Northern Tea Merchants

The Café at Northern Tea Merchants is open under new ownership

Northern Tea Merchants’ iconic café based on Chatsworth Road, Chesterfield, is open under new ownership and with a new name.

Kim Lamin is following a long-held dream of owning her own café and has now achieved this by taking on the reins at The Café at Northern Tea Merchants. Kim has been licensed to use the Northern Tea Merchants’ brand.

She said: “It’s always been my dream to have my own café so when the opportunity arose to run The Café at Northern Tea Merchants, I jumped at the chance. Having been a long-standing customer of Northern Tea Merchants for more than 15 years, I couldn’t say no!”

Kim has recruited three members of staff to help her run the new café – Brennan, Laura and Alida. They bring a wealth of customer service experience to their new roles.

She added: “I feel incredibly lucky to have the best team around me. Our aim with The Café at Northern Tea Merchants is to offer the best customer service, alongside great homemade food and, obviously, the best tea and coffee!”

As well as a wide selection of hot and cold drinks, The Café at Northern Tea Merchant’s now boasts a new menu which includes a range of breakfast, brunch and lunch options, including sandwiches, paninis, salads, home-made quiche, pate, jacket potatoes, cakes and Cream Teas. Afternoon Tea is also available if ordered in advance.

Welcoming Kim and her team, James Pogson, director of Northern Tea Merchants said: “Our shop and café have been a familiar site on Chatsworth Road since 2003 when we first opened. As a customer herself, Kim knows only too well the pleasure of sitting in our café enjoying one of our many teas and coffees while watching the world go by. Nothing beats it!

“We are delighted to have Kim onboard at Northern Tea Merchants. With her enthusiasm and passion, I have every confidence she will make a success of her new venture.”

The Café at Northern Tea Merchants is open Monday – Saturday 9am – 4pm (serving until 3:30pm), to book a table or order an Afternoon Tea, call 01246 232 600.

Northern Tea Merchants 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, Leisure, Uncategorised, VisitingTagged in , , , , , ,

Enjoy a picnic in Chesterfield with local food and drink

A picnic in Chesterfield doesn’t have to be ordinary – not with the range of local produce the town has on its doorstep. With great weather forecast and so many wonderful spots to enjoy a picnic in Chesterfield, this summer could be the tastiest yet.

Whether you have a sweet tooth or are a lover of savoury snacks, there’s something to fill every picnic hamper from Chesterfield’s independent food and drink producers. And we’ve selected a few products for you to sample.

What are you waiting for? Grab your favourite picnic blanket and enjoy some of this delicious produce which is available on your doorstep.

Crooked Pickle

Shortlisted in this year’s Food and Drink Producer category in the Love Chesterfield Awards, Crooked Pickle’s popular Bread and Butter pickles feature crunchy pickled cucumber and onion in a sweet and fragrant vinegar. It’s perfect with a cheese sandwich.

Former baker and beer brewer, Felix Mendelson established the business in 2018 after discovering a gap in the market for ‘inventive and tasty pickled vegetables’. He commented: “I’ve always dabbled in food. The business has gone from strength to strength and I am getting busier.”

Bread and Butter pickles – £4.95

Crooked Pickle products can be bought at Society Cafe and online at www.crookedpickle.co. Free local delivery is also available.

Teresa Lambarelli

Winner of the Chesterfield Food and Drink Producer of the Year Award three times, Teresa is hoping to make it a fourth win at this year’s Love Chesterfield Awards.

During lockdown, Teresa has also developed a new line – Stir Naked, which incorporates collagen in its ingredients. She said: “I have developed a powdered form of my sauce with added collagen. You simply add water and it tastes just like one of my pasta sauces. It can also be enjoyed as a soup. It’s a meal working from within.”

Teresa’s range of salad dressings and pastes are perfect for a picnic. Stir her Pomodoro Sundried Tomato Paste into pasta and eat cold. Or simply enjoy with cheese and crackers.

Pomodoro Sundried Tomato Paste – £3.75

Available to order online at www.teresalambarelli.co.uk or instore at 7 Chatsworth Road.

Granny Mary’s

 A former winner of the Food and Drink Producer of the Year Award in 2015, Granny Mary’s is now stocked in 14 Co-op stores, Morrison’s in Chesterfield and a myriad of independent food stores.

Sales Director Craig Maxwell explained: “Given the current shortage of staff in the hospitality industry because of Covid, our range of pates and spreads are really popular with chefs. They know they are good quality products which they can buy in and serve quickly and easily to diners.”

Enjoy Granny Mary’s’ range of six flavours, which include Potted Beef, Beef and Tomato, Chicken Liver Pate, Duck and Orange, Chicken Garlic & Thyme, Ham Hock and Parsley, and Pulled Pork on crackers or crusty bread in a picnic.

Find out where to buy here: https://grannymarys.co.uk/where-to-buy/

Cup and Saucer

Cup and Saucer now has a place on the high street. The business opened its first shop in Clay Cross in January 2020 just two months before lockdown hit. Despite the setback, the business has gone from strength to strength. And It’s now teamed up with other local producers including Homemade by Haslemere, creating hampers and an online gift delivery service.

Gail Hannan, Owner of Cup & Saucer commented: “Lockdown was an opportunity for me to work with other local producers. The business went crazy and I was busier than I have ever been – it was full on.”

What picnic would be complete without a flask of tea – hot or cold. Try Cup and Saucer’s ‘The Pennine Picnic’, a tropical fruity flavoured tisane, served cold over ice for a refreshing cuppa on a hot day.

The Pennine Picnic – £2.85 for 30g.

Buy in store or online at https://www.cupandsauceronline.co.uk/shop

Homemade at Haslemere

A fig tree inspired former Parkside School Deputy Headteacher, Rachel Hammond to establish Homemade at Haslemere in 2018. She said: “I have a fig tree in my garden, which produces loads of figs and I didn’t know what to do with them, so I made jam and everyone loved it – the business went from there. Now most of the jams and chutneys I make are made from produce which comes from within five miles of where I live.”

All products are seasonal, so be quick. Once they’re gone, they’re gone until next year. You can, however order Afternoon tea for Two all year round, which is packed full of homemade sandwiches, scones and cakes.

Price: Afternoon Tea for Two – £25.00

Order at www.facebook.com/Homemade-at-Haslemere

Salute

Chesterfield’s Salute uses local distillery and soft drinks companies to create personalised drinks hampers. For a larger garden gathering, why not hire the Horsebox or Pop-Up Bar and let Salute serve you some summer sparkle!

Price: Hampers from £17.99

Visit www.salute-prosecco.com/hampers to purchase.

Northern Tea Merchants 

Northern Tea Merchants’ Hibiscus Flowers tea is a delightful infusion, served hot or cold. It is often common to serve this tea with a little sugar as some people can find it a little tart, similar to cranberry.

Or why not try the finest quality, small leaf ‘breakfast tea’, Gourmet Classic. Due to its excellent quality constituent teas, the Gourmet Classic has a delicious aroma, a bright and coppery liquor and excellent flavour.

Prices: from £2.19

Available to purchase online from https://www.northern-tea.com/shop/ or instore from Northern Tea Merchants on Chatsworth Road. Or give the shop a call on 01246 232 600 to arrange free local delivery.

The Cheese Factor 

What’s a picnic without a good quality, locally sourced cheeseboard? Pair these tasty cheeses with crackers and biscuits for the perfect way to finish your feast.

Price: Large cheeseboard (8 cheeses) – £16.00

Click and collect from the store next to the market hall: Cheeseboards – The Cheese Factor (cheese-factor.myshopify.com)

Derbyshire Distillery

Fancying a tipple with your picnic? Enjoy summer in a glass with this Passion Fruit Gin from Chesterfield’s very own Derbyshire Distillery.

Price: £29.95

Order online today: https://www.derbyshiredistillery.com/product/derbyshire-passion-fruit/

Liza Bakes

With a range of afternoon teas, cakes and bakes, you’re sure to find what you need at Liza Bakes. The Posh Ploughman’s lunch consists of Strong Cheddar finger, Red Leicester cheese finger, Scotch egg, bite size pork pie, rolled ham slice, quiche, home-made tear and share bread, pickle, cherry tomatoes, lettuce, celery and fruit skewer.

Price: £12.00

Delivery is available, 2 days’ notice required. Purchase online at https://lizabakes.co.uk/product-category/shop/

Posted in About Chesterfield, Blog, Business, Destination Chesterfield, Featured, Leisure, Summer, Uncategorised, VisitingTagged in , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Chesterfield’s hospitality sector gears up for full reopening

Chesterfield’s hospitality sector is gearing up for the full re-opening of indoor dining and drinking venues under step three of the easing of lockdown.

Thanks to takeaway, delivery and, more recently, outdoor seating, a limited number of pubs, cafés and restaurants have been able to continue operating throughout the pandemic. However, with the lifting of restrictions to allow indoor dining and drinking, businesses in Chesterfield’s hospitality sector are set to completely re-open from Monday 17 May.

Delighted to be finally fully re-opening Douglas Daniels, owner of The Market Pub commented: “We’re greatly looking forward to getting back, as are the whole team. We’ve really missed all of our customers and can’t wait to welcome them back into The Market Pub.

“Independent businesses give towns and cities their unique character and help to offer an alternative to the national chains. They’re also usually the first to reflect new trends and attitudes. We’ve got many new things on the way and we look forward to showcasing them soon.”

Tracey Wallis, Owner of The Pekoe Café at Northern Tea Merchants said: “We are really looking forward to being back, it’s been such a long time and we’ve missed our wonderful customers. We’re already taking plenty of bookings, so it shows that people have missed us too!

“The last 14 months have been a struggle to say the least, but I am positive that Chesterfield’s independent businesses and the hospitality sector will bounce back with a vengeance.

“Roll on 17 May when we can begin serving our much-loved range of Northern Tea Merchants’ teas and coffees again, alongside freshly prepared breakfast favourites, light lunches and a delicious selection of homemade cakes and scones.”

Steve Perez, Chairman of Global Brands and Owner of Casa Hotel added: “Every time we have been closed, we’ve been determined to come back bigger and better and now is no different. Although we have been closed, we have been very busy! We have built the new Oak Room extension to our wedding venue, extended the terrace and built a brand-new kitchen at Peak Edge Hotel.

“At Casa, we are refurbishing the Cocina Restaurant with luxurious new booths and décor. The bar will be extensively refurbished with an amazing new design and concept – it will be the place to be in the town.

“The love everyone has shown us throughout the last year has been keeping us going. We have in fact remained open throughout the entire pandemic by supporting the NHS with free accommodation and food and, more recently, the vaccine centre here at Casa. Let us hope this is us opening for good and for an amazing summer ahead.”

During lockdown, the town’s marketing campaign Destination Chesterfield supported the hospitality sector by dedicated a full page on its website, pointing customers to where they could access both takeaway and delivery services.

The page – https://www.chesterfield.co.uk/visiting/eating-out/dine-at-home/ has details of restaurants, with sub-pages for cafés, pubs, bars and tea rooms in and around Chesterfield that have continued to operate by adapting to meet the needs of the community.

The page will continue to be updated and live until all businesses in the sector are fully operational.

Peter Swallow, Chair of Destination Chesterfield commented: “Eating and drinking out, especially in Chesterfield, is all about great customer service and a fantastic product. Takeaway and delivery services have been wonderful throughout the pandemic and we’re all grateful for the hard work it took the businesses to adapt overnight and deliver this.

“But I think the town is now ready to get back into our favourite pubs, bars, cafés and restaurants to enjoy the warm atmosphere and see those familiar, friendly faces once more. We’re encouraging everyone to #LoveChesterfield and support our local businesses in what’s such a crucial time for the hospitality sector.”

To find out more about eating and drinking out in Chesterfield, please visit: https://www.chesterfield.co.uk/lovechesterfield/

Love Chesterfield

Love Chesterfield is a campaign from Chesterfield Borough Council in partnership with Destination Chesterfield with support from the reopening the high street safely fund and the welcome back fund provided by HM Government and the European Regional Development Fund.

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