Chesterfield’s very best food and drink establishments and producers were honoured at glittering awards ceremony hosted by TV chef and presenter Ainsley Harriott on Wednesday 30^th October.

10 business and individuals across 11 categories were named as Chesterfield’s finest at the sell-out awards ceremony held at Chesterfield College’s Heart Space Building.

On the night, Calabria restaurant, based on Glumangate took three of the titles including the prestigious Chef of the Year award which went to Nicholas McNerney.

The Town’s first ever Food and Drink Awards were organised by Destination Chesterfield in association with Chesterfield College. More than 50 nominations were received across 11 categories and only 16 businesses and six individuals shortlisted for the awards.

Café / Tea Room Of The Year – sponsored by NatWest

Stephensons Coffee & Tea House

Gastro Pub Of The Year – sponsored by Jumble Design

Barca Bar at Casa Hotel

Young Chef of the Year – sponsored by Banner Jones

Ryan Lee – Peak Edge Hotel

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

Tramway Tavern

Chesterfield’s Best Newcomer – sponsored by Chesterfield Borough Council

The Andalusian

Best Customer Service – sponsored by Franke

Calabria

Chesterfield Producer of the Year – sponsored by Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire Chamber of Commerce

Teresa Lambarelli’s

Chef of the Year – sponsored by Redbrik

Nicholas McNerney –Calabria

Chesterfield Food Hero

1. Ayres Fruit & Veg

Restaurant of the Year – sponsored by Mr Sparkles

Calabria

Best Out of Town – sponsored by Northern Tea Merchants

Peak Edge Hotel

Destination Chesterfield Manager, Dominic Stevens said: “The inaugural Chesterfield Food and Drink Awards was a resounding success thanks to the support of town’s hospitality sector, Champions, sponsors and everyone who nominated.  I am thrilled we have delivered what Chesterfield requested –recognition for its thriving food and drink economy.

Images from the event

Video by Derbyshire Times from the event

Source:Destination Chesterfield

Destination Chesterfield has called on businesses to take a more active role in supporting the Town’s marketing campaign as well as have a greater say in how it is promoted.

The appeal was made at the Celebrate Chesterfield event held at the Proact Stadium on Thursday 28^th March, where more than 200 members of Chesterfield’s business community gathered to celebrate the success of the marketing campaign. At the event, Destination Chesterfield announced a number of future marketing initiatives showcasing the town’s retail, food and drink and manufacturing sectors as well as support for new businesses.

Chesterfield Champion Vittorio Risorto, owner of Calabria restaurant on Glumangate, welcomed the marketing initiatives for the town’s food and drink sector. He said: “Chesterfield’s restaurant culture is steadily growing, with an increasing range of places to eat as well as some excellent local breweries and bars. They play a critical role in the local economy. I welcome any marketing initiatives that will promote our food and drink sector, both within the town and further afield.”

Since Destination Chesterfield launched in September 2010 against the backdrop of a cool financial climate, the town has shown growth across the board and bucked the national trend for declining high streets.

Cllr John Burrows, Vice Chair of Destination Chesterfield, praised the town’s go-getting attitude to marketing itself in a tough financial climate, saying: “We could have chosen to bunker down and ride out the recession, but we didn’t. We chose to be proactive and forge ahead with our marketing plans and this shows in the recent employment, tourism and retail figures.”

Headline facts and figures about the town at the Celebrate Chesterfield event included:

·         Unemployment decreased by 0.5%

·         11% increase in jobs in the tourism sector

·         1000 jobs to be created on the town centre’s extension, the Northern Gateway site

·         £3.1m funding secured to start the first phases of residential and commercial development at Waterside

·         11% increase in tourism spend in the local economy

·         An additional £1/2 million spent in local economy as a direct result of the Christmas marketing campaign

·         100 new Ambassadors on board to ensure visitors to the town receive a warm welcome

·         More than 120 business have joined the Chesterfield Champions scheme

Huw Bowen, Chief Executive of Chesterfield Borough Council, welcomed the news commenting: “We’re still a challenged town and Borough; however the figures show that we are moving in the right direction. That is why Destination Chesterfield is so critical in actively communicating everything we have to offer to potential inward investors, whether it’s excellent transport links, a good choice of commercial property or a burgeoning local economy. By marketing what the town has to offer and supporting the businesses already here we can create stable, fulfilling employment opportunities.”

At the event Mr Bowen called on businesses to actively support the marketing campaign by becoming Chesterfield Champions. He said: “Our Chesterfield Champions scheme enables us to harness the confidence in our business sector and promote the positive news within it to a wider audience.”

With funding secured from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) until December 2015, Destination Chesterfield is keen to get as many businesses on board with its Champions scheme to ensure the marketing campaign’s on-going success.

The Chesterfield Champions scheme is open to all businesses and offers a number of benefits, including PR and marketing support and networking support. Companies interested in joining Destination Chesterfield’s Champions scheme should visit www.chesterfield.co.uk/champions or contact Dominic Stevens on 01246 207207 or email info@chesterfield.co.uk

Source:Destination Chesterfield

Local businesses are invited to celebrate the success of the town’s marketing organisation, Destination Chesterfield, and hear the exciting plans for the next three years at a special breakfast event being held at the Proact Stadium on Thursday 28th March from 8am – 10.30am.

‘Celebrate Chesterfield’ will outline the achievements of Destination Chesterfield since it was launched at the same venue back in October 2010.

Representatives from two of the area’s more recent success stories, Avoca Systems and Shorts Accountants, will be speaking at the Celebrate Chesterfield event.

Avoca Systems has recently secured a share of the regional growth fund for Sheffield City Region. At Celebrate Chesterfield, Avoca will be outlining its plans to create and safeguard jobs in the local area following the expansion of the company’s provision of exported products and services to theMiddle Easthealthcare market.

The Destination Chesterfield project recently secured further funding from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) to enable it to continue until at least December 2015.

Peter Swallow, Chair of Destination Chesterfield, said: I am very much looking forward to the event. The town has achieved so much since Destination Chesterfield was launched, not least on-going investment, and the jobs it has brought with it. We have more than 100 Chesterfield Champions who are businesses committed to making the area a great place to live, work and invest now and beyond 2015.”

Celebrate Chesterfieldis free to attend however spaces are limited and places should be confirmed online by Friday 22nd March atwww.chesterfield.co.uk/celebrate

Source:Destination Chesterfield