Leisure

Reasons to visit Chatsworth this Autumn

Autumn at Chatsworth is a chance to explore something new, from the changing colours of the landscape with a new garden trail to seasonal walks, talks and workshops and an abundance of best seasonal produce from the estate.

There are many reasons to visit, stay, shop and eat at Chatsworth this autumn.

  • Explore the great outdoors and enjoy the changing views and colours of the 105-acre garden with a new autumn trail. Discover 16 places with great views and learn more about the plants, trees and Capability Brown designed landscape. Enjoy the remodelling of the five-acre Rockery, the first part of the largest transformation of Chatsworth’s world-famous 105-acre garden for 200 years.
  • Get busy with the family outdoors with lots of autumnal activities at the farmyard. Create a hay crown, learn about wool craft, make a bug hotel, watch a dry stone waller or get up close with creepy crawlies this autumn in the farmyard.
  • Harvest events for food lovers include cream tea at the Cavendish restaurant with scones, bramble hedge jam & cream, and the Farm Shop to Table Top dinner in the Carriage House café on 25 October.
  • Try something new and explore the programme of autumn talks, walks and more. Find out what the foresters are busy with this autumn with a forestry walk through the woodlands; capture the changing colours with a watercolour workshop; find out more about the herbs, plants and flowers grown in the kitchen and cutting garden on a walking tour or join a plant hunters walk and talk inspired by the expeditions the 6th Duke encouraged from Chatsworth during the 19th century.
  • Capture the essence of autumn at Chatsworth in this photography competition for a chance to win a top prize of a deluxe package including an overnight stay for two at The Cavendish, a one year Gold Friends family membership, £250 vouchers for the estate farm shop, a ‘Paxton’ farm shop hamper, plus a brewery tour at Peak Ales. Find out more here. Post photos on Instagram using the #AutumnAtChatsworth tag for a chance to win first and second prizes for the best photo encapsulating autumn at Chatsworth primarily featuring the house or the best photo encapsulating autumn at Chatsworth primarily featuring the garden.
  • Shopping goes seasonal too with inspirational ideas to wrap up warm, all you need to get out dog walking, recipe books, hats, gloves and blankets and delicious seasonal produce to take home.
  • Explore the changing landscape with an autumn Tractor & Trailer ride from the farmyard. Suitable for all ages with commentary, the trailer riders are also fully accessible.
  • It’s also the last chance to see The Dog: A Celebration at Chatsworth which closes on 6 October: displaying a myriad of paintings and objects from letters, snuff boxes, jewellery, sculpture and ceramics to tapestries, drawings and painted ceilings this new exhibition celebrates the Cavendish family’s centuries-old relationship with dogs.

More information on Autumn at Chatsworth is available here.

Images: Chatsworth House Trust

Posted in About Chesterfield, Leisure, Visiting

Derbyshire businesses invited to one of Europe’s largest walking & cycling fairs

Derbyshire tourism businesses have the chance to reach thousands of potential international visitors at the Fiets en Wandelbeurs walking and cycling fair in the Netherlands next spring, thanks to an exciting opportunity offered by the area’s official tourist board.

Marketing Peak District & Derbyshire has announced that as part of their £1.2 million ‘Delivering a World Class Visitor Economy within Derbyshire’ project, funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), they will be flying the flag for the area at the Fiets en Wandelbeurs walking and cycling fair in Utrecht, from 28th February to 1st March 2020.

Fiets en Wandelbeurs is one of the largest events of its kind in Europe, attracting over 40,000 walking and cycling enthusiasts who are passionate about active holidays, excursions and experiences. The fair has a complete offering in walking and cycling, from routes and destinations to the latest equipment and innovations.

The tourist board is inviting a small number of businesses from the Peak District and Derbyshire to join them at the fair for the chance to promote their business and reach new markets, encouraging more international visitors to book a break – and discover great walking and cycling – in the area.

Jo Dilley, Managing Director of Marketing Peak District & Derbyshire, said: “This is a fantastic opportunity for Derbyshire businesses who are interested in reaching overseas visitors. Thanks to our beautiful countryside, amazing landscapes and fantastic walking and cycling opportunities, the Peak District and Derbyshire is already a popular destination for Dutch visitors and the Netherlands is one of our priority markets.

“Together with the help of passionate local businesses at Fiets en Wandelbeurs in Utrecht, we hope to encourage even more international tourists to book an overnight break and discover what we have to offer.”

To qualify for the opportunity to join Marketing Peak District & Derbyshire’s stand at Fiets en Wandelbeurs in Utrecht, your business must be:

  • Based in Derbyshire
  • An SME (less than 250 employees)
  • A visitor economy business (or part of its supply chain)

Successful applicants will be responsible for their own travel and expenses but will be provided with the trade show space free of charge due to the ERDF project funding.

The closing date for applications is 17:00 on Friday 25th October 2019. Successful applicants will be notified in early November.

To find out more and to apply for a space, please click here.

Image credit: Visit Peak District & Derbyshire

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Celebrate Chesterfield, Development, Leisure, Visiting

Local businessman featured in Parliamentary Review

Local businessman Marc Wildes, Managing Director of Wildes Group, has been featured in this year’s Parliamentary Review, looking at best industry practise.

Founded in 2009, the Wildes Group acquired Van Dyk Country House Hotel in November 2016, adding to a portfolio of successful ventures including Wildes Education, Loaf Hair salons, House of W, the Holiday Inn Express in Crewe and the Holiday Inn Express in Hoylake, Wirral.

An introductory message from Lord Pickles and Lord Blunkett reads: “The ability to listen and learn from one another has always been vital in parliament, in business and in most aspects of daily life. But at this particular moment in time, as national and global events continue to reiterate, it is uncommonly crucial that we forge new channels of communication and reinforce existing ones. The following article from Wildes Group is an attempt to do just that.”

Marc Wildes, Managing Director said “My business ethos is grounded in working hard to grow businesses that integrate with each other, create employment, training and career paths with a clear aim to strengthen the local economy via an ethos whereby all of our management team promote the importance of sourcing skills and products at a local level wherever possible”.

An example of this ethos in practice is the multimillion pound investment that is taking place at Van Dyk by Wildes , the luxury 4 star 1 rosette hotel in North Derbyshire. The investment will see the creation of a further 54 bedrooms and suites, an additional restaurant and terrace coupled with the new Ballroom with attached outside wedding garden and the development of Spa by Wildes which will include a Jacuzzi, Steam Room, Gym and spa gardens.

Read the full parliamentary review about the Wildes Group

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Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Destination Chesterfield, Development, Leisure

Look back at a successful summer

Like many other people, I enjoyed a break away this summer, and as always it was an opportunity to relax, sample new food, and overindulge!

A break away from the town gives us the opportunity to see it in a new light. Often, you don’t notice the progress and growth that has been achieved until you have time away from familiar surroundings. Sometimes we need that break from the town to realise how far it has come in recent years – and the ambitious plans it has for the future. More than a billion pounds worth of investment is happening here right now, bringing with it new homes, businesses and jobs.

In the past couple of months alone we have, for example, seen the opening of the new Multi Storey car park and the archaeological dig which will lead to the delivery of the new innovation centre at the Northern Gateway, the commencement of the new housing by Avant Homes at Chesterfield Waterside, and a planning application submitted for the ‘Adrenaline World’ leisure facility at Peak Resort. We have also seen premier league side Sheffield United visit the town to play a pre-season friendly against Chesterfield FC.

The Saltergate car park is owned and operated by Chesterfield Borough Council and is located on Saltergate. With 526 spaces, the new car park is open 24 hours and has wider spaces than the previous car park it replaces.

Amongst many other attractions, we have a superb food and drink scene in the town. This was celebrated recently with the highly successful Chesterfield Food and Drink Festival held in Queens Park. We are lucky to have authentic cuisine from around the world on our doorstep as well as home grown culinary talent and food producers right here in Chesterfield.

Peak: Gateway, Resort, Campus

PEAK plans to be an integrated leisure, health, sport and education destination on the edge of the Peak District National Park; set on the 300-acre Birchall Estate in Chesterfield.

Next month, at the annual Chesterfield Food and Drink Awards, we have the opportunity to recognise the people and produce that are helping put Chesterfield on the culinary map.

Remember, there are many things, including food, drink, scenery and a warm welcome, to name but a few, that we don’t even need to leave the town to enjoy; Chesterfield truly has much to offer.

Blog by Peter Swallow, Chair of Destination Chesterfield

The winners of this year’s Chesterfield Food and Drink Awards, in association with The Chesterfield College Group, will be announced at a glittering ceremony at the Winding Wheel on Wednesday 23rd October 2019.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Blog, Business, Celebrate Chesterfield, Development, Leisure, Visiting

Rate Cute pop up shop opens in Vicar Lane

The Rate Cute pop up shop opened at Vicar Lane Shopping Centre today (20 September), offering vintage clothing, accessories and more.

Rate Cute is a fashion brand owned by Charlotte Bolton (below), selling vintage, up-cycled clothing and handmade goods. As well as Charlotte’s own brand, the store will feature other small businesses and independent designer makers from all across the UK.

Charlotte said: “We’ll be stocking handpicked vintage clothing, handmade clothing, prints, accessories, greetings cards, ceramics, homeware – that’s all very modern and quirky.”

The shop will be located in the former Grainger Games unit, next to Iceland. The store will remain open until Christmas, however may remain open longer.

Charlotte Bolton says: “I’m super excited – I did the yarnbombing in Chesterfield a few years ago, to try and bring something fun and creative to the town, so now I’m really excited to be opening a pop-up shop which is definitely going to bring something different.”

Shaun Brown, Centre Manager at Vicar Lane said, “The addition of Rate Cute is really exciting for Vicar Lane. There is a growing trend for wearing more unique styles as well as a more ethical, conscious approach to fashion and shopping in general, so we’re sure the store will appeal to a number of new and existing customers at Vicar Lane.”

Vicar Lane Shopping Centre is home to a wide selection of fashion, homeware, jewelry and beauty stores to suit all tastes.

See more pictures on our Facebook page here.

Click here to read more about shopping in Chesterfield.

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

The Housing Strategy is out for consultation

Local people have got a chance to have their say on the council’s Housing Strategy as it is now out for consultation.

Chesterfield Borough Council’s Housing Strategy (2019-2023) consultation will be open for the public to raise their views on from 13 September to 14 October 2019, with the document being available online to read and comment upon.

Housing is critical for everyone and everyone can have a view. The Housing Strategy aims to set the scene to ensure that appropriate housing in all areas and across all tenures is available to meet the housing needs of the people of Chesterfield.

Councillor Chris Ludlow, Cabinet Member for Housing, said: “To ensure we are reflecting all views and recognise the diverse range of housing needs, we want to engage across the council, with partners and stakeholders and with existing tenants and residents.”

“This consultation is a demonstration of how the council takes its responsibilities as a housing provider very seriously. The strategy has been given a lot of thought within the organisation and is now available for residents to comment on.”

“It is important to ensure we collate a wide range of ideas and views to ensure we focus on the most relevant issues and interventions to have the greatest impact over the next four years.”

The strategy is set out under three key objectives:

  • Delivery – Ensuring that increased new housing provision meets the needs of current and future residents of Chesterfield to provide a home for every stage of life
  • Quality– The council will utilise internal and external resources to ensure that as many homes as possible in all tenures are of decent quality
  • People – Ensuring that the needs of all groups to access and sustain housing appropriate for their needs in Chesterfield.

You can find out more about the consultation and comment on the strategy by following the link to the questionnaire on the council’s website https://www.chesterfield.gov.uk/housing-strategy

Story of Chesterfield

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Development, Leisure

Chesterfield sporting pioneer recognised in first Lucozade Sport Movers List

Chesterfield’s John Croot, pioneer of walking football and CEO of Chesterfield FC Community Trust, has been included in the UK’s first Lucozade Sport Movers List.

From a paddleboard yoga enthusiast and a BMXer steering youths away from gang violence, to an ‘IronGran’ dedicated to keeping O.A.Ps fit, the Lucozade Sport team of researchers have recognised 50 individuals who inspire others to move.

John is non-executive director of the Walking Football Association and has played a key part in introducing walking football to the world. Walking football is credited with helping to stimulate mental and physical wellbeing for the older generation. The slower pace and less contact is perfect for people looking to keep active by playing the sport they love. Walking Football is now played in over 50 countries, and has over 60,000 players in the UK.

John said: “I’m delighted to be included in the first ever Lucozade Sport Movers List. It’s great to be recognised for the role I have played in the modern version of walking football. It’s unbelievable to think that a sport that started only a few years ago in Chesterfield has grown to be one of the fastest growing sports in the world.”

In June, Chesterfield’s Proact Stadium hosted the first ever Walking Football European Nations Cup. The weekend featured a national club tournament on Saturday, followed by the European Nations Cup on Sunday. There were around 250 players over the two days, involving Over 50s and Over 60s teams from different European nations.

You can view John’s Movers List profile here.

Photographer Gray Hughes

Posted in About Chesterfield, Celebrate Chesterfield, Leisure, Visiting

Explore lands far, far away with Chatsworth this Christmas

Be transported on a journey around the globe with Chatsworth this Christmas as you enter an immersive experience full of atmospheric lights, rich colours and the evocative sounds and scents of lands far, far away.

The grand rooms of the house are dressed in homage to countries traversed by generations of the family, so that you can follow in their footsteps led by famous explorers from fiction and life, Phileas Fogg and Amelia Earhart. Your guides will be sharing stories of adventure and derring do from all over the world, while a special children’s trail will add to the fun for families.

Wintry scenes abound with snow, frosty lights and a sleigh sure to deliver the essence of Christmas. The Chapel, inspired by a baroque Portuguese church, is set to look breath-taking with a classic Nativity scene complete with floating candles, mirrors and stained glass.

Blossom trees, Chinese lanterns and a 10-metre spiralling Chinese dragon bring a flavour of Eastern Asia, while Russian dolls and rustic stars dress the gigantic Nordic Fir tree taking pride of place in the Painted Hall.

Insights and anecdotes from historical Dukes and Duchesses of Devonshire are woven throughout your journey, including the letters between Victor (9th Duke of Devonshire) and his wife Evelyn, as she travelled in India with Queen Mary in 1911, and letters home from Canada while Victor was posted there as Governor General, describing a family Christmas and new experiences in a faraway land.

The team has delved into the collection to find a treasure trove of memorabilia from around the world, including a Christmas card from America’s first family, the Kennedys, who have many connections to Chatsworth.

Morocco, India, Holland, Italy, China, Japan, Portugal and America all feature in what is one of the most ambitious Christmas seasons staged by Chatsworth, famous for its festive displays. Venetian masks, pagodas, origami decorations, frosted ferns and Indian fabrics are just some of the props used to stage a rich, eclectic experience on a journey around the world.

Before they leave, visitors can hop into the hot air balloon basket for a photo opportunity.

Tickets go on sale today, 18 September 2019, priced at £25 per adult and £15 per child (aged between 3-16). Family tickets are also available.

For more information, visit www.chatsworth.org.

Pictures by Daniel Casson

Posted in About Chesterfield, Christmas, Leisure, Visiting

Win the Window at Vicar Lane

Vicar Lane Shopping Centre is excited to launch a brand new competition that will give customers the chance to win a new prize every month.

‘Win the Window’ launches on Thursday 19th September and the first prize up for grabs is a £30 gift card for F. Hinds.

Each month a new prize will be displayed in the winning window, located opposite F. Hinds at Vicar Lane.

The first competition runs until Thursday 10th October, so customers have three weeks to enter.

For the chance to win the prize, customers should simply visit the Centre’s winning window opposite F. Hinds and follow the simple instructions to enter.

Shaun Brown, Centre Manager, Vicar Lane said, “We’re really looking forward to giving our customers the chance to win a fabulous new prize every month! It’s a great opportunity to get your hands on a freebie from one of our stores.”

Posted in About Chesterfield, Leisure, Visiting

Grants available for enterprising groups in Derbyshire communities

Enterprising groups across the county are cashing in with successful applications to the Derbyshire County Council Action Grants scheme to help with their activities.

In the latest round of grants, 138 groups have been awarded grants totalling £203,800 and there is still £921,200 left in the pot for the remaining 3 rounds.

Derbyshire County Council have now awarded Action Grants totalling £578,800 to 600 groups across Derbyshire in the first 5 rounds of the scheme since it launched in May 2018.

Community groups, clubs, charities and parish councils are being encouraged to apply for the sixth round which is open now up to a deadline of 30 September 2019. Successful applicants so far have been able to show they promoted one or more of the Action Grant themes:

  • youth activity – including setting up youth clubs, organising activities for young people, projects to help young people gain new skills or schemes to help them deal with mental health issues
  • community activity – such as setting up new community groups, organising a local event or starting a community project
  • physical activity and sport – money for schemes to encourage residents of all ages to take part in physical activities, keep fit and stay healthy – or which encourage people to get active if they’re not already
  • community safety – grants for projects to reduce crime and the fear of crime including raising awareness about scams and rogue trading, schemes to tackle anti-social behaviour and initiatives to help residents keep themselves safe

Most of the grants are £500 but in the fifth round there were also a number of £5,000 and £10,000 grants available for schemes which can be shown to offer long-term benefits for local people and promote 2 or more of the Action Grants themes. These larger grants will be available again in the final round of the scheme which closes on 30 May 2020.

Grants awarded in the latest round will fund activities including tackling anti-social behaviour and scams, sports training and facilities, theatre groups, choirs, music events, allotments, developing apps, art workshops, adventure activities for youth groups, counselling support, building refurbishment, equipment for community buildings, toddler groups, green schemes, clubs for older people and activities to support disabled people.

Derbyshire County Council Leader and Cabinet Member for Strategic Leadership, Culture and Tourism Councillor Barry Lewis said: “I have seen for myself the results of our Action Grants in helping to support community initiatives and it’s good to see. The £500 grants may not seem a huge amount but on many occasions it’s been enough to get a project off the ground and it then becomes self-supporting.”

“In the first 16 months of our Action Grants over 600 groups have benefited which is great news and there’s another 8 months for the scheme to run. We’ve still got over £900,000 to help more projects and I hope we’ll continue to get plenty of applications.”

“If you’re involved with a community group, club or charity in Derbyshire an Action Grant could be just the helping hand you need.”

“The process is quick and simple and if you apply now for the September deadline we’ll aim to give you a decision within four weeks.”

The deadline for the current sixth round of Action Grant applications is 30 September 2019. Groups which apply should hear if they have been successful within 4 weeks of the deadline.

More rounds will follow next year until the Action Grants scheme ends in May 2020.

Click here for more information or to apply.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Leisure

Chesterfield Investment Summit 2019 hears how localised social media could be key to revitalising town’s high street

With up to 74% of high street retailers not having an active social media presence, Polly Barnfield OBE, a member of the government’s High Street Task Force has urged Chesterfield’s shops and market traders to adopt social media and use it to deliver both improved footfall and sales on demand.

Speaking at the sell-out 2019 Chesterfield Investment Summit, Ms Barnfield, who has been named as one of the top 100 most influential women in technology, believes events and localised social media activity could be the key to revitalising and growing Chesterfield’s high street.

She said: “Social media is a resource that any business can use, and retailers should use this opportunity to engage with and understand their customers.”

“Social media is fundamentally changing the rules of doing business. It’s not a question of a business being online or offline anymore – they must be both. There has been a huge shift in human behaviour over the last 15 years driven by social media. For the first time ever, people now spend more time on their mobile phone than watching TV.”

However, she urged retailers not to just to focus on selling themselves on social media. “Engagement with the community around you is key. You can’t just sell your own product on social media if you want to be successful,” urged Ms Barnfield.

She advised: “Retailers should post on social media every day and talk to their audience not just about what is happening in their business but around them.”

Highlighting the power of social media on retail at the Investment Summit, it was revealed that ALTERIS, owner of the town’s Vicar Lane Shopping Centre, has successfully used the online platform Maybe* over the last six months to increase footfall by 29%.

ALTERIS bought Vicar Lane Shopping Centre out of administration earlier this year promising to create ‘a new town centre retail model for the post e-commerce world’.

Ms Barnfield was one of several speakers presenting at the annual Investment Summit which was held at Chesterfield’s Casa Hotel.

Addressing future investment and development opportunities in Chesterfield and North East Derbyshire, the event was organised by Derbyshire Economic Partnership, Destination Chesterfield and Marketing Derby.

Speaking at the event Dr Huw Bowen, Chief Executive of Chesterfield Borough Council, also revealed that the town had welcomed 330 business start-ups in the last 12 months.

He commented: “For Chesterfield to grow and survive it needs to be a place where people feel they can do business and do it successfully. This means ensuring we make the most of our competitive advantages in order to attract investment as well as optimise our current development opportunities including HS2, Chesterfield Waterside, Northern Gateway and Peak Resort. Our competitive advantages underpin our recently published Growth Strategy.”

Peter Swallow, Chair of Destination Chesterfield, highlighted the town’s successful public-private sector partnership approach to investment, commenting: “Chesterfield is a town of opportunity and we have the partners and collaboration in place to drive forward our ambitions to not only deliver our current development plans but also attract further investment and continue to grow.”

More than 200 people attended the 2019 Chesterfield Annual Summit. In addition to Polly Barnfield OBE and Huw Bowen, delegates also heard from Mark Warrilow, Skills Stakeholder Manager – Phase 2 (Skills Employment and Education) at HS2 Ltd; Peter Storey, Head of Markham Vale at Derbyshire Country Council; Mark Jones, Head of Technical at Kier Living; Cllr Tony King, Cabinet Member for Economic Development and Regeneration, Derbyshire County Council and David Higham, Commercial Director at Learning Unlimited, part of the Chesterfield College Group.

To keep up-to-date with investments and developments in Chesterfield, please visit https://www.chesterfield.co.uk

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Celebrate Chesterfield, Destination Chesterfield, Development, Leisure, Manufacturing, Visiting