Leisure

New Trespass store opens at The Pavements Shopping Centre

Outdoor clothing and equipment retailer Trespass has opened a new store at The Pavements Shopping Centre, giving shoppers a new destination for outdoor clothing, footwear and equipment in the heart of our town centre.

The new store, which opened on Tuesday, 4th August 2026, stocks a wide range of products for walking, camping, skiing and everyday outdoor activities, including waterproof jackets, walking boots, backpacks, camping equipment and outdoor accessories. Customers can also browse the brand’s premium DLX collection, featuring technical clothing and equipment designed for more demanding adventures.

The opening reflects Chesterfield’s strong connection to the outdoors, with the town providing easy access to the Peak District National Park and the surrounding Derbyshire countryside. Whether exploring local walking trails, planning a camping trip or preparing for a winter sports holiday, shoppers can now find everything they need in our town centre.

People running in Trespass clothing

Kerry Pearson, Area Manager at Trespass, said:

“We’re delighted to be opening our newest store at The Pavements Shopping Centre in Chesterfield. As we continue to expand our presence across the UK, Chesterfield is a fantastic location for Trespass, with its strong connection to the outdoors and its close proximity to the Peak District National Park and the surrounding Derbyshire countryside. We’re excited to bring our range of high-quality outdoor clothing, footwear and equipment to local residents and visitors alike, offering the performance, style and value that Trespass is known for. With summer in full swing and plenty of outdoor adventures ahead, it’s the perfect time to welcome customers through our doors.”

To celebrate the opening, Trespass is offering £10 off for customers who spend over £50 at the Chesterfield store.

The offer is available only at the Trespass Chesterfield from Tuesday, 4th August 2026, until Monday, 17th August 2026, and cannot be used in conjunction with any other group discount scheme.

The arrival of the store follows Trespass’ continued expansion across the UK, with the Chesterfield store becoming the latest addition to the retailer’s nationwide network and reinforcing confidence in Chesterfield as a destination for shopping and leisure.

To discover more shops and independent retailers in Chesterfield town centre, visit: www.chesterfield.co.uk/visiting/shopping/

For more information about Trespass, visit: www.trespass.com

Posted in About Chesterfield, Home, Leisure, Summer, Visiting

New independent bookshop brings fantasy worlds to town centre

Chesterfield’s independent retail scene continues to grow with the opening of The Griffin’s Library, a specialist bookshop dedicated to fantasy, romantasy, horror and science fiction.

The business opened in our town centre on Friday, 1st August 2026, bringing a carefully selected collection of books, gifts and merchandise from local makers and small businesses to Chesterfield’s high street.

On opening day, the first 50 customers who made a purchase received a special goodie bag.

The Griffin’s Library also has plans for book clubs, midnight launches for exciting new releases, author events, book decorating workshops and plenty more activities to come.

Founded by Charlotte Perez Smith, The Griffin’s Library has been created from a lifelong passion for reading, with its collection designed to help visitors discover new authors, explore different genres and connect with fellow book lovers.

The shop’s interior features immersive fantasy-inspired elements, creating a unique environment for customers to browse and discover new stories. Alongside its retail offer, the business aims to become a community space for readers, with plans for book clubs, author events, midnight launches, book decorating workshops and The Griffin’s Quest, an interactive activity designed to encourage visitors to return.

Bookshelf display at The Griffin's Library

Charlotte chose Chesterfield as the home for her first business after being inspired by the town’s heritage and growing independent business community.

Charlotte Perez Smith, Owner of The Griffin’s Library, said:

“Chesterfield has such a rich history, and I instantly fell in love with the town, especially the iconic Crooked Spire. It has a fantastic independent spirit and a community that genuinely supports local businesses.

“I couldn’t think of a better place to begin this adventure.”

The opening follows months of planning to transform the premises into a specialist bookshop that celebrates imaginative storytelling while providing a space for readers to meet, share their interests and enjoy new experiences.

The Griffin’s Library joins a growing number of independent retailers helping to create a diverse and vibrant town centre offer, providing residents and visitors with more opportunities to shop locally and discover something different.

To discover more independent retailers in Chesterfield, visit: www.chesterfield.co.uk/2026/05/50-independent-retailers-in-chesterfield/

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

Chesterfield’s first padel club to open following £350k investment

Chesterfield is set to welcome its first dedicated padel club this summer, bringing one of the UK’s fastest-growing sports to our town for the first time.

Atmos Padel will officially open on Saturday, 22nd August 2026, following a £350,000 investment to redevelop the former Queen’s Park Tennis Club, which has been unused for the past six years.

The new venue on Park Road features four outdoor doubles courts and aims to meet growing local demand for the sport, allowing residents to play closer to home rather than travelling to neighbouring towns and cities.

To celebrate the opening, all court bookings will be free throughout the opening weekend. Courts will also be available at half price during the club’s first week.

Padel has seen rapid growth across the UK in recent years, with more than one million people now playing the sport, compared to around 15,000 before the pandemic.

Adam Holman, Head of Padel Operations at Atmos Padel, said:

“Padel’s popularity has exploded, yet Chesterfield has long been one of the biggest towns in the UK without a club. Atmos Padel’s goal is to ease that growing insatiable demand with a club finally in the heart of Chesterfield, whilst also becoming the town’s premier padel community.”

Atmos Padel recently rebranded from Padel Project and now operates five clubs across the UK, with plans to continue expanding nationwide.

Adam added:

“A big reason padel’s popularity has soared is the social scene it creates, and that’s integral to all of our clubs.

“Atmos Padel is more than just courts; like our other clubs, it will be a community, with a full programme of americano mix-ins, junior sessions and tournaments alongside other fun events – like over-50s socials and women’s coffee-and-padel mornings – as part of an inclusive programme designed to give everyone a route into the sport.”

Players will be able to hire courts for private games with friends or join public sessions to meet other players through the Atmos Padel website and app.

Ben Lacey, CEO of Atmos Padel, said:

“One of padel’s many joys is that it can be enjoyed by everyone – regardless of ability or age. Our clubs have thousands of people in their communities, and we can’t wait to grow a fantastic, warm community in Chesterfield.”

The Park Road venue will be open from 8:00am to 10:00pm Monday to Friday, until 8:00pm on Saturdays and from 9:00am to 7:00pm on Sundays.

To discover more activities and experiences across Chesterfield, visit: www.chesterfield.co.uk/visiting/

For more information or to book a court, visit www.atmospadel.com

Posted in Business, Development, Leisure, Summer, Visiting

Ringwood BMX Track reopens following major refurbishment

Ringwood BMX Track has reopened following a £150,000 refurbishment, creating an improved facility for riders and strengthening Chesterfield’s outdoor sports offer.

The track, located in Ringwood Park, which has been in place for around 40 years, has undergone its biggest transformation, with new signage, a start gate and surface designed to enhance the experience for all riders.

Volunteers led the refurbishment from Chesterfield BMX Racing Club, who worked alongside Chesterfield Borough Council and secured funding from a range of partners to ensure the project could be delivered.

BMX

Libby Hawkins, Head Coach at Chesterfield BMX Racing Club, said:

 “I’m so incredibly proud of our team that there are no words for it – this improved track is game changing for our community. The final few weeks have been great with lots of people rallying around to get everything finished.

I can’t wait to start running our sessions here again – to see what it gives to young people in terms of confidence, friendship, life skills and breaking down barriers, which they haven’t been able to access while cycling’s not been here.”

The refurbishment forms part of wider investment in Ringwood Park, where upgraded footpaths, additional natural seating and a new family adventure trail are all set to be completed over the next 12 months. Together, the improvements will create an even more welcoming destination for residents and visitors.

Councillor Martin Stone, Chesterfield Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Climate Change, Planning and Environment, said:

“The club have done amazing work to raise funds, ensuring this track meets the standards needed and providing a fantastic facility for the community. We’re proud to support the club to deliver these improvements which will ensure everyone across our borough can experience BMX racing.

“Ringwood Park is a site that we are working hard to improve for all visitors and completing the track is just part of a programme of work to further enhance the park.”

The refurbishment of the BMX track has been made possible through a collaborative fundraising effort between the club and Chesterfield Borough Council. Funding has been secured from a range of sources, including the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL); funding from the Mayor of the East Midlands and the East Midlands Combined County Authority (EMCCA), provided by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF); Robertsons – YorBuild Fund; Access Sport Facilities Renovation Project, funded by the London Marathon Foundation; Galliford Try; and the Landfill Communities Fund, managed by the Derbyshire Environmental Trust.

In addition to these significant contributions, the club has successfully raised further funding through the generous support of other local organisations, local businesses, and supporters, demonstrating the strong community backing for the project.

Discover more parks, attractions and things to do across Chesterfield by visiting: www.chesterfield.co.uk/visiting/

For more information about the club and its coaching sessions, go to www.facebook.com/chesterfieldbmxclub or email chesterfield_bmx@hotmail.com.

Chesterfield Borough Council is among more than 200 Chesterfield organisations that are proud to support the local economy, working closely with Destination Chesterfield to showcase Chesterfield and North Derbyshire as a destination to live, work, visit and invest.

Find out more about our Champions network.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Development, Home, Leisure, Summer, Visiting

Thousands enjoy creativity and family fun at Chesterfield Children’s Festival

Thousands of families came together in Queen’s Park as the Chesterfield Children’s Festival returned for a weekend of free performances, creative workshops and hands-on activities celebrating imagination, play and community.

Organised by Junction Arts, the annual festival welcomed families from across the borough on Saturday, 18th and Sunday, 19th July, transforming Queen’s Park into a vibrant space packed with theatre, music, dance and creative experiences for children of all ages.

One of the highlights of this year’s programme was Chesterfield to the Front, an interactive theatre show and live band experience, celebrating everything that makes Chesterfield unique.

Families also enjoyed the return of Wacky Woody’s Comedy Magic Show, while younger children explored a dedicated early years programme featuring Marie the Makaton Mouse, Play, Dance, Move workshops and The Delights, a multi-sensory theatre experience designed to inspire imagination and participation.

Throughout the weekend, visitors took part in a wide range of free activities including family life drawing, face painting and creative workshops, ensuring there was something for everyone to enjoy.

A new dedicated craft tent was introduced for this year’s festival thanks to sponsorship from Kip McGrath Chesterfield West. The space hosted a packed programme of free activities including pottery, badge making and “make your own football shirt” workshops, giving families even more opportunities to get creative together.

Accessibility continued to be a key priority, with mobile accessible toilets and changing facilities provided by Accessoloo, alongside British Sign Language interpreters throughout the weekend to help ensure the festival remained welcoming and inclusive for everyone.

The festival also reflected the voices of local young people. Over the past year, Year Six pupils from Abercrombie Primary School worked alongside Junction Arts to help shape this year’s programme, sharing ideas through workshops and creative sessions about the entertainment and activities they wanted to experience.

Jemma Burton, Project Manager at Junction Arts, said:

“This year’s festival felt truly special. Co-creating the event with local children brought fresh ideas and energy, helping ensure it continues to reflect what young people want and enjoy. Also, thanks to the support of our sponsor, Kip McGrath, we were able to offer even more hands-on activities in the new craft tent, giving families more opportunities to get involved and be creative.

“It was wonderful to see so many families coming together to enjoy the weekend, and we’re incredibly grateful to the talented artists who filled Queen’s Park with such joy and imagination.”

As the festival’s headline sponsor, Kip McGrath Chesterfield West supported the introduction of the new craft tent while also engaging with hundreds of local families throughout the weekend.

The education centre, owned by Lorna and Andy Bell, marked the milestone year by celebrating alongside the community, hosting a free colouring competition, meeting families and giving away £500 worth of tuition to a local child.

Lorna Bell said:

“Turning 50 is an incredible milestone for Kip McGrath, but for us it was important that the celebrations weren’t just about looking back. We wanted to celebrate with the families and community who have supported us over the years.

“Being the main sponsor of the Chesterfield Children’s Festival gave us the perfect opportunity to do exactly that. It was wonderful to meet so many local families, see children enjoying the activities and celebrate everything that makes our community so special.”

Andy Bell added:

“Community has always been at the heart of what we do. Whether it’s helping children achieve their goals in the classroom or supporting events like the Chesterfield Children’s Festival, we want to make a positive difference to local families.

Now in its fourth year, the Chesterfield Children’s Festival has become a highlight of the town’s cultural calendar, bringing together local organisations, artists, volunteers and businesses to create free opportunities for families to experience arts, culture and creativity in the heart of Chesterfield.

For more family-friendly events and things to do in Chesterfield, visit: www.chesterfield.co.uk/events/

Junction Arts and Kip McGrath Chesterfield West are among more than 200 Chesterfield organisations that are proud to support the local economy, working closely with Destination Chesterfield to showcase Chesterfield and North Derbyshire as a destination to live, work, visit and invest.

Find out more about our Champions network.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Home, Leisure, Summer

Chesterfield’s parks celebrated with eight Green Flag Awards

Chesterfield’s commitment to high-quality parks and green spaces has been recognised after eight locations across the borough received prestigious Green Flag Awards.

Chesterfield Borough Council is celebrating after Queen’s Park, Poolsbrook Country Park, Holmebrook Valley Park, Monkey Park, King George V Park, Stand Road Park, Eastwood Park and the grounds of Chesterfield Crematorium were all awarded the internationally recognised quality mark for parks and green spaces.

The Green Flag Award recognises well-managed, welcoming public spaces and celebrates the dedication of the teams and volunteers who help maintain them for residents and visitors to enjoy.

Councillor Martin Stone, Chesterfield Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Climate Change, Planning and the Environment, said:

“The fantastic range of parks and green spaces we have in Chesterfield are a source of pride for our borough. Providing quality parks and green spaces supports the environment and ensures that Chesterfield remains a fantastic place to live and raise a family.

“These awards reflect the incredible work our officers and voluntary groups do to maintain and improve parks and green spaces in Chesterfield. Thank you to everyone who spends their time to help ensure our green spaces are welcoming places where people can spend time together.”

This year’s awards coincide with the 30th anniversary of the Green Flag Award scheme. Across the UK, a record 2,391 parks and green spaces achieved Green Flag status, recognising the high standards of maintenance, management and visitor experience delivered by organisations nationwide.

Paul Todd MBE, Green Flag Award Manager at Keep Britain Tidy, said:

“Parks are essential public spaces that support our wellbeing, our communities and our economy.

“Chesterfield Borough Council have shown what can be achieved when parks are properly supported and managed. As we celebrate 30 years of the Green Flag Award, we want every community to have access to green spaces like these that are safe, welcoming and maintained to a high standard.

“Congratulations to everyone involved.”

The recognition highlights Chesterfield’s continued investment in attractive public spaces that enhance quality of life, encourage healthier lifestyles and provide places for communities to come together throughout the year.

Discover more of Chesterfield’s award-winning parks, scenic walking routes and outdoor spaces: www.chesterfield.co.uk/visiting/places-to-visit/outdoors/

 

Posted in About Chesterfield, Celebrate Chesterfield, Home, Leisure, Summer, Visiting

Tourism awards open to showcase excellence across the East Midlands

Tourism and hospitality businesses across Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire are being invited to apply for the Visit East Midlands Tourism Awards 2026/2027, celebrating excellence across the region’s visitor economy.

Applications opened on Monday, 15th June 2026, with businesses able to enter through one of two destination award programmes delivered by the East Midlands’ two VisitEngland-accredited Local Visitor Economy Partnerships (LVEPs):

Visit East Midlands Tourism Awards – Derbyshire and Visit East Midlands Tourism Awards – Nottinghamshire

The Visit East Midlands Tourism Awards mark an exciting new chapter for tourism recognition in the region, building on the success of the Peak District, Derbyshire and Derby Tourism Awards and Nottinghamshire’s established programme.

Delivered in partnership by Visit Peak District, Derbyshire and Derby and Visit Nottinghamshire, the awards will celebrate outstanding businesses, attractions and experiences from across the East Midlands.

Recognising regional success

The awards highlight the innovation, quality, sustainability and customer experience of our region’s tourism and hospitality sector, with categories spanning accommodation, food and drink, attractions, experiences and accessible tourism.

Businesses from Chesterfield have previously achieved success at the tourism awards, reflecting our town’s growing reputation for quality visitor experiences and its contribution to the wider regional economy.

Winners from each local programme will have the opportunity to progress to the national VisitEngland Awards for Excellence.

Jo Dilley, Managing Director of Visit Peak District & Derbyshire, said:

“The Peak District, Derbyshire and Derby Tourism Awards have a proud track record of recognising the businesses, organisations and individuals that make our destination such a special place to visit.

“The new Visit East Midlands Tourism Awards – Derbyshire build on that success, ensuring Derbyshire continues to benefit from its own dedicated awards programme while gaining greater regional visibility.

“Our visitor economy is home to outstanding accommodation providers, attractions, restaurants and experiences. These awards are an opportunity to showcase that excellence and inspire businesses to continue raising standards for visitors.”

How to apply

Applications close at 23:59 on Sunday, 26th July 2026.

Businesses can find full details on categories, eligibility and how to enter here: Visit Peak District Tourism Awards information

To discover award-winning places to eat and drink in Chesterfield, visit: www.chesterfield.co.uk/2026/05/50-food-and-drink-businesses-to-try-in-chesterfield/

Posted in Business, Celebrate Chesterfield, Home, Leisure, Stay, Summer, Visiting

Chesterfield Festival of Cricket secured for another five years

Chesterfield will continue to host the BRM Chesterfield Festival of Cricket each summer after a new five-year partnership secures the event’s future until 2031.

The agreement between Derbyshire County Cricket Club and Chesterfield Borough Council ensures the much-loved festival remains a key fixture in the town’s events calendar.

First established through a partnership in 2011, the festival has grown significantly over the past decade, regularly attracting sell-out crowds and expanding its programme to include women’s fixtures alongside the traditional county matches.

Ryan Duckett, Chief Executive of Derbyshire County Cricket Club, said:

“The BRM Chesterfield Festival of Cricket is one of the most popular events of the county cricket summer, not only for our supporters, but for visitors from across the country. We are delighted to have secured its future until at least 2031.

“We have a fantastic relationship with Chesterfield Borough Council and Chesterfield Cricket Club, which we look forward to building on over the next five years.”

In addition to hosting matches at Queen’s Park, the agreement includes providing tickets to schools and coaching sessions to inspire the next generation of cricketers.

Festival of cricket

Councillor Tricia Gilby, leader of Chesterfield Borough Council, said:

“We know that the festival is an annual highlight for many members of our community, and it is fantastic that we have been able to secure this partnership for another five years. Not only does it help attract more people to our borough, which provides a great boost for our local businesses, the partnership also provides a fantastic opportunity for young people to discover a love for the game.”

This latest agreement, approved at Chesterfield Borough Council’s cabinet meeting in April, marks the fourth five-year partnership since 2011, underlining the long-term success of the event.

The 2026 BRM Chesterfield Festival of Cricket runs until Sunday, 28th June 2026, with a packed programme of fixtures taking place at Queen’s Park.

Highlights still to come include Derbyshire Falcons taking on Gloucestershire in a Women’s Vitality Blast fixture on Saturday, 27 June 2026, with tickets available to claim for free.

The festival will conclude with Derbyshire facing Yorkshire in a sell-out Men’s Vitality Blast match on Sunday, 28th June 2026.

For more information on the BRM Chesterfield Festival of Cricket and other events happening in and around Chesterfield this summer, visit: chesterfield.co.uk/summer

Derbyshire County Cricket Club and Chesterfield Borough Council are two of over 200 Chesterfield organisations that are proud to support the local economy, working closely with Destination Chesterfield to showcase Chesterfield and North Derbyshire as a destination to live, work, visit and invest.

Find out more about our Champions network.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Home, Leisure, Summer, Visiting

New summer event brings Steampunk to Chesterfield

Steam powered technology is set to meet Victorian aesthetics as Chesterfield hosts its first Steampunk Market weekend.

The family-friendly event will be held on Saturday, 4 and Sunday, 5 July in Chesterfield Market.

Running from 10 am to 4pm, the event will feature live music performances throughout the weekend which will capture and celebrate the unique Steampunk spirit.

There will be lots to explore around New Square with a classic Gallopers carousel, themed bars and a great selection of tasty food.

The weekend will end with a Steampunk parade through the town centre from 3pm on Sunday. Except lots of fantastic creative costumes that have been hand crafted, feel free to come along and join in with your best Steampunk costumes or just enjoy the parade.

There will be an extraordinary array of stalls offering handcrafted creations, clothing, accessories, artwork, curiosities, and retro futuristic inventions – perfect for collectors and newcomers alike.

The event is organised in partnership with Newark Steampunk Society.

Parvin Mannering from Newark Steampunk Society said: “Newark Steampunk Society are delighted to work with the Chesterfield Markets team to bring the wonderful and vibrant Steampunk folks to town.

“Whilst Steampunks have been sewing and making their extravagant and quirky outfits to wow the crowds, the market office has organised the fabulous New Square to give the townsfolk and visitors an immersive experience into the world of Steam and gadgetry embracing the Victorian love of invention. Whether you come to ride the carousel or chat with us to see how welcoming Steampunks are, you will have a brilliant and inspiring weekend.”

Councillor Kate Sarvent, Chesterfield Borough Council’s cabinet member for town centres and visitor economy, said: “We’re excited to host our first Steampunk Market weekend and partnering with Newark Steampunk Society, will help ensure that it’s a fantastic event with lots of unique things to see and do.

“Our revitalisation of Chesterfield Market has created more flexible spaces that allow us to host fantastic events like this, with space for stalls, rides, food traders and entertainment in a great setting. Whether you’re a long-term Steampunk fan or just curious, this will be a brilliant event to come along to.”

The event is part funded by the Chesterfield Town Board Pride in Place programme, which is funded by the UK Government.

Dominic Staniforth, local business leader and Chair of Chesterfield Town Board, said: “It’s fantastic to see new events take centre stage in the town centre, our engagement activities have shown this was a highly ranked priority for lots of local people. This engagement work has helped shape our priorities and as a board we felt it was important to help fund an expanded events programme for our town centre. I hope lots of people will come along to support this event and our brilliant town centre businesses.”

Pride in Place will see almost £20 million invested in the town over the next decade. All decisions about how this funding will be spent is determined by the independent Chesterfield Town Board and is being shaped by local people through engagement.

More information about the event and entertainment will be available at: www.chesterfield.gov.uk/events/steampunk-market-weekend/

Posted in About Chesterfield, Home, Leisure, Summer, Visiting

Staveley town centre regeneration is complete

A multi-million-pound project to transform Staveley town centre is ready to welcome visitors to the town.

Chesterfield Borough Council’s Staveley 21 project, funded through the Staveley Town Deal, has included improvements across the market place along with a striking new landmark pavilion building – together the improvements will make Staveley a more attractive destination and bring more visitors into the town centre.

The enhanced square includes new feature paving which provides a better surface, new lighting to help ensure the town centre looks its best at all hours of the day and night, new seating and planting to make it a more inviting environment, new CCTV to help ensure the town remains a safe place to visit, and a new flagship play area which was designed in consultation with students from Staveley Junior School and ensures the town centre is a place for all ages to enjoy.

Improvements also include a new sculpture which was created by artist Coralie Turpin and draws inspiration from the Cuckoo Boats which were unique to the Chesterfield Canal. It depicts nature scenes from the canal and features works created by students at Staveley Junior School and Netherthorpe School.

Students from both schools have visited the site to see the transformation and their contribution to the project.

The pavilion building is a new landmark for the town centre, with striking features but traditional brickwork so it is in-keeping with the wider environment. It will house Staveley Library on the ground floor and a business on the first floor – this will help attract more visitors and encourage people to support businesses based in the square. The library is expected to open later this year, and the council is in discussions with several businesses with the aim of letting the space as soon as possible.

Councillor Kate Sarvent, Chesterfield Borough Council’s cabinet member for town centres and visitor economy, said: “This project has transformed the space and will encourage more visitors who will support local businesses and ensure that the town centre can thrive. We’ve created a flexible space that will help encourage visitors on a day-to-day basis but also provides space for the town centre to host events and activities for the community to enjoy.

“This is a town centre that the community can be proud of, and I hope lots of people will visit to see the transformation for themselves.”

The Staveley 21 project received just over £6 million of funding from the Staveley Town Deal, a £25.2 million programme that aims to ensure Staveley is a place to start, stay and grow.

Councillor Tricia Gilby, leader of Chesterfield Borough Council and vice chair of the Staveley Town Deal Board, said: “I’m delighted that we could welcome the children who have helped create these improvements as the first visitors to this space – we wanted to ensure that young people could feel ownership of the town centre and be proud of where they live. The new sculpture is a fantastic piece that celebrates the canal but has community at its heart and the children’s works are a great addition that help make it stand out.”

The new sculpture created by Coralie Turpin was officially unveiled as part of the opening, it was funded through the Animate Chesterfield programme which aims to create artworks throughout regeneration projects in Staveley and Chesterfield.

The striking sculpture is a new landmark in the town centre and features lighting along with a cuckoo boat shape in the paving as a nod to the importance of the canal in the town’s history but also the role it provides today as a beloved local green space.

Coralie Turpin said: “I am inspired by the brave ancestors of Staveley’s communities who fearlessly navigated from the canal out to sea in barges with sails called cuckoo boats.

“I wanted the communities I worked with to understand how amazingly ambitious and intelligent these ancestors were. How important the canal was to life in Staveley and also to learn about the wildlife there.”

The project has also included improvements to the connections to the canal along with a shop front grant scheme which has seen almost half a million pounds provided to local businesses to enhance their properties and improve the look of the town.

It is one of the key Town Deal projects and its completion represents an important milestone in the overall programme.

Ivan Fomin, chair of the Staveley Town Deal Board, said: “The completion of the town centre works marks a major moment for the Town Deal. Together our projects aim to help the community at all stages of their life and ensure that the town is a fantastic place to live and work. I’m delighted to see these works completed as this town centre continues to be a place where the community can spend time together and support local businesses.”

Work started on site in November 2024 and the town centre works were delivered by Stepnell.

Tom Sewell, director at Stepnell, said: “From the pavilion, seating and planting to the play area designed with local schoolchildren, we’ve worked closely with Chesterfield Borough Council and partners to ensure every element of the Staveley 21 scheme has been shaped and delivered to an outstanding quality.

“Having operated in this live town centre site and engaged throughout with the local community, it is incredibly rewarding to have helped bring the revitalised town centre to life. We look forward to seeing the impact this scheme will have on driving footfall into the town centre for decades to come.”

A small amount of snagging works remain around the tiered seating area, these are expected to be completed in the next few weeks and will provide a space for the community to host performances and other activities.

During the works, the statue of three industrial workers which sat in the centre of the town centre, was stolen. Chesterfield Borough Council is currently appointing an artist to work with the community to create something new that celebrates the town’s industrial past. The new statue will be fully funded by Stepnell.

The Staveley Town Deal is a £25.2 million programme funded by Government that aims to ensure Staveley is a place to start, stay and grow. It includes new training facilities, enhanced community buildings, a canal extension, and much more.

You can find out more about the Staveley Town Deal by visiting: www.chesterfield.gov.uk/staveley-town-deal

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Home, Leisure, Property and Construction, Visiting

Vote for Chesterfield’s best night‑out venue in 2026 awards

Chesterfield is celebrating its vibrant nightlife as the 2026 Best Bar None Awards recognise the town’s best pubs, bars, clubs and restaurants.

Vote for your favourite venue and help celebrate the businesses that go the extra mile to create safer, more welcoming and enjoyable nights out.

The awards take place on Wednesday, 8th July 2026, and will bring together venues from across the borough to celebrate excellence in customer safety, venue management and partnership working.

Ahead of the ceremony, vote in the People’s Choice Award and support the venue you think delivers Chesterfield’s best night out.

Voting closes on Friday, 3rd July 2026.

Supporting safer socialising

Supported nationally by the Home Office and the drinks industry, the Best Bar None scheme launched in Chesterfield in 2023. Chesterfield Borough Council delivers the scheme locally in partnership with Chesterfield Pubwatch, Derbyshire Constabulary and Best Bar None.

The initiative promotes collaboration between licensed venues, police and the local authority, helping to raise standards and share best practice.

Recognising excellence across the sector

There will also be five more special awards up for grabs on the evening, chosen as part of the accreditation assessment process.

Together, these awards highlight the quality and diversity of Chesterfield’s hospitality sector and reinforce the town’s reputation as a welcoming, safe place to enjoy a night out.

Ahead of the awards, Councillor Jean Innes, Chesterfield Borough Council’s cabinet member for housing, said:

“We’re lucky to have so many great bars, clubs, pubs and restaurants in Chesterfield and those that are signed up to the Best Bar None scheme are all playing a part to ensure everyone can feel safe when socialising in the borough.

“We’re looking forward to celebrating our accredited venues at the Best Bar None awards on 8th July, and we want to hear from you too, so make sure you vote for your favourite venue to win the People’s Choice Award 2026.”

Get involved

Support your favourite venue and celebrate the people and businesses that help make Chesterfield’s nightlife welcoming and enjoyable for everyone.

Vote for your favourite venue by visiting: https://chesterfieldboroughcouncil.welcomesyourfeedback.net/s/dtyqxz

This summer, Chesterfield comes alive with flavour, colour and culture. Taste global cuisines at town centre festivals or explore our independent restaurants, pubs and bars: www.chesterfield.co.uk/summer/ 

Posted in About Chesterfield, Home, Leisure, Stay, Summer, Visiting