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Work completed on luxury Chesterfield town centre apartments

The creation of 55 high-spec apartments in a prominent Chesterfield town centre building has been completed less than a year after work began.

The project has come in bang on schedule, and a launch date for the new apartments above shops in Burlington Street is taking place today (Friday, March 15).

Nottingham-based developer ALB Group has achieved a “first” for the company in its conversion of the town centre space.

As part of the redevelopment, an extra floor has been added at the top of the building, providing an additional 13 apartments, many of which have the benefit of a balcony.

Arran Bailey, managing director of ALB Group, said he was delighted with the end result.

“The result is unbelievable,” he said. “Not only has it made the existing building look so much more appealing and modern, but it has also created some apartments with fabulous outside space.

“The upper two floors of the building have now been remodelled while the ground floor remains in use for commercial retailers.”

Tenants currently occupying the commercial space on the ground floor include H Samuel, Betfred, and Max Speilman.

Arran said: “It’s the first time we have added an extra storey onto a block, and it’s turned out fantastically – we are very pleased with the results.”

The development has taken just 51 weeks from work starting until finish.

“We are extremely happy with how this redevelopment has turned out,” said Arran. “It has transformed the high street, breathing new life in this part of the town, while also providing high specification ‘must have’ apartments for the people of Chesterfield.”

ALB is committed to championing improvements in town and city centres across the country. The firm has made recent property purchases in Norwich, Stoke-on-Trent, Derby, Nottingham, Peterborough, Ipswich, Huddersfield and Birkenhead, where footfall has since seen significant increases.

Rated the 2nd best place in the UK to raise a family, and the happiest place to live in the East Midlands, our town has so much to offer. Find out more about living in Chesterfield here. 

Chesterfield apartments burlington street external

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Inspirational work continues in Chesterfield’s business community

Inspirational work continues to take place amongst Chesterfield’s businesses to support good causes and community initiatives in the town.

Our latest roundup of feel-good stories includes a celebration of inspirational women in the town, support for a cheerleading group to fulfill their ambitions of taking part in a world championships, a heartfelt charity challenge taking place at the upcoming Redbrik Foundation Chesterfield 10k race, and young Chesterfield footballers being given the skills to save lives.

Read more in our latest roundup from our Chesterfield Champions below:


Chesterfield Football Club plays host to inspirational Women’s Day event

Banner Jones International Women's Day event

More than 60 businesswomen from across South Sheffield and Derbyshire came together last week at Chesterfield Football Club to mark this year’s International Women’s Day.

The inspirational event was hosted by MMB Magazine and sponsored by regional law firm Banner Jones, with the proceedings led by event host Natalie Jackson who is a former lawyer and Director at See Sporty Be Sporty.

Natalie is actively encouraging girls to participate in sports, creating partnerships helping businesses to support local young people working with the Outward Bound Trust.

The first speaker at the event, which took place on February 29th, was World Thai Boxing Champion and UK Boxing Champion Rachael Mackenzie who shared her journey to success. And what a journey it was!

The inspirational evening consisted of networking opportunities, and a chance to celebrate the achievements of women in the local community. Half of the funds raised were also donated to support Chesterfield FC Women, supporting their journey in securing funds for pitch hire, referees, kit, training, and other essential needs.

A number of other inspirational women were invited to share their experiences, including top female football referee Georgia Ball, founder of Colleague Box Natalie Bamford, the first female shareholding management board member of Banner Jones, Katie Ash, and Business Expansion and Inward Investment Specialist Nicolle Ndiweni.

Katie Ash, panel speaker and event sponsor commented: “We were delighted to sponsor this event focussed on celebrating the achievements of women and inspiring the next generation of women in business.

“Women have been forcing change and we are seeing the fruits of their labour but there is still a way to go. This event got us thinking about inclusivity, what it means and how we can put it at the centre of everything we do. It was also great to see such a big turnout for the event and I am looking forward to supporting the coming events this year to build stronger relationships within our local community of women in business”.

Andrea Parkinson, Chesterfield FC Women 1st Team Manager, also attended the event. They held a very successful raffle with funds raised going towards securing referees for the remaining matches of the season.

As this event has been so popular and there is a clear demand for more Women’s networking in Chesterfield, Abbie at MMB Magazine is planning future events.

The first MMB Private Lunch Club Derbyshire will be held in Chesterfield town centre on the 14th May 2024, 12pm-2pm in Café No10’s new private dining area upstairs. Look out for more information but email abbie@mmbmagazine.co.uk if you are interested in attending.


DBCP help make Trailblazer Allstars’ World Cheerleading Championship dreams a reality

Trailblazer Allstars with DBCP banner

A cheerleading squad is off to the US in April to compete in the Allstar World Cheerleading Championships – the Olympics of the cheerleading world – thanks to a bit of help from DBCP, the Chesterfield-based building control services provider.

DBCP has made a generous £1000 donation to the Trailblazer Allstars to help towards their trip of a lifetime to Orlando in Florida where the championships are taking place.

The donation will be used alongside additional fundraising by the team, to purchase training kit, uniforms, flights and accommodation, entry fees and performance music at the international competition.

DBCP has a special connection to The Trailblazer Allstars; a member of its technical team is the squad’s ‘flyer’. By day, Jade Sheppard can be found processing building control applications, but in the evening and at weekends, she is the athlete who is lifted and thrown into the air during a stunt or appears at the top of a pyramid during performances.

In addition to DBCP’s donation, the squad have fundraised tirelessly for the trip over the last 12 months, after learning they had been invited to compete in the Cheerleading World Championships which are held every year.

Jade said: “We’re so grateful to DBCP and everyone else who has donated to help get us to the Cheerleading Worlds. It has made a huge difference. As a team we don’t receive any funding to help us get there so heavily rely on fundraising. All donations are helping make our dreams to showcase our skills on a huge stage a reality.”

Currently ninth best in the world, the Trailblazer Allstars are one of only three teams from the UK competing in the 2024 world championship held at Disney World. Jade and 19 of her fellow cheerleaders, together with coaches and helpers, will head to the US at the end of April where they will spend a week training before competing over two days.

David Pratt, DBCP’s Building Control Manager said: “We are all very proud of Jade and her team’s achievements and are delighted to support them in getting to the Cheerleading Worlds. Jade’s full of energy in the office at DBCP! If the team take this energy to the competition, we have no doubt that they will be bringing back a medal for the U.K. in April.”

At the Cheerleading World Championships, the Trailblazer Allstars will compete in the highest division (Level 7). This is the third time they’ve competed in Florida. During the 2022 competition they finished ninth out of more than 20 teams. This year the team is hoping to hit a new high following the creation of a non-tumble category.

The new category is designed specifically for teams that have limited training facilities and are unable to incorporate floor gymnastic displays in their routines. Jade added: “With the introduction of the non-tumble category, Trailblazer Allstars have a real chance against the US teams at the World Championship.”

If you would like to donate to the Trailblazer Allstars’ cheerleading world championships dream, you can do so via their JustGiving page.


‘Wonderful’ care volunteer’s friend received at Ashgate Hospice inspires her to take on Chesterfield 10K

Helen Hadley Ashgate Hospice running the Chestefield 10k

The close friend of a woman who received “wonderful” Ashgate Hospice care is running the Chesterfield 10K in her memory.

Helen Hadley started volunteering at the hospice’s reception in Old Brampton, Chesterfield, after her friend Margaret Umney died in March last year, aged just 44.

She will be one of hundreds of runners taking to the streets on Sunday 24 March for the event, sponsored by the Redbrik Foundation.

Helen, 45, from New Whittington, hopes to raise as much as she can for the charity, which cared for Margaret at home, allowing her to fulfil her wish of dying at home with her family by her side.

The route will start and finish in Queen’s Park and will see runners embark on a journey around the heart of Chesterfield, heading past landmarks including the town’s famous Crooked Spire.

Runners of all abilities – as well as volunteers – are being urged to sign up for the event.

Helen said: “When I ran the Chesterfield 10K a couple of years ago, Margaret was one of my biggest supporters; she was always sending me positive messages.

“It only seemed fitting to run the event this year in her memory. The hospice did such a wonderful job of caring for Margaret; the team at Ashgate ensured she was able to be at home with her husband Dan, and children Ellie, Shannon and Lewis.

“Being able to raise funds towards the charity’s care is definitely a big added bonus for me.”

Ashgate Hospice has once again been announced as one of the Chesterfield 10K’s charity partners, and participants are being encouraged to sign up and fundraise to help fund the charity’s vital end of life services.

Taking part will help people like Margaret, from New Whittington, who was diagnosed with breast cancer five years before she died.

She spent years undergoing intense treatment until she was told nothing more could be done.

Helen added: “The hospice is a place that so many of us are all too familiar with and has played a part in ours or someone that we know’s life.

“Volunteering there, I get to witness first hand, the amazing work that the team do. They receive less than 40% of their funding from the government, so every single pound makes an enormous difference.”

Other participants include David Hudson, from Wingerworth, who will have his parents, Brian and Elizabeth, on his mind whilst taking on the event, after they died in 2002, just four months apart. He hopes to raise £500 towards the hospice’s care in their memory.

“My father passed away after being diagnosed with bowel cancer,” said David. “I love hearing people’s stories about how they have coped with cancer and this has inspired me to raise money for Ashgate Hospice.

“It’s an amazing charity that does amazing things for sick people, including those who have cancer. I think my parents would love the work does Ashgate for people in the community if they were still with us.”

Entry into the 2024 Redbrik Foundation Chesterfield 10K costs £25 per person. Participants can also choose to purchase a t-shirt for an additional £10.

Volunteers are also needed at the event to help with marshalling and with bag collection – anyone who is able to help is asked to complete this form or contact Ashgate Hospice’s events team.

If you have any questions about this event, please email Ashgate Hospice’s events team at events@ashgatehospice.org.uk.


Young Spireites learn life saving first-aid skills

csals Chesterfield FC First aid training

Players from Chesterfield FC Junior & Youth Academy took part in a first aid session provided by CSALS, a charity dedicated to ensuring more people are equipped with vital life-saving knowledge.

CSALS’ lead trainer, John Hutchinson, showed the youngsters how to perform CPR and other first aid skills.

The session was delivered in the HUB at the SMH Group Stadium and funded by Auto Windscreens as part of their support for CSALS via the charity’s 999 Appeal.

Shaun Atton, Business Development Director from Auto Windscreens, said: “We’ve been based in Chesterfield since being founded in 1971 and take our responsibilities to the community around us very seriously.

“We’re proud to support CSALS’ life-saving work and its most recent training session at Chesterfield FC, for which we’ve been a sponsor since 2022.

“We also make CSALS courses available to all our colleagues and their families, as we believe it’s important as many people as possible can provide assistance in an emergency.”

Debra Johnson, CSALS’ community facilitator, said: “We were delighted to see the aspiring young footballers learning skills that could help them save a life. I would like to thank Auto Windscreens for providing the funding to enable the session to go ahead.”


Chesterfield FC, CSALS, Ashgate Hospice, Banner Jones Solicitors, Redbrik and DBCP 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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PEAK Gateway Resort receives reserved matters planning approval

Chesterfield Borough Council has approved the reserved matters planning application for a revised first phase of the PEAK Gateway Resort on the reclaimed Birchall Estate. The 300-acre property is located on the eastern boundary of the Peak District National Park in Chesterfield, Derbyshire.

PEAK proposes to bring the scope and services of internationally successful ski resorts to create the UK’s equivalent for biking, hiking and other adventure sports as well as for nature, culture and heritage experiences.

PEAK will have its own micro grid for energy, waste and water. PEAK will generate and consume its own energy and operate a zero-carbon tourism dedicated mobility service.

Planning permission includes extensive overnight and holiday accommodation supported by hospitality, leisure, wellness, a multi-disciplinary bike park and experiential retail. As such, it is one of the largest permitted mixed-use leisure schemes in the UK. Five of the six largest cities in England are within 75 miles, providing a visitor catchment of over 20 million people.

Labelled Gateway at PEAK Image

Locally, PEAK has the potential to create over 1,000 new jobs. It will partner with the education sector to deliver a Green Skills Academy in support of both PEAK and Chesterfield’s commitment to training and upskilling across a broad range of key sectors, but especially for construction and tourism.

PEAK will be open to day, as well as stay visitors. Local residents and businesses will be able to take advantage of incentives and membership opportunities.

Councillor Tricia Gilby, Leader of Chesterfield Borough Council, said: “PEAK Resort offers a fantastic opportunity to bring more visitors into Chesterfield, grow our local economy and create a range of new jobs.

“It will be an incredible asset for our borough and will be a national leader in respect of clean energy, zero carbon mobility and skills.

“I look forward to seeing this development take shape over the next few years.”

PEAK Gateway Resort from above

The current landowner has, over many years, fully reclaimed the 300-acre Birchall estate from opencast. The property now provides the perfect natural setting for the consented development. Nature and outdoor experiences are at the heart of the PEAK offer and BNG (Biodiversity Net Gain) resulting from the development will all be achieved on the property.

Birchall and PEAK hope to be an exemplar of the reclamation of land from the industries of the past into enterprises of the future.

Rupert Carr, a director of Birchall and Peak Gateway Properties, said at the Planning Committee Meeting: “PEAK is the opportunity to deliver a clean growth infrastructure for the regional visitor economy, an opportunity for Chesterfield and indeed the region to build a significant presence in one of the fastest growing economic sectors. PEAK is finally of its time.”

PEAK Resort will also support the UK’s first hydrogen and EV tourist mobility service linking visitors to Chesterfield’s medieval market town centre, its national rail station and surrounding attractions as well as to the trails and natural wonders of the National Park.

Tarah Gear, director at Milligan who are part of Peak Gateway Properties said; “PEAK will become a blueprint for sustainable tourism, adding value to Chesterfield’s economy and community through job creation, investment in skills and regional connectivity.

“Milligan are proud to have been part of the team bringing the project forward to a point of market readiness. PEAK, as proposed, has been achieved through true partnership, a collaboration between local and regional stakeholders as well as national and international commercial operators. PEAK now has the opportunity to be a trailblazer and set new standards for the future of leisure and tourism.”

Colliers’ National Capital Markets team have been appointed to take the project forwards.

PEAK Gateway View

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Show your love for Mum this Mother’s Day in Chesterfield

With Mother’s Day just around the corner, now is the time to show some appreciation and spread some love for the amazing mums in Chesterfield, whilst enjoying all the unique offerings and charm of our town.

Here are three great ways you can show your love for Mum, whilst also supporting our town and enjoying everything Chesterfield has to offer.


1. Surprise Mum with some fantastic gifts from Chesterfield’s independent shops

Dotique 873x466

Take a stroll down the picturesque streets of Chesterfield, and you’ll find a treasure trove of quirky shops with handmade items, made by people with a passion for great products and services.

From stunning jewellery to the perfect bunch of flowers, our local shopping hubs have so much choice when it comes to memorable gifts. It’s an opportunity to give our high streets a much-needed boost, whilst treating our mothers to a gift that is as unique as them. Our businesses will help you go beyond the ordinary, helping you to treat mum to locally sourced food and beverages, crafted with passion and care by our town’s talented producers.

Looking for a last-minute present? See our Mother’s Day gift guide here.


2. Show your appreciation by treating Mum to her favourite meal

Couple dining at Casa Hotel

Of course, no Mother’s Day celebration is complete without indulging in your mum’s favourite meal. Fortunately, there’s no need to get stressed about the cooking! Chesterfield’s independent culinary scene is once again pulling out all the stops to offer your family an unforgettable dining experience.

Local restaurants are gearing up to pay tribute to the extraordinary mothers in our lives, presenting a menu of unforgettable dishes that will make this Mother’s Day truly special. Get ready for some mouthwatering dishes and special menus to show our mums that they’re one of a kind.

Check out our guide to dining out this Mother’s Day. 


3. Give Mum the chance to let her hair down

Couple enjoying the spa at ringwood hall

If Mum likes to get her dancing shoes on, we have some fabulous acts performing in Chesterfield’s Winding Wheel theatre this year, with Shaun Ryder, Aled Jones and the legendary Showaddywaddy coming to town. On top of that, tributes to familiar favourites such as Queen, Tina Turner, Abba and Elton John will give her a night to remember.

See what’s on at the Winding Wheel Theatre here, or visit our events listings page for more great ideas.

Or, if she’d rather relax and wind down, why not buy her a voucher for one of Chesterfield’s local spas or hotels? Look out for some of the luxurious packages being promoted by the likes of Ringwood Hall Hotel & Spa, DoubleTree by Hilton Sheffield Park, and Casa Hotel.

See our guide for places to visit in Chesterfield.

For more ways to help you find the perfect way to spoil mum, be sure to check out our  guides to 50 fantastic retailers and 50 brilliant bars and restaurants on social media. Whether it’s a cosy brunch, a heartfelt gift or some quality time in our beautiful local surroundings, let’s ensure our mums feel valued and cherished on this special day.

Happy Mother’s Day to all the remarkable mums in Chesterfield!

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Budding Chesterfield artists invited to submit their creations for the Chesterfield Postcard Show

Chesterfield’s annual exhibition of mini masterpieces is back for 2024, and residents across the area are being invited to take part.

This year’s Chesterfield Postcard Show is entitled ‘Memories Are Made of This” and will take place between the 7th and 17th of May at West Studios. Artists of all abilities are invited to be part of the exciting exhibition. All you need to do is submit a postcard-size piece of art by the 24th of April 2024.

Organised by Junction Arts and local artist Dave Elsom, the event celebrates the importance of getting creative and its impact on people’s self-esteem and well-being. Last year 173 artists submitted their works with 329 pieces of original art on display, raising over £1,200.

Hannah Bowdler, Fundraising Coordinator at Junction Arts said: “We believe that everyone should have access to art. The Chesterfield Postcard Shows provides a free exhibition of marvellous miniature artworks for local people to enjoy, a space for new artists to exhibit and showcase their talent, plus people can buy an original piece of art for just £10.

“This is the third year of the show, and we’d like to see more people get involved. It’s open to people of all ages and abilities to take part, and every postcard that is sent to us will feature in the show. Your postcard can be whatever you want it to be, a painting, a photograph, digital artwork, you can use whatever material you like, as long as it’s A6 size and is based on the theme of Memories Are Made of This.”

The original pieces will be available to buy during the exhibition to raise money to support local arts charity Junction Arts and their work within the community. Local businesses are also being invited to support the event, businesses requiring more information can contact hannah@junctionarts.org.

Submissions should be created on A6 card, not paper, and sent to The Chesterfield Postcard Show, Junction Arts, West Studios Sheffield Road, Chesterfield S41 7LL by the 24th of April 2024. If participants need a card, they can send a message to Hannah@junctionarts.org to request a blank card to be sent to them.

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

Chesterfield Postcard show

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Chatsworth to celebrate childhood with a new season of activities

A new family festival, a reimagined adventure playground and a multi-sensory art exhibition are just a glimpse of the year-long cultural programme of events coming to Chatsworth under the theme of ‘Celebrating Childhood’, encouraging visitors to experience Chatsworth and its rich history from a new perspective.

From Saturday 16 March, Chatsworth House and Garden will re-open to visitors with the launch of this year’s exhibition, Picturing Childhood. The thought-provoking and multi-sensory exhibition is designed to be enjoyed by all ages through the lens of childhood. It will include rarely seen artistic masterpieces from the collection, some of which will be on display for the first time, alongside new commissions and loans.

Visitors are invited to see, touch, smell, feel, think, do, and play through new commissions and loans by artists that encourage hands-on and perspective-bending interactions, including a unique scent experience curated by food historian and scent artist, Tasha Marks, and ‘Anthronaut’ series by Abigail Reynolds, which invites visitors to shift their visual perspective of Chatsworth.

Chatsworth House Trust is also working with educational partners to ensure the exhibition creates opportunities for collaboration with those in the local community. Children from Athelstan School in Sheffield will be invited for a ‘Chatsworth takeover’ week in June, including taking charge of its social media channel.

Chatsworth is partnering with The Reading Agency, which will help share the charity’s extensive learning resources with over one million subscribers and connect with local families to guide the content of special mindfulness areas, complete with books selected by young users of Chesterfield Library.

In addition to annual favourite events including the Chatsworth International Horse Trials, Country Fair and the spectacular Christmas display, Chatsworth is launching its inaugural family festival. Taking place from 25 – 27 May, families will be invited to unleash their creativity and let imaginations run wild. Developed for all ages, activities will include mastering gravity-defying circus skills, learning bushcraft, running for gold in sports day races, walking in the footsteps of dinosaurs and scavenger hunts.

Elsewhere on the estate, Chatsworth’s much-loved woodland adventure playground is undergoing a large-scale redevelopment, enhancing opportunities for imaginative free play and immersion within the beautiful surrounding nature of the estate. Set to reopen from April, families can enjoy an exciting day out packed full of adventure and play within the safe setting of the farmyard and playground.

The year-round learning and cultural programme will include a series of events including expert-led talks, tours and workshops for adults and children to explore new pastimes or develop an existing skill, many of which will be centred on the theme of ‘Celebrating Childhood’ at any age.

These include Historic Waterways Tours led by the landscape team through Stand Wood; Cutting Garden Floristry Workshops where participants will learn how to create seasonal arrangements using flowers from the garden; Macramé Plant Hanger workshops led by a local artist, Lamb feeding experiences; and guided tours of Picturing Childhood by exhibition curator Gill Hart.

This season will also see the launch of a new pricing initiative, aiming to take active steps to remove barriers to entry and demonstrate Chatsworth House Trust’s commitment to Chatsworth being a place for everyone. This includes a £10 year-round children’s ticket, giving access to the house, garden, farmyard and adventure playground.

Jane Marriott, Director of Chatsworth House Trust, said: “Through this season celebrating childhood, we hope that our visitors can experience Chatsworth from a new perspective – one that is playful and inquisitive, that celebrates learning and encourages a deeper connection and enjoyment of Chatsworth’s rich history.

“Childhood is something that unites us all. This year we will continue to commission new and exciting artists, introduce our first Chatsworth Family Festival, and develop our learning programme that is packed with opportunities to develop new skill. We look forward to welcoming visitors of all ages to join us for a new perspective at Chatsworth.”
William Burlington, Chairman of Chatsworth House Trust, said: “We are thrilled that 2024 will be a year of storytelling, discovery and play as we celebrate children and childhood at Chatsworth throughout the year.

This year’s exhibition presents exciting new work by exceptional artists alongside the very best works from the historic collection, some on show for the first time. The exhibition has been designed to provoke wonder and to encourage new and different ways to get involved with art and ideas in the house and landscape, and we hope it will bring joy to people of all ages.”

For more information on the events being held at Chatsworth throughout the next 12 months, please visit the website here: https://www.chatsworth.org/events/
And for more information on the Picturing Childhood exhibition, please visit: https://www.chatsworth.org/events/picturing-childhood/

To find out more about upcoming events taking place across Chesterfield and North Derbyshire, head over to our events page.

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

Chatsworth - Season Opening 1 2024

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Contractor appointed to build new canal bridge at Staveley

The Chesterfield Canal Trust has appointed O’Brien Contractors Ltd. to construct and install a new bridge for pedestrians and cyclists over the soon-to-be restored route of the canal at Staveley.

This will be the first stage of the Trust’s £6 million restoration project. The bulk of the money is from the Staveley Town Deal, a government levelling up project.

The new 38 metre long bridge will take the Trans Pennine Trail across the canal to meet the Arkwright Trail. Later the canal itself will be restored including a new bridge for farm vehicles and a new lock. There will also be a freshly landscaped relaxation area including picnic benches and information boards. This will be carefully planted to encourage wildlife.

O’Brien’s will start on site in April and major groundworks will start in May. The bridge will be installed in the summer and there will be a formal opening ceremony in September. You will be able to follow the progress of the works as they happen by going to the Chesterfield Canal Trust’s website.

Tony Mitchell, Director, O’Brien Contractors Ltd, said: “We are extremely pleased to have been appointed by The Chesterfield Canal Trust to provide the new canal bridge at Staveley. This prestigious project will be a huge benefit to pedestrians and cyclists all over the region and the restoration of this historic route will benefit the community for many years to come. We look forward to working with the Trust and their team over the course of this exciting project.”

Chesterfield Canal Trust Development Manager, George Rogers, said “This is a big milestone for the Chesterfield Canal Trust, and we are delighted to appoint O’Brien Contractors to deliver this statement structure over the canal. Installing this bridge will open up the route for future restoration in multiple ways and I am looking forward to seeing it progress over the summer”.

Ivan Fomin, Chair of the Staveley Town Deal Board, said: “It’s taken a huge amount of work by the team at the Chesterfield Canal Trust to get to this point and I want to thank them for their efforts and congratulate them on reaching this important milestone. The expansion of the canal is an important project for the town deal – it will help make the town a more attractive place to visit and provide residents with new outdoor facilities to explore. I look forward to seeing the bridge completed as this will unlock the next stages of this project.”

The Trust currently has an appeal to raise £50,000 to go towards the cost of the gates for the new Keith Ayling Lock, named after a former Chair of the Trust.

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

TPT Bridge Chesterfield canal artist impression

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Quirky new Chesterfield town centre store to provide ‘a smile, a laugh and bit of mischief’ to customers

A quirky independent store has opened its doors in Chesterfield Town Centre, selling a wide range of gifts and other unique items.

Eclectic Delights of Serendipity is owned by mother and daughter duo, Cheryl Knowles and Saffy Kendal-Allan, and has been running in Derbyshire for several years. Now, the business has begun welcoming customers to a new shop, based at 12 High Street.

The pair told us their story of running the business, and how it led to them taking the step to open in Chesterfield: “Some may know us from our little shop in Matlock Bath or previously our Hope shop or even know us from the beginning of our journey, 9 years ago at Cheryl’s first tiny shop just off Newbold Road.

spice girls mats eclectic delights

“Cheryl started off in her small shop doing re-loved furniture and small gifts which then took on a life of its own and she had to move into a larger shop at Hope Valley where she began being known more as a Gift, Clothing and Re-loved furniture shop. After a few years there, Cheryl then set her eyes on the ‘sea-side-without-a-sea’ town of Matlock Bath where Saffy joined to manage the shop as Cheryl continued in Hope Valley.

“However, after lockdown we decided to shut the Hope Valley shop and focus our efforts on Matlock Bath. After five years we decided we wanted a shop closer to home and by luck 12 High Street became available and three weeks later we are now in and ready for business.”

Cheryl and Saffy also explained what customers can expect to find when visiting the new Chesterfield shop.

They added: “Our shop name is exactly the type of items we sell: a broad and diverse range of items that you weren’t looking for but they appeared when you needed them. We are proud stockists of local independent suppliers such as: Letterbox Love, WaggyDogz, Enchanted Love, and so many more.

ecelctic delights

“We truly believe in having something that is for everyone which is why we don’t just sell cards and gifts but leather handbags, a MyMoments machine (which creates personalised items) and currently in the process of making a Boutique on our first floor. We also have plans for workshops on our first and top floor for both adults and children – so watch this space!”

In addition, the duo emphasised the importance of looking after customers and explained how they want to build up their community around the shop and the town: “What sets us apart from others is our customer care. We might be a shop, but we focus and care for our customers and their mental well-being while they are in our shop.

“Not everyone needs to buy something, but sometimes they just need someone to talk to and that’s what we are there for. We truly believe that if you look after the community around you, the community will look after you. Also, being a Mother and Daughter team we are always ready with a smile, a laugh and bit of mischief for all our customers as you can usually find us laughing and causing havoc together.

Being able to share this dream of running a shop together and bringing things in that we love and adore as well as spending so much time together is amazing and has brought us so close!”

“We are so excited to be a part of Chesterfield’s wide range of quirky independents. We have lived in Chesterfield for over 15 years and love the character of the town and its people. Chesterfield has such a friendly and welcoming community of people which we feel is unlike most towns or cities. As shoppers and now a business in the town we agree that we all need to support our local independents – each one brings something different and unique to the town making it a fun, diverse and great place to live and shop!”

For more information about the store, head over to the Eclectic Delights of Serendipity Facebook page.

Looking for a great opportunity to kickstart your leisure or retail business? Find out more about locating it in Chesterfield.

heart & home eclectic delights

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New bookable on demand bus service for Chesterfield, Bolsover, and North East Derbyshire

Residents are now able to use a new bus service to take them anywhere within Chesterfield, Bolsover and North East Derbyshire.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Development, Home, Leisure, Love Chesterfield, Uncategorised, VisitingTagged in , , , , ,

Local Charity presented with Kings Award For Voluntary Service

A Chesterfield charity, The Volunteer Centre has been presented with a prestigious Kings Award for Voluntary Service.

Every day, millions of people across the UK are making a difference by volunteering. Each year, outstanding examples of this work are celebrated through the King’s Award for Voluntary Service (KAVS).

On Friday the 16th February The Volunteer Centre, Chesterfield and North East Derbyshire, were presented with The Kings Award for the outstanding work they do.

Created in 2002 to celebrate Queen Elizabeth II’s Golden Jubilee and previously known as The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service (QAVS), the Award has been shining a light on the fantastic work of voluntary groups from all across the UK for many years.

Upon presenting the Award, the Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Derbyshire, Col John Wilson OBE said, “This award isn’t given out lightly, in fact this year only six of the nominated charities in Derbyshire have been granted it.”

The Kings Award always looks to celebrate organisations that are truly outstanding and making a big difference to their local community.  Equivalent to an MBE, KAVS is the highest Award given to voluntary groups in the UK, and they are awarded for life.

Chief Executive, Dave Radford said, “This is a tremendous honour, the best thing that has happened to us in our 28 years, it is very exciting but of course none of it would have been possible without the dedication of our tremendous volunteers.”

He continued, “They were immense during the pandemic when they provided a shopping service to over 5,000 different referrals, more than any group in Derbyshire.”

If you feel like you’d like to volunteer, then why not contact an award winning Volunteer Centre on 01246 276777

The Volunteer Centre

Posted in About Chesterfield, Home, Love Chesterfield, UncategorisedTagged in , , , , ,

Study ranks Chesterfield as the best town in the UK for access to green spaces

A study has named Chesterfield as the best town in the UK for access to green spaces.

The Green Giants market research exercise, which was commissioned by home improvements company Eurocell has set out to discover which UK towns and cities have the best access to green space.

To do this, the study looked at several data points, including the number of homes in each town or city with a private garden, the average square footage of that garden, as well as the average distance to public green space and the percentage of homes on the market that are currently listed as having a private garden.

These figures were then given a score out of 10 and ranked, leading to a total score out of 40.

Eurocell placed Chesterfield in top spot with a score of 30.8 out of 40. It found that:

  • 95% of homes & flats in the town had private outdoor space.
  • The average size of private outdoor space was 249.7 sq. m.
  • The average distance to nearest park, public garden or playing field was 296.7 m.
  • 92.05% of homes currently on the market have a garden.

Speaking about our town’s listing at the top of the table, Eurocell said: “Chesterfield, in Derbyshire, comes out on top as being the best place to live in the UK when it comes to access to green space. Close to the Peak District, Chesterfield is surrounded by the woodland walks and diverse habitats of the national park.”

“And the town itself has numerous parks and gardens including Holmebrook Valley Country Park and Linacre Reservoir.”

See the full top 20 list here. 

People living and working in Chesterfield also commented on the availability of open spaces as one of the area’s key strengths.

Jade Chinn, Marketing Lead at Oasis Studio said: “I personally like taking advantage of all the beautiful country parks and estates we have to explore in and around Chesterfield, Linacre Reservoir and Holmebook being personal favourites. They are also great for team building days!”

Jason Evans, HSE Advisor and Principal Designer at Mascot Management Ltd. added: “I love to go walking along the Chesterfield Canal. It’s on our doorstep and I feel it is still a bit of a hidden gem for our area. It’s a lovely place where you can get some relaxation time and take in the wildlife and scenery.”

Peter Botham, Founder and Managing Director of Shed Grounds Maintenance said: “One of my cherished spots in Chesterfield is Queen’s Park. When I was a child, my godparents would take me on the charming little train track that winds its way around the park. Now, I’ve had the joy of passing on this tradition to my own children.”

Oasis Studio, Mascot Management and Shed Grounds Maintenance support the marketing and economic growth of the town through Chesterfield Champions, a network of over 200 organisations across Chesterfield and North Derbyshire.

Family walking at Queen's Park, surrounded by wild flowers

Queen’s Park, Chesterfield town centre

Posted in About Chesterfield, Celebrate Chesterfield, Featured, Home, Leisure, Love Chesterfield, Uncategorised, VisitingTagged in , , , , , , ,

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