Chesterfield attractions

Chatsworth opens new accessible Changing Places facilities

Chatsworth House Trust has officially unveiled its new fully accessible bathroom facility, with local partner Accessible UK attending to help celebrate the occasion and provide ongoing guidance.

Changing Places facilities feature specialist healthcare equipment including greater space to allow for a wheelchair and carer, a privacy curtain, height-adjustable bench and a ceiling-track hoist system.

Situated near the entrances to the house and garden, the new facilities help ensure that Chatsworth continues to be a place for everyone, improving access for visitors with additional needs.

Members of local charities joined for a day of celebration to launch the new facility including Accessible UK, a consultancy formed in 2014 to help improve the lives of those living with disabilities, and Fairplay, a charity formed by a group of local parents to provide accessible activity groups for children and young people. Attendees enjoyed a visit to the farmyard and lunch provided by Chatsworth.

Gillian Scotford, Director of Accessible UK, said: “Changing Places Toilets make a day at Chatsworth possible for the 250,000 people in the UK who need this vital facility. My son Thomas sadly passed away in 2017 aged 21 and he needed this facility.

“As a family we absolutely love Chatsworth and enjoy a Chatsworth Friends membership This beautiful venue has excellent accessibility, and the Changing Places was the missing link. Visitors can now relax and enjoy a full day out to explore this wonderful ‘Role Model’ attraction of excellence.”

Additional facilities to improve access at Chatsworth include free manual wheelchairs and electric scooters for visitors with limited mobility to the garden, a lift installed within the house to ensure easy access for tours, and induction loops for those with hearing disabilities.

Guided touch tours, designed for blind and partially sighted visitors, are also available at Chatsworth. A specially curated selection of items including scale-models of the House, genuine articles from collections and a range of textiles are used to give visitors the chance to interact with the history of Chatsworth through object handling and sensory engagement.

The Chatsworth shops, Carriage House and Cavendish Restaurant are also accessible, including the nearby recently refurbished Chatsworth Farm Shop which has four parking bays for Blue Badge holders.

Emma Flack, Head of Visitor Experience at Chatsworth, said: “Accessibility is a real priority for us in ensuring Chatsworth continues to be a place for everyone to enjoy independently, a home for culture and community that has people at its heart. From exploring the garden and farmyard to discovering the art collection and events taking place throughout the year, there is truly something for everyone.

“These new facilities are just one of the ways we are working to make Chatsworth even more welcoming for our visitors, and we look forward to reopening our doors for a new season next month!”

Chatsworth House Trust is a registered charity dedicated to looking after the house, collections, garden, and parkland, for everyone. Visitor income funds essential conservation and an ambitious programme of exhibitions, events, learning and community outreach. Every penny generated by ticket sales and membership is reinvested into the charity to make this possible.

For more information on Chatsworth’s accessibility facilities and to plan your trip, visit the website.

Are you planning a visit to Chatsworth or the Peak District? Find out more about Chesterfield and plan your visit to our historic town: https://www.chesterfield.co.uk/visiting/

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

Changing Places Chatsworth

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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 , , , , , ,

Derbyshire’s Shine A Light festival marks another successful year

Shine A Light has been hailed a success for the second year running, with the after-dark spectacular attracting more than 6,000 visitors to Derbyshire attractions.

Crowds were dazzled by stunning large-scale audio-visual displays featuring awe-inspiring animations and live musical performances in the season finale at Hardwick Hall on Friday and Saturday last week (17th and 18th February)

The weekend marked the end of an 8-date run at 4 iconic Derbyshire venues, which included Barrow Hill Roundhouse and most recently Hardwick Hall.

Delivered by internationally renowned Derbyshire-born video projection artists Illuminos, Shine A Light was commissioned to celebrate Derbyshire’s rich history and heritage, extend the tourism season and boost the visitor economy.

Derbyshire County Council Leader and Cabinet Member for Strategic Leadership, Culture, Tourism and Climate Change Councillor Barry Lewis said: “The return of Shine A Light in 2022/23 promised to be even bigger and better – and it didn’t disappoint.

“We’re proud to be able to help support these unique experiences which provide excellent family entertainment for tourists and residents alike and I’m pleased to say we’ve had some fantastic feedback.

“Illuminos really are masters of their craft and we look forward to building on the success of the last 2 seasons of Shine A Light for a third run later this year – so watch this space!”

The cutting-edge animations ran at regular intervals throughout the events, with each display incorporating a live performance from a brass quartet featuring trumpeters and trombonists brought together by the Derby & Derbyshire Music Partnership.

Matt Dillon, Visitor Experience and Operations Manager at Hardwick Hall, said: “We’re delighted to host Shine a Light in partnership with Derbyshire County Council, and for this wonderful opportunity to highlight the fascinating history of Hardwick and it’s proud former owner Bess.”

Jo Dilley, Managing Director of Visit Peak District & Derbyshire, said: “Shine A Light has entertained thousands of people with magical displays at some of Derbyshire’s most iconic heritage venues. As well as bringing local history to life, these special events have provided a great opportunity for communities to come together and appreciate some of the brilliant attractions on our doorstep.

“Shine A Light has also played a key role in supporting the recovery of local visitor economy businesses whilst encouraging off-peak visits to the area, and we can’t wait to see what the third season has in store.”

shine a light barrow hill

Shine a Light Festival at Barrow Hill Roundhouse

 

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

Chesterfield Escape Rooms celebrates anniversary by linking with Bluebell Wood Children’s Hospice

Bluebell Wood Children’s Hospice and Chesterfield Escape Rooms are teaming up the celebrate the Escape Room’s 1st Anniversary and achieving the status of #1 escape room in the UK according to Trip Advisor.

The hospice, which cares for children and young adults whose lives are sadly just too short, is very much a happy, joyful place focused on helping families make wonderful memories whether they have weeks, months or years together. The charity supports children and young adults with life-shortening and life-threatening conditions from across Chesterfield, North Derbyshire and beyond, helping hundreds of families at the North Anston hospice and in their homes each year.

Isobel Wells, Regional Fundraiser at Bluebell Wood, said: “We believe every family should be able to spend their time together, however long that may be, with dignity, comfort and the opportunity to make precious memories that they will always treasure.

“No one should have to go through the devastation of losing a child alone, and we do everything we can to support families through this unimaginable heartbreak and continue to do so in the weeks, months and years after bereavement through our extensive family support service.

“This support also extends to children and young people with life-shortening conditions, some of whom we support for many years with regular respite care at the hospice and in the community, as well as through the various other services we offer. Many of these families simply wouldn’t have anywhere to turn were it not for Bluebell Wood.

“That’s why our amazing supporters, like Chesterfield Escape Rooms are so important to us. Without the generosity and kindness of our supporters, we simply couldn’t be a light in the darkness for local families going through the most difficult times imaginable.

Nick Hogan, owner of Chesterfield Escape Rooms said “Bluebell Wood offer an amazing service to our local community. To be able to open our doors to the team, supporters and families of Bluebell Wood on 17th May will allow our team, who have volunteered to work free of charge, to say a big thank you. We have had an amazing first 12 months so all we want to offer is a small respite from the day to day challenges for the families.”

To find out more about Bluebell Wood, please visit www.bluebellwood.org or email Isobel at Isobel.wells@bluebellwood.org

To find out more about Chesterfield Escape Rooms call 01247 720088 or visit their website at www.chesterfieldescaperooms.co.uk

Chesterfield Escape Rooms and Bluebell Wood Children’s Hospice support the marketing and economic growth of the town through Chesterfield Champions, a network of over 190 organisations across Chesterfield and North Derbyshire.

 

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

New game added at Chesterfield Escape Rooms

Chesterfield Escape Rooms has announced the launch of a new game, providing a new challenge to visitors at the attraction.

The new game, titled ‘The Cage’ has been added to the lineup, alongside existing titles ‘The Governor,’ ‘Rob the Bank,’ and ‘The Crazy Cat Lady.’

The game is set to give players a few frights along the way, with the game being set around an evil restaurant owner with a dark secret.

Owner of Chesterfield Escape Rooms, Nick Hogan said he was delighted to be offering the new experience to customers: “We are only offering new games because the people of Chesterfield have supported us so far as nearly 7000 players have taken part so far.

“When we reached number 4 in the UK it was a real pinch yourself moment. The team were challenged to get into the top 20 rooms so to get so far has been unbelievable. The next time the Derbyshire Times posts the question, ‘What’s the best thing about Chesterfield?’ I am hoping someone says the Escape Rooms.”

Nick also explained when people can expect to see further development within the Games Quarter: “From an Escape room perspective, we may look to freshen things up late in 2022 but we want to get the CAGE firmly established as a fantastic experience and we may then look towards the next Xmas theme.

He also hopes that more people across Chesterfield will pay a visit to the attraction and give it a try: “So many people will say they don’t want to be locked in a room or confined space or are scared. There really isn’t anything to worry about. I would ask them to give us a call and talk through the options as to how we would make their experience a fantastic one.”

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.

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

Brand new virtual reality games centre opens in Chesterfield

Chesterfield’s visitor offer has received another boost just in time for Christmas, with the opening of a new virtual reality gaming centre.

The fully immersive attraction, Chesterfield VR is the latest addition to the Chesterfield Games Quarter, which is building on the success of the recently-opened Chesterfield Escape Rooms and long-standing favourite, Geeks HQ.

The new Chesterfield VR attraction will be situated alongside the existing Games Quarter businesses in Soresby Street, and will include:

  • 4 state-of-the-art VR gaming stations, utilising HTC Vive Pro headsets and controllers
  • Wide selection of titles available to play each month (approximately 20) , such as Job Simulator, Pistol Whip, Richie’s Plank Experience, Superhot VR, Blade & Sorcery, and many more.
  • Multiplayer gaming available on selected titles: Rhythmatic, Loco Dojo, Synth Riders, Cloudlands VR Minigolf, and many more…
  • Two VR escape rooms, playable with upto 4 players: Racket: NX and FailSpace
  • Shootout and Race nights hosted on Wednesday and Friday nights respectively
  • Private hire available for birthday and Christmas parties, corporate events, socials, etc.

Players will not be restricted to playing one title per visit, they are able to play as many as they wish, in 30 or 60 minute timeslots. Games will also be changed around each month, refreshing the lesser-used titles. The centre will keep followers updated on the regular changes on its social media and email updates.

Manager of Chesterfield VR and Chesterfield Escape Rooms, Nick Hogan commented: “With having over 5000 players through our doors in the first 6 months of business, it gave the management team and I the confidence to invest further in the local economy.

“The vision was always to create a gaming quarter for all different types of gaming needs young and old. We are so excited to open the doors and welcome in the public and who knows, if the public continue to invest their time in the Games Quarter, there might me one or two further things in the pipeline!

“We focused on two things when creating the escape rooms, the playability of the game and customer service. Feedback has been so positive that we have gone into the top 10 UK Escape Rooms as ranked by Trip Advisor and are the only newly established Escape Room in the top 10.”

Bookings are available via the website (www.chesterfieldvr.co.uk), in-store or over the phone: 01246 60 70 02

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

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

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