Visiting

Peak District & Derbyshire launches ‘Time to…’ campaign to welcome back visitors

9th July 2020

A host of local attractions, pubs, restaurants and accommodation providers have joined forces to welcome visitors back to the Peak District and Derbyshire in a new marketing campaign video.

Released to mark the reopening of the tourism and hospitality sector on 4 July, the ‘Time to…’ video (below) shines a spotlight on the warm welcome that awaits guests to the Peak District and Derbyshire, whilst showcasing the extra safety measures that businesses have put in place in order to reopen responsibly.

In behind-the-scenes shots businesses are shown setting tables, cleaning premises and implementing social distancing guidelines, before coming together in a show of solidarity to announce ‘We’re Good To Go’ – highlighting how the sector is adhering to the national industry standards introduced by VisitEngland.

The video signals the start of Marketing Peak District & Derbyshire’s ‘Time to…’ digital marketing campaign which aims to inspire visitors to book a break in the area – helping to kick-start the area’s £2.3 billion tourism industry, which supports over 30,000 local jobs.

Visitors are encouraged to plan their trip on the ‘Time to…’ webpage at www.visitpeakdistrict.com/inspiration/time-to, and to look out for the official ‘We’re Good To Go’ mark which means that businesses are adhering to the appropriate Government and public health guidance.

The ‘Time to…’ campaign will be supported across Visit Peak District & Derbyshire’s digital channels and on social media. Local businesses will be encouraged to create their own images using the campaign taglines which include ‘Time to Plan’, ‘Time to Discover’ and ‘Time to Recharge’.

Jo Dilley, Managing Director of Marketing Peak District & Derbyshire, says: “We’re delighted to mark the reopening of the tourism and hospitality sector with the launch of our ‘Time to…’ campaign. The industry has been hard hit by the COVID-19 pandemic but our passionate, caring and resilient tourism businesses have worked exceptionally hard to put all the right measures in place to ensure we can warmly welcome visitors back.”

“This is just the beginning of our phased, gradual reopening and now our priority is to ensure that people are able to visit and enjoy our glorious destination in a responsible way; respecting our local communities and the landscape around us.”

“Whilst restrictions have been eased, not all businesses are open and there are many different measures in place, so we’re continuing to ask visitors to be patient, to plan ahead and to book in advance so you ‘Know Before You Go’. We hope visitors and residents alike will be inspired to enjoy our wonderful tourism offer and in turn, help businesses to successfully get back on their feet.”

Councillor Kate Sarvent, Cabinet Member for Town Centres and Visitor Economy, said: “We know that many of you will have spent the past few months shopping online, but now is your chance to come back and visit Chesterfield town centre, indulge in some retail therapy, socialise and support Chesterfield businesses.”

“The town centre has so much to offer. From national retailers to small independent stores and of course our outdoor market and Market Hall, there really is something for everyone.”

“We’ve put a number of measures in place around the town centre to help keep you safe when visiting and we politely request that you follow the advice on signage, follow floor markings and respect any queuing systems.”

Cllr Barry Lewis, Leader of Derbyshire County Council, says: “The tourism and hospitality industry is vital to the Derbyshire economy and plays a key role in making Derbyshire a popular attraction for visitors from far and wide.”

“We look forward to seeing people return, but it’s important we all follow the new measures put in place. The safety of staff, visitors and Derbyshire residents remains our number one priority. By acting responsibly and remaining vigilant we can help businesses get back on their feet and ensure visitors to our county get the true Derbyshire experience.”

As part of the tourism industry’s ‘Know Before You Go’ initiative, visitors are also urged to plan ahead, check for restrictions and to book in advance at: www.visitpeakdistrict.com/information/know-before-you-go.

In addition, Marketing Peak District and Derbyshire has launched a ‘Respect, Protect, Enjoy’ visitor charter which highlights the positive steps that people can take in order to enjoy the area responsibly: www.visitpeakdistrict.com/explore/respect-protect-enjoy.

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

Enjoy a picnic in Chesterfield with local food and drink

8th July 2020

With so many wonderful spots to enjoy a picnic in Chesterfield, you’ll need to make the most of every day to fit them all in this summer.

That means you’ll also need to come up with lots of different food and drink ideas.

Do you have a sweet tooth or are you a lover of savoury snacks? Do you like to spend time baking for your picnic or would you rather pick up a ready-made hamper? Whatever your taste or lifestyle, there are plenty of delicious local food and drink options for you to try.

Remember to take all of your waste with you after your picnic to reduce litter and support the environment. Make sure to keep your family safe by following these NHS sun safety tips.

For more great places to eat and drink in Chesterfield, visit our Eating Out section to find great restaurants, gastro pubs, bars, cafes and more. You can also check out the past winners of the Chesterfield Food & Drink Awards here.

If you love being outdoors, here is a list of bike rides and cycle routes around Chesterfield that you can try out.

So, what are you waiting for? Grab your favourite picnic blanket and enjoy some of these Chesterfield food and drink products!

– Local picnic basket items
– Ready-made picnic baskets
– Recipe ideas

Local picnic basket items

Cup & Saucer Teas – Pennine Picnic Cold Brew

Pennine Picnic Cold Brew is a special cold tea drink, made from pieces of apple, rosehip, pineapple, coconut, hibiscus petals and natural flavours. It is bottled, ready to drink and comes in two sizes. The bottles are also recycleable and you can get a 10p refund when you return the bottle so it can re re-used or recycled.

£1.60 – 330ml bottle
£3.50 – 750ml bottle

Gail Hannan, Owner of Cup & Saucer Teas, says it’s perfect for a picnic because… it tastes like a Pina Colada (without the alcohol) or for adults it can be used as a tasty mixer with Gin, it’s really refreshing, fruity and it’s a favourite of both children and adults.

The Pennine Picnic Cold Brew can be purchased from Cup & Saucer, 132 High Street, Clay Cross, S45 9EE. You can find more Cup & Saucer products, including teas, gift hampers and other local products here – www.cupandsauceronline.co.uk/shop.

Little Morton Farm – Award-winning pork pies

Little Morton Farm is passionate about our animals and producing great tasting produce. A Little Morton Farm gold award-winning pork pie is a perfect savoury addition to your picnic basket. It is made on the farm with home bred and reared, organic fed, pedigree, Berkshire pork.

£2 – Medium pie
£3.50 – Large pie

Tom & Daniella say it’s perfect for a picnic because… Every picnic needs a pork pie!

These are available to buy from the farm shop at Little Morton Farm in North Wingfield. To order, please call 01246 859 904 by Wednesday for collection on Fridays and Saturdays. For more information and to see more products from Little Morton Farm, visit www.littlemortonfarm.co.uk/livestock-produce.

Crooked Pickle Co – Bread & Butter Pickles

These Bread & Butter Pickles are a tasty twist of a classic favourite, and there is even a hot version for those who are feeling more adventurous!

£4.95 per jar

Felix, Owner of The Crooked Pickle Co, says it’s perfect for a picnic because… Our Bread & Butter Pickles are crunchy, sweet-sour and delicately spiced and which makes them amazing on picnic sandwiches, with cold cuts and pork pies.

You can purchase these from the Crooked Pickle Co online store here – crookedpickle.co/collections or from No.10 The Tea Room and Society Coffee Shop & Bar, both located in Chesterfield town centre.

Casa Hotel’s infamous scotch eggs

These delicious Scotch eggs are a brilliant addition to any hamper, a firm favourite with the Casa diners and team! They are available every day from Casa Hotel and they will continue to sell these post reopening as part of their takeaway offerings.

£2 per scotch egg

Alex from Casa Hotel says it’s perfect for a picnic because… it’s made from locally reared pork and eggs sourced from Casa Hotel’s Walton Lodge Farm.

Franklin & Sons – Soft Drinks & RTS cans

Produced by Chesterfield’s Global Brands, Franklin & Sons has teamed up with the UK’s top Gin brands to create a range of ready-to-drink G&T cans that tick a lot of boxes. Just cool, click, pour and enjoy. These are available locally at Tesco, Co-op & Morrisons, online at www.goodtimein.co.uk or can be ordered for delivery on the City Grab app through Casa at Home.

The RRP is around £2 in the supermarkets or you can buy a case of 12 for £17.49 on the City Grab App or www.goodtimein.co.uk

Fancy something non-alcoholic for your picnic? Franklin & Sons also has a delicious range of Sodas. Sister’s Sodas provide that fresh sophisticated flavour, the perfect grown-up soft drink, sure to cool you down on a hot summer’s day! Available at Tesco, online at www.goodtimein.co.uk or can be ordered for delivery on the City Grab app through Casa at Home.

The RRP is £1.20 a can in the supermarkets or you can buy a case of 12 for £9 on the City Grab App or www.goodtimein.co.uk

Charlotte from Global Brands says these products are perfect for a picnic because… They are perfect pick-me-up picnic tipples and they look seriously swanky too!

Northern Tea Merchants – Hot and Cold Teas

Northern Tea’s Gourmet Classic Tea is their finest quality small leaf ‘breakfast tea’, Gourmet Classic is easy to drink, with a delicious aroma, a bright and coppery liquor and excellent flavour due to its excellent quality constituent teas. Drink with milk at any time of day but particularly good at breakfast or an afternoon tea picnic.

£3 for 40 tea bags
£3.35 for 125g of loose leaf tea
£5.63 for 250g of loose leaf tea

Or how about a Red Berry Mix infusion to serve cold as a refreshing summer fruit punch at a picnic? This can be brewed, cooled overnight, then transferred into a flask and will make a lovely refreshing drink on a particularly hot day like we’ve had lately. A spot of honey will make the brew an even more delightful sweet treat.

£2.42 for 50g
£5.90 for 125g
£6.15 for 15 tea temples

James Pogson, Owner of Northern Tea Merchants, says these products are perfect for a picnic because… these teas are perfect for any tea lover and what picnic would be complete without a flask of tea?

Available to purchase online from www.northern-tea.com/buy, from Northern Tea Merchants, 193 Chatsworth Road (free parking available on-street or car park to the rear of the shop) or give the shop a call on 01246 232 600 to arrange free local delivery.

Cacoa Elora – craft chocolate bars

Cacoa Elora is Derbyshire’s only craft chocolate producer making bean to bar chocolate using ethically sourced cocoa beans from Venezuela, Uganda, Nicaragua and Indonesia. Cacoa Elora make a range of dark and dark milk chocolate bars, including vegan options within their milk range of premium bars.

Their bars are full of flavour and let you taste cocoa rather than the sugar which is laden into branded chocolate. Each one is made using the minimum of machinery and tempered by hand on marble.

John, Owner of Cacoa Elora, says these products are perfect for a picnic because… We grind and conche our beans for many hours to bring out the natural notes present within each origin.

They can be purchased from the online shop at www.cacoa-elora.co.uk or they can be purchased at at Cup and Saucer in Clay Cross.

Ready-made picnic baskets

Let a local business do all the work for you and purchase a ready-made picnic basket from one of the below companies.

Salute Prosecco

Chesterfield’s Salute has recently launched its own rage of gift hampers and has created a special Picnic hamper to mark National Picnic Month.

£28.99 (including p&p) – Salute Picnic Hamper:

1 x Cake
1 x Packet of crisps
1 x Bottles of water
1 x Mini Gin & Franklin & Sons Tonic
1 x Mini Prosecco
1 x bottle opener
plus plastic glasses

To find out more, visit www.salute-prosecco.com/hampers/fathers-day-hamper, email salute.prosecco@gmail.com or call 07807 159 322.

Chatsworth House

With two picnics to choose from, created for two or four people, these picnics showcase the best of estate farm shop and local produce and are served in a reusable Chatsworth cool bag. Access to the house car park is included with all picnic bookings.

£45 – Chatsworth Family picnic (2 adults and 2 children)

Two filled baguettes
Two children’s sandwiches
Estate farm shop pork pie
Summer vegetable quiche
Carriage House chunky coleslaw
Potato salad
Estate farm shop crisps
Fresh fruit pots
Freshly baked scones with cream and jam
Chocolate brownies
Two Fentimans botanical beverages
Two Cawston Press juice boxes

£50 – Garden gourmet picnic (2 adults)

A selection of estate farm shop charcuterie and local cheese
Freshly baked rolls and artisan crackers
English asparagus, mango and avocado salad
Sweet potato, pickled onion, coriander and goats cheese salad
Summer vegetable frittata
Estate farm shop crisps
Summer berries with clotted cream
Gold leaf macaroons
Chatsworth vanilla fudge
Elderflower presse
A bottle of Earl of Burlington Collection wine

To find out more or to order, visit www.chatsworth.org/shop-dine/dine/picnics/ or call 01246 565300.

Van Dyk by Wildes

Order a delicious Van Dyk Picnic Hamper and you can choose dine on their new lawns or as a takeaway.

£36.95 – Van Dyk Picnic Hamper for two people

Van Dyk’s classic scotch egg and house piccalilli
Handraised Nottinghamshire pork pie
Cropwell Bishop organic Stilton
Vintage Lincolnshire poacher
Black Bomber cheddar & Henderson’s relish straws
Van Dyk’s marmalade and mustard glazed gammon
Chorizo and sausage rolls
House pickles and chutney
Marinated olives
Home baked sour dough loaf and butter

To find out more or to order call 01246 387386.

Recipe ideas

Get the whole family involved and try out a recipe from a local food & drink business. These items can then be added to your picnic basket and taken with you.

Carrot Cake – Stephenson’s Coffee and Tea House

Claire Wood, owner of Stephenson’s Coffee and Tea House, winner of many Chesterfield Food and Drink Awards over the years, shares her recipe for their scrumptious Carrot Cake.

Click here for the recipe

Chocolate Brownie – The Tickled Trout

Chris Mapp, Head Chef at the award- winning The Tickled Trout restaurant in Barlow says: “This brownie recipe has something of legendary status at The Tickled Trout now. It is so good, we just cannot take it off the menu. It is a proper signature dessert and great for chocolate lovers.”

Click here for the recipe

Florentines – Jacksons the Bakers

Trevor Jackson, Managing Director of Jacksons The Bakers in Chesterfield, and a former winner of the Chesterfield Food & Drink Awards ‘Food Hero of the Year’ award, shares the recipe for their popular Florentines.

Click here for the recipe

Energy Boost Smoothie – Qoozies

This delicious Energy Boost Smoothie from Qoozies, located in Vicar Lane Shopping Centre, is all made with fresh fruit and veg, and nothing else. It’s perfect for an all-natural energy boost!

Click here for the recipe

Lemon & Ginger Cheesecake with Raspberry Sorbet – Casa Hotel

This delicious cheesecake recipe, which will give a wow to any entertaining is taken from the cookbook, Mi Casa: Spanish-inspired recipes from the heart of Derbyshire. Written by local entrepreneur and Chesterfield’s four star Casa Hotel owner, Steve Perez.

Click here for the recipe

Find out more about Summer in Chesterfield

Posted in About Chesterfield, Blog, Chesterfield Food and Drink Awards, Chesterfield Retail Awards, Leisure, Summer, Visiting

Chesterfield Library to reopen this week

6th July 2020

Chesterfield Library will reopen on Wednesday 8 July after being closed due to the coronavirus pandemic since 20 March.

Libraries across Derbyshire are to begin reopening from this week, with several temporary changes in place to keep customers and staff safe.

Chesterfield Library will be open from 10am to 4pm Monday to Friday, and 10am to 2pm on Saturdays until further notice, with people being asked to arrange appointments direct with their local library.

‘Book and borrow’ appointments for people wanting to take out books can be arranged over the phone or by email, and use of library computers can be arranged by phone only.

All currently borrowed books and other items have been automatically renewed until 30 September 2020 and people are being urged not to bring them back unless they have made an appointment. No overdue charges will be incurred for books which are currently borrowed.

It will not be possible for library staff to order books from other libraries during the temporary arrangements, and staff will only be able to provide items from their specific branch. This means that specific titles may not always be available. All books will be issued to 30 September 2020.

Library staff will monitor how the new systems put in place are working and ensure social distancing can be adhered to before rolling out the re-opening of other libraries across Derbyshire.

Councillor Barry Lewis, Derbyshire County Council Leader and Cabinet Member for Strategic Leadership, Tourism and Culture, said:“We are delighted to be in a position where we can start to slowly reopen our libraries and take the first steps towards getting them back to being fully operational.”

“The safety of our staff and customers is always our top priority, and we’ve been following government guidance closely, considering a range of options to get our libraries open in some form.”

“We know how important libraries are to people, and we’ve seen the number of library members rise by more than 1,100 during lockdown, with Derbyshire residents taking advantage of the excellent range of free services available online, from eBooks and eNewspapers to activities and research materials.”

“I hope library users will bear with us and take advantage of the reopening of services, albeit limited to start with, and we will endeavour to reopen other parts of the service over the next few weeks.”

During the initial phase of reopenings, it will not be possible to:

visit without an appointment
return books or other items unless attending a book and borrow appointment
browse the shelves
take part in reader groups or other activities
use meeting rooms
request specific items/books
use the toilets and baby changing facilities
read newspapers in the library
make donations, including to the foodbank.

Click here to find out more about the temporary new rules on borrowing books, and using computers in libraries.

You can contact Chesterfield Library by calling 01629 533 400 or email chesterfield.library@derbyshire.gov.uk.

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

Chesterfield’s hospitality and leisure businesses start to reopen

3rd July 2020

More businesses across Chesterfield, including pubs and restaurants, are set to re-open to the public from Saturday 4 July.

To make sure everyone has a safe and enjoyable weekend, Chesterfield Borough Council is reminding residents and visitors to adhere to social distancing rules and respect the Covid-19 secure measures that local businesses have put in place.

Residents that are making a special visit to a particular town centre business are being reminded to check that it is open as a number of businesses have delayed opening until Monday 6 July.

Councillor Kate Sarvent, Cabinet Member for Town Centres and Visitor Economy, said: “After over 100 days of lockdown, this is a great chance for you to visit the town centre and support our local businesses. Sustaining our many brilliant independent businesses as well as the many household names that appear on Chesterfield’s high street is vital for our local economy.”

“Please do look after yourselves and your families. If we all follow the rules we can keep everyone safe. It is vitally important that we all remember this when visiting our favourite pubs and restaurants.”

The council is working closely with its partners to ensure that everyone can have a safe and enjoyable weekend.

There will be an increased police presence and the council’s town centre ambassadors will also be on hand if people need any support.

The council’s licensing team have been working with business owners to ensure that they have undertaken appropriate risk assessments and have procedures in place to ensure the safety of both their customers and their staff. Bars and restaurants will be collecting customer details as part of their responsibility under the NHS track and trace system.

The council is encouraging visitors to walk or cycle into the town centre where possible, as it is anticipated that taxis will be busy. Each taxi company will also have their own Covid-19 secure working arrangements in place and you should check these when booking.

Residents using public transport are also required to wear a face covering on all public transport.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Chesterfield Food and Drink Awards, Chesterfield Retail Awards, Destination Chesterfield, Featured, Home, Leisure, Summer, Visiting

Town’s hospitality businesses gear-up for re-opening

2nd July 2020

Chesterfield’s post COVID-19 recovery is taking a further step forward on Saturday 4 July, when pubs, bars, restaurants and accommodation providers are given the green light to re-open.

The re-opening signals the end of three long months of shut down and the signs are there that people can’t wait to return to their favourite haunts.

“Within minutes of Boris Johnson’s announcement our online booking system was deluged and we had to suspend it,” said Chris Mapp, owner of the Tickled Trout in Barlow. “People are generally fed up with cooking at home and are desperate to come back out, have a decent pint and enjoy a nice meal.”

Chris Mapp, Owner of the Tickled Trout

Councillor Kate Sarvent, Chesterfield Borough Council’s cabinet member for town centres and visitor economy, urged caution saying: “I hope many people will enjoy our beautiful town centre this weekend, but we all have a responsibility to help keep other people safe and it’s vitally important that we all remember this when visiting our favourite pubs and restaurants.”

However, understanding the government COVID-19 guidelines around re-opening has left many businesses scratching their heads in confusion.

“Hand sanitizer, plexiglass dividers at check-in and reminders to social distance are an expectation that we think of as the baseline,” said Steve Perez owner of Peak Edge Hotel and Casa Hotel.

Chris added: “We’ve gone through the 42-page document in great detail with industry experts and it’s not easy to understand; some of the guidelines are contradictory. We have erred on the side of caution however and undertaken very thorough risk assessments.”

“It’s bookings only for the time being to ensure everyone has a seat. We have reduced the number of tables and there will be no standing both inside the restaurant and outside in our pop-up bar md seating area. We’ll also be asking customers to complete an email questionnaire when they book with us as part of the Track and Trace system. Their details will be stored securely for 21 days and then destroyed.”

It will also be bookings-only for the time being for customers that wish to visit Stephenson’s Tea and Coffee House following re-opening on Monday 6 July. Owner Claire Wood explained: “This will enable us to have a total control over the number of people in our establishment at any one time.”

Stephensons Tea and Coffee House

Brampton Brewery will open the doors of its pubs at 12noon on Saturday 4 July with table service being provided inside all its pubs. There will be no standing in the pubs, however outside in the confines of the garden areas it will be a bit more relaxed and people will be allowed to queue, socially distanced, to purchase from the bar. Chris Radford, owner of Brampton Brewery said: “We’ve tried to find a middle ground between being sensible and people being safe and comfortable.”

While some smaller establishments are choosing not to re-open due to a lack of space to accommodate social distancing measures, this isn’t the case for Stephenson’s. “At Stephenson’s we are lucky enough to have incredibly spacious rooms and have always provided a large amount of space between our tables which has enabled us to implement the 1+metre rule very easily.

Despite the additional COVID-19 health and safety measures hospitality businesses have had to put in place, operators are welcoming the return to business.

Marc Wildes, Managing Director of Van Dyk by Wildes, said: “We’re really excited to re-open and welcome our customers back.”

Claire Wood shared Mr Wildes enthusiasm saying: “We are excited to be re-opening. It will be good to see the town come back to life again and hopefully see the return of all businesses, and maybe some new ones too.”

Mr Radford agreed saying: “I’m relieved the pubs are at last re-opening. The government and council grants have been very welcome during lockdown but this hasn’t stopped bills hitting the mat.”

Van Dyk by Wildes

Excitement is tempered with trepidation however, with many operators unsure of what levels of customer demand to expect.

“Re-opening is a step into the unknown. When we re-open our doors at 12 noon on Saturday; we don’t know whether we’ll have a queue of people or no-one,” added Mr Radford.

Dom Stevens, Destination Chesterfield Manager said: “The re-opening of the town’s hospitality is a real turning point in the town’s recovery particularly as more people are expected to take staycations this year. Chesterfield’s proximity to the Peak District will, I hope, enable us to benefit from the projected growth in domestic tourism particularly if we can convert many of the town’s day visitors to overnight stays.”

Steve Perez added: “Recovery is very much dependent on domestic demand, particularly for the Peak District.”

Peak Edge Hotel

Despite nervousness around re-opening, operators are optimistic about the recovery of Chesterfield’s hospitality sector. Chris Mapp praised the town saying: “Chesterfield is blessed with big outdoor spaces and is not over-populated which, I believe, will aid the sector’s recovery.”

Although the sector is re-opening its doors, a number of businesses are continuing to operate takeaway and delivery services that were put in place during lockdown. “Chris Radford explained: “A lot of our older clientele are still very nervous about going back into pubs so for that reason we’re maintaining our free home delivery service of bottled beers.”

Details of businesses offering takeaway and delivery can be found at https://www.chesterfield.co.uk/supportinglocal

Looking for inspiration of where to go to eat and drink check out the winners of the Chesterfield Food and Drink Awards.

Chris Radford, Director, Brampton Brewery

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

Derbyshire County Cricket Club squad returns to training

1st July 2020

The Derbyshire County Cricket Club squad will return to training today (1 July) and begin their preparations for the 2020 season.

The phased return, which will closely follow current government guidance, initially allows players to train in one-hour, one-to-one slots with coaches. This schedule will gradually increase over the next few weeks to include larger group sessions.

The England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has announced that should all government guidelines allow, the 2020 domestic season will start on 1 August, with a revised schedule and fixture list to be announced.

Dave Houghton, Head of Cricket, said: “This is another positive step towards playing competitive cricket this summer and that’s something everyone at Derbyshire is working towards.”

He added: “All of the players have been proactive in managing their fitness, but now we can pick up a bat and ball again with the aim of returning to competitive cricket in August.”

This year’s popular Chesterfield Festival of Cricket event, which was due to take place in June and July at Queen’s Park, has been postponed. When cricket returns, tickets purchased for the original fixture dates will remain valid.

Click here to find out more about the Chesterfield Festival of Cricket

Please note: The below picture was taken a previous cricket event held at Queen’s Park

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

Ashgate Hospicecare announces Virtual Sparkle Night 2020

30th June 2020

Ashgate Hospicecare have announced that this year’s Sparkle Night Walk will be a virtual event called the ‘Markovitz Virtual Sparkle Night 2020’ and will go ahead on Saturday 19th September 2020.

Thousands of people were set to take part in this Chesterfield’s biggest fundraising event but due to COVID-19, the event had to be postponed. The event, which is a hugely important date in the diary for so many fundraisers and volunteers across North Derbyshire, promises to still provide the Sparkle spirit like every year and the local hospice needs your support more than ever.

Carl Jones, Fundraising Manager at Ashgate Hospicecare, said: “We know that the Markovitz Sparkle Night Walk is a hugely important date in the diary for thousands of our fundraisers and volunteers. For it not to go ahead in the usual way is disappointing for everyone. That’s why we’ve decided to launch Markovitz Virtual Sparkle Night to ensure North Derbyshire can still come together in a safe and responsible way to raise vital funds for Ashgate Hospicecare.”

“By walking, running, cycling or dancing in your bunny ears and special edition t-shirt from 8pm on Saturday 19th September 2020, you’ll be a part of a unique virtual event unlike any other – and the difference it will make to local people living with a life-limiting illness and their families will be huge.”

“Last year, more than 3,000 people came together to raise over £263,000 and we need your support again this year more than ever before to ensure Ashgate Hospicecare is here for the future. Please sign up now, choose a challenge involving walking, running, cycling or dancing and join us on Facebook to party from 7pm – because together, we sparkle.”

Like every year, there will be some special surprises in store for the big night that will help recreate that unforgettable Sparkle atmosphere from home – and with younger children and pets able to get involved this year for the first time as well, we’re sure it will just as memorable.

Steven Collis, from Derby, will be participating in his third Sparkle Night Walk this year. He said: “Having experienced the Markovitz Sparkle Night Walk in person, it’s such a shame we can’t all be together as we would normally be. That said, I’m still really excited to take part in the Markovitz Virtual Sparkle Night this year, and I can’t wait to get involved in a new way – I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”

The past few months have been hugely challenging for the charity and the wider community. At Ashgate Hospicecare, they have had to transform the way they provide their care, in the most difficult of circumstances, to reach more people than ever before. They have also expanded their end of life and bereavement support into the wider community, including care homes. And that’s why they need your support now more than ever.

For more details and to sign up for this year’s Markovitz Virtual Sparkle Night, click here.

Click here to read more about Ashgate Hospicecare

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

Free advertising for Chesterfield businesses

29th June 2020

To help support local businesses that are re-opening, and to showcase Chesterfield as a great place to visit, Chesterfield Borough Council is offering retail, hospitality and leisure businesses the chance to take out free listings on the VisitChesterfield website until 31 March 2021.

Councillor Kate Sarvent said: “We know things have been tough for retail, hospitality and leisure businesses over the past few months. It is hoped this advertising opportunity will assist them with the process of reopening and provide a timely sales boost.”

Kate added: “VisitChesterfield aims to promote the town and its businesses to potential tourists as well as local residents, so this free advertising provides a great opportunity for these businesses to let customers, both old and new, know that they are back open for business.”

Independent businesses who are interested in taking advantage of this opportunity should visit www.visitchesterfield.info/advertising, complete the application form and send it to events.promo@chesterfield.gov.uk along with high resolution landscape images of their business.

Destination Chesterfield are also offering free listings to local businesses on their new Supporting Local website – www.chesterfield.co.uk/supportinglocal. It currently has details of nearly 100 shops, food and drink businesses, training, support and service providers in and around Chesterfield that have adapted to provide and supply their products and services remotely.

Many town centre businesses are positive about their future following the success of the Shop Local message which has been championed by Destination Chesterfield, Derbyshire Times and Chesterfield Borough Council throughout lockdown.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Celebrate Chesterfield, Chesterfield Food and Drink Awards, Chesterfield Retail Awards, Destination Chesterfield, Development, Featured, Home, Leisure, Made in Chesterfield, Summer, Visiting

City Taxis install protective screens

27th June 2020

To make passengers and drivers feel safer, City Taxis have introduced protective screens to give customers and staff greater peace of mind when travelling together.

City Taxis have also provided drivers with free cleaning equipment in the form of a Virucidal cleaner, in addition to masks, gloves, hand sanitiser and blue roll. All drivers are advised to clean down their screen after every journey and are advised to wear facemasks when customers are in the car. There is also the three-rule policy which allows only three passengers to travel in the rear of a saloon car leaving the front passenger seat free.

Kevin Flint, Operations Director of City Taxis, said “Currently there have been over 500 screens installed in our saloon fleet. We feel the screens are a huge step in restoring confidence to the taxi trade through these difficult times. By having the screens installed it creates a safer environment for both passengers and drivers to travel. The screens aren’t compulsory for drivers, but customers can request a ‘Screened Vehicle’ through all of our booking sources, including the City Taxis app.”

Aftab Ahmed, who is a long serving and loyal driver for City Taxis, added: “I am in my sixties, self-employed and in the high-risk category for Covid-19. My wife has an underlying lung condition which would probably mean an unsurvivable case if she caught the virus. For her and my own safety I chose to stop work on the 18th of March and isolated for ten weeks. The clear polycarbonate screen presented me an opportunity to get back to work – it is hardly noticeable yet provides a divide between the driver and the passengers on the back seat. That and the use of anti-viral cleaning products to wipe down all surfaces after every trip, gives me confidence to work knowing that both passengers and I are safer. I’m happy to recommend the safety screen to all my colleagues.”

Additionally, throughout the Covid-19 period, City Taxis have been providing essential patient transport for the NHS, Yorkshire Ambulance Service (YAS) and East Midlands Ambulance Service (EMAS) across the Yorkshire, Derbyshire & Humber regions.

City Taxis are committed to providing communities with the very best in private hire transportation and will constantly monitor their customers’ experiences to ensure they are doing the very best to keep the region and its drivers moving safely.

City Taxis are members of the Chesterfield Champions local business membership scheme. To find out more about the Chesterfield Champions, click here.

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

Chesterfield’s independent retailers share their reopening experiences

26th June 2020

Non-essential retailers in Chesterfield town centre returned to their shops and stores on Monday 15th June.

Supporting retailers and visitors, Chesterfield Borough Council has implemented social distancing measures throughout the town centre, market and Market Hall.

The implementation of safety measures mean that some retailers are now promising a ‘celebrity’ shopping experience for Chesterfield shoppers.

For shoppers who are still shielding however, the Supporting Local website created by Destination Chesterfield has details of around 100 shops, food and drink businesses, training, support and service providers in and around Chesterfield that have adapted to provide and supply their products and services remotely.

Below, owners of three independent retailers in Chesterfield share their experiences since re-opening to the public.

Laura Jo Owen, Owner of Adorn Jewellers in The Shambles, has been in contact with customers via social media throughout lockdown finding out how they wanted to shop once lockdown was lifted. They told her that they didn’t want to queue to get into the shop do an appointment-only system was introduced when the shop re-opened on 15 June.

Laura Jo said: “Because we are just a small shop, we put an appointment-only system into place to manage the social distancing guidelines, but we didn’t know how it was going to work out. However, it has gone really well. On the first day of opening we were fully booked and have been nicely booked up since which is very positive. We have hand sanitiser in the shop, which we are encouraging customers to use and we clean in between appointments.”

“It’s been a lovely week back at the shop. People are considerate, understanding and happy to be out. There’s still a spirit of ‘in this together’ which is encouraging to see.”

“I really hope this new-found momentum for high street shopping continues. Now, more than ever, people are voting with their feet for the shops and stores they want to see remain on the high street.”

Lisa Swift, Owner of Shop Indie in Vicar Lane Shopping Centre said: “We’re delighted to re-open. We’ve had a steady flow of customers in the store since re-opening. Lockdown has given people a new appreciation of going into a shop and being able to browse, particularly when they’re looking for a gift and don’t know what they want.”

“The shop has hand sanitiser throughout the store which customers are encouraged to use. We’ve also put stickers on the floor reminding people of social distancing and added a Perspex screen to the counter.”

“The feedback from customers has been great. We’ve spent lockdown finding new suppliers and products for the shop and we’ve had great feedback from customers. At the moment the shop is only open on Monday, Friday and Saturday as we’re having to combine operating the business with home schooling our young children. We’ll be increasing the opening hours of the business gradually. We’re very much looking forward to getting back to being open six days a week.”

Dorothy Robinson, Owner of Dotique on Chatsworth Road, re-opened on Monday 15 June. She said: “We are so excited to be open again,. It’s a relief to re-open our doors after so many weeks and welcome customers into the store. Some were nervous coming in for the first time but seeing the safety measures we have in place has given them confidence to return.”

“We’ve thought a lot about keeping our staff and customers safe. Only four customers are allowed in the shop at any one time and, once inside, we ask them to sanitise their hands from one of our sanitiser points. We have two-metre marking throughout the shop, free masks and gloves and Perspex screens on the till point. Customers are allowed to use the changing rooms to try on clothes but afterwards we fully clean the changing room and the clothes are steamed and put in isolation for three days – luckily we have a lot of clothes.”

“It’s early days and despite talk of reducing the two metre rule to one metre, we’ll keep two metres in place as we want to ensure everyone is safe when shopping with us.”

Many town centre businesses are positive about their future following the success of the Shop Local message which has been championed by Destination Chesterfield, the Derbyshire Times and Chesterfield Borough Council throughout lockdown.

A report released yesterday (25 June) by East Midlands Chamber has revealed optimism among local businesses for a full recovery following the outbreak of Covid-19. Click here to read more.

Destination Chesterfield are always passionate about supporting local businesses and are keen to encourage people to continue to do so at the moment. In the latest blog by Peter Swallow, Chair of Destination Chesterfield, read why Supporting Chesterfield retailers is vital for our local economy.

Click here to visit Destination Chesterfield’s Supporting Local website

Posted in About Chesterfield, Blog, Business, Chesterfield Retail Awards, Destination Chesterfield, Leisure, Made in Chesterfield, Summer, Visiting

Tourism businesses encouraged to apply for new industry standard mark

26th June 2020

Marketing Peak District & Derbyshire has welcomed the announcement of a new UK-wide industry standard mark that will provide a ‘ring of confidence’ for tourism businesses as the sector works towards reopening on 4 July.

The ‘We’re Good To Go’ accreditation, introduced by VisitEngland in partnership with national tourist organisations, means businesses can demonstrate that they are adhering to Government and public health guidance and have the required processes in place.

The scheme is free to join and Marketing Peak District & Derbyshire is encouraging local businesses to apply as soon as possible to ensure they are COVID-secure and ready to welcome visitors.

Jo Dilley, Managing Director of Marketing Peak District & Derbyshire says: “We’re encouraging all local tourism businesses to apply for the ‘We’re Good To Go’ industry standard, which will play a vital role in ensuring visitors can enjoy a holiday in the Peak District and Derbyshire this summer and be confident they can do so with peace of mind.

Jo added: “We know that businesses are already working incredibly hard to prepare for reopening on 4 July, and this new industry standard provides a welcome boost of confidence for the sector and added reassurance for our visitors that we are putting all the right measures in place.”

To obtain the accreditation businesses must complete a self-assessment through an online platform, before receiving certification and the ‘We’re Good To Go’ mark for display in their premises and online.

Businesses must align with the Government’s official guidance for the sector including ‘Working Safely during COVID-19: Visitor Economy’, which outlines the processes and facilities that tourism businesses in England need to put in place before reopening.

The scheme has been developed in partnership with national tourist authorities with input from more than 40 industry bodies including Marketing Peak District & Derbyshire. For more information on the industry standard mark, click here.

Details of Marketing Peak District & Derbyshire’s ‘welcome back’ campaign will be released shortly.

Please note: images were taken prior to the Coronavirus pandemic

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Celebrate Chesterfield, Chesterfield Food and Drink Awards, Chesterfield Retail Awards, Destination Chesterfield, Featured, Home, Leisure, Made in Chesterfield, Summer, Visiting