Christmas

New festive event launched for Chesterfield

22nd October 2018

The Street Food and Craft Market is a brand new event taking place in the market square in Chesterfield this Christmas.

The Event has been curated by Edge Events who are also the organisers of the Chesterfield Food and Drink Festival and Street Food and Grooves Festival.

A spokesperson for Edge Events said “We are passionate about supporting local traders and celebrating the wide range of food, drink and craft producers that Chesterfield has to offer. By organising the Street Food and Craft Market the Edge Events Team hope to bring the public back to Chesterfield’s town centre therefore increasing the revenue for not only the traders that have a stall at the market but for other companies and shops in the surrounding area.”

“The Edge Events Team would really like to welcome people from far and wide to celebrate at this festive event. We really hope that by you supporting this event it can grow into a fantastic annual festive celebration that everyone can enjoy!”

The market place will be in full swing with local traders selling a variety of crafts, jewellery, Christmas decorations, furniture, books, toys and many other items for that unique gift for Christmas!

There will also be a choice of hot and cold street food such as gourmet turkey sandwiches, venison arancini, beef bourguignon and Neopolitan pizza which you can wash down with a festive mulled wine, cider or even an artisan gin.

The event will run across four days from the 14th until the 17th Dec and will be open from 9am until 4pm on all four days.

Discover more about events happening in Chesterfield this Christmas.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Christmas, Visiting

Celebrity Chef Chesterfield-bound for town’s Food and Drink Awards

22nd October 2018

The celebrity chef Lesley Waters will be arriving in Chesterfield on Wednesday 31 October to host the town’s sixth annual Food and Drink Awards organised by Destination Chesterfield in association with Chesterfield College.

Well known for her regular television appearances on Ready Steady Cook and This Morning, Lesley Waters will announce the winners of 15 categories including Chesterfield’s Food Hero at the sell-out event.

Lesley said: “I am delighted to host the 2018 Chesterfield Food and Drink Awards. There is a real passion amongst food and drink businesses in the area for using locally sourced produce. As well as supporting local business, it’s about using fresh ingredients and creating great food. I firmly believe the best food is made with passion and there is plenty of that in Chesterfield.”

Once again, the awards ceremony, which is being held at Chesterfield College’s Heart Space Building, will be used as a learning experience for Chesterfield College’s catering and hospitality students, who both cook and serve a two-course meal on the night to more than 250 people.

Lesley commented: “Having worked in education myself as a former Head Tutor of Leith’s School of Food & Wine and now owning my own cookery school, it is very exciting to see Chesterfield College and its budding chefs of the future so actively involved with the town’s foremost food and drink event.”

35 businesses and individuals are shortlisted in the 2018 awards, with 12 businesses taking part for the first time and 13 hoping to retain their titles from 2017. This year, the awards also see the introduction of two new categories recognising the vital role apprentices and their employers play in the Chesterfield’s food and drink sector.

The finalists in each category are:

Restaurant of the Year – sponsored by Chesterfield Borough Council

Blu Bistro & Coffee House

Bottle & Thyme

Cocina at Casa Hotel

Cafe/Tea Room of the Year – sponsored by Kier

The Lilypad Café and Restaurant

Qoozies

Stephenson’s Tea and Coffee House

Gastro Pub of the Year – sponsored by Derbyshire Building Control Partnership

The Fox & Goose Inn

The Market Pub

The Rectory

Pub/Bar of the Year – sponsored by Banner Jones Solicitors

Chesterfield Arms

Junction Bar

Rose & Crown, Brampton

Chesterfield’s Best Newcomer – sponsored by BHP Chartered Accountants

Ciuri Ciuri

The Crafty Dog

Pump & Grind

Best Customer Service – sponsored by East Midlands Chamber (Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire)

Bottle & Thyme

Junction Bar

Stephenson’s Tea and Coffee House

Best Out of Town – sponsored by Shorts Chartered Accountants

The Devonshire, Upper Langwith

Kathmandu Ghurka, Clay Cross

The Three Horse Shoes, Clay Cross

The Tickled Trout, Barlow

International Restaurant of the Year – sponsored by MSE Hiller

Dehli 41

Einstein’s

Nonnas

Family Friendly Award – sponsored by Jumble Creative Design

Chesters

Mason’s Coffee Lounge

The Soulville Steakhouse

Conference and Banqueting Venue of the Year – presented by the Mayor of Chesterfield

Casa Hotel

Proact Stadium

Ringwood Hall Hotel & Spa

Food Producer of the Year – sponsored by Winster Foods

All Things Brownie Beautiful

Cup and Saucer

Original Recipes

Young Chef of the Year – sponsored by Owen Taylor & Sons

Ashley-Darrah Pienaar

Callum Taylor

Kye Homiak

Apprentice of the Year – Sponsored by Apprentice Town (Led by Chesterfield Borough Council)

Ben Forster – Ringwood Hall Hotel & Spa

Corey Elliott – The Lilypad Café & Restaurant

Courtney Slater – Katey’s Coffee Shop

Apprentice Employer of the Year – Sponsored by Learning Unlimited (The Chesterfield College Group)

The Rectory

Stephenson’s Tea & Coffee House

Van Dyk

Other supporters of the awards include Derbyshire Times, Elder Way (Jomast Developments), FEAST (The Food and Drink Forum) Hoods Florist, Learning Unlimited (The Chesterfield College Group, Peak FM, and Reflections.

For more information about the Chesterfield Food and Drink awards, please visit https://www.chesterfield.co.uk/foodanddrinkawards/.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Chesterfield Food and Drink Awards, Christmas, Destination Chesterfield, Visiting

New retailer on the way to Chesterfield town centre

18th October 2018

The Entertainer has announced it will be opening a store in Chesterfield.

The ambitious toy retailer has a vision that every childhood should be filled with wonder and its mission is to be the best-loved toy shop.

The grand opening of The Entertainer’s Chesterfield store, which will be on Packers Row, is expected to take place on the 10th November at 9.00.

The opening day event is going to have character visits, live demos and lots of toys! There will also be a competition with the first twenty families through the door having the chance to pick a gift card at random where they could win up to £100.

Dom Stevens, Destination Chesterfield Manager said “It is great that The Entertainer will be opening a new store in Chesterfield.

“It joins Chesterfield’s existing mix of independent and high street retailers, bars, restaurants and historic market, which are key reasons why so many people, locally and nationally, visit the town each year.”

This latest investment follows the recent opening of Sorbo Lounge in the former Post Office and the redevelopment of the Co-op store, which will include a new Premier Inn.

Find out more about shopping in Chesterfield

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Christmas, Leisure, Visiting

Children’s TV favourite cast as Chesterfield’s Cinderella

12th September 2018

Pomegranate Theatre and Paul Holman Associates have announced that popular Children’s TV Presenter Naomi Wilkinson will star in this year’s spectacular family pantomime in the title role of Cinderella from Saturday 1^st December 2018 to Sunday 6^th January 2019.

Starting her career as a Butlin’s Redcoat, Naomi soon made a splash as the effervescent host of Channel 5’s Milkshake! which she presented for 10 years. She has been a constant and well-loved face on UK TV screens ever since, notably as the presenter of Marrying Mum & Dad, Countryfile, Finger Tips and Live ’n’ Deadly with Steve Backshall among many others.

Naomi quickly established herself as a Children’s TV favourite, well-loved by children and parents alike for her bubbly, energetic persona and daredevil attitude. She found herself travelling the globe in her own show, Naomi’s Nightmares of Nature, now in its 4^th series, in which audiences see her conquer her fears and face extreme challenges including sky diving, swimming with sharks without a cage and coming nose to nose underwater with a 4.8m crocodile in Australia. She was nominated for a prestigious Children’s BAFTA as Best Presenter for her work on the hit show.

Pantomime Producer Paul Holman said: “I’m delighted to have secured Naomi to play Cinderella. Not only will she be adored by audiences of all ages but, as an experienced pantomime performer, she will bring magic to Chesterfield this Christmas’.

Cinderella, also starring Rhydian Roberts (X Factor) as Prince Charming, promises to be Chesterfield’s most enchanting pantomime yet with good old-fashioned family fun and plenty of audience interaction plus sensational special effects, breath-taking costumes and scenery and an exciting line-up of stars ready to whisk audiences off to the ball.

Cinderella runs at Pomegranate Theatre from Saturday 1^st December 2018 to Sunday 6^th January 2019.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Christmas, Leisure, Visiting

New soft play comes to North Derbyshire

20th December 2017

Matlock Farm Park has recently opened its brand new Rainforest soft play.

The new all year round facilities are an indoor place of adventure in a Rainforest, with a new cafe lounge in the ruins of an Inca temple. It has an underwater themed soft play area for the toddlers with an interactive eye spy panel.

The Rainforest also has two new rooms for use with birthday parties and as classrooms.

Admission to the facilities are included with the entry fee to the Farm Park.

A Matlock Farm Park spokesperson said ” We needed to make Matlock Farm Park more of a 12 month facility, this new barn provides a warm dry area for those cold rainy days. Also we have the new Ark, where we will winter some of our animals are housed and there for a visit.”

“The Farm Park Vision, was to create an indoor play/learning centre, incorporating an overflow café with two classrooms.”

The new facilities were part funded by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Christmas, Leisure, Visiting

Over a thousand Santas heading to Queen’s Park this Christmas Eve

19th December 2017

Around 1,300 people have signed up to take part in the CBD Training Ltd Chesterfield 5k Santa Fun Run & Walk and Unit 1 Martial Arts 1500m Santa Fun Run & Walk in Queen’s Park on Christmas Eve.

John Cannon, Organiser of the event, who staged the first Santa Fun Run 12 months ago, is delighted with the response. He said:-

“People will be travelling from all over England and abroad to take part, all dressed as Santa, which is fantastic.

“With Christmas carols from Ashover Band, together with demonstrations from Unit 1 Martial Arts, a Chesterfield FC Community Trust target game, stalls and walking football, it promises to be a great day.”

Money raised from the event will be split equally between Ashgate Hospicecare, Weston Park Cancer Charity and retreat@Royal for the Mayor’s Appeal.

At the event there will be both a 5k which is 4 laps of Queen’s Park on park footpaths and a 1500m run that is three and a half laps of the cricket pitch. Both runs are traffic free and marshaled, suitable for all abilities to run or walk the chosen distance.

In addition to the main sponsors, CBD Training LTD and Unit 1 Fitness and Martial Arts, the following organisations are also kindly supporting the event: Chesterfield Borough Council, Queen’s Park Leisure Centre, Chesterfield FC Community Trust, North Derbyshire Running Club, The Unique Network, Elastic FM, Fredericks Ice Cream, The MOT Centre, Siddalls Roofing, Mercol Engineering and Banner Jones Solicitors.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Christmas

Radio station find their voices for charity

11th December 2017

Chesterfield Champion and online radio station, Spire Radio, will be playing themselves on the radio this Christmas – but it’s all for 2 great causes.

Dave Trickett, Community Director at Spire Radio, and one of his oldest friends, Paul Wilbraham have been raising money throughout 2017 in memory of Dave’s daughter, Kimberley, who lost her fight with cancer in 2009 at the age of just 20.

Since then Paul and Dave have been fundraising tirelessly for both Ashgate Hospice and Teenage Cancer Trust, raising over £80,000.

This year they are aiming to raise another £10,000 for the two charities. After running 5 marathons, a grueling 24-hour treadmill run at Tesco in August and holding a Posh Pie and Peas fund raiser in November this year, Paul and Dave are getting into the festive spirit to raise more money by becoming popstars.

The idea to release an original Christmas single to celebrate a mammoth year of fundraising was first mentioned back in April and it has taken trips to Stoke on Trent as well as recording sessions in Chesterfield to make this a reality. Everyone involved in the single has given their time for free with one simple aim – to raise as much money as possible for both Ashgate Hospicecare and Teenage Cancer Trust.

Dave Trickett, Community Director at Spire Radio, said:-

“This year has been amazing and the recent Pie and Peas night at the Proact Stadium in November was a great night- not just for Paul and I but for everyone that has helped and supported us. This isn’t the end, Paul has already booked for the Brighton marathon for next year, while I’m doing the London marathon for the Teenage Cancer Trust.”

Working with Lyn Sheppard at Positive Impulse Ltd, Dave and Paul provide the voices of Santa while many of the Spire Radio presenters have lent their voices to an original Christmas single written by Charlotte Elizabeth and featuring Chesterfield artists, Anthony Parsons, Georgii Bailey (Derbyshire Singer of the Year 2016), Amy J Bannister, Dino Bedrocker and Hattie Drury.

Amy Hartshorn, Director at Spire Radio, said:-

“I began working with the Trickett family around 5 years ago, the whole family are amazing and have such strength having been through such tragedy. Kim was a beautiful, inspirational person and as such has inspired all of us to keep her legacy alive. Spire Radio raised £5,100 for Kim’s memorial fund in early 2016. Kim was cared for by both Teenage Cancer Trust and Ashgate Hospice which is why Dave and Paul have taken on these epic challenges this year to raise such a huge sum of money.

“They are quite simply two of the most amazing men I have had the privilege to meet, and we will continue to support them in all of their future challenges, and it has been brilliant to be involved in the Christmas single and I’d like to thank everyone that has been involved – even if they’ve only sung one line – we couldn’t have done this without you.”

Debs and Denise, the LOL Girls, Ali Murray, Alan Wilkinson, Maisie Saikia from Spire Radio were joined by the Senior Musical Theatre students from Chesterfield Studios as well as Market Hall traders and the Ashgate Hospice Warblers to raise some festive cheer this Christmas.

The single, A Children’s Christmas Time costs 99p and is released as a digital download via Amazon Music and Spotify.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Christmas

New Festive Fayre announced for Chesterfield

27th November 2017

A new three day Christmas Fayre has been announced set to take place in New Square from the 22nd – 24th December.

The Chesterfield Festive Fayre, organised by Cobbled Street Events and supported by Chesterfield Borough Council, will be a welcome addition to the towns festive event calendar.

There will be a number of quality stalls, selling festive gifts and food and plenty of family friendly festive activities including a visit from Santa, fun rides, donkey rides, street entertainers, flash mob, stalls galore and much more.

Alongside the market there will be a variety of entertainment acts from a top Michael Buble tribute performing on Friday to Princess Anna & Elsa (from Disney’s Frozen) and Spiderman visiting the Fayre on Saturday. There will also be an opportunity for local acts to perform in the ‘busking challenge’ being held over the event.

The event is set to be streamed live on S41 local radio from the stage in New Square.

Peter & Rob, representatives of Cobbled Street Events and organisers of Chesterfield Christmas Fayre, said:-

“We are two market traders, with over 50 years experience of trading, and running markets and events.

“The council have given us the chance to bring the town, people and local business’s of Chesterfield together, to have a great free fabulous family 3 day event.”

Posted in About Chesterfield, Christmas

Chesterfield lights up for Christmas

13th November 2017

Chesterfield is set to be bathed in Christmas glow yet again with the annual Christmas lights switch-on event.

The event takes place on Sunday 19 November with a special market taking place from noon offering entertainment, stalls, games and rides in the market place and New Square.

Youngsters can also meet one of their favourite characters as Chase from Paw Patrol makes appearances outside the Visitor Information Centre in Rykneld Square, outside the Crooked Spire church at noon, 1pm, 2pm and 3pm.

The stage show gets underway in New Square at 3.30pm with Peak FM presenters Cat and Ricky taking to the stage offering opportunities for the audience to join in the fun.

Stars from the Pantomime Adventures of Peter Pan, this year’s pantomime at the Pomegranate Theatre, will perform on stage and will perform the switch on at 4.45pm with Chesterfield’s mayor and Chase from Paw Patrol.

Councillor Steve Brunt, Chesterfield Borough Council’s cabinet member for town centres and visitor economy, said:-

“Each year thousands of people come along to take part in Chesterfield’s Christmas lights event. It is a great opportunity for families to come together and get into the Christmas spirit.

“We organise the event as part of our commitment to make Chesterfield a thriving borough and to improve the quality of life for local people.”

Chesterfield residents can use their free parking disc to park for free in the following Chesterfield Borough Council off-street pay and display car parks:

Albion Road
Derbyshire Times
Devonshire Street
Durrant Road
Hollis Lane (excluding on-street bays)
Holywell Cross (The Donut)
Queens Park (North and South)
Spa Lane
Station Road
St Mary’s Gate
Theatre Lane.

Free coach parking is available by arrangement with Chesterfield Visitor Information Centre. For more information telephone 01246 345777/8.

There’s a full programme of entertainment for Christmas in Chesterfield from traditional markets to stand up comedy. Find out more about Christmas in Chesterfield here.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Christmas, Leisure, Visiting

New independent retailer opens in the Shambles

19th October 2017

Another independent retailer has opened their door on the Shambles in Chesterfield.

The Bee Orchid Florist opened its doors on the 18th October and is a family run florist and gift shop.

A spokesperson for the Bee Orchid Florist said:

“We are very happy and excited to be opening our business in the shambles area of Chesterfield as we feel this offers a unique shopping experience and we love the town! Unlike some towns chesterfield has a good selection of independent shops and we feel that our business will fit in well here.”

The shop offers bespoke floral designs and a selection of individual gifts for sale and also stock Wrendale Designs.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Christmas, Development, Visiting

Santa run returns to Chesterfield on Christmas Eve

3rd October 2017

Over a thousand Santas will be spotted in Chesterfield’s Queen’s Park on Christmas Eve.

Following the success of last year’s inaugural Santa Fun Run in the town, a similar event will be staged this year to raise funds for a trio of charitable organisations.

The aim of the CBD Training Ltd Chesterfield Santa Fun Run & Walk is to raise over £10,000, which will be split equally between Ashgate Hospicecare, Weston Park Cancer Charity and retreat@Royal for the Mayor’s Appeal.

Organiser John Cannon, who is an avid runner and member of North Derbyshire Running Club, said: “We raised over £4,000 last year and the target is to more than double that and raise a five-figure sum. As well as raising valuable funds, we want to make it a fun day for all the family.”

Speaking at the launch, which was held at Chesterfield’s Proact Stadium, John added: “We have worked closely with the Chesterfield FC Community Trust and they are helping to raise awareness of the event. For the game against Barnet on Saturday, December 9, we want to fill the North Stand with people who have entered the event dressed in Santa suits!”

There will be a 5k family fun run or walk, which is sponsored by CBD Training Ltd, together with a 1500m kids fun run or walk sponsored by Unit 1 Fitness and Martial Arts. There is no age restriction and participants over 100 years old are guaranteed free entry!

The 5k event will be started by the Mayor of Chesterfield at 9.30am from the cricket pavilion, with the 1500m event starting at 10.30am.

Entry fees, which include a Santa suit to keep, together with a goodie bag and a medal, are as follows:

£12 for adults (fun run or 1500m)

£7 for children aged 11 to 15 years (fun run or 1500m)

£5 for children from 0 up to the age of 10 years (1500m)

Entries can be made online from Monday, October 9, via: www.northderbyshirerc.jimdo.com.

Spectators on the day will listen to Christmas carols played by The Ashover Band and there will be mulled wine on offer and festive stalls to get everyone in the Christmas spirit.

Further information about the event is available via www.northderbyshirerc.jimdo.com. On Facebook, search for ‘Santa Fun Run – Chesterfield’ for the latest updates.

ends

Posted in About Chesterfield, Christmas, Leisure, Visiting