbyshire as a place to do business than the ambitious, growing companies based at Markham Vale. Benefiting from excellent connectivity and a great local skills base, they continue to create new jobs and attract investment into the region.”

Markham Vale

Councillor Tricia Gilby, leader of Chesterfield Borough Council, added: “Celebrate Chesterfield is a fantastic opportunity for our business community to come together to hear and discuss the significant investments that the council and its partners are making across our town and borough. We need a strong business community to maximise the opportunities created by these investments and to contribute to our aims of making Chesterfield a thriving borough and improving the quality of life for local people.”

For more information on the FREE event and to book a delegate place at Celebrate Chesterfield 2022, please visit here: www.chesterfield.co.uk/celebrate

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

Social events launched for Chesterfield businesses by Great2

A range of networking events have been launched in Chesterfield by Great2, a company which supports local entrepreneurs and growing small businesses across Derbyshire.

Trough Tuesday is a monthly lunch event held for members of the Great2work co-working space in Chesterfield. It is a way to bring users of the co-working space together socially.

Great2 arranges the catering at the event, and the company asks members to pay a donation of what they would normally pay for lunch and all donations go to local charities.

Lynne Pope, Social Media and Content Specialist at Great2 said: “Most of our members are hybrid workers (sharing their working time between home and the Great2Work space), meaning that recent covid stay-at-home restrictions have kept them at home full-time.

“The events in our Community Calendar like Trough Tuesday are hugely important for the wellbeing of our members as well as giving them opportunities to network, collaborate and grow their businesses.

“We believe that business should be meaningful and the workspace at Great2Work is not just a modern co-working office, rather a place for small businesses to thrive through collaboration and support of other members. These face-to-face events are an ideal opportunity to meet other members, build relationships and to share ideas.”

Trough Tuesday events are held on the 3rd Tuesday of every month and they are listed on the company’s Community Calendar. They are held at the Great2Work co-working space in the centre of Chesterfield (Hayfield House, Devonshire Street, Chesterfield, S41 7ST).

Businesses wishing to attend can register for membership by emailing enquiries@great2.co.uk. Flexible membership packages are available to suit various needs.

Great2 supports the marketing and economic growth of the town through Chesterfield Champions, a network of over 200 organisations across Chesterfield and North Derbyshire.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Development, Home, UncategorisedTagged in , , , , ,

Chesterfield market welcomes new fishmonger

A new fishmonger, which brings in products fresh from the docks at Grimsby is now trading on Chesterfield’s marketplace.

Chris’s Fresh Fish can be found every Thursday between 9am-2pm on Chesterfield Market, serving a range of products to customers.

The stall has been trading weekly in town since 10th February, after previously trading on smaller markets elsewhere. The business also does door-to-door deliveries.

The range of products on offer includes: Haddock, Cod, Salmon, Plaice, Skate, Lemon sole, Sea bass, Sea trout, Tuna, Sword, and Halibut.

A variety of smoked fish is also available at the stall, including Smoked haddock, Smoked cod, Smoked mackerel and Smoked salmon. Alongside that, customers are able to purchase a variety of prawns, including cold water and king prawn varieties.

Chris Peart, owner of the stall said: “I’m really excited to be meeting the people of chesterfield. I’ve been there for three weeks so far and it seems to be going really well.”

The trader added that there was potential to expand trading hours into Saturday on the market if there was enough customer demand.

More information about the stall, including various offers can be found on the Chris’s Fresh Fish Facebook page

Elsewhere, you can find a wide range of products at exceptional value at Chesterfield Market including fruit and vegetables, clothes, fabrics and household goods. General Markets take place on Mondays, Fridays and Saturdays.

Enjoy the sights, sounds and smells of the traditional market as you browse a variety of stalls selling food, fashion, home ware and gifts. It boasts fresh seasonal produce, friendly market traders and value for money goods.

To discuss trading on the market, call the Markets Office on 01246 345999 or for more information visit www.chesterfield.gov.uk/markettrading.

If you’d like to find out more about visiting Chesterfield market or shopping in Chesterfield, head over to https://www.chesterfield.co.uk/visiting/shopping/

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Destination Chesterfield, Development, Home, Leisure, Love Chesterfield, Uncategorised, VisitingTagged in , , , , , , ,

Entire FM to support people affected by conflict in Ukraine

An urgent mission to get supplies and aid to those who have been affected by the current conflict in Ukraine is being organised by Chesterfield’s Entire Facilities Management.

The business has quickly organised a team which will be loading up a handful of vans with essential supplies and heading to the Poland-Ukraine border. The aid will be distributed to those in need from there.

Entire FM says it is now looking for both physical and financial donations to support their efforts.

If anyone would like to offer physical donations, these items can be dropped off at the Entire FM Chesterfield Warehouse (Unit 2 Old Brick Works Lane S41 7JD).

The team is appealing for items such as, but not limited to the following:

  • Warm hats and gloves or similar outwear
  • Sanitary products for both men and women
  • Baby related items such and milk powder, nappies, wipes, bottles
  • Sleeping bags, air beds, blankets
  • Pet food

Peter Currey, Chief Executive Officer at Entire FM commented: “The idea came about from a conversation with a friend over at Orca Cleaning. We’re sitting here watching the media coverage and talking about how terrible it is but we both agreed that more could be done to support those people who have been pushed out of their homes and who have had to head to the Polish border.

“It was therefore a very quick decision to utilise the resources we have at hand and to try and make a small difference.”

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

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Featured, Home, Love Chesterfield, Uncategorised, VisitingTagged in , , , , ,

Chesterfield FC launches new Community Awards

Nominations are now being accepted for the Chesterfield FC Community Awards, which will be handed out on Saturday, April 16 at the Technique Stadium.

The club is launching the ceremony in order to recognise those caring individuals in Chesterfield and North Derbyshire who selflessly put others first.

The awards are going to be uplifting, featuring superb entertainment and a range of awards given to some truly outstanding people who have made a significant contribution over what has been an incredibly challenging year.

Bridget Ball, Chesterfield FC’s marketing manager, said: “We are thrilled to be able to put on an event like this. After such a testing time for everyone, we want to show those who have gone above and beyond the call of duty that their efforts are very much appreciated.

“It promises to be a night full of tears and laughter, making it an event to remember and I am really looking forward to it.”

The full list of awards to be handed out includes:

  • Adult of Bravery Award
  • Outstanding Sporting Achievement Award
  • Key Worker of the Year Award
  • Chesterfield Royal Hospital Hero of the Year Award
  • Young Person of Courage Award
  • Emergency Services Award
  • Carer of the Year Award
  • Local Hero of the Year Award
  • Neighbor of the Year Award
  • Fundraiser of the Year Award
  • Lifetime Achievement Award

To read about the different awards and to make a nomination, please click on the following link: https://chesterfield-fc.co.uk/awards22

The closing date for nominations is Friday, March 25, 2022 at 5pm.

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

Posted in About Chesterfield, Home, Leisure, Love Chesterfield, Uncategorised, VisitingTagged in , , ,

“There has never been more opportunity for young people to build a career in hospitality in Chesterfield.”

Destination Chesterfield Chair, Peter Swallow has given his thoughts about exciting developments taking place across Chesterfield as we enter March.

Spring is in the air. I for one cannot wait for the longer, warmer days and, rather than staying indoors. I, like many of you, am starting to think about venturing out again in the evening.

Whilst some of us may have been hibernating during the winter months, it is pleasing to see that the hospitality sector in Chesterfield has not been. Despite the challenges that the pandemic has thrown at it, new bars and restaurants have opened in the last six months, and more are opening soon.

Most recently Vicar Lane Shopping Centre welcomed Pizza Pi and before that Albert’s Jüngerer Bruder opened in Rykneld Square in November last year. The town centre will also shortly welcome The Dirty Habit on Holywell Street, taking over the unit that once was the Rising Sun. This new bar will also have outdoor space.

The pandemic has helped us all appreciate the outdoors, and it is great to see more businesses using their outdoor space to draw people to their venue. It benefits not only their business but also the high streets and town centre too.

With the transformation of the former Co-op on Elder Way into units for bars and restaurants, which also has fantastic outdoor dining space, it is fair to say that Chesterfield town centre’s night-time economy is set to get livelier in 2022.

As well as boosting Chesterfield’s night-time economy, giving local people and visitors more choice, these businesses are also creating jobs and opportunity. Albert’s Jüngerer Bruder has created 20 jobs alone.

Outside the town centre, Chesterfield’s hospitality scene is thriving. The Batch House at The Glass Yard is shortly to open and will offer everything from Indian street food to craft beer. While Chesterfield’s four-star hotel, Peak Edge, has recently been awarded the best wedding venue in Derbyshire.

With more than 16,000 students in North Derbyshire set to gain their GCSE and A level qualifications in the next five years, there has never been more opportunity for young people to build a career in hospitality in Chesterfield.

It is not just the hospitality sector which offers opportunity to young people.  At the recent Chesterfield and North Derbyshire Skills and Employability Conference it was revealed that that green and digital skills are most in demand from employers. This highlights the need for businesses and education and training providers to work together to ensure that young people are equipped with the skills needed to get good jobs.

Looking to the immediate digital skills needed to support the local economy, however, the Chesterfield Digital High Street campaign has been instrumental in enabling retail, hospitality and leisure businesses across the town to get online and trade digitally alongside their high street presence.

Ensuring young people know about the opportunities available to them now and in the future cannot just be the responsibility of businesses and skills and education providers. The proverb ‘it takes a village to raise a child’ comes to mind. It highlights the importance of community and what we can all do to support young people leaving education this year and beyond.

From offering work experience to simply telling young people about your job, we can all help them take their first step onto the career ladder and build their future right here in Chesterfield, ensuring the local economy thrives now and for future generations.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Apprentice Town, Blog, Business, Celebrate Chesterfield, Destination Chesterfield, Development, Featured, Leisure, Love Chesterfield, Made in Chesterfield, Property and Construction, Uncategorised, VisitingTagged in , , , , , , , ,

Plans approved for Stephenson Memorial Hall

Ambitious plans to refurbish Chesterfield’s historic Stephenson Memorial Hall, which houses the museum and the Pomegranate Theatre have been approved by Chesterfield Borough Council’s planning committee.

This approval means that Chesterfield Museum is now closed to begin the complex process of moving the historic collection into safe storage.

The refurbishment of Stephenson Memorial Hall is projected to cost around £17 million with £11 million of funding being secured via the Government’s Levelling Up Fund. Chesterfield Borough Council has received almost £20 million through this Government fund, the other £8 million will be used to support and enhance the Revitalising the Heart of Chesterfield Project.

Together this funding will help ensure that Chesterfield is a vibrant market town by improving connections across the town centre and enhancing the visitor economy.

Under the plans the refurbished Stephenson Memorial Hall will bring together an extended Pomegranate Theatre, a reconfigured and modern museum, alongside new gallery space, a café bar, education and community facilities.

The work will also protect the Grade II listed building and ensure that it remains part of the borough’s heritage for many more generations to come.

Creating a more accessible experience is another key aim of the proposals. The plans include three new lifts which will significantly improve the accessibility of the building for visitors, artists, and employees.

Also included in the plans are improvements to lighting, heating, and ventilation.

Revolution House, which tells the story of the Revolution of 1688, will reopen on Friday 15 April. The free museum will then be open every Saturday, Sunday and Bank Holiday Monday from 11am to 4pm until Sunday 18 September.

Chesterfield Museum will also be launching Museum on the Move later this year, this will see some of the popular interactive events hosted in alternative venues around the borough. More details on these events will be released soon.

Whilst the Museum collection is moved the Pomegranate Theatre will continue to operate as normal and tickets can be booked by calling the box office on 01246 345 222 or by visiting the Chesterfield Theatres website.

More detail on the ambitious plans will be outlined by Chesterfield Borough Council’s Director of Economic Growth, Neil Johnson at Celebrate Chesterfield 2022 taking place on Wednesday, 23rd March.

To find out more about the event and book your place, go to: https://www.chesterfield.co.uk/celebrate/

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

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