Leisure

Christmas in Chesterfield a major success

Destination Chesterfield and Chesterfield Borough Council’s Christmas experience – The Amazing Magical Santa House – has been hailed a major success after bringing smiles to everyone who went along to meet Santa.

The Amazing Magical Chesterfield Santa House in the town centre, is where the magic technology known as the ‘Santa Zoomer’ – a video link to chat with Santa – was set up and 750 families enjoyed a spectacular start to their Christmas.

As well as the live chat with Santa, families took part in a special augmented reality experience in which Santa magically appeared creating a keepsake photo and video for the family.

Feedback on social media, includes ‘we came this morning and were blown away! Thank you so much. It was fantastic.’

And ‘Looks beautiful inside. Very happy kids and love that I have a photo and video of the experience with Santa’.

Chesterfield Borough Council has now released a video which gives a look inside the Santa House, showing the joy it brought to families:

Councillor Kate Sarvent, cabinet member for town centres and visitor economy at Chesterfield Borough Council, said: “The Santa House is just what was needed this year. It has given hundreds of families such joy to start Christmas with. We’ve had comments about very happy kids and that is exactly what we set out to achieve.

“It has been a tough year for many of us and this amazing experience, the elf trail and some spectacular Christmas lights have given Chesterfield the magical Christmas it needed.

“We’ve worked with some fantastic local companies to make the Santa House become a reality and it has been great to see the creative, innovative and hardworking talent that exists right here in Chesterfield come together to make this a very special Christmas.

“Overall this Christmas campaign has supported a wide range of town centre businesses by increasing footfall into the town centre and raising awareness of the fantastic offer that exists in Chesterfield town centre for residents, shoppers and visitors.”

The council has worked with a number of local companies to bring the Christmas campaign life. These include JAB Short, providing the town centre shop for the Santa House; Chesterfield Champions Noonah Marketing, providing the augmented reality technology; and Tabs productions, providing the visual interpretation and dressing at the Santa House.

Matt Franks, CEO of Noonah.com, said “After a year with many events cancelled, the work on Chesterfield Santa House we delivered for Chesterfield Borough Council was a fantastic example of showcasing the talent of Noonah and many other local companies. On the back of this project we’ve started to grow again which is great news for our team. Our message to all business owners is hang on in there – the work will come back!”

Karen Henson, Director, Tabs Productions, said: “It was great to be involved with the Amazing Magical Chesterfield Santa House, helping Chesterfield Borough Council bring this amazing idea to life. It has been a hard year for us with the pandemic and usually we would be at our busiest working on Christmas shows, so not only has it been magical to work on the Santa House, but it has really helped us as a small local business move through this difficult year.”

Peter Swallow, Chair of Destination Chesterfield said “In these challenging times it has never been more important to support each other. I am delighted that Destination Chesterfield and Chesterfield Borough Council have continued this year to work collaboratively on the Christmas in Chesterfield Campaign. Combining our efforts will reinforce the Support Local message. Making the decision to choose an independent retailer for your gifts and food both now and beyond the pandemic will make a huge difference to our high street.”

Chesterfield Borough Council, in partnership with Destination Chesterfield, created the magical story of the Chesterfield Elves and how they saved Christmas, to deliver the Amazing Magical Chesterfield Santa House.

The story can be downloaded from https://www.chesterfield.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Low-Res-Storybook.pdf and is the perfect bedtime story for families this Christmas.

Our website – www.chesterfield.co.uk/christmas has everything you need to know about Christmas in Chesterfield

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Derbyshire’s 2021 County Championship cricket fixtures released

Derbyshire’s County Championship group stage fixtures have been released, with Billy Godleman’s side set to return to Chesterfield’s Festival of Cricket in July.

The 2021 first-class season will be split into two parts, with the group placings after ten games determining which division a side is in for their remaining four matches, with the top two teams in Division One competing in a final for the Bob Willis Trophy.

The competition begins on Thursday 8 April, with Derbyshire facing Warwickshire, and continues for eight solid weeks prior to the start of the Vitality Blast in June.

The eagerly anticipated return of cricket to The Incora County Ground comes on Thursday 15 April, when Derbyshire play host to Worcestershire.

Derbyshire will enjoy a duo of blockbuster Group One encounters against local rivals Nottinghamshire as the East Midlands rivalry restarts in Derby on Thursday 29 April, with old scores to be settled after Fynn Hudson-Prentice starred in a record-breaking win at Trent Bridge in 2020.

Another annual highlight of the cricket calendar begins on Sunday 11 July as the Chesterfield Festival of Cricket gets underway with the visit of reigning champions Essex to the north of the county.

Following on from the hugely popular Tourist Fixture against Australia in 2019, Derbyshire will once again test themselves against international opposition, as India A travel to The Incora County Ground for a four-day first-class game, starting on Sunday 27 June.

Head of Cricket, Dave Houghton, said: “Our guys performed really well in 2020, and they all have a year of experience behind them now, so hopefully we can go out there and give these teams a test.

“We have a really tough group, with teams like Warwickshire, Nottinghamshire and the champions, Essex, so it will be a challenge, but we’re up for the fight.

“When you play against the best sides, it shows you the standard that you aspire to get to. You can also learn a lot from what they do, but I expect us to be a challenge for any side.”

Derbyshire Fixtures

Warwickshire (A)
8-11 April • Edgbaston

Worcestershire 9 (H)
15-18 April • The Incora County Ground, Derby

Durham (A)
22-25 April • Emirates Riverside

Nottinghamshire (H)
29 April – 2 May • The Incora County Ground, Derby

Essex (A)
13-16 May • CloudFM County Ground

Durham (H)
20-23 May • The Incora County Ground, Derby

Worcestershire (A)
27-30 May • New Road

Warwickshire (H)
3-6 June • The Incora County Ground, Derby

Nottinghamshire (A)
4-7 July • Trent Bridge

Essex (H)
11-14 July • Queen’s Park, Chesterfield

Derbyshire County Cricket Club supports the marketing and economic growth of the town through Chesterfield Champions, a network of over 180 organisations across Chesterfield and North Derbyshire.

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Joe Pasquale & Sarah Earnshaw to star in John Godber’s April in Paris – Coming to Chesterfield in March

Joe Pasquale and Sarah Earnshaw will star as Al and Bet in John Godber’s classic comedy, April in Paris, which will tour the country, coming to Chesterfield Theatres in March 2021 and will be directed by Richard Lewis.  Audiences will be socially distanced.

In John Godber’s touching and hilarious classic, we go into the heart of one ordinary couple’s life as they go on both the journey of a lifetime and a journey into their relationship.  Al and Bet are in a rut.  Married for 26 years, their conversations are running dry and life has taken its toll. With his building work sparse and her shifts at the shoe shop getting few and far between there’s little to look forward to, apart from a possible ABBA tribute show in Wakefield and the odd trip to the pub.  But Bet has dreams.  She longs to walk with the Pharaohs in Egypt, sunbathe on golden beaches and climb Alpine mountains, all fuelled by her love of magazine competitions with holidays as prizes.  Finally, her luck changes; she wins a night away for two to Paris in April, via a luxury trip on P&O Ferries out of Hull.

John Godber says, “April in Paris is one of my favourite plays and I’m very excited about this new version with Joe and Sarah, directed by my long-time friend Richard Lewis. I hope that Al and Bet’s trip to the French capital helps to raise the spirits and even a laugh or two, as they rekindle their romance amidst the baguettes, Beaujolais and the steak tartare! The play’s message, that we need to be kind to each other, seems to me to be more relevant now than it ever was before!”

Joe Pasquale and Sarah Earnshaw had begun the second UK tour of Some Mother’s Do ‘Ave ‘Em when theatres were closed by the Government because of the Covid-19 pandemic, so they are delighted to be able to go out on the road again, as Joe explains:

“To say I’m excited about performing April in Paris would be an understatement, for lots of reasons.  One of the things that is so important is that we (Sarah Earnshaw, Richard Lewis and all at Limelight) will be on the front line with one of the first shows back into the theatre after such an horrendous year…. and we shall be flying the flag, so to speak, to the naysayers who say it can’t be done.  Well, Richard and his team have proved them wrong; if you think outside the box, anything can be achieved.”

Producer and director, Richard Lewis added, “As I’m sure most people are aware, it is an extremely challenging time for the theatre industry.  It has effectively been banned for over eight months now and has created great hardship – for artists, for theatres and for producers.  As we move into the New Year, it is already clear that only venues that can function with restricted capacity will be allowed to open.  It is hugely challenging for theatres to find the type of product that can operate with these limitations.  This is why I am particularly delighted and proud that Limelight Productions has been able to create a show that can help bring live performance back to its audience.

John Godber’s April in Paris starring Joe Pasquale and Sarah Earnshaw is a funny, touching comedy that lifts the spirits. It will bring a little sunshine into the life of everyone who sees it, and I hope audiences will be encouraged to help support this initiative to bring back live performances.”

Comedian Joe Pasquale has delighted audiences with his live stand-up tours for over 30 years. Along the way he’s voiced characters for Hollywood movies Garfield: A Tale of Two Kittens and Horton Hears a Who!, children’s television animation Frankenstein’s Cat and starred in The Muppets’ 25th Anniversary Show.  Joe made his theatrical debut in 1999 in Larry Shue’s The Nerd, followed by the touring productions of Tom Stoppard’s Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead and Mel Brooks’s The Producers. In addition, Joe took part recently in ITV1’s The All New Monty: Who Bares Wins, he was crowned ‘King of the Jungle’ in ITV’s I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here in 2004, appeared on five Royal Variety Performances, hosted his own ITV special An Audience with Joe Pasquale, at times hosted The Paul O’Grady Show for Channel 4 and hosted the long-running television series The Price is Right for ITV.  Other recent TV credits include a celebrity edition of Total Wipeout; Guinness World Records Smashed and Virgin One’s The Prisoner X.

Prior to playing Betty, Frank’s long-suffering wife in Some Mothers Do ‘Ave ‘Em, Sarah Earnshaw most recently starred as Connie in The Nightingales (Theatre Royal Bath & UK Tour) and Jennifer Lore in the UK Tour of Nativity – The Musical.  Her other theatre credits include Travels With My Aunt (Chichester Festival), The Lady of the Lake in Spamalot (West End and UK Tour) and the original London cast of Wicked.

The National Tour of April in Paris is produced by Limelight Productions.

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Chesterfield Museum announces online activities this Christmas

Over Christmas the team at Chesterfield Museum have traditionally put on events for the whole family and opened Revolution House to the public with seasonal flower displays to help spread some festive cheer. This is sadly not possible this year, but the museum team have put together a series of online activities to help celebrate Christmas.

Councillor Kate Sarvent, Chesterfield Borough Council’s cabinet member for town centres and visitor economy, said: “The museum team have worked really hard all year to create digital activities and events for the whole family, it’s fantastic that they can finish the year off with even more of these. I hope lots of people will take part and learn more about how we used to celebrate Christmas.”

Throughout the year Chesterfield Museum have teamed up with History’s Maid, who are regular visitors to the museum with their fantastic re-enactors, to create a range of videos. This Christmas they have created three brand new videos all about Christmas in different historical periods.

The first video profiles a Tudor Christmas celebration, where traditions included fasting for advent and feasting on plum porridge, pickled pigs’ feet and wassail. It also looks at the invention of the Kissing Bough, a special decoration made of mistletoe and explains the origins of Twelfth Night and the Feast of Epiphany. There is also information on how to create your very own Tudor Pomander, which are a fantastic little stocking filler.

Moving through the ages the next video will look at a Victorian Christmas and how many of our current traditions including carols, crackers, cards and decorations date back to this time. It will also reveal the true origins of Father Christmas as we know him today.

A slightly more sombre video looks at how Christmas was celebrated during World War One, with a reading of a poignant story inspired by the events of Christmas 1914 on the Western Front called ‘Waiting for a Candle’ by R J Barker.

As well as all the exciting videos there will also be some Christmas craft activities for children as well as a Christmas quiz. One of the Museum team will be doing a series of readings from ‘A Christmas Carol’.

Although Revolution House remains closed this year, there are some fantastic photos of previous Christmas’s at Revolution House and the amazing flower displays which staff and volunteers create. There is also a great guide on how to create a Christmas wreath. There will also be a sing along to carols by Holymoorside Brass Band.

The Mayor of Chesterfield, Councillor Glenys Falconer, will also be appearing in a special video this year where she will be reading ‘Twas The Night Before Christmas’.

All of the activities and content will be available on the Chesterfield Museum Facebook page www.facebook.com/chesterfieldmuseum and website www.chesterfield.gov.uk/museum.

For more information about Christmas activities in Chesterfield, click here 

Weapons of a WW1 Infantryman

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Chesterfield Champions get into the festive spirit

A number of Chesterfield Champions have been getting into the Christmas spirit this season, whether it’s been through charitable donations, donning those festive jumpers or embellishing their businesses with dazzling decorations..

We’ve been so impressed to see the community spirit well and truly alive here in Chesterfield, despite the challenges posed by covid-19. So we’re showcasing some of our favourite festive stories and photos from our fabulous local businesses!

Wishing all our champions, businesses and residents a Merry Christmas and a happy new year!

Christmas Jumper Day 2020

A number of Chesterfield Champions sent us photos of their teams wearing some truly excellent knitwear on Christmas Jumper Day, which took place on Friday, 11th December in aid of Save the Children. Well done to all those who took part and donated!

Mortgage 1st

The team at Mortgage 1st raised a fabulous £140 for Save The Children by sporting their Christmas jumpers in the office and eating Christmas jumper day cakes!

Salute

Natalia and Daniela from Salute sent us this adorable photo of their little helper getting cosy in one of their jumpers… You can find out more about their Christmas hampers here.

 

Rosewood Wealth Management

Donna, Shannan and Abigail have at Rosewood have certainly been getting into the festive spirit this year! The team have been collecting toys for the Nightingale Ward at Chesterfield Royal Hospital, along with decorating the outside of their business with a fabulous reindeer model… Not forgetting those all-important Christmas jumpers!

Banner Jones Solicitors

We love this collage of Christmas jumpers put together by Banner Jones solicitors! A huge well done to all who got involved…

Charity Appeals and Donations

Many of our Champions have worked hard to ensure those who are less fortunate are able to enjoy Christmas this year. Whether it is collecting toys to help Santa deliver presents to Chesterfield children, or donating to local foodbanks so families are able to enjoy a proper Christmas dinner, Chesterfield’s businesses have shown true community spirit. Here’s a few examples:

Greatest Hits Radio’s toy appeal and festive jingle campaign

The team at Greatest Hits Radio North Derbyshire have been incredibly busy this year. Back in November they launched their Mission Christmas Toy appeal, which has provided gifts for underprivileged children across the region. But they certainly weren’t finished there! Now, the team have launched the Christmas Eve Jingle campaign to raise festive spirits, by asking people to gather on their doorsteps to ring a bell at 6pm for two minutes on Christmas Eve. Find out more here.

Chesterfield FC toy appeal

Chesterfield FC’s Community Trust have been keen to support local residents ever since they took over the ownership of the football club back in the summer. This Christmas has been no exception, with the Spireites collecting hundreds of toys for local children.

Bridge Help Foodbank Appeal

Chesterfield Champions and other local businesses have rallied around the Bridge Help appeal to support Chesterfield Foodbank this Christmas. The company matched all donations of luxury items with essential food, including cereal, long life milk and tinned goods.

Specsavers foodbank donation

The team at Specsavers Chesterfield generously donated supplies to Chesterfield Food Hut this Christmas, along with paying for all of the charity’s costs until February 2021. The money will be put towards covering costs and providing 250 hot meals per week to the most vulnerable in our area.

Central Technology and BRM Solicitors gift Smart TV’s and Netflix licenses to Ashgate Hospicecare

Chesterfield’s Central Technology and BRM Solicitors have generously gifted Ashgate Hospicecare a total of three smart TV’s to help the charity to help upgrade it’s patient rooms and enable patients to view films and TV shows on Netflix.

 

Spreading festive cheer in Chesterfield 

A number of Chesterfield Champions have come up with new and creative ways of bringing people across the town together this year, and there’s still time for you to get involved with some of them!

Spire Radio Christmas Carol singalong

With many Christmas Carol Concerts cancelled this year due to the Coronavirus pandemic, the Middlecroft Community Group have teamed up with Spire Radio to hold a one-off special on Spire Radio on Friday 18th December from 6pm.

Make sure you join the on-air team for some festive fun!

Team spire

Crooked Spire festival of lights

With their regular Christmas schedule disrupted due to the pandemic, the team behind Chesterfield’s most famous landmark have still managed to put together a range of festive features and events this Christmas.

Carol singing will be taking place outside the Church from 1.00pm for 20 minutes each day from the 17th until the 24th December, along with a dazzling display of light being projected onto the spire from the 16th December until the 31st December.

Festive Brass

Dazzling Decorations on Chesterfield’s high-street

Make sure you head into Chesterfield Town Centre to take a look at the wonderful decorations in our local independent shops. And while you’re at it, you could enter the S40 Local Advent Town competition by spotting the numbers of the advent calendar in the windows of some stores!

Here are some of our favourites:

Adorn Jewellers

Fred’s Haberdashery

Shop Indie

Don’t forget you can find out more about local festive events, activities, gift ideas and shopping times over on our Christmas In Chesterfield pages.

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Spire Radio partners with Middlecroft Community Group to bring an on-air Christmas Carol Singalong

With many Christmas Carol Concerts cancelled this year due to the Coronavirus pandemic, the Middlecroft Community Group have teamed up with Spire Radio to hold a one-off special on Spire Radio on Friday 18th December from 6pm.

This new show, hosted by Jordan Hartshorne and the leaders of the group, will bring together our communities virtually in a year of separation.

They are inviting the whole of North Derbyshire to tune in on the night and singalong to some traditional Christmas Carols along with some pop-style favourites and post on Facebook and Twitter using #SpireXmasCarols for a shoutout on the night. This special is part of Spire Radio’s Christmas programme of special shows.

Listeners are also encouraged to suggest their favourites to play on the night. They can do this by messaging the Spire Radio Facebook page or emailing jordan@spire-radio.com.

Jordan Hartshorne, Director of Public Relations at Spire Radio said, “we’re delighted to form this partnership with the Middlecroft Community Group to bring this special to the airwaves this Christmas.”

Listeners can tune in on spire-radio.com, the TuneIn Apps and their smart speaker.

The Middlecroft Community Group has been set up to provide a voice for the community to have a say on local issues, to improve the local area for all residents. You can find out more about what they are doing on their Facebook group.

Chair, Sam Young added “The Group would like to express their sincere thanks to Spire Radio for working with us and providing yet another wonderful opportunity to unite the community in these difficult times.”
Remember to tune in on Friday 18th December at 6pm, followed by a special Ladies Night In at 7pm with the one and only Mrs Claus (and a little help from Carolann).

Spire Radio supports the marketing and economic growth of the town through Chesterfield Champions, a network of over 180 organisations across Chesterfield and North Derbyshire.

Team spire

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Redbrik Half Marathon donates four-figure sum to charity following Virtual Events

The Redbrik Chesterfield Half Marathon has donated a four-figure sum to two regional charities after hundreds of runners donated their entry fee difference between the cancelled 2020 Redbrik Half and all-new 2021 Redbrik Foundation Chesterfield 10k.

The donation comes after runners took to the streets from as far afield as Edinburgh to take on the Redbrik Half’s Virtual Events weekend, which took place following the in-person event’s cancellation due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Entrants into the cancelled 2020 Redbrik Half who had deferred their entry to the 2021 Chesterfield 10k were offered the opportunity to donate the difference in entry fee between the two events to the Half Marathon’s charity partners, Ashgate Hospicecare and Bluebell Wood Children’s Hospice.

The majority of entrants took up the option, and as a result, in addition to funds raised by individuals, more than £1,000 was raised by the event itself, which has since been donated to Ashgate and Bluebell Wood.

The Redbrik Half’s Virtual Events saw more than 100 people from across the country run five miles, 10km or a half marathon over the course of the original Half Marathon event weekend, with vital funds raised for charities across the region as a result.

Redbrik Half virtual event runner, Chris Breen, completed not just one, but two virtual half marathons during the original event weekend. He said: “When I heard the Chesterfield Half Marathon was going ahead as a virtual event, I jumped at the chance.

“On the Saturday, I chose my favourite countryside run. I loved it, pushed myself and came in at 1 hour 50 minutes exactly. Imagine my surprise when a friend of mine said he was entering too and wasn’t sure of a local route that would come out at the half marathon distance.

“I got my arm twisted and ran it again the following day with my friend! To say I was tired on the Sunday evening is an understatement, but I thoroughly enjoyed doing these virtual half marathons.

“It’s just what we needed in lockdown – something to aim for – and the icing on the cake is receiving a medal and certificate as a memento. Thanks to the Redbrik Half Marathon team for organising a fantastic event.”

John Timms, Event Director of the Redbrik Half Marathon and Redbrik Foundation Chesterfield 10k, said: “It’s fantastic to see how much the Redbrik Half Marathon has been able to raise for regional charities despite the ‘real’ event’s cancellation this year.

“Donation of the entry fee difference between the two events may seem a small sum in isolation, but the figure we’ve managed to donate as a result of people’s generosity is testament to what can be achieved as a collective.

“Our attention now turns to the 2021 Redbrik Foundation Chesterfield 10k, an exciting new event for the beautiful town of Chesterfield in aid of some brilliant causes.”

Mark Ross, Managing Director at Chesterfield Half Marathon title sponsor, Redbrik estate agents, said: “We’ve loved playing a key role in the Redbrik Half Marathon’s journey – which is ending on a high with this fantastic donation.

“I’d like to congratulate all those runners who took to their streets individually during the original Redbrik Half event weekend and raised thousands of pounds for some great causes – your efforts are all the more important in an extremely challenging year for charities.

“With less than 12 months to go, we can’t wait for the 2021 Redbrik Foundation Chesterfield 10k, which has already been extremely well received by the local community.”

Redbrik Chesterfield Half – 20.10.19 – Images provided by Charles Whitton

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Funding given to restore stretch of Chesterfield Canal at Renishaw

£50,000 has been awarded to a project aimed at restoring and extending a derelict canal channel in Renishaw. The ‘Rewatering Renishaw’ scheme will transform the stretch into a permanent water space that local people can enjoy.

Approximately 500m of the Chesterfield Canal channel was restored through Renishaw, Derbyshire in 2010, as part of a housing development. However, due to various issues, the stretch proved to be unuseable. It delivered little benefit to the newly created community on the housing estate and the wider Renishaw community.

This project is part of Phase 1 of the Chesterfield Canal Trust’s ambition to restore the canal to full navigation by 2027. This will be the 250th anniversary of the canal’s original opening. The complete Phase 1 works will extend the current limit of navigation from the town of Staveley to the village of Renishaw. They will also include the construction of three new accommodation bridges, four new bridleway bridges, a lock, a railway overbridge, an aqueduct and approximately 5km of new or restored channel.

The entire Phase 1 of the project will take several years to complete. It will require over £4m to be raised. The works at Renishaw (Phase 1a) can be completed much earlier and provide lasting benefits to the community. These will be felt long before either the Phase 1 works are completed, or it forms part of a fully restored waterway. This lasting and standalone benefit from an interim restoration stage is a prime example of the Waterways in Progress philosophy.

The grant, with additional funding from Chesterfield Canal Trust and Derbyshire County Council, will allow the trust to undertake the following Phase 1a work:

  • 550m of canal channel re-profiled to navigable standards.
  • 1,050m of canal channel relined using a geosynthetic clay liner.
  • 250m of stone gabions installed in the canal banks and waterproofed by casting a concrete face up to the water level.
  • Clinker Wood side weir restored and a temporary pumping system provided to supply water from the River Rother to the canal.
  • 550m of towpath resurfaced, making it suitable for pedestrians and cyclists. The current path is virtually impassable despite being the official public right of way.
  • A further 915m of towpath resurfaced to provide a circular 2.5km surfaced route incorporating the Trans-Pennine Trail.
  • Eight picnic benches, made from recycled plastic. These will be installed across two locations along with three standard benches in other areas of the scheme. Two of the picnic benches will be suitable for wheelchair users.
  • Installation of signage to encourage users of the Trans-Pennine Trail to explore the canal and the village. Plus the provision of 12 cycle stands to allow cyclists to secure their bikes.
    Additional Works
  • Alongside the above works, the project partners plan to deliver the following additional works to futureproof the canal for navigation:
  • 210m of concrete and masonry wash walling constructed around Black’s Pit corner, in order to protect the banks around this tight turn.
  • 285m of steel piling installed to the south of Barlborough Road Bridge, to provide future visitor moorings.

Trust Secretary Rod Auton said: “This is great news for the Trust and even better news for the residents of Renishaw. The canal looked great when first restored in 2009, but has since become an eyesore. We will now be able to restore and extend it on both sides of Barlborough Road and keep it looking wonderful with a regular water supply. It is even possible that it could be connected to Chesterfield within a couple of years, if the necessary funding can be secured.”

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Have your say on the future of Chesterfield Market

Chesterfield residents, business owners and market traders are being invited to share their views and help shape the future of Chesterfield Market.

Chesterfield Borough Council is launching an initial series of surveys to understand what people enjoy about Chesterfield Market, what might encourage them to visit more often, and understand how they think it can be improved. The surveys will be open until Monday 4 January.

It is the first step in the £3.25m Revitalising the Heart of Chesterfield project to revamp the town’s historic outdoor Market Place.

Councillor Kate Sarvent, cabinet member for town centres and visitor economy, said: “Chesterfield Market is the heart and soul of the town. It is absolutely vital to our history, with markets being held here since 1204.

“It’s crucial that we work together with residents, market traders and local businesses to make sure improvements meet their needs, and so we’re encouraging as many people as possible to give us their views.”

Three separate surveys are being carried out at the same time – one will seek the views, ideas and concerns of market traders, whilst another is aimed at local retailers. The third questionnaire will be open to the general public to share their opinions.

Councillor Sarvent added: “This is just the start of what is a very important conversation for our town. The things people tell us now will be used to shape detailed proposals for the improvement work, which will be the focus of a more formal consultation next year.”

Members of the public are being asked to tell the council what attracts them to the market, and their shopping habits when they visit. Businesses and market traders are being asked about customer shopping habits and the facilities that will support their businesses.

The trader and retailer survey focuses on the business impact of the market and customer trends, but also seeks opinions on how certain changes may affect their business.

The surveys only take a few minutes to complete and people can have their say until Monday 4 January by visiting the Chesterfield Outdoor Market Questionnaire page. 

The council is working with retail market development company, Quarterbridge, which is overseeing the survey process and will put forward recommendations for improvement based on the results.

As well as looking at the future of the market, the Revitalising the Heart of Chesterfield project will also include improvements to the public space between the town centre and the Northern Gateway site.

The Revitalising the Heart of Chesterfield project has benefitted from £650,000 of funding through the D2N2 Local Growth Fund.

The survey closes on Monday 4 January and can be completed by visiting the Chesterfield Outdoor Market Questionnaire page.

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The Chesterfield Elves have arrived in town

The Christmas magic continues in Chesterfield with the launch of the Elf Trail this week, as part of  Destination Chesterfield and Chesterfield Borough Council’s Christmas in Chesterfield campaign.

The cheeky elves have left some clues on how to find them and want you to spot them around the town centre in this special game.

When you find one of the elves you can scan the ‘Elf QR Code’ which gives you access to some very special and secret Elf webpages, which we’ve hidden on the Destination Chesterfield Christmas website.

On the webpages you will find out more about each elf and you’ll see their special letter. Collect all the letters – spell out the secret elf word – and you will be entered into a competition to win an Annual Family Pass for Matlock Farm Park.

You’ll also find discounts and gift guides for shopping locally to support your local high street this Christmas.

The Christmas in Chesterfield campaign is based on the magical story of the Chesterfield Elves and how they saved Christmas. The first part of the Christmas campaign – The Amazing Magical Santa House – opened last weekend and is now completely sold out. Families are reminded if they can no longer make their slot, they can easily cancel by going to their confirmation email and clicking on cancel. This will ensure other families get the chance to see Santa this Christmas.

The story is the perfect Christmas bedtime story and it is now available to download here

You can also download The Cheeky Elf Colouring Book which will keep everyone entertained this Christmas.Councillor Kate Sarvent, cabinet member for town centres and visitor economy at Chesterfield Borough Council, said: “The Christmas season has got off to a great start with the fantastic Amazing Magical Santa House which has proved to be very popular, selling out completely and giving families a wonderful start to the Christmas season. The Elf Trail adds to the great Christmas feel across the town centre. It really feels like Christmas in Chesterfield now.

“It is great to see our town centre shops open again with shoppers following Covid safety guidance. It’s just what we need right now – a busy but safe town centre.”

Peter Swallow, Chair of Destination Chesterfield said: “This year’s Christmas campaign really does showcase what an innovative and resilient town Chesterfield is. The Elf Trail offers safe fun for all the family to explore Chesterfield town centre this year. It’s also an ideal excuse to shop local. Santa may not be here in person, but the elves most definitely are, and I hope families will enjoy discovering them as well as the myriad of shops, stores and market stalls that Chesterfield has to offer.”

The elf trail is a contactless experience using mobile phones. When scanning the QR code you don’t need to touch the window just scan it from a distance. Once scanned move away from the window to read about the elf and find the competition clue. Please maintain social distancing if someone else is scanning the QR code of the Elf and wait until they have moved two metres away before scanning.

Full details on everything happening this Christmas, including gift guides and shopping offers for our many unique and independent shops can be found here with further details on council services at Christmas on the Borough Council’s website.

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Festive food and drink offers in Chesterfield

Despite Derbyshire being under tier 3 restrictions until further notice, restaurants, cafes, pubs and hotels across Chesterfield are still busy preparing to serve up great gifts, fabulous food and delicious drinks for you and your family this Christmas!

We’ve put together a little guide to showcase just some of the tasty treats on offer from our Chesterfield Champions over the festive period…

So why not tuck in to a taste of Chesterfield this Christmas and support your local food, drink and hospitality businesses? Enjoy!

Find out more about local shopping, gift ideas and a wide range of Christmas activities in Chesterfield here

Brampton Brewery

Who doesn’t love a good tipple over the festive season? Brampton Brewery has been working with Chesterfield FC to launch the brand new Spireites Pale Ale. You can find out more about it on the football club’s website.

The brewery is also selling its ’12 beers of Christmas’ at the store on Chatsworth Road, Consisting of 12 different beers from award winning breweries from around the globe!

You can also visit Brampton’s online store here.

Brampton Manor

Fancy something a little different this Christmas?  We think your family and friends will love Brampton Manor’s Outdoor Igloo Village experience. Perfect for a Christmas gift or New Year treat, you can wine and dine outdoors in one of the Manor’s heated igloos. Vouchers are now available online.

You can also indulge in Brampton Manor’s delightful ‘Off Piste’ menu on Fridays and Saturdays, or ‘Slow Roast Sundays’ now available for takeaway and delivery.

Visit their website to find out more!

 

Hotel Van Dyk

Treat a loved one with a gift voucher to enjoy special Van Dyk by Wildes experiences including Afternoon Tea, Award-winning Dining, Overnight Breaks, enjoy a Show with the UK’s leading acts and tributes, or look forward to something special in 2021 with new Spa Treatments, plus so much more to choose from!

Vouchers are available to purchase online

The hotel is offering you the chance to relax on Christmas day by providing a dine at home menu, prepared by the award-winning restaurant for you to enjoy at home… Find out more on the Van Dyk website!

 

Qoozies

One of Vicar Lane Shopping Centre’s tastiest food and drink hotspots is providing modern twists on classic festive delights this Christmas… And the good news is you can order it from the comfort of your own home via the City Grab app!

You can treat yourself to a ‘Christmas dinner on sourdough’ sandwich, award-winning Christmas brownie balls or the delicious Christmas panini, filled with pigs in blankets, stuffing and chorizo!

Find out more about Qoozies’ Christmas offers on their Facebook page

Casa and Peak Edge Hotels

Are you fancying a quick getaway or a few nights of luxury? The good news is it is all available right on your doorstep! Gift vouchers now available to book for Casa Hotel in Chesterfield and the Peak Edge Hotel.

Special offers also available, including Casa’s ‘wine and dine’ package which includes dinner, bed & Breakfast for 2 people and includes a bottle of House wine.

Find out more about Casa’s special offers here, and Peak Edge Hotel’s unique Chatsworth package here.

The Tickled Trout

Gift vouchers start at just £10 for this top Derbyshire gastro-pub, but this distinguished local restaurant is also offering much more this Christmas…

The Tickled Trout’s innovative chefs have prepared a full takeaway menu, which even features a Chritsmas pizza!

The team are also offering to do all the hard work for you on the big day, with their Christmas at home offer.  All food will be freshly prepared, with very simple instructions for finishing off, using only the best local produce.

Find out more on the restaurant’s Facebook page. 

Derbyshire Distillery

This award-winning Chesterfield gin producer is certainly looking to raise your spirits this Christmas (pardon the pun) with it’s shimmering Cherry Gin!

They’re also working in collaboration with Chesterfield FC to produce themed bottles featuring the club’s logo as part of the design.. These can be purchased from the Club superstore!

Find out more about Derbyshire Distillery’s fantastic Christmas drink packages on social media and their website 

Stephensons Tea and Coffee House

On the back of their sold-out Christmas eve grazing box, Stephenson’s have now gone one step further and introduced a New Year’s eve grazing box so you can see off 2020 in style!

Simply call to place your order and collect one of the boxes from the tea and coffee house in time for your celebrations!

Each box will contain a generous selection of award winning foods, including Quiches, Tarts, cold meats, sausage rolls, cheeses, chutney, cakes, scones, mince pies, and much more.

Find out more here

Stanedge Golf Club

Whether you prefer tee time or tea time, Stanedge Golf Club has got you covered! Call the friendly team today and you can purchase a gift voucher which can be redeemed on any of the services on offer at the club….green fees, coaching, membership, bar or catering.

E-gift vouchers can also be provided. Select from a range of designs, send directly to the recipients inbox or print at home to deliver the voucher in person.

Both types of vouchers are available in any amount. Find out more here

Sicily Restaurant

We’ve all been there at this time of year… Busy running round organising, shopping and planning for the big day. Sometimes cooking is the last thing on your mind once you’ve shopped until you’ve dropped!

Luckily, Sicily Restaurant is on hand to provide you with quality Italian food delivered straight to your door this festive season. At least that’s one less thing you have to worry about!

Order now on the City Grab app or find out more on their website

Ringwood Hall Hotel and Spa

Give yourself a little pamper this Christmas or even treat someone you love to delicious food, relaxing spa treatments or even a few nights away from the kids!

Ringwood Hall are now offering a limited edition Spa Experience just £49pp, including 2 hours Full Spa Access, and a 25 minute treatment of your choice… But be quick- offer runs until 18th December! Find out more on Facebook.

You can also visit Ringwood Hall’s website where you will find a number of Christmas offers, such as festive afternoon teas available for collection or a range of vouchers to suit all budgets.

Dronfield Hall Barn

Get everything you need for Christmas from Dronfield Hall Barn! Order scrumptious bakery products, fruit & veg, meat and dairy on their website today!

You can also browse the Dronfield Hall Barn virtual Christmas market, hosting local craft makers and sellers into our virtual marquee where you can shop for original, high quality products and gifts from the comfort of your own home!

Find out more on Dronfield Hall Barn’s Facebook page and website 

Nonnas Chesterfield

Nonnas are still providing their classic Italian dishes and a few festive specials this Christmas, to be enjoyed from the comfort of your own home!

Order via the City Grab app or collect from the restaurant on Chatsworth Road… Includes a special Pizza offer of buy one get one 1/2 price for home delivery & collection Monday -Thursday 12pm-8pm.

Sunday Roasts also available – find out more on Facebook or the Nonnas website

Devonshire Hotels

Are you hosting a Christmas party virtually this year? Devonshire Hotels can help add a little bit of luxury to it! Whether it’s colleagues, friends or family, these gourmet recipe boxes will be delivered to everyone at home and include all you need to create the perfect at-home Christmas get together. Find out more here.

Gourmet recipe boxes approved by the Duchess of Devonshire are also available online, as are gift vouchers for a stay in any of the Devonshire Hotel properties, based on the Chatsworth estate!

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