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New game arrives at Chesterfield Escape Rooms

One of the town’s independent attractions, Chesterfield Escape Rooms has announced another new game – providing yet more fun for visitors.

‘The Big Hangover’ is the latest addition to the venue’s impressive selection of challneges, which tests the brain power of all who take part. It comes off the back of other recent editions, such as ‘An hour to kill’ and ‘Eerie Motel California.’

Nick Hogan, Manager of Chesterfield Escape Rooms explained what people can expect from playing ‘The Big Hangover:

“You may have seen the film, the hangover…well it’s loosely based on that story. You awake, a little worse for wear in a police cell and you have lost the groom (Arthur),  the wedding is in 60 minutes and you have to solve all of the clues to free him.”

the big hangover escape rooms

The centre has continued to grow, now offering more experiences than ever before since its opening in 2021.

Nick explained: “We are blown away by how successful the games have been so far. We want people to keep coming back so we have to deliver a great product and a great service.

“We have constantly been refreshing over the last 7 months and at roughly £20k per game, we are delighted to be able to say our refreshes are over for a little while. We have a lot of variety now so we hopefully have something for everyone.”

Chesterfield Escape Rooms is open 7 days a week in the centre of Chesterfield.

Participants are tasked to work together, discover clues, solve puzzles, and accomplish tasks in one or more rooms, in order to progress and successfully accomplish an exit in a 60-minute period. Every game is managed by a games master, designated solely to your entertainment and safety.

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

nick escape rooms

Nick Hogan, Manager of Chesterfield Escape Rooms

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

Complete our Love Chesterfield survey to have an opportunity to win a prize

Chesterfield residents and local business owners are being encouraged to complete our quarterly consumer and business surveys to help us to learn more about how you / your customers use services in our town centres.

Love Chesterfield is a campaign organised by Chesterfield Borough Council in partnership with Destination Chesterfield to promote and support high streets and town centres across the borough of Chesterfield.

The quick surveys will ask you questions about your business performance and any changes you have noticed in the last three months (January 2023-April 2023) if you are a business owner.

The consumer survey will ask you to update us on what events or venues you have attended and services you have used recently in our communities.

Please spend a few minutes to complete the relevant questionnaire. The results will allow us to monitor the performance of the town, the success of marketing campaigns and business support and will help to shape future activity to support high street businesses across the borough.

The survey will close on 20 June 2023.

At the end of the consumer questionnaire, there is an opportunity to win either a free 3-month gym membership or a free 3-month place on a children’s activity class at Chesterfield Borough Council’s leisure centres.

Businesses who complete the survey, will have the chance to enter a prize draw to win advertising for your business in the Destination Chesterfield business or leisure e-shot (worth £100). To qualify, you will need to fill out this and the next 3 quarterly Love Chesterfield Surveys for your chance of having a banner advertisement. A winner will be drawn in Spring 2024.

Complete the surveys here:

Business survey: https://chesterfieldboroughcouncil.welcomesyourfeedback.net/r96myd

Consumer survey: https://chesterfieldboroughcouncil.welcomesyourfeedback.net/m94tet

Chesterfield town centre views outdoors

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Chesterfield toy shop grows into new store on Vicar Lane

A toy shop, which started as a market stall in Dronfield has now opened a brand-new independent store at Vicar Lane Shopping Centre in Chesterfield.

The Little Ark was founded in 2021 by Liz Telford-Sides, who whilst was on maternity leave with her second child, was shocked by the amount of plastic used to manufacture and package toys.

So, Liz began investigating eco-friendly alternatives and started sourcing toys from beautiful brands that were sustainable with no plastic packaging. Since launching, The Little Ark has continued to expand its ranges, trading from Chesterfield Market Hall before the move to Vicar Lane.

Liz commented: “We are incredibly excited to move to Vicar Lane Shopping Centre. The mix of independent shops alongside big high street brands such as H&M and New Look is great and we are so proud to be part of this.

“There are two main reasons we love being in Chesterfield; one is our customers and the other is the local independent businesses. We have received wonderful support from both our customers and the other indie businesses.

“People are now wanting to see the products they are purchasing, and I would definitely say I’m one of those people. When people see our products in-person, they often comment on the quality of the items and the longevity they can get out of them. This is transferable across independent businesses; they are providing quality items and provide an exceptional level of service that you just can’t get online.

“Businesses such as ours are willing to take a risk on providing Chesterfield with something it doesn’t have, but it will only be successful if people shop with us. Independent businesses can often be hidden away from the main thoroughfares but if people look that little bit harder they will find some absolute hidden gems.”

Liz also added that the success of the business wouldn’t have been possible without the support of her father, Gary Telford, who helps to run the shop on a daily basis.

Shaun Brown, Centre Manager at Vicar Lane said: “We’re thrilled to be able to support yet another local business in the heart of Chesterfield, especially one with such sustainable values.  We’re very excited to see the range of toys and baby products on offer at The Little Ark.’’

Chesterfield Borough Council offers a free, efficient service to help you find the perfect premises for your business. If you’re looking for retail space in the town, find out more about the range of available commercial property here.

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

the little ark 1 873

 

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

Local producers encouraged to exhibit at Chatsworth Country Fair

The popular Chatsworth Country Fair is set to return this summer, and producers, artisans and craftspeople based in Chesterfield and Derbyshire are being encouraged to showcase their products at the event.

Visit Peak District & Derbyshire, in partnership with Derbyshire County Council, is inviting local producers to apply for a place in the ‘Derbyshire Makers’ Marketplace’ at one of England’s most spectacular annual outdoor celebrations.

Held at Chatsworth from 1st to 3rd September 2023, Chatsworth Country Fair showcases the best in traditional, British country pursuits, with thrilling showground entertainment, quality trade stands and fun for all the family.

Derbyshire producers can register an interest in exhibiting in the Derbyshire Makers’ Marketplace at the event, which will celebrate the fantastic variety of quality products made in the county, ranging from arts, crafts and homeware to fine food and drink.

The opportunity is open to small and medium-sized businesses based in Derbyshire and is part financially supported by Derbyshire County Council.

Derbyshire-based businesses can apply for a place in the Derbyshire Makers’ Marketplace using the following link: https://VPDDCCF23.eventbrite.co.uk

Applications close at 23:59 on Sunday 14th May 2023. Stalls provided to successful applicants will be subject to a charge of £150 plus VAT per business.

Leader of Derbyshire County Council Councillor Barry Lewis said: “Derbyshire has a wealth of quality local produce, artisan makers and skilled craftspeople and it’s great to be able to shine the spotlight on all they have to offer at Chatsworth Country Fair this year.

“The fair attracts thousands of visitors from near and far and is a great platform for local businesses to expand their customers base as well as flying the flag for Derbyshire makers.”

Jo Dilley, Managing Director of Visit Peak District & Derbyshire, says: “We’re delighted to offer Derbyshire producers the opportunity to showcase and sell their products and services to thousands of potential customers from across the UK at Chatsworth Country Fair this summer.

“The marketplace is a celebration of local talent, showcasing the wealth of quality products made in Derbyshire, and offers a great opportunity for independent makers to exhibit at a large national event thanks to support from Derbyshire County Council. Good luck to everyone who applies!”

Home fragrance producer 022 Chatsworth Country Fair

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

Chair’s blog: “Chesterfield is still moving forward with confidence and optimism”

In the face of national and global economic challenges, Chesterfield is once again forging its own path.

Like so many times before, our town is rolling up its sleeves and making change happen for the better. We’ve seen many developments come to fruition over the last couple of years and as a result sites which were previously derelict are now full of life.

New offices at Chesterfield Waterside and the Northern Gateway Enterprise Centre are already attracting investment and creating jobs for people in our town. There are already 90 people working within the Waterside Offices, and the Enterprise centre is now more than 60% occupied.

News of the extension to the Markham Vale North Industrial development, located at Junction 29a just off the M1 is another boost for our area. To date, Markham Vale has created more than 2,700 jobs, with potentially 800 more on the way thanks to the additional development plots.

Whilst we are all aware that Chesterfield is on the up, we must keep shouting about this as a collective. With a view to maintaining this progress I am excited to see Destination Chesterfield taking the town’s message to the UK’s biggest trade and investment show this May, UKREiiF.

Working alongside Chesterfield Borough Council and businesses in the town’s Property and Construction Group, we will be speaking to colleagues from across the country, helping to explain the wide range of benefits Chesterfield has to offer to inward investors and occupiers.

We’ll make investors aware of our illustrious history of innovation, and our fantastic connectivity and transport links. The fact that you can be in several major cities within just a couple of hours is a huge selling point; one which many other places are quite rightly jealous of!

It’s not just messaging around our town’s range of development sites and commercial workspaces which will be on display.

We will also shout about the fantastic quality of life here in Chesterfield, including our emerging food, drink and leisure offering. There has also been significant new housing delivery in the town over the past few years, which will also appeal to potential occupiers.

The fact that we’re so close to the world-famous Peak District National Park has already attracted major investment – including the £300 million PEAK development, which continues to progress.

Attracting further investment to Chesterfield remains a priority because it benefits everyone connected to the town.

It means more money in the pockets of our residents thanks to the creation of quality jobs, and naturally this leads to more money spent in our independent businesses, helping our economy to grow further.

Whilst we are all understandably concerned by recent reports about the state of the UK’s economy, I am pleased to say that Chesterfield is still moving forward with confidence and optimism – and shows no signs of stopping.

 

Posted in About Chesterfield, Blog, Business, Celebrate Chesterfield, Destination Chesterfield, Development, Love Chesterfield, Property and Construction, UncategorisedTagged in , , , , , , ,

Derbyshire residents urged to ‘dig in’ to reach one million trees target

County Councillors in Derbyshire are asking residents to help them in a drive to plant one million new trees across the county by 2030.

It is hoped that the planting of new trees will help to boost the environment and tackle the effects of climate change.

Residents, landowners and volunteers are being asked to get involved by Derbyshire County Council. If you’ve planted a tree anywhere in Derbyshire since June 2021, it can be counted towards the million trees target.

Add your tree to the online map here.

If you own land and are interested in planting more trees, the council is offering support and advice. Get in touch if you are a landowner or email milliontrees@derbyshire.gov.uk.

If you would like to volunteer to help plant trees in your area to help reduce the impacts of climate change, and create new habitats for wildlife then the county council wants to hear from you too. Get in touch if you are a volunteer or email milliontrees@derbyshire.gov.uk.

Local businesses and organisations can also get involved by sponsoring or contributing trees, planting on their property, staff volunteering and events. Find out more or get in touch

Councillor Barry Lewis, Leader at Derbyshire County Council said: “Trees act like sponges which suck carbon emissions out of the air so the more we plant, the more climate-changing greenhouse gases will be removed from the atmosphere.

“We’re off to a good start – we’ve recorded more than 61,000 trees planted across the county since June 2021 on our website www.milliontrees.co.uk. But we know there will be many more that haven’t yet been recorded and so we’re urging anyone who has planted a tree or trees in Derbyshire in the last couple of years to add it to the website. It’s quick and easy to do!

“We’re also urging landowners who would be willing to offer some land up for tree-planting to get in touch and we’re on the look out for volunteers too to join our planting team – no experience necessary, just time to spare and the will to roll up your sleeves and dig in.

“It’s not all about large-scale projects – every single tree will count towards our target, even if it’s an individual tree in your garden at home.”

Chesterfield from Eastmoor

 

 

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Major clay donation from Chesterfield Champions aids canal restoration

The restoration of the Chesterfield Canal will shortly take a great leap forward, thanks to a huge donation of clay from Suon Ltd.

Chesterfield Canal Trust will be spending £5.3 million on major works. These monies are its share of the Staveley Town Deal.

A substantial section will be rebuilding the historic Staveley Puddlebank. This is a massive structure, spanning 800 metres long and stretching across the Doe Lea Valley.

It was originally constructed in 1776 out of clay dug by hand and moved in wheelbarrows. The structure was 10 meters high when it crossed the river Doe Lea. It was partially bulldozed in 1972, hence the need to remodel it.

The value of the clay runs well into seven figures. It is currently at Foxlow, just north of Barrow Hill.

The total volume is 160,000 cubic metres. If this was all heaped onto the pitch at Wembley Stadium, it would be 22 metres high. That’s the height of a seven storey building or five double decker buses. If it was piled onto the centre court at Wimbledon, it would be over 800 metres high. That’s the same as the Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building or nearly three times the height of the Shard, Britain’s tallest building.

The Chesterfield Canal Trust says it is incredibly grateful for this wonderful gesture by Suon, and also to the Chatsworth Settlement which has waived its right to the royalties that it held upon the clay.

Nicholas Wood, Estates Director for Chatsworth, commented: “We are very happy to have been able to support the Chesterfield Canal Trust with this project, and we hope it will help enable future generations to enjoy the canal for many years.”

Chesterfield Canal Trust’s Development Manager, George Rogers, said: “Purchasing and transporting suitable materials from other sources would be prohibitively expensive and cause untold disturbance to the local population. Without this incredibly generous donation, the project simply couldn’t proceed in its current form and so the Trust is very grateful for the support and generosity of Suon and Chatsworth. We look forward to continuing our long history of working together to enable the restoration of the canal”.

Ivan Fomin, Chair of the Staveley Town Deal Board, said: “It’s fantastic to see project sponsors working together to achieve the overall objectives of the Town Deal. This is an important donation that will help ensure the canal can continue to be enjoyed by local people and visitors, whilst making use of this natural resource in the local area.”

Suon Ltd, Chatsworth Settlement Trustees and Chesterfield Canal Trust support the marketing and economic growth of the town through Chesterfield Champions, a network of over 200 organisations across Chesterfield and North Derbyshire.

staveley puddlebank clay

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Celebrate Chesterfield, Development, Home, Leisure, Love Chesterfield, Property and Construction, Uncategorised, VisitingTagged in , , , , , , , , ,

Exciting Children’s Festival announced for Chesterfield this Summer

A new Children’s Festival is coming to Chesterfield this Summer, providing families with a free weekend of fun and entertainment.

The Chesterfield Children’s Festival will include music, theatre, storytelling, dance, and art workshops. It is being organised by Junction Arts, an award-winning arts charity based in the town.

Taking place in Queen’s Park on the 29th and 30th July, the event is set to celebrate the joy of childhood, imagination and play – promising to bring colour and excitement to Chesterfield during the summer holidays.

The two-day event will focus on arts and culture, with a number of acts and activities taking place over the weekend.  Entertainment announced so far includes a silent disco tour, an interactive game zone, a comedy club, a circus, storytime yoga, tie-dye workshops, face-painting and a brass band that plays everyone’s favourite Disney tunes!

Music and live theatre will take place in and around the town centre during the festival weekend, the full line-up will be announced in June.

Junction Arts will also commission a new artwork on the themes of childhood, play and games to celebrate the launch of the festival. Three local primary schools in Chesterfield and surrounding areas will work with the artist during several engagement sessions in the spring.

Junction Arts Project Coordinator, Jemma Burton said: “We’re delighted to announce the launch of the Chesterfield Children’s Festival, a weekend that’s all about fun with live performances and lots of opportunities to get creative. We have secured lots of high-quality acts already, but we’ll be announcing more very soon!

“Everyone is welcome, there’s no need to register or buy a ticket, families can simply turn up, get involved in the workshops or just enjoy the entertainment on offer. We look forward to seeing you there!”

Junction Arts hope that this will become a much-loved annual event for the town, inspiring children and young people for generations to come.

The Chesterfield Children’s Festival will take place on Saturday 29th and Sunday 30th July, from 10am-4pm daily.

For more information visit: www.junctionarts.org or follow @junctionartsuk

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.

queens park

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

£1 million boutique apartment hotel boost for Chesterfield town centre

Empty Grade II listed office and shop units in Chesterfield town centre could be transformed into a nine-apartment boutique hotel through a £1.02 million investment by Voeberg Hospitality.

The Sheffield-based company has submitted a change of use planning application to Chesterfield Borough Council to convert two former offices at 39 and 39A Holywell Street, and the neighbouring former hairdressers at 41 Holywell Street into apartments for holiday lets and use by business travellers.

The Grade II listed Georgian buildings – opposite the Holywell Cross car park and Northern Gateway Enterprise Centre – would be sensitively converted into one two-bedroom and eight one-bedroom apartments for use as short-stay accommodation and be called Holywell Hotel.

Emily Smith, Director of Voeberg Hospitality, said: “The Holywell Hotel development offers an opportunity to bring a high-quality boutique apartment hotel to an area of Chesterfield town centre that needs investment to bring historic empty buildings back into everyday use.

“The location of the Northern Gateway, with its good links to Chesterfield railway station, offers the opportunity to attract visitors and business travellers wanting to visit the Crooked Spire in Chesterfield, as well as the Peak District National Park and South Yorkshire.

“While Chesterfield has existing hotels and B&Bs we believe there is an unmet need in the local market for a boutique apartment hotel of this type. We intend to work with other local businesses to create cross-promotional opportunities for the benefit of our guests.”

The plans submitted to Chesterfield Borough Council seek permission to make some minor structural alterations while predominantly keeping the overall layout of the three buildings. There will be considerable investment to repair the buildings, including restoring the sash windows, renovating the doors and conserving all the listed features.

Working alongside Covest Architecture and Planning and Design Group, each property would be converted to provide three self-serviced apartments, with a bedroom, kitchen, dining and bathroom facilities.

There will be access to an outdoor amenity space, cycle storage and laundry facilities.

Instead of having a traditional reception desk the properties will operate as a ‘smart hotel’ with self-check-ins, keyless entry and a digital portal which will provide guests with relevant information about their stay.

Emily added: “My husband, Ryan, and I began investing in property in Scotland five years ago. Last year, we took the decision to move our family and business to this area and have continued to invest and develop residential properties in Chesterfield.

“We chose to invest in Chesterfield because it is a growing and forward-looking place, while also being a historic market town. The people of Chesterfield have a very open and welcoming approach and seem keen to assist businesses that support the sustainability of the town centre.

“We look forward to making a contribution to that growth by bringing another part of the town centre back into active use through the development of Holywell Hotel.”

Further information about the Holywell Hotel refurbishment project can be seen at www.holywellhotel.com

Emily and Ryan holywell hotel

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Celebrate Chesterfield, Development, Home, Leisure, Love Chesterfield, Property and Construction, Uncategorised, VisitingTagged in , , , , , , ,

Triple success for Superior Wellness at What Spa? Best Buy Awards

Chesterfield’s Superior Wellness has taken home three awards in the prestigious What Spa? Best Buy Awards 2023.

The Best Buy Awards are published in the 2023/24 edition of What Spa? magazine. The WhatSpa? magazine is one of the UK’s leading consumer hot tub buyer’s guide and has advised and informed thousands of hot tub buyers across the UK for over 10 years.

Three products produced by the Chesterfield-based firm, the Platinum Spas Palma, the AquaSolus Derwent and the Thermal Spas Hydro were all successful in obtaining the consumer hot tub award.

  • The Platinum Spas Palma is a family size hot tub in the brand new improved deluxe range.  It is designed for six people with one lounger and five seats.  It includes 87 powerful jets and LED lights. With a brand-new look and feel for 2023 the Deluxe range now has a more aesthetically pleasing design with the curvature of the acrylic.
  • The luxurious AquaSolus Derwent is the ultimate hot tub with one lounger and four seats.  Designed with hydrotherapy at the forefront, the Derwent has 66 jets, as well as an LED waterfall and LED fountain making it the perfect hot tub if you are looking to sit back and relax. The Derwent hot tub has an integrated WIFI, Gecko In.stream2 Bluetooth music system and is Wi-Fi compatible making it an excellent choice for relaxing or entertaining friends.
  • The Thermals Spas Hydro hot tub comes with one lounger and four seats which is the perfect hot tub for family entertainment or if you simply want to relax.  It also includes the energy efficient R10 insulation to keep your running costs lower.

Graham Message, Business Development Manager said “I am delighted that we have been awarded three Best Buy Awards once again. The What Spa? Magazine and website are a very important tool for the end customer to use when finding their perfect hot tub.  It is also great for our partner network to proudly say they are selling an award-winning hot tub.”

The Best Buy Awards features the very best hot tubs to buy. The Awards acknowledge the hot tub models that excel across a range of criteria, including design, aesthetics, comfort, hydrotherapy and value-for-money.

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

superior wellness exterior

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

New venue to boost the popular food & drink scene in Brampton

A new bar has opened on Chatsworth Road in Brampton, adding to the popular evening offer in the area.

The Brampton Social Club, formerly known as The Alma, is expected to provide guests with a great range of beers, a delicious wine list and a range of classic and interesting cocktails.

The bar will have rotating taps which will offer new lines on a regular basis, including guest beers from local producers such as the popular Brampton Brewery.

Sporting action will also be shown on screens in the venue, alongside an eclectic mix of music. Customers will also be able to relax and enjoy the sunshine in the beer garden, which bar owner Santiago Perez is hoping to extend in the near future.

brampton social club

Speaking on where the inspiration came from for the Brampton Social Club, Santiago explained: “I own a late-night venue in Chesterfield, Apartment. I love hospitality and giving people a great place to go and experience.

“Chatsworth Road is a vibrant area where I have been looking for some time. The opportunity came up with the Alma, the location was right but needed a bit of focus and a new look. We wanted to keep the community feel and somewhere for people to go meet friends and new people with a nice feel. The design by Oli Perez, is quite unique but delivers the social environment we want to create.”

Brampton and Chatsworth Road is already proving a popular area for Chesterfield’s food and drink scene, with a number of unique and independent bars and restaurants already established there.

Santiago commented: “Chatsworth Road is the happening place, with good weeknights and vibrant weekends. There are great venues in the area, such as Deja Vu, Junction, Crafty Dog, and the Brampton Brewery pubs to name a few, giving a great choice of a night out for locals and visitors. We want to be part of creating Brampton as the place to go, so we all benefit.”

Find out more about The Brampton Social Club on Facebook.

brampton social club

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

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