Leisure

Live theatre returns to Chesterfield

Chesterfield Borough Council is pleased to announce that Chesterfield Theatres will again be hosting live performances from October.

The first three live shows scheduled to take place are part of the Autumn Play Season, which takes place from Tuesday 13 October until Saturday 14 November at the Pomegranate Theatre. Customers will be able to purchase tickets to all three plays for the price of two. The tickets will go on sale from Friday 4 September.

Councillor Kate Sarvent, cabinet member for town centres and visitor economy, said: “The return of live performances to the council’s theatres represents another step forward in Chesterfield’s recovery from the coronavirus pandemic.”

“I know the team have worked hard to make this possible and we very much look forward to welcoming our regular theatregoers as well as lots of new customers to our Covid-19 secure theatres.”

The three plays for the Autumn Play Season are Love Upon The Throne, Dead Certain and Live Bed Show. Each play will feature two different performers, drawn from the same social bubble, in order to help limit contact with other performers and audiences.

The Pomegranate Theatre is already open for cinema screenings and council staff have received lots of positive comments from customers about the safety measures that have been put in place.

The council has also followed the latest Government and UK Theatres guidance on how to re-introduce live performances to ensure the safety of performers, theatregoers and staff.

Tickets for the first three live shows and for other live performances as well as tickets for cinema screenings can be booked on the Chesterfield Theatres website: www.chesterfieldtheatres.co.uk

When booking tickets online, customers can also spoil themselves by pre-ordering tasty treats including ice creams, sweets and drinks at a reduced price. Snacks and drinks can also be purchased when attending the Theatres, but staff will only be accepting card payments.

The Pomegranate Theatre and The Winding Wheel Theatre are owned and operated by Chesterfield Borough Council.

Chesterfield Borough Council has secured £35,000 from the Arts Council Emergency Response Fund to support the re-launch of the Pomegranate and The Winding Wheel theatres.

Persuasion by Jane Austen

Please note our images were taken prior to the Coronavirus pandemic

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

New three storey menswear store opens on Chatsworth Road

Independent menswear retailer Master Debonair has opened Chatsworth Road.

The three-storey store has undergone a recent refit, with casual wear on the ground floor, suits and accessories on the second floor and a private showroom on the top floor.

Offering affordable menswear with a full range of jeans, chinos, shoes, accessories, shirts and suits. The summer collection includes shorts, short sleeve shirts and t-shirts and the top floor of the building is a private showroom where wedding parties, large groups or one to one appointments can use.

Founded by husband and wife team Simon and Eve Whitaker in 2016, the award-winning company now employs 25 people across its two stores, offices and distribution centre.

Simon Whitaker of Master Debonair, said “There’s a wide range of independent shops, restaurants and coffee shops to explore just a few minutes from the town centre on Chatsworth Road and it’s the perfect place for us. We have done a full refit of the building, uncovering as many original features as possible and adding a few of our own.”

“We don’t think there are any other stores quite like ours in Chesterfield and we hope the local community love it. As well as our full range of clothes and accessories we offer 1 to 1 personal styling, custom tailoring and wedding services for the guys.”

Master Debonair won Best Independent Menswear Business in 2019. Master Debonair’s North East store won the ‘Best Independent Menswear’ title at the Drapers Independents Awards 2019, which took place in London in September.

Master Debonair was named Best New Business by Drapers in 2017 and was shortlisted in four categories for the 2019 awards, receiving more nominations over the years than any other independent retailer in the country.

“Our customers are often shocked at how reasonable our prices are,” Simon added. “We want to give people confidence in the clothes they wear and the service we offer really is exceptional.”

The new store can be found at 270 Chatsworth Road, Chesterfield, S40 2BH. Master Debonair is also available to order online via their website. You can also find them on social media.

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

Witchcraft & Wizardry mystery adventure game comes to Chesterfield

Grab your wands and cloaks, the wizarding world is coming to Chesterfield in an all-new spell-binding Witchcraft and Wizardry adventure event.

Players will embark on a mysterious and magical journey into a world of witchcraft and wizardry plagued by dark magic, where teams of 6 muggles will compete to locate virtual witnesses, crack clues and defeat the darkest entities in the realm.

CluedUpp Detective Days are like giant, outdoor escape games. This spell-binding outdoor adventure game will take your team on a mysterious and magical journey across town. Work with your team-mates to crack the clues, solve the puzzles and save the realm.

CluedUpp’s founder, Tref Griffiths said “Due to the success of our previous games, we wanted to create something completely different and otherworldly. We’re big fans of all things fantasy here at CluedUpp, take the biggest names in fantasy such as Harry Potter and Game of Thrones. We thought it was about time we created our own magical mystery within this genre.”

Taking place entirely via the CluedUpp smartphone app, all you need in order to take part is a phone and a team of 6 fellow witched or wizards to compete in the race to unravel the mystery on September 19th 2020.

Tickets for the event are on sale now. For more information and how to book, click here.

Images by CluedUpp Games.

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

‘Chesterfield in Lockdown’ exhibition looking for contributions

Chesterfield Museum is currently working with a number of local organisations in order to put together an exhibition that conveys different experiences of ‘Chesterfield in Lockdown’.

The Museum team are appealing to the local community to get in touch with stories, memories, images and items that express their experiences during the Coronavirus pandemic.

Organisers hope that by working with local people, community groups and organisations, residents can come together to share memories of lockdown and isolation.

They are also keen to include the stories of key workers who have kept Chesterfield and the UK going during this unprecedented crisis.

There are three main areas of the upcoming exhibition which the team are seeking submissions for:

Photographs

  • Images that you’ve taken on your mobile or with your camera during this time or anything that you feel is an image of ‘Lockdown in Chesterfield’ (signs, queues, empty parks or streets)
  • Images of what has helped you cope with Lockdown (nature, your garden, cooking, reading, screenshots of chats with friends and family online).

Items & Keepsakes

  • Artworks, pictures, paintings, models, textiles – any projects that you’ve embraced and focused on. For example, all the rainbows created.
  • Items and objects that will always remind you of this time / period such as home-made mask, walking shoes, toilet roll, bottle of hand gel

Stories and Thoughts

  • Your thoughts about the past six months and ‘Lockdown’ expressed through diary extracts, blogs, poems, letters, emails.
  • Anecdotes & little stories of some of the things you’ve experienced.

If you would like to contribute to this exhibition please contact the Museum Collections Team via museum.collections@chesterfield.gov.uk or rachel.fannen@chesterfield.gov.uk

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

New Chesterfield FC senior management roles announced

Two key appointments have been made to strengthen the senior management team at Chesterfield FC.

This news follows the recent sale of Chesterfield FC to Chesterfield FC Community Trust.

John Croot, Chief Executive of Chesterfield FC Community Trust, takes up the same role at the club while Andy Fantom has been appointed as chief finance officer.

Commenting on the appointments, Chairman Mike Goodwin said: “John Croot played an important role in the Community Trust’s decision to purchase the football club after previously playing a crucial role in saving the club from folding in the past.”

“Having worked closely with John at the Community Trust, he has done a fantastic job as the Trust’s chief executive and he has the full support of the board to take charge of the day to day running of the club.”

“John has a wealth of experience, having first joined the board in the 1980s and his passion for the club shines through. He was urged by the trustees to remain on the board under the previous ownership as he is well respected in the town and in football. His knowledge and contacts are invaluable.

“It was also important that we brought in someone to closely control the club’s finances and Andy Fantom fits the bill perfectly.”

“Andy will be known to many after helping to set up the CFSS, who rescued the club following Darren Brown’s spell as owner. His commercial experience includes managing banks and building societies and his financial acumen will be vitally important.”

John Croot. Photographer: Gray Hughes

Posted in About Chesterfield, Featured, Home, Leisure

Chesterfield squash courts and 3G football pitches to reopen

After successfully reopening gyms, swimming pools and fitness classes, Chesterfield Borough Council is pleased to announce that squash courts and 3G pitches will be re-opening to the public from Tuesday 1 September.

Initially those customers who had regular bookings prior to closure will have the opportunity to continue their booking, which will be open to new customers once existing customers have had the opportunity to confirm their bookings. If you are an existing customer, the leisure team will contact you directly.

Councillor Jill Mannion-Brunt cabinet member for health and wellbeing said: “Lots of people get their weekly exercise from playing squash or five a side football and it’s really important that we can help people exercise more by restarting these sports at our facilities.”

In order to safely reopen these facilities, the council has followed industry specific advice issued by England Squash and the English Football Association. As part of the restrictions for reopening, you can only play with people in your household or social bubble. You must also bring your own equipment in order to play.

There are several other guidelines in place. Find out more here: www.chesterfield.gov.uk/leisure-centres-re-opening (opens in new tab)

Booking can be made by calling Queen’s Park Sports Centre on 01246 345555, emailing qpscenquiries@chesterfield.gov.uk or for squash using the online booking system here (opens in new tab).

Queen's Park artificial sports pitch

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

Virtual events provide medal opportunity for Redbrik Chesterfield Half Marathon runners

Runners will have an opportunity to claim a 2020 Redbrik Chesterfield Half Marathon medal this year despite the event’s cancellation due to the Coronavirus pandemic.

Virtual events have been confirmed for the original event weekend of 16th to 18th October, with participants invited to run a Half Marathon, Five Mile or 10k distance before publishing post-run pictures and/or times on the page’s Virtual Events Facebook page, or tagging the event on Instagram and/or Twitter.

The Redbrik Half was cancelled due to Covid-19 creating safety concerns, with the brand-new Redbrik Foundation Chesterfield 10k replacing the event from 2021.

Entrants into the originally-planned 2020 Redbrik Half Marathon who have deferred their entries to the new Chesterfield 10k will receive a medal free of charge on completion of one of the Redbrik Half Marathon Virtual Events – as will those who have already entered the 2021 Redbrik Foundation Chesterfield 10k.

Runners who have not entered either event but want to claim a Virtual Event medal can also enter online for a small fee, with details to be announced soon.

With the Redbrik Half Marathon’s charity partners – Ashgate Hospicecare and Bluebell Wood Children’s Hospice – due to miss out on funds pledged by those running this year’s Half Marathon events, organisers have encouraged Virtual Event participants to raise funds for good causes which would ordinarily have received tens of thousands of pounds in donations.

John Timms, Event Director said: “We’re really looking forward to seeing people take to the streets safely for the Redbrik Half Marathon’s Virtual Events weekend.”

“This is a fantastic way for those disappointed at the event’s cancellation to still claim a medal and be rewarded for all the training and efforts they have been putting in over the last few months preparing for the event.”

“It’s also vitally important that we continue to pledge funds for great causes such as Ashgate Hospicecare and Bluebell Wood Children’s Hospice, which have both missed out on huge chunks of funding following the cancellation of events due to the pandemic.”

“It won’t quite replace the incredible buzz of the Chesterfield Half Marathon, but this is our chance to give back to those who supported the Redbrik Half in the three years since its inception, and those who have already pledged their support for the Redbrik Foundation Chesterfield 10k.”

Mark Ross, Managing Director of Redbrik Estate Agents, said: “It’s great that entrants into the 2020 Redbrik Half Marathon still have a chance to claim a medal despite the event’s cancellation – it’s certainly unusual and something I’ve not seen a lot of cancelled events offer to entrants.”

“It’s also a fantastic way in which people can still generate much-needed funds for causes such as Ashgate Hospicecare and Bluebell Wood Children’s Hospice, two charities which have done unbelievable work during the pandemic and continue to serve local people and communities despite the current circumstances.”

“We’ve been proud to support the Chesterfield Half Marathon since its re-launch in 2017 and look forward to seeing people take part in this year’s virtual events, as we head towards the all-new Redbrik Foundation Chesterfield 10k in 2021.”

The Redbrik Half Marathon’s Virtual Events will be supported by Pronto Paints, a leading regional industrial paint manufacturer.

Pronto Paints Managing Director, David Beckford, said: “We’re delighted to continue supporting the health and wellbeing of the people of Chesterfield and the surrounding areas by pledging our support to the 2020 Redbrik Half Marathon’s Virtual Events.

“We love the idea behind the Redbrik Half Marathon’s Virtual Events and getting behind the event despite the ‘real’ Half Marathon being called off fits within our company ethos of continuing to support the health and wellbeing and physical activity of the community.

“We can’t wait to see medals being awarded for all those who take on the Virtual Redbrik Half Marathon.”

To find out more about the Redbrik Foundation Chesterfield 10K, click here.

Image credit: Paul Horton Photography

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

Further statues added to the Markham Colliery miners memorial

Fifteen new statues have been have been added to the ‘Walking Together’ mining memorial at the Markham Vale Business Park to commemorate miners who tragically lost their lives in 3 disasters at Markham Colliery.

The business park was developed by Derbyshire County Council and HBD on the site of the former colliery and the memorial acts as a permanent reminder of the site’s strong mining heritage.

Each statue symbolises a miner’s journey to the pit and represents the men who lost their lives in the 3 accidents in 1937, 1938 and 1973.

The new statues takes the total of life-sized steel figures to 77 and Derbyshire County Council continue to work alongside partners to fundraise for all 106 miners to be commemorated.

Councillor Barry Lewis Derbyshire County Council Leader, said: “Although the landscape looks very different, Markham Vale is a hive of industry and employment today just as it was back when the pit stood there and, it’s important we don’t forget the area’s roots.”

He added: “As we enter the final stages towards completing the memorial project, I’d like to thank all the sponsors for their contributions so far, including Viridor Credits Environmental Company for funding the most recent group of figures through the Landfill Communities Fund.”

These most recent additions have been dedicated to:

  • Charles Bown, 27, contractor
  • George Clarence Briggs, 52, deputy
  • Joseph William Brocklehurst, 58, deputy
  • George Cyril Foulds Buckley, 40, contractor
  • John William Watson Commons, 33, contractor
  • George Eyre, 60, gearhead attendant
  • Clifford Brooks, 58, deputy
  • Joe Hardy, 37, Contractor
  • Clarence Hill, 29, belt-hand
  • Fred Reddish, 53, development worker
  • Harry Hudson, 26, gate-end
  • Benjamin Wallace, 29, road layer
  • George Henry Jackson, 43, contractor
  • William Edward Whelpton, 32, rope greaser
  • Michael Kilroy, 53, development worker

Due to the coronavirus pandemic it was not possible to hold a physical event to unveil the latest statues. Instead a short film has been produced as a virtual commemoration.

Find out more information about the colliery and the miners who lost their lives on The Story Mine website.

unearth

Posted in About Chesterfield, Development, Home, Leisure

New local radio station launched for Chesterfield, Matlock and North Derbyshire

Launching as a local radio alternative to big national brands; Radio Rewind is a new digital age radio station for the communities of Chesterfield, Matlock and North Derbyshire.

The aim is to provide a professional-sounding radio station with friendly and familiar presenters who care about issues and events across Chesterfield, Matlock & North Derbyshire.

The station has been founded by two locals; Andrew Haslam and Joseph Turton, who both grew up in the Chesterfield area, surrounded by local radio and media. Between the two, they have previous experience working at online radio stations, an extensive history with a range of live events and knowledge of the broadcast media space.

Andrew Haslam and Joseph Turton

As a part of the station’s big plan, a local drive time show has been penciled in to start later this year, as well as putting several other local show slots together ready to be filled with local talent. One of which is local radio presenter James Hilton, who has over 20 years of radio experience.

Playing a range of music, from timeless 80s hits, right through to the latest charts and local music, with other shows dedicated to Rock, Blues, Late Night Love Classics and Dance Music, Radio Rewind is designed to appeal to radio listeners in the area, and fill the gap that has been left behind.

Radio Rewind’s Station Manager, Andrew, said: “As someone who grew up listening to local radio in Chesterfield, I am excited to be working on this new local radio station, and hope that we are supported by people and businesses in Chesterfield and North Derbyshire so we can work towards bringing local radio back on the dial, as well as online.”

He then added: “With more than half of radio listening now being via digital platforms such as DAB, smart speakers and other online sources, now is the right time to launch Radio Rewind, which is proud to stand as a local station.”

Co-Founder, Joseph Turton said: “A goal for us with Radio Rewind, is to be able to offer a professional sounding local radio station which endeavours to support local businesses, community groups and residents. As a station we pride ourselves on offering high quality and entertaining shows, along with, travel updates, local content & national and local news.”

“As support and listening increases for the station, we can bring on more and more local shows.”

To help make a difference in the area of North Derbyshire, Radio Rewind runs ‘Local Focus’, which is designed to help promote local events and not-for-profit organisations looking to showcase their groups and encourage people to join in with activities. Local Focus is free for any non-commercial group in the area and features will run regularly across the day.

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

Chesterfield people urged to join the Refill Revolution and cut down on waste

The Plastic Free Chesterfield community group are encouraging Chesterfield people to join the Refill Revolution and bring their reusable water bottle, coffee cup or container to fill up on the go, rather than buying a single-use alternative.

With the school holidays, staycations and summer day trips in full swing as lockdown has eased, a new Summer of Refills campaign to help cut down on litter has been unveiled.

In the town, you can refill at more than 20 venues including Bottle & Thyme, Fred’s Haberdashery, The Cheese Factor, Stephensons Tea and Coffee House and Chesterfield High Street Award nominee Steph’s Sustainable Stuff. Plastic Free Chesterfield is highlighting a different business a day on their social media channels.

Simon Davidson, Owner of The Cheese Factor, said: “The Cheese Factor is joining the Summer of Refills campaign so people can start to help the planet by refilling containers not throwing them away!”

Steph Mannion of Steph’s Sustainable Stuff said: “I’m taking part in the Summer of Refills campaign to help the people of Chesterfield reduce their dependence on single-use plastics. Bringing their own containers for food, toiletries and cleaning products can save money and cut down on waste.”

Greg Hewitt, Community Lead of Plastic Free Chesterfield, said: “As the public get back out and about, enjoying their summer holidays, I hope they will choose to reuse and bring a reusable water bottle, coffee cup or container with them. We can all join together to make a difference and reduce single use in our community.”

The list of all Chesterfield businesses taking part can be found here.

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

Local man to run length of Chesterfield canal and back in 24 hours

On 29 August, local runner David Smith intends to run 92 miles in under 24 hours to raise money for the Chesterfield Canal Trust.

The canal runs for 46 miles from Chesterfield to the River Trent and he will run there and back in a day, the equivalent of 3 and a half marathons.

David is a Life Member of the Trust and will be raising money for its 2027 Appeal Fund. This aims to complete the restoration of the canal by 2027 which will be the 250th Anniversary of its opening.

He will set off from Chesterfield in the afternoon of Saturday 29th August. Having run through the night, he will be aiming to get back early on the Sunday afternoon.

David is no stranger to long distance running, nor to raising money for good causes.

Already a keen runner, when he moved to Chesterfield in 1994 he began looking for running routes and it wasn’t long before he came across the canal. Back then it was just a grassy track, but over the years he has seen what a great job the Trust has done helping to restore the canal.

After a while, various family events led him into fundraising and he started running to raise money for a variety of causes, most notably Ashgate Hospicecare and the MS Society; David’s wife has MS. In 2014, David’s grandson was stillborn and this pushed him to a new level, raising money for two babies’ charities – SANDS and Tommy’s.

David often runs in fancy dress carrying a collection bucket (see below) and has competed in events from 5K to 400K, raising over £100,000 in the process. Weather permitting, he will run in full Scooby Doo attire.

during the coronavirus pandemic. David carried on running in his back garden and later round Derbyshire but not raising much money. He had always wanted to tackle the Cuckoo Way – the official name for the canal towpath.

David said: “Over the weeks of lockdown the Canal has become a vital resource allowing walkers and cyclists to experience its beauty as they exercise. It’s important we ensure the brilliant efforts of the Trust volunteers are allowed to continue so the canal can be fully restored for even more people to enjoy.”

Rod Auton, Chesterfield Canal Trust Publicity Officer, said: “We were blown away when David got in touch with this incredible proposal. A few people have walked the full length of the canal in about 16 hours, but to run it there and back in a day is mind-boggling.”

He added: “We hope that the public will get behind David and contribute to our 2027 Appeal. It would be fantastic to see boats sailing into Chesterfield having come all the way from the river Trent. We’d certainly like to see David on the first boat – hopefully it will have been an easier, but slower, passage!”

If you would like to support David or the Canal Trust, you can visit the Chesterfield Canal Trust website or visit David’s Crowdfunder page. Alternatively, you can send a cheque to the Chesterfield Canal Trust, Hollingwood Hub, 22 Works Road, Chesterfield, S43 2PF.

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

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