TV chef and presenter Ainsley Harriott has been confirmed as the host of Chesterfield’s inaugural Food and Drink Awards ceremony.

Ainsley will host the glittering award ceremony, which will honour the town’s very best eateries, pubs, bars, food producers, established and up and coming chefs at Chesterfield College’s Heartspace on Wednesday 30th October 2013.

The Awards are organised by Destination Chesterfield in association with Chesterfield College.  More than 50 nominations were received across 12 award categories.  Sixteen businesses and eight individuals have been shortlisted for the awards, the winners of which will be announced at the sell-out awards ceremony.

Amongst the award winners set to be announced on the night include the Food Producer of the Year, which is sponsored by Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire Chamber of Commerce.

The local food producers, growers and manufacturers within 10 miles of Chesterfield who have been shortlisted for the award include:

·         The Gingerbread Boy

·         Teresa Lambarelli’s

·         Vintage Rose Catering

Destination Chesterfield Manager Dominic Stevens said: “We’re delighted Ainsley has agreed to host the awards ceremony.  He’s a big personality; the perfect person to make the first Chesterfield Food and Drink Awards ceremony a memorable event for not only the town but everyone involved.”

For more information about the 2013 Chesterfield Food and Drink Awards visit http://www.chesterfield.co.uk/foodanddrinkawards or follow on Twitter using the hashtag #CFDA13.

Source:Destination Chesterfield

Seventeen businesses have been shortlisted across eight categories in the inaugural Chesterfield Food and Drink Awards, organised in association with Chesterfield College.

The shortlisted food and drink establishments were selected from hundreds of nominations received by the competition organisers Destination Chesterfield. More than 50 businesses were nominated in and around Chesterfield.

A secret panel of judges is now set to visit the shortlisted businesses in order to decide the winner of each category. The winners will be announced at a glittering awards ceremony at Chesterfield College on the 30th October.

Destination Chesterfield Manager Dominic Stevens said: “We were overwhelmed with nominations. It has been a fantastic start for Chesterfield first Food and Drink Awards, showing a very diverse mix of establishments that the town has to offer.  The Awards are recognition of the contribution Chesterfield thriving hospitality industry makes to the local economy.”

Restaurant of the Year – sponsored by Mr Sparkles

• Calabria
• Nonsolovino
• Cocina @Casa Hotel

Café/Tea Room of the Year – sponsored by NatWest

• Stephensons Coffee and Tea House
• Blu Bistro
• Koo Coffee and Bistro

Gastro Pub – sponsored by Jumble Design

• Barca Bar at Casa Hotel
• The Market
• Coco Bar Bistro

Pub/bar of the Year – sponsored by In the Works PR

• Barca Bar at Casa Hotel
• Tramway Tavern
• The Market

Chesterfield’s Best Newcomer – sponsored by Chesterfield Borough Council

• Raaz Indian Grill
• Delhi 41
• The Andalusian

Customer Service – sponsored by Franke

• Cocina @ Casa Hotel
• Calabria
• Stephensons Coffee and Tea House

Best Out of Town – sponsor Northern Tea Merchants

• Peak Edge Hotel
• Fox & Goose Inn, Pudding Pie Hill
• Kathmandu, Clay Cross

To follow Chesterfield Food and Drink Awards on Twitter use the hashtag #CFDA13.

For more information about Destination Chesterfield’s inaugural Food and Drink awards visit http://www.chesterfield.co.uk/foodanddrinkawards/

Source:Destination Chesterfield

ChesterfieldCollege has been announced as the headline sponsor of the town’s first ever Food and Drink Awards.  The College is also joined by Mr Sparkles, Jumble Design, Franke , Redbrik, Nothern Tea Merchants, Banner Jones and Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire Chamber of Commerce as category sponsors.

Officially launched by organisers Destination Chesterfield in July earlier this year, there are ten categories in the awards, which are designed to celebrate the wealth of eateries, pubs, bars and food producers that have established themselves in the town. As well as being headline sponsor,Chesterfield College will also host the awards ceremony at its Heartspace building later this year.

Trevor Clay, Principal of Chesterfield College, said: “We’re delighted to be part of the Food and Drink awards, celebrating the amazing culinary achievements of the region. Our Catering and Hospitality department link closely with a large number of employers across the area and our students are continuing to gain opportunities in the industry, be it on either a work placement, part-time work, an Apprenticeship or full-time position. This being said, we’re proud to be hosting the awards ceremony in our Heartspace building in recognition of the superb Food and Drink businesses across Derbyshire.”

A panel of judges will ‘mystery shop’ establishments put forward by the general public and rate them against a set criteria. Entries open on the 19^thAugust for the ten categories:

•          Restaurant of the Year

•          Café of the Year

•          Gastro Pub of the Year

•          Customer Service Award

•          Chesterfield producer of the Year

•          Pub of the Year

•          Best Newcomer

•          Best out of Town

•          Young Chef of the Year

•          Chef of the Year

Dominic Stevens, Manager of Destination Chesterfield explained: “We wanted the Food and Drink awards to be a true reflection of everything culinary the town has to offer. The ten award categories cover everything from great customer service and emerging talent to, of course, fantastic tasting food and drink. Whether it’s a business lunch or night out with friends and family, supporting the awards is an excellent way for businesses to recognise the valuable roleChesterfield’s food and drink industry plays in our personal and professional life.”

If you are interested in sponsoring an award category or entering the 2013 Chesterfield Food and Drink Awards, visithttp://www.chesterfield.co.uk/foodanddrinkawards/  or contact Dominic Stevens on 01246 207207 or email dom.stevens@chesterfield.co.uk.

Source:Destination Chesterfield

All of the traders who were previously trading from Chesterfield’s market hall have been offered space in the new market hall when it re-opens this autumn.

The iconic building, owned and operated by Chesterfield Borough Council, is due to open in October after a redevelopment which has cost £4 million in build costs.

The council has been working with traders to offer an improved shopping experience to customers new and old when the market hall opens again.

Each of the potential traders were asked to present a business case setting out what they can offer customers.

Support in putting together these plans was given to existing traders through Destination Chesterfield’s ‘Incubation Street’ campaign.

This initiative is funded by a grant secured by Destination Chesterfield from Government as a town team partner and via the contributions of the Chesterfield Champions, the network of local businesses that work together to promote and develop Chesterfield.

The council is committed to giving the first opportunity to existing traders – subject to them being able to offer sufficient quality, which happily has been the case. Each of the existing traders was able to offer good business plans with impressive levels of thought, detail and creativity.

During the last 12 months, the existing traders have been housed in a temporary market hall to the rear of the building on New Square. The council has provided this facility to traders at a reduced rate to allow them to trade while the redevelopment work took place.

In addition, six new traders have been offered spaces in the building, offering new opportunities to shop. There are currently only two internal and five external units available.

The council has also appointed a preferred operator for the café, which will be the focal point of the ground floor in the redeveloped market hall.

Local start-up business Market Plaza Café, managed by mother and daughter team, Lynne and Shannon Benison will run the new café.

Market Plaza Café is owned by SLIC Training and Shannon has completed a hospitality apprenticeship through SLIC Training and has progressed to a full-time role in the hospitality industry. The company will offer opportunities for new apprentices to train on the job in the new café

Shannon Benison said: “I’m really looking forward to putting my skills and knowledge to establish the new and exciting business venture in the new market hall.”

The new café will be open from 8am to 5pm Monday to Saturday offering breakfast, lunch and afternoon tea options.

Councillor John Burrows, Chesterfield Borough Council’s leader and executive member for regeneration said: “At a time of cuts we have invested in the market hall project because we have identified how important this is to the town’s economy.

“I am looking forward to welcoming traders old and new to the market hall when it re-opens in October. I would like to thank the existing traders for their patience while the building work has been taking place and I hope they will be as happy as I am about the new facilities we will be able to offer them.

“I am also proud to welcome a local start up business to the new café and am pleased that they will be offering apprenticeship opportunities to our residents.”

Dominic Stevens, Destination Chesterfield manager added: “We are pleased that the existing traders are returning to the market hall and that we were able to offer them business planning support as part of the project.

“The interest shown from new market traders is testament to the fact the market hall is considered a superb business incubator, providing a firm foundation for growth.

“It is also really pleasing to see a number of Chesterfield Championsinvolved with market hall. SLIC Training is the preferred operator for the new café, combining skills and training in the hospitality sector with their business, while Straightcurves is taking a incubation unit for their new business venture.”

£2.1 million for the project was provided by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and Lottery grant with the remainder by Chesterfield Borough Council.

The work has been overseen by the council’s estate management partner, Kier, with G F Tomlinson as main contractor.

Project management has been carried out by Mace with Taylor Young as architects and Ramboll as engineers.

Source:Chesterfield Borough Council

Improvements in the housing market mean that Chesterfield is experiencing a boom in new housing – with more than 200 homes being built in the borough.

Chesterfield Borough Council is working with developers to encourage investment in the borough.

Work is currently underway on 127 homes by Miller Homes as part of the Portlands development, on Sheffield Road, on the site of the former Chesterfield Panthers rugby club.

The site has two, three and four bedroom properties for sale, including energy saving features and, showing concern for local wildlife, many are fitted with bat bricks and external bird boxes.

Commenting on the development, Paul Walters, associate director at Miller Homes East Midlands, said:

“Since opening the new sales centre at The Portlands, we have had a phenomenal level of interest, which reflects the increasing buoyancy in the market.

“Chesterfield is at the top of the wish list for many couples, families and individuals looking to buy. With initiatives such as the new government-backed Help to buy scheme, making a move has now become a much more affordable and flexible process.

A further 68 homes are also under construction by Barratt Homes on Saltergate, the former site of Chesterfield Football Club.

Jan Ruston Sales Director for Barratt North Midlands comments “We are proud to be part of the regeneration of Chesterfield and Saltergate is a great testament to that”

“Due to the location, Saltergate is in the catchment area for great schools and is only a short walk to the town centre. With demand to live here high, more than half of these homes have already been sold. ”

Two, three and four bedroom homes are currently available.”

The council has worked with both developers throughout the process from acquiring the sites, obtaining planning permission and during construction to maximise opportunities for apprenticeships and local businesses.

The council has recently put in place a Local Authority Mortgage Support Scheme to help first time buyers in Chesterfield get their foot on the property ladder.

Councillor John Burrows, Chesterfield Borough Council’s leader and executive member for regeneration said: “Despite the current economic downturn, Chesterfield is currently seeing significant investment in housing.

“Chesterfield is on the up and we have made significant investment to attract people to the borough.

“Our Local Plan has identified the number of new homes we will need over the next 20 years and these developments will go a long way to provide the homes we need for the people we expect to see living and working here.”

The council is also looking for residential development at another key site in the borough. Offers are currently open for the former Newbold School site on Newbold Road and Loundsley Green Road.

The 1.94 hectare site is in a popular residential area, close to the town centre and has been identified in the borough council’s Local Plan as a prime spot for a residential development, subject to planning permission for a preferred scheme of housing.

The closing date for offers is Wednesday 31 July.

Source:Chesterfield Borough Council