Author: CrushDesign

Casa named Top 5 UK Hotel

Casa Hotel in Chesterfield has been announced as one of the top 5 hotels in the UK in the Trip Advisor 2015 Travellers’ Choice Awards.

The independent 4 star luxury hotel has been voted the 5th best hotel in the UK ahead of London’s Corinthia and Goring Hotels  – the latter being famously associated with Kate Middleton and her stay prior to her wedding to Prince William, which were placed 6th and 7th respectively in the prestigious list.

Twenty-five hotels feature in the Trip Advisor 2015 Top UK Hotels list, which was revealed on 21st January this year.  Casa is the only hotel from the Midlands region and one of only two in the North of England to feature in the top five. Of the 25 hotels voted as the UK’s best, less than half (12) are from outside London.

This year’s Trip Advisor listing sees a rise of five places since 2014 for the 100 bedroom Casa Hotel, which is located on the outskirts of Chesterfield town centre and owned by local entrepreneur, Steve Perez.

Commenting on the achievement, Steve Perez said: “The team and I are delighted with the award. We all work tirelessly to provide the best stay for our guests and I am delighted and grateful that so many of them have taken the time and trouble to share their opinions on Trip Advisor. We value all feedback and actively use it to further improve. It’s a great accolade and wonderful to be one of only a few hotels outside London, recognised in Trip Advisor’s top 25, that delivers an excellent experience for guests. It is true Derbyshire hospitality coming to the fore.”

The Spanish-themed Casa Hotel earned the top five listing following 800 reviews on Trip Advisor, the world’s largest online community, with 84% of reviewers rating their stay at the hotel as ‘excellent’ and a total of 98% rating it either ‘excellent’ or ‘very good’. In the reviews guests regularly describe their stay at Casa as ‘awesome’, ‘fabulous’, ‘faultless’, ‘brilliant’ and ‘a pure delight’.

The Spanish heritage of the hotel’s owner Steve Perez runs right through Casa, from the décor to its 2 Rosette awarded Cocina restaurant, where the chefs cook using Spanish charcoal fired ovens

As well as priding itself on exemplary customer service, Casa is one of the only hotels in the UK to boast balcony hot tubs and saunas in its suites.  Guests also regularly praise the hotel’s comfortable beds in their Trip Advisor reviews, which are award winning super king-sized Hypnos beds and were specified by the owner himself after he slept on one and credited it with his best ever night’s sleep.

Earlier this year the hotel also won a Laterooms.com Simply the Guest Award, ranking it as a top hotel following guest reviews.

(Image shows Stuart Downham, Operations Director at Casa Hotel celebrating the award with the hotel staff.)

Source:Casa Hotel via In the Works PR

Posted in Business

Council Tax freeze on the cards for a second year

Borough councillors in Chesterfield are to be recommended to freeze Chesterfield Borough Council’s portion of Council Tax for a second year running.

Councillors will vote on the motion to be proposed by the council’s leader, Councillor John Burrows, at the council meeting on 26 February as part of the council’s commitment to help hard-working families in the borough.

This comes despite the news that Chesterfield again is one of 19 authorities in the country facing the biggest spending cut in Government grant funding – a 6.4 per cent reduction in the coming financial year.

A number of councils in the south have seen an increase to their spending power.

Councillor John Burrows, Chesterfield Borough Council’s leader and executive member for regeneration, said: “We know that hundreds of hard working families in Chesterfield are struggling to make ends meet, which is why we are proposing to freeze our part of the Council Tax for the second year running.

“This is a difficult decision because of the scale of cuts we have received in our grant funding from the Government, which will have reduced from £8.7 million in 2010/11 to £5.3 million in 2015/16.

“In the last year we have been forced to make difficult decisions about how we fund and deliver our services – such as introducing a donation charge for the annual fireworks event and reducing funding for events in the town centre.

“We will be having to make more tough decisions in the coming year but we remain committed to providing the best possible facilities and services for our residents and businesses.”

Although Chesterfield Borough Council collects Council Tax, the council keeps only 10 per cent of the money collected.

For the average band A property, this means the council keeps only £96.59 each year or £1.86 each week of the money collected to fund its services including: refuse collection, street cleaning, sports and park facilities, regeneration, housing, markets, museums, theatres and tourism.

The rest of the Council Tax is collected by the council on behalf of different authorities.

Source:Chesterfield Borough Council

Posted in About Chesterfield

Franke Sissons serves up more help for Ashgate Hospice

Ashgate Hospicecare is now benefitting from two new food delivery trolleys thanks to local manufacturer and Chesterfield Champion, Franke Sissons.

Designed to help staff deliver meals to the wards at the hospice as smoothly and efficiently as possible, the bespoke trolleys are made from local stainless steel, manufactured by Franke for the past 230 years, and also feature Perspex viewing panels, courtesy of Chatsworth Signs.

A long-term supporter of Ashgate Hospice, Franke Sissons is pleased to be able to help the charity once again, having previously donated commercial kitchen equipment as well as financial support.

Lorraine Chambers, Estates and Facilities Manager for Ashgate Hospicecare explains, “Franke Sissons has regularly stepped up to support the hospice.  These new trolleys will make life so much easier for our team delivering meals and beverages throughout the hospice.”

Ashgate Hospicecare, provides specialist palliative and end of life care to local people and their families across North Derbyshire and the High Peak and Dales. It is one of the largest hospices in the UK caring for more than 2,000 patients every year.

It costs £6.8m each year to run Ashgate Hospicecare. It receives an NHS grant of £2.5m but has to raise a further £4.3m to ensure these vital services continue to be provided. Ashgate Hospicecare nurses provide care at the hospice, in peoples own homes and at Chesterfield Royal Hospital.

Caption: Photo (right-left) Chef at Ashgate, Andrea; Estates and Facilities Manager, Lorraine Chambers; two Ashgate volunteers, Trevor Knowles, Draughtsmen; Franke Sissons, Simon Todd & Paul Gibbons; Chatsworth Signs.

Source:Franke Sissons via DRA Public Relations

Posted in About Chesterfield

Latest good news on jobs

The latest job figures announced today show significant annual falls in the number of people claiming out of work benefits and the total number of unemployed people across the region, along with a large annual increase in employment.

In Chesterfield the number of people claiming out of work benefit stood at 1,385 in December, which is 522 fewer than the same month in 2013 and 61 fewer than the figure announced in November.

In Derby and Derbyshire, there were 491 fewer Jobseekers’ Allowance (JSA) claimants in December than there were in November, representing an annual fall of 5,517, or 36%.

Across the East Midlands, the total number of people in employment increased by 11,709 in the three months to November, an increase of 49,750 on the same period in 2013.

The total number of unemployed between September and November increased by 603, but was down by 19,094 on the year.

The East Midlands Chamber, which represents businesses in Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire and Leicestershire, has welcomed the news, but says firms are still struggling to recruit skilled staff.

Chris Hobson, the Chamber’s Head of Information and Representation, said: “Today’s employment figures are once again extremely positive and show that significant progress has been made in getting more people off jobseekers’ benefits and into work.

“However, this growth in employment could be even better as many businesses are still telling the Chamber that they experience difficulties in finding suitably skilled workers.

“The results of our latest Quarterly Economic Survey (Q4 2014) showed that about two-thirds of firms – twice as many as in the same quarter of 2013 – struggled to recruit people with the skills they need. This is an area which requires urgent focus from policymakers.

“In particular, getting the link right between education and the world of work has never been more important if this country is serious about creating a new economy equipped for success in the long term.

“It’s an issue that the Chamber has long campaigned on and, unfortunately, the structural problems in this area, over the past few years in particular, are impacting upon businesses’ ability today to recruit the right staff to help them grow.

“The skills shortage is very much a current issue, so getting right policies in place to support recruitment is imperative, with priority being given to  specific policies regarding relief on business investment and supporting those furthest away from the job market into employment.”

Source:East Midlands Chamber

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Celebrate Chesterfield, Destination Chesterfield

Successful year for Markham Vale

Developers are celebrating following an unprecedented year of activity at one of Chesterfield’s most prominent development sites.

Henry Boot Developments appointed six different contractors to build at the Markham Vale business park in 2014 as well as announcing speculative building proposals and five major deals.

The site has now commissioned a total of £30 million in construction projects on the 200 acre business park.

Edward Hutchinson from Henry Boot Developments said:-

“Markham Vale is an attractive location for a variety of occupiers which includes specialist distributors and manufacturers and supporting retail and offices requirements.

“The design and specification requirements for each plot vary greatly and it has proved successful for us to appoint contractors able to deliver the most competitive solution for specific occupier requirements.

In the last year Henry Boot has secured deals with Ready Egg Products for a new 34,700 sq. ft food processing plant, Holdsworth Foods 17,900 sq. ft cold store and Euro Garages complete with Shell petrol station with HGV facilities, a SPAR convenience store, Subway, Greggs and a Starbucks drive-through. It also completed work on site to deliver a new Marstons public house. In the autumn it secured Gould Alloys for a 50,000 sq. ft design and build requirement and agreed terms with inspirepac to build a significant new 100,250 sq ft  production facility

Further deals are in negotiations which could see the East site at full occupation and allow Henry Boot Developments to bring forward plans for development of 80 acres on Markham Vale North.

Source:Henry Boot Developments via frenchpr

Posted in Business, Development

‘Fuller’s Rail Ale’ Train to visit Barrow Hill Roundhouse

A special train has been chartered to transport guests to Chesterfield for the first day of the 2015 Rail Ale Festival.

Organised by UK Railtours and sponsored by Fuller’s Brewery, the East Midlands Trains HST ‘Fuller’s Rail Ale’ will depart from London St Pancras at 09.40 on Thursday 14th May, and is scheduled to pick up at Luton Airport Parkway, Kettering and Bedford, before arriving in Chesterfield at around 12 noon at the special platform which is directly beside the Roundhouse itself.

Ian Bray, Managing Director of Fuller’s beer company said “We are very glad to support this event for yet another year and can’t wait to see this unique development in action. This will be another exciting way for everyone to enjoy Fuller’s beer across the UK as well as in London.”

Tickets are priced at £39.50 (Standard) and £95.00 (First Class) and include entry to the Festival, a commemorative glass and programme.  Further information, including provisional timings and how to book tickets, can be found at www.ukrailtours.com.

Over 6000 people are expected to attend this year’s Rail Ale Festival, which runs from Thursday 14th to Saturday 16th May.  Further information and general admission tickets can be found at www.railalefestival.com.

Source:Barrow Hill Roundhouse

Posted in Visiting

Proact Stadium prepares for popular Player of the Year dinner

This season’s Chesterfield FC Player of the Year dinner will be on a much larger scale than ever before to cope with the demand for tickets.

There are plans for a large marquee to be erected on the pitch at the Proact Stadium to accommodate around 500 people. If the Spireites are involved in the Sky Bet League 1 play-offs, the marquee will be erected on the car park instead.

The event, taking place on Bank Holiday Monday, May 4 (from 6pm), will feature an awards ceremony attended by the players and management staff, together with live music and a disco. Tickets are priced at £50 and £75.

Spireites Chief Executive, Chris Turner felt that it was important to make the showpiece annual event more accessible to supporters of the club. He said: “We have previously held the dinner in the Leengate Legends Lounge – limiting the capacity to just over 200 – and tickets have sold-out within hours of going on sale.

“We wanted to give an increased number of supporters the opportunity to attend the event and the use of a marquee on the pitch will enable us to do that. A lot of planning for the event has already taken place and it promises to be a memorable occasion.”

To book for the event, please phone sales & marketing manager Kevin Fitzgerald on 01246 209765 (ext 4152) or email kevinfitzgerald@chesterfield-fc.co.uk.

Source:Chesterfield FC

Posted in Celebrate Chesterfield

Anna Cattee qualifies as Notary Public

Commercial solicitor, Anna Cattee, has become Chesterfield’s newest Notary Public.

Based at BRM Solicitors on Saltergate, Anna has undertaken two years of study for the role and is now one of only two people practising in the town.

The role of Notary Public is the oldest within the legal profession, focusing on authentication and certification of signatures and documents for use abroad. There are only around 1,000 Notaries Public in the whole of the UK.

Each Notary Public uses a unique seal to authenticate documents. With the role having international reach, Anna decided to represent Chesterfield by integrating Chesterfield’s famous Crooked Spire into the design of her notarial seal and has utilised the logo produced for the town by marketing campaign, Destination Chesterfield.

Commenting on her new role, Anna said:-

“BRM has always had clients who trade, live and work overseas. When Rod Shiers (former Notary Public and partner at BRM) retired from the firm in 2012, it was essential that we continued to offer in-house Notarial services.

“I have always considered the role of a Notary to be a very interesting one, and was delighted to be offered the chance to become the firm’s first female Notary. I am very much looking forward to my new role.”

Source:BRM Solicitors

Posted in About Chesterfield

Grants awarded to support Chesterfield athletes

Some of the best young talent in the Chesterfield Borough have been handed a share of £2,250 in grants from business network ICON to help them chase their sporting dreams.

The chosen 15 athletes have been selected to receive a grant of up to £250 each, which they can use to help meet costs such as travel, equipment, coaching fees or competition costs.

All of the athletes are tipped for further success in their respective sports, and are either already competing for England or Great Britain or are part of recognised national development squads or club academy structures.

Chesterfield Borough Council will also provide each with free access to its leisure facilities to further help them with their training.

The selected athletes are ice hockey players: Jake Aspley, Ryan Aspley and Ameliah Such, table tennis players: Isobel Ashley and Liam Pitchford, track and field siblings: Alicia and Ella Barrett, golfers: Jamie Boler and George Woolgar, fencers: Jayne Crook and Hannah Lawrence, tennis player, Bradley Buckland, squash player, Ashley Davies, diver, Bron Jenkinson and swimmer, Imogen Morris.

Cllr Amanda Serjeant, Executive Member for Leisure, Culture and Tourism at Chesterfield Borough Council met 10 of the athletes to congratulate them during a presentation at the cricket pavilion in Queen’s Park, Chesterfield on Tuesday, January 13, along with Hayley Lever, Director of Derbyshire Sport which organises the ICON programme, Mark Tournier of the Chesterfield School Sport Partnership and Cllr Jean Innes of Derbyshire County Council.

“We all took great delight in the success of our sporting stars at London 2012 and again at the Commonwealth Games last year and it’s important that, through initiatives like these, we support those legacies in our communities,” said Cllr Serjeant.

Chesterfield Borough Council and Derbyshire County Council are among 10 local authorities across the county who are members of business network ICON, which was set up by Derbyshire Sport as part of the work to create a lasting legacy from the London 2012 Games in Derbyshire.

Other members of the programme include Destination Chesterfield and Derbyshire County Cricket Club.

Further details about the selected athletes are available atwww.derbyshiresport.co.uk

Source:Derbyshire Sport

Posted in Business, Celebrate Chesterfield

Chatsworth to turn dream weddings into reality

Couples can begin their happy ever after with a helping hand from Chatsworth this February as its annual wedding fair returns, with over 40 new and exciting suppliers showcasing their services.

The fair, which has proven to be a popular choice amongst prospective brides and grooms, promises to be bigger and better than ever before with a wider selection of influential partners and suppliers exhibiting at one of the most romantic venues in the country.

As well as giving couples the chance to talk to Chatsworth’s expert events team, the fair will also be used to launch its new marquee wedding, working in partnership with local company Pemberley Marquees.

Kay Rotchford, Wedding and Event Manager for Chatsworth, said: “We are extremely lucky to work with some really fantastic suppliers and Chatsworth provides the perfect setting for them to show just what they can do.

“The wedding fair is always a really exciting event and gives couples the opportunity to come along, meet the wedding team and chat through all their ideas for a perfect day.”

Chatsworth’s award-winning chefs will be on-hand to discuss a range of catering options and will deliver a selection of mouthwatering dishes from the wedding breakfast for guests to try. The food tasting event will take place in the Burlington Room over three sessions, 11am, 1pm and 3pm but will be ticket entry only.

The wedding Fair runs from 10am to 4pm and guests will receive a complimentary glass of fizz on arrival. For more information about weddings at Chatsworth, visit www.chatsworth.org/weddings-and-hospitality/weddings

Source:Chatsworth via Redbrick Communications Ltd

Posted in Business, Visiting

Support on offer for local jobseekers

Free assistance is now available at Chesterfield Library to aid residents currently seeking employment.

As well as one-to-one computer sessions to help people find jobs and benefits information online, job hunters will also be able to access regular employability sessions each week.

Run by Derbyshire County Council’s Careers Service, the employability sessions will take place between 9.30am and 12.30pm each Friday and will advise anyone who is looking for work or a change in career, those at risk of redundancy, or those who want to create or update a CV.

Deputy Cabinet Member for Health and Communities Councillor Ellie Wilcox said:

“I am delighted to see our libraries providing such a useful scheme in their local communities.

“Our librarians will work with people to give all the help they can and they can then refer them to other organisations for further support if necessary.”

“Those who are job hunting can often be at a disadvantage if they can’t apply online and we want to help with this.

“We also want to help people with money worries to find out information about the benefits and support that they may be eligible for.”

Staff providing the sessions are working with organisations such as the Department for Work and Pensions, Citizens Advice Bureau, Derbyshire Unemployed Workers Centre, Derbyshire Law Centre, the Volunteer Centre and our own Welfare Rights Service.

Participants will be also be able to take away information sheets on a variety of subjects including job searching, volunteering opportunities, money matters, legal information and advice, a beginners guide to the internet, setting up an email account and using Netloan machines in Derbyshire libraries.

Further information about the work and benefits sessions and the employability workshops is available by contacting Derbyshire County Council’s Library Information Service on 01629 533444 or by emailing asklibrary@derbyshire.gov.uk.  To book an employability workshop please call 01629 533400.  Residents can also invited to drop in without reserving a place.

Source:Derbyshire County Council

Posted in About Chesterfield