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Local charities and partners return for the 2025 Redbrik Foundation Chesterfield 10K

The Redbrik Foundation Chesterfield 10K has announced the return of its charity partners and sponsors for its 2025 event.

Scheduled for May 11th at Queen’s Park, this annual running event continues to unite the community while supporting local charities and promoting wellbeing.

The returning charity partners include the Redbrik Foundation as title sponsor, alongside Ashgate Hospice, Bluebell Wood Children’s Hospice, and Cavendish Cancer Care. The event also welcomes back Pronto Paints as a sponsor of the Fun Run and Wellbeing Challenge, alongside other returning sponsors Nuzest, Chapter II, North Derbyshire Running Club, and Chesterfield Borough Council.

Established in 2020, the Redbrik Foundation is dedicated to improving the lives of people and communities across South Yorkshire and Northeast Derbyshire. The charity mainly focuses on children, young people, the elderly, and those with disabilities.

Ashgate Hospice delivers essential palliative and end-of-life care services for adults across North Derbyshire. Their involvement in the 10K helps fund their comprehensive range of services, from specialist nursing care to bereavement support.

Bluebell Wood Children’s Hospice, another returning charity partner, provides crucial support to families facing the heartbreaking reality of a child with a shortened life expectancy. Funding helps them continue offering services such as respite care, music therapy, and end-of-life care, all provided free of charge to families in need.

Cavendish Cancer Care supports individuals and families affected by cancer through a holistic approach to care. Their partnership with the event helps fund their range of services, including counselling, complementary therapies, and specialized support for children and young people, both online and at their dedicated Tim Pryor Centre.

Now in its fourth year, the Redbrik Foundation Chesterfield 10K will showcase Chesterfield’s landmarks, including the famous Crooked Spire, and will feature service and cheer stations along the route. Since 2017, more than £250,000 has been raised for various charities and good causes by the 10K races Redbrik Foundation Chesterfield Half Marathon.

John Timms, Event Director at MLS Contracts, said: “We are thrilled to welcome back all of our dedicated charity partners as well corporate sponsors from last year’s successful event. These partnerships have been key to making the Chesterfield 10K what it is today, and they showcase the brilliant community that exists within our region.

“We’re also excited to have the continued support of Pronto Paints, Chesterfield Borough , Destination Chesterfield, Nuzest, North Derbyshire Running Club and Chapter II, whose involvement helps ensure the event runs smoothly and professionally. Based on early registrations and community engagement, this year’s event is already shaping up to be our biggest yet. I can’t wait to see all runners, volunteers, and supporters gathering together again at Queen’s Park for another memorable day.”

David Cooper, Trustee of the Redbrik Foundation, added: “We are very proud to support this event, which has so much goodwill from all involved.

“We love this town and we want to see it thrive. Events such as this help to do that, with huge numbers of people coming to Chesterfield from all parts of the country to support, contribute or take part. We can’t wait until race day!”

To sign up for the upcoming race in May, visit: https://www.myraceentries.co.uk/RC10K/EntryForm.aspx

For more information about the charity partners, visit https://www.mlsgb.co/chesterfield-10k

Want to find out more about visiting Chesterfield and some of the great events and activities taking place across the town? Go to: https://www.chesterfield.co.uk/visiting/ for more details.

Redbrik, Ashgate Hospice, Bluebell Wood Children’s Hospice, Chesterfield Borough Council and Nuzest support the marketing and economic growth of the town through Chesterfield Champions, a network of over 200 organisations across Chesterfield and North Derbyshire.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Celebrate Chesterfield, Home, Leisure, Stay, Summer, Uncategorised, VisitingTagged in , , , , , , , ,

Conference to showcase how community building boosts Chesterfield’s economy

Business leaders are set to hear how collaborative placemaking is helping to strengthen communities and attract more investment in Chesterfield.

This year’s Celebrate Chesterfield Business Conference, held in association with DogLand, will shine a spotlight on some of the partnerships between residents, businesses and public sector organisations that are lifting Chesterfield’s reputation as a unique place to work, live, visit and grow a business.

Taking place at The Winding Wheel Theatre on Thursday, 27th March, Celebrate Chesterfield will focus on community-led placemaking around our town centres.

Organised by Destination Chesterfield, the event will feature conversations with town centre investors on how our communities are the perfect fit for their business, and an interview with residents on their reasons for making Chesterfield home.

This year also celebrates 15 years of telling our town’s story alongside 230 Chesterfield Champions and partners. Destination Chesterfield is set to announce its new Chair at the event, who will also launch a new two-year plan to promote the town.

Attendees will be able to find out more about ongoing collaborative projects set to boost the town’s economy, including:

  • Revitalising the Heart of Chesterfield: Improving the look, feel and flow of Chesterfield town centre, including a major modernisation of the historic marketplace. This includes support for a traditional market offer but also for a wider range of uses including community events, festivals and more.
  • Stephenson Memorial Hall refurbishment: creating a modern visitor experience in the heart of the town centre that includes an extended theatre, a reconfigured and modern museum, new gallery space, community facilities and a café bar.
  • PEAK Resort: the UK’s first purpose-built national park gateway ‘resort town,’ offering visitors world-class facilities and services as a base from which to access the Peak District National Park. The development is set to sustain thousands of jobs for local people.
  • Staveley 21: a £6m regeneration project in Staveley town centre creating a more attractive place to visit and spend time shopping, socialising, and exploring. The development includes a new landmark building which will house a library and office space to ensure the town centre remains at the heart of the local community.
  • Chesterfield Canal restoration: ongoing works include the reconstruction of 850m of canal channel, two new bridges, a new lock and over 3 kilometres of footpath improvements. Once completed, the canal will provide more access to nature for residents with improved infrastructure for walkers and cyclists.
  • Derbyshire Rail Industry Innovation Vehicle (DRIIVe): a modern rail innovation and training centre, located next to Barrow Hill Roundhouse. The centre will provide 1,423 square metres of floor space, consisting of classroom and workshop training areas.
  • The Moorings: A two-storey building at the Staveley Canal Basin, comprising 11 new flexible business units and a new indoor and outdoor dining space.

In addition, multiple large-scale housing schemes are under construction, with thousands of homes expected to be built in Chesterfield in the next five years. Cllr Tricia Gilby, Leader of Chesterfield Borough Council and Vice-Chair of Destination Chesterfield commented: “Celebrate Chesterfield is now in its 15th year, and I am looking forward to welcoming more businesses to this annual event to once again showcase and celebrate everything special and unique about our town.

“I’m particularly looking forward to outlining Destination Chesterfield’s ambitions for the next couple of years, as we continue to build on the £2 billion regeneration taking place across our community. Chesterfield is not standing still; over the last 15 years we’ve worked together to improve our borough and we will continue to work in partnership with our community to grow our economy and create more opportunities for our residents.”

Dawn Brown, Founder and Owner of DogLand, added: “I am delighted to support the Celebrate Chesterfield Business Conference this year. As a business which thrives in the area thanks to the support of our local communities, I’m excited to hear more about how we can strengthen links to improve Chesterfield’s credentials as a great location to live, spend quality leisure time, and grow a business.”

Delegates can book their free place at Celebrate Chesterfield and find out further details on the event at: https://www.chesterfield.co.uk/business/celebrate/

The conference will also play host to the Celebrate Chesterfield Business Expo held in association with East Midlands Chamber. The expo presents businesses with the perfect opportunity to meet and network with over 250 business delegates from the local business community. Businesses wishing to be part of the expo can get more information at: https://www.chesterfield.co.uk/business/celebrate/2025-exhibitor-booking-form/

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Celebrate Chesterfield, Destination Chesterfield, Development, Featured, Home, Property and Construction, Skills, UncategorisedTagged in , , , , , , , ,

Innovative skills service to support growth for Chesterfield businesses

Businesses in Chesterfield can access a skills service which aims to help them to grow their business and boost productivity.

The Chesterfield Skills Brokerage Service provides businesses with free impartial advice that will help them to identify skills gaps in their business, access training programmes, including the University of Derby’s Executive and Professional Education courses and navigate wider funding opportunities available for training.

Together this will enable businesses to access the tools that they need to grow.

Delivered by the University of Derby on behalf of Chesterfield Borough Council, the free service is funded through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

A series of workshops and events have been planned to provide further support for businesses and create networking opportunities where participants can collaborate to enhance skills provision in their organisations.

Dr Matt Snowden, Associate Provost – Industry Engagement at the University of Derby, said: “The University of Derby is delighted to be supporting the Skills Brokerage Service with our partners at Chesterfield Borough Council. As the city and county’s only university, we take our role working with communities and organisations seriously.

“Those using the Skills Brokerage Service will have access to a team which has extensive experience working with businesses of all sizes to identify relevant training solutions from across a range of training providers that drive real results from consultation to implementation.”

Councillor Tricia Gilby, Leader of Chesterfield Borough Council, said: “The Skills Brokerage Service is a fantastic initiative which can help deliver higher level skills and education to people and employers in Chesterfield.

“This helps businesses to develop the skills they need to grow and can help our residents to access higher paying jobs which in turn will help strengthen our local economy.

“I’m proud that we are working in partnership with the University of Derby to deliver this service which has the potential to make a real difference in our borough.”

The Skills Brokerage Service complements and provides access to the Executive and Professional Education offering from the University’s St Helena Campus in Chesterfield.

Businesses can access a wide range of courses through the University of Derby including CPD and short courses focused on leadership and management, management apprenticeships spanning business, marketing and human resource management, logistics and accounting.

Matt Bromley, Academic Manager of Professional Executive Education, said: “The University has direct links to a wide range of organisations working across a variety of sectors, and our Executive Education programmes have been built on our knowledge and interactions with partners and stakeholders.

“The holistic offer is designed for public and private organisations through to major organisations and SMEs.

“There are several benefits to both the employer and employee. For the employer, it demonstrates a commitment to investing in people and ensures that they acquire  the exact knowledge, skills and behaviours they need.

“The employee, meanwhile, will develop important capabilities that all employers demand from their leaders and the ability to engage employees, forge collaborative relationships and develop people.”

Find out more about the Chesterfield Skills Brokerage Service and the University of Derby’s Executive Education offering.

Looking for business support in Chesterfield? Contact Destination Chesterfield and we will refer you to the services your organisation requires.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Destination Chesterfield, Home, Manufacturing, Skills, UncategorisedTagged in , , , , , ,

Work begins on enhanced community facilities at Barrow Hill Memorial Hall

Work to refurbish Barrow Hill Memorial Hall and create enhanced community and healthcare facilities has started on site.

Barrow Hill Community Trust is refurbishing its historic home to create a social space for the community and add new facilities that will enable local residents to access healthcare services.

With funding provided through the Staveley Town Deal and the Heritage Lottery Fund, the first phase of the ambitious project should be completed by March 2026.

Simon Redding at Barrow Hill Community Trust, said: “It is fantastic to get started on site and start to see our plans come together. This is a community building and will make a real difference in Barrow Hill, helping people to access the services they need at every stage of life but also ensuring that as a community we have a space that we can call our own and celebrate our achievements.”

Plans for the memorial hall include classroom space, healthcare facilities and a new social space for the community to come together. The work will be carried out in phases, with some elements dependent on further external funding.

Ivan Fomin, Chair of the Staveley Town Deal, said: “The Trust have worked incredibly hard to bring this project to life and I want to thank them for all their hard work. This project has the ability to transform lives and support our aim of ensuring that Staveley is a place where everyone can have the best start to their lives, stay, grow and ultimately achieve their potential.”

Barrow Hill Memorial Hall is owned and managed by the Trustees of Barrow Hill Community Trust on behalf of the community.

The Trust has owned the Hall since 1924 when Charles Paxton Markham gave the Workmen’s Hall at Barrow Hill to the community as a war memorial.

The refurbishment of Barrow Hill Memorial Hall is just one project that is being funded through the Staveley Town Deal. To find out more about the wider programme visit: www.chesterfield.gov.uk/staveley-town-deal

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Celebrate Chesterfield, Development, Home, Property and Construction, UncategorisedTagged in , , , , , , ,

New luxury hair salon to open at Elder Way

Elder Way will welcome a third business to the development later this year, with a new luxury hair salon, Feather & Fern set to open in Unit 1 on Knifesmithgate in May.

Feather & Fern owners and hairdressers Kerry Featherstone and Sara Fern have agreed a 10-year lease on the prominent 1,636 sq. ft unit with Elder Way developer Jomast marking another exciting tenant for the iconic former Co-op department store.

Feather & Fern will now join Bottle & Thyme and Hotpod Yoga who both moved to the development last year.

Both hailing and currently working in Chesterfield, the opening of Feather & Fern is the first business venture for Kerry and Sara.

Speaking about the move, Kerry said: “We are really excited by the Elder Way development. It is the new place to be in town. The unit and space wowed us and we wanted it immediately.”

Feather & Fern will be located in what was the electrical department of the former Co-Op department store. Work is now underway to transform the split-level unit.

Sara added: “Jomast has allowed us to be flexible with the interior and that was important to us. We want to put our own stamp on the space and create an environment unlike other hair salon in town.”

The lower level will host a welcoming area with a reception desk, sea grass pendant lighting, a seating area, and a coffee bar. “It’s an area for people to not just wait for their appointment, but relax,” Kerry added.

The second level will be zoned into cutting, washing, and mixing areas. In keeping with the wider Elder Way development, Feather and Fern will have a fresh and contemporary look.

The original unit 1 has been split in order to accommodate Fern & Feather’s business needs. The split has created a smaller 1,109 sq.ft unit which Jomast is confident will appeal to independent and start-up businesses in the area.

Mark Hill, Jomast’s Commercial Property Director said: “I am delighted that we have been able to accommodate Sara and Kerry’s new business and help them realise their dream.

“Feather & Fern will be a great addition to Elder Way and Chesterfield town centre. It’s a prominent unit with lots of parking nearby as well as neighbouring businesses like Bottle & Thyme which will assist them in getting their business established quickly.

The move to Elder Way by Feather & Fern means that all three corner units at the development on Knifesmithgate and Elder Way – are now fully occupied. Just one unit remains available on Knifesmithgate.

Set to open in May later this year, Feather & Fern aims to create nine jobs, including six stylist roles, two apprenticeships, and a beauty therapist role. The salon will have ten hair sections with extra seating for colours and treatments.

Looking forward to opening their first business, Sara said: “It’s very exciting and scary. We can’t wait to welcome clients – new and old – to Feather & Fern. We are delighted that we are able to bring our vision to life at Elder Way. It’s the place to be in Chesterfield.”

Just five units now remain available at Elder Way with agent WSB Property reporting strong interest from a number of operators.

For enquiries or further information about the available units, visit www.elderway.co.uk

Enterprises of every kind already benefit from Chesterfield’s positive approach, supportive community, superb travel links and excellent strategic location. Find out more about locating your business in our town at: https://www.chesterfield.co.uk/business/invest-in-chesterfield/

 

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Celebrate Chesterfield, Home, Leisure, Uncategorised, VisitingTagged in , , , , , , ,

Education recruitment agency opens new Chesterfield office to support growth

An award-winning education recruitment agency has opened a new office in Renishaw, Chesterfield to support business growth across the region.

Trust Education Ltd, which has its headquarters in Rotherham, works in partnership with schools to match job vacancies with candidates across South Yorkshire, West Yorkshire and East Midlands.

Established in 2022, the specialist independent agency aims to expand its client base in the East Midlands region through investment in this additional office.

Based in Renishaw Hall Stable Block, Chesterfield, the new Trust Education office accommodates a dedicated team of recruitment consultants and provides space to meet candidates in-person to discuss their specific needs.

Co-director of Trust Education Barry Simmons said: “Our new Renishaw office enables us to better support all the candidates and schools we already work with in and around Chesterfield, the communities south of Sheffield, and across the East Midlands region. And, it means we have the capacity to reach out to, and work with, many more.

“We’ve built our business on an absolute dedication to building good relationships with clients and candidates, based on open and honest communication and support. Having an office on the ground in East Midlands with dedicated staff in situ shows our commitment to this ethos and we look forward to working with many more schools and candidates in the region.”

Trust Education Ltd was founded in 2022 and has grown rapidly in two and half years, attracting more than 500 candidates to its books and 100 partner schools. The company’s own team of recruitment consultants and support staff has grown from five to 13 since they launched.

Trust Education supports short, medium and long-term recruitment for teaching, non-teaching and support roles in Primary, Secondary and SEND Schools, as well as FE establishments. Find out more about Trust Education here: https://www.trust-education.co.uk/

Looking to base your business in Chesterfield? Find out why out town is perfectly positioned to help your company grow: https://www.chesterfield.co.uk/business/invest-in-chesterfield/

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Development, Home, UncategorisedTagged in , , , ,

BRM Chesterfield Festival of Cricket returns this summer with four exciting matches

The BRM Chesterfield Festival of Cricket, in association with Chesterfield Borough Council, will return to Queen’s Park this summer.

The Falcons Men return to one of the UK’s most picturesque cricket grounds on Sunday 6 July (2.30pm), to face Yorkshire in T20 action.

2024’s encounter saw the Falcons extend their unbeaten streak over the White Rose at Chesterfield to seven games, and they’ll be aiming to continue their good form in 2025.

Before that, cricket fans can soak up plenty of action in our town as Falcons Women take on Worcestershire Rapids on Saturday 28 June in the Vitality Blast Women’s League Two (T20).

Derbyshire Men will then face Lancashire in the Rothesay County Championship (First-class) on Sunday 29 June – Wednesday 2 July.

Then, The Blaze will take to the field against Hampshire Women on Friday 4 July in the Vitality Blast Women’s Competition (T20).

The T20 fixture between Derbyshire and Yorkshire has become a regular fixture in the cricketing calendar and has sold out on each of the last six occasions, so it is recommended fans secure their tickets early.

Jimmy Drew, Commercial Manager of Derbyshire County Cricket Club commented: “The club really looks forward to the BRM Chesterfield Festival of Cricket each season, and it’s always amazing to see so many people from Chesterfield and the surrounding area support this.  The atmosphere created around Queen’s Park, particularly for our T20 match against Yorkshire, is second to none, and it’s great to feel the buzz from those supporting Derbyshire, especially if we win.”

Find out more about the event at: https://www.chesterfield.co.uk/events/the-chesterfield-festival-of-cricket/

Looking for details of events, and festivals happening in Chesterfield check out www.chestrfield.co.uk/events or sign up for our weekly email update here.

Derbyshire County Cricket Club and BRM Solicitors support the marketing and economic growth of the town through Chesterfield Champions, a network of over 200 organisations across Chesterfield and North Derbyshire.

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New owners of Chesterfield’s oldest pub say venue has ‘huge potential’

The new owners of Chesterfield’s oldest pub say they have big plans for the venue after recently receiving the keys to their new business.

Meg Hartman and Patrick Hopkins are the landlords of Ye Royal Oak, based in Chesterfield’s historic Shambles in the heart of the town. The couple are currently working as teachers, and are balancing the pub’s renovation with their demanding jobs.

Speaking about their decision to take on the pub, which is claimed to date back to the 12th century, Meg explained: “Having lived in Chesterfield for almost three years now, we frequently passed the Royal Oak and spoke about how we’d love to be in the position to buy the pub to transform it back to being a beautiful boozer.

“We are currently both teachers (Patrick – a secondary history teacher – and Meg – a special needs primary school teacher) and while this has been a rewarding career for us both, it has been a lifelong dream of ours to own a pub. We knew that we wanted something in the area and we also wanted a historic pub whose heritage we could celebrate and restore. The Royal Oak, obviously, ticked both of these boxes and we were fortunate enough to be in a position to buy the pub as independent owners.”

The couple say once the pub is back up and running, they are keen to turn it into a venue which can be used by all corners of the local community.

Meg added: “We think it has huge potential as a town centre venue. We are aiming to be a wet led pub with a warm and welcome atmosphere selling regional, national and international craft ale, beer and cider. Having both spent a lot of time working up in the Highlands, we also hope to provide a robust whisky offering.

“Our food offering will be a fine selection of bar snacks (think butties, pork pies, sausage rolls, pickled eggs and the best crisp selection you could imagine). As we become more settled in the rituals and routines of Royal Oak life, we may look to extend this offering to pies and toasties. We will also have a solid roster of regular events (such as a weekly pub quiz, folk sessions, chess nights) as well as one-off events (tap takeovers, meet the brewers etc.). We are also hoping to serve as a space for groups within the local community to come together and connect.”

Since moving to Chesterfield three years ago, Meg and Patrick say they have fallen in love with the town and its people: “We love living in Chesterfield. It’s such a great town that is really made by the people that live here. We have had such an overwhelmingly lovely response from locals who love the pub and have shared their own stories with us.

“We feel very supported in this venture. As the oldest pub in Chesterfield, we are thrilled to add to its layers of history and want to do our best to preserve its heritage. We are looking forward to collaborating with local pub history tours to bring in locals and visitors to the town alike to share in the thrilling history of the town’s pubs. Sitting just in the Shambles, we are looking forward to the developments being made in the market and look forward to being a destination for shoppers to come for a pint, a coffee or a chat. We are also looking forward to joining a network of superb local independent businesses.”

Keep up to date with the pub’s renovation on Ye Royal Oak’s social media pages:

Want to discover more about what Chesterfield has to offer? Head over to our visiting pages and plan your stay in Chesterfield.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Celebrate Chesterfield, Destination Chesterfield, Featured, Home, Leisure, Summer, Uncategorised, VisitingTagged in , , , , , , , , , ,

£5 million home to be built in Chesterfield for children with significant disabilities and complex learning needs

A £5 million purpose-built children’s home in Chesterfield will provide essential short-break and long-term care for children and young people with significant disabilities and complex learning needs.

Derbyshire County Council officials joined project design and build partners at a ground-breaking ceremony at Spire Lodge in Chesterfield earlier this month.

The home on the Ashgate Croft School campus will offer tailored support and create a nurturing environment for children and their families to improve services for children with special needs and disabilities (SEND).

The project has been designed by design consultant Concertus and is being built by Stepnell. It is due to open in November.

Derbyshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Children and Families Councillor Julie Patten said: “It was great to see the council’s design and build partners join together to mark the start of construction on the new Spire Lodge children’s home.

“Alongside the £7.5 million investment into new children’s homes recently approved by the council’s Cabinet, projects like these demonstrate our continued and long-term commitment to supporting some of the county’s most vulnerable children and young people.

“The new children’s home features a bespoke design to support children in an individual but social environment in the heart of the community, with local shops, amenities, and parks nearby and is next to Ashgate School where some of the children will attend.

“I’m particularly pleased to hear about the provision the home gives to children in care with disabilities and how it builds a bridge to adult services, supporting families in managing transitions and helping to maintain education placements.

“l look forward to seeing the building’s completion offering an exciting new chapter of memories and experiences for the children and young people of Spire Lodge.”

Spire Lodge will provide short breaks to enable families to continue living together at home and offer children opportunities they may not have in a domestic setting which can help to support independence, education and health routines.

These breaks also give families respite from the pressures of caring for a child with SEND and can improve children’s health and independence helping them develop into adults with a better quality of life resulting in better outcomes for families.

Concertus Principal Architectural Designer Andrew Elliot said: “We are excited to be part of such a vital project for young people in Derbyshire, which will provide residential facilities in new flagship accommodation.

“We are pleased to further collaborate with our appointed contractor Stepnell and strengthen our positive working relationship with our client Derbyshire County Council.”

Stepnell Regional Director Tom Sewell said: “Our work at Spire Lodge shows how an effective construction process can have positive impacts not only on end users but also the wider community.

“The finished facility is set to provide such essential care for children and young people that need it the most, and we’re proud to have been involved.

“The project is one example within a collection that we’ve had the opportunity to be part of alongside both Concertus and Derbyshire County Council, both of which are partnerships that we’re looking forward to continuing in our work across the region.”

Stepnell supports the marketing and economic growth of the town through Chesterfield Champions, a network of over 200 organisations across Chesterfield and North Derbyshire.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Development, Home, Property and Construction, UncategorisedTagged in , , , , , ,

Chesterfield Pride announces line-up for 10th anniversary event

Chesterfield Pride has announced an exciting line-up for its 10th anniversary event this July.

The festival, which sees thousands of visitors celebrating in Stand Road Park returns on Saturday July 19th.

The event will have two stages, with the main stage to be headlined by chart-topping boyband, 911. The group scored 10 top ten singles in the UK including a number one single. The Main Stage will also see performances from MOBO award-winning Big Brovaz, chart-topper and West End star Diana Vickers, 90s artists Alex Party and Berri.

Also announced on this year’s lineup is the iconic Honey G, Pride legend Kelly Wilde, Dene Michael from Black Lace and Britain’s Got Talent star, Rob King.

The event also hosts the Cabaret Stage which will see some of the UK’s most well-known drag artists appearing, alongside the best in unsigned talent. This year’s Cabaret Stage will see performances from the fabulous Baga Chipz, Fatt Butcher and Bernie De Bra. Aditionally, this stage will see some of the world’s best tributes including Donna Marie as Lady Gaga and Melissa Totten as Madonna. Unsigned artists appreating at the event include Toni Lee, Poppy-Mai, Davey Stuart and Lexi Whiteside.

Chesterfield Pride Organiser, Dan Walker commented: “I am so proud to see the event reach its 10th Birthday. To see Chesterfield Pride grow over 10 years has been fantastic. To know we are now the region’s biggest LGBTQ celebration is an amazing achievement. The event has a fantastic team of volunteers working on it to make it happen.

“Chesterfield Pride is a day about bringing the community together and having fun. Chesterfield Pride would not be possible without the amazing support from everyone that attends the event and all the businesses that sponsor us.”

Tickets are £10 if bought in advance. Under 16’s are free entry but must be accompanied with an adult. Tickets available through Skiddle or by visiting: chesterfieldpride.co.uk

Find out more about events and activities taking place in Chesterfield at: https://www.chesterfield.co.uk/visiting/events/

Posted in About Chesterfield, Celebrate Chesterfield, Home, Leisure, Stay, Summer, Uncategorised, VisitingTagged in , , , , ,

Partnership working enables promotion of the Peak District and Derbyshire on the international stage

Recent international marketing activity work has been undertaken by Visit Peak District & Derbyshire to boost overseas visitors to the area.

2025 is off to a flying start with Visit Peak District & Derbyshire spearheading international tourism activity to support the destination’s core aims to increase overnight stays, extend the tourism season and grow the value of the visitor economy.

As lead partner of the area’s Local Visitor Economy Partnership (LVEP), Visit Peak District & Derbyshire recently worked in partnership with VisitBritain and West Midlands Growth Company to host travel buyers from the Netherlands and Belgium on a familiarisation trip to the area.

The influential group of buyers and tour operators – all experts in selling trips to the UK – were in the destination as part of VisitBritain’s ‘Showcase Britain’ event, which includes a series of special educational visits to shine the spotlight on the latest products and experiences on offer for future visitors.

The programme enables overseas buyers to make new connections and gain first-hand experience of destinations, so they are equipped with the latest product knowledge to create new itineraries and drive international visits that will support and grow the visitor economy.

According to VisitBritain research, the UK welcomed 2 million visitors from the Netherlands in 2023 who spent a record £1.1 billion. In the same year, 867,000 visitors from Belgium travelled to the UK, spending a record £481.4 million.

With a strong focus on travelling for culture, heritage, nature and the outdoors, the aim is to encourage Dutch and Belgian visitors to add the Peak District and Derbyshire to future itineraries and help grow the destination’s £2.9bn visitor economy.

Visit Peak District & Derbyshire worked alongside six local tourism operators to bring the ‘Showcase Britain’ trip to life – and in connection with VisitBritain’s new Starring GREAT Britain campaign, the visit was designed to highlight some of the area’s many film locations which have featured in films and TV programmes shown across the world.

The buyers discovered the breathtaking beauty of the Peak District National Park on a guided walk with Peak Walking Adventures on Stanage Edge, as seen in the 2005 film adaptation of Pride & Prejudice.

The group also visited Haddon Hall, historic home of Lord and Lady Edward Manners, to discover the backdrop for famous films and TV shows including Wolf Hall, Mary Queen of Scots, The King, The Princess Bride and numerous adaptations of Jane Eyre.

The buyers enjoyed Bakewell Pudding Making at the Old Original Bakewell Pudding Shop, sampled local food at The George, Hathersage and The Pilsley Inn on the Chatsworth Estate, and stayed at the newly-opened Bike & Boot Hotel in Hope, a walking, cycling and dog-friendly hotel in the heart of the Peak District.

The activity to drive international visits came hot on the heels of Visit Peak District & Derbyshire attending the Britain & Ireland Marketplace (BIM) trade event in London on 26th January, which offers British tourism suppliers and destinations an opportunity to meet 1-1 with overseas buyers from across the world.

Other recent activity has included an international workshop with VisitBritain Germany in November to meet major tour operators and travel agents, and promoting the area’s trade-ready product at the ‘Vakantiebeurs’ Trade Day event in Utrecht earlier this year, which is regarded as a key annual travel event for the Netherlands.

Jo Dilley, Managing Director of Visit Peak District & Derbyshire, says: “Attracting international visits to the Peak District and Derbyshire is vitally important to creating a sustainable, year-round visitor economy that supports local jobs, businesses and communities.

“International markets can be key for supporting tourism businesses in the traditionally quieter months, encouraging longer stays, increasing visitor spend, and driving economic growth right across the region.

“Being part of these important face-to-face events and familiarisation visits helps showcase the area as a world-class destination for key travel trade buyers, ensuring the Peak District and Derbyshire is ‘front of mind’ for them when programming and recommending destinations to their clients in 2025 and beyond.”

Mayor of the East Midlands, Claire Ward, says: “People across the region know and enjoy the beautiful towns, villages and breathtaking countryside in Derbyshire, and we’re so fortunate to have the incredible Peak District on our doorstep. I have loved spending so much time in Derbyshire and the Peak District, it’s such a joy to visit either in my role as Mayor or going there with my family on rare days off.

“I am delighted with the work being done by the team at Visit Peak District and Derbyshire, as we rightly showcase to the world all we have to offer tourists and businesses. It is so important to me that we protect and promote this part of our region, support and grow the businesses here and make sure as many people across the globe add ‘Visit Derbyshire’ to their travel plans.”

Planning your trip to the Peak District or Derbyshire? Make sure you visit the historic market town of Chesterfield! Find out more about what our town has to offer at: https://www.chesterfield.co.uk/visiting/

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