visiting chesterfield

Casa Hotel picks up prestigious Muddy Stilettos Award

Casa Hotel has been crowned the best Hotel/Inn across Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire in the ‘Muddy Awards 2023,’ hosted by travel guide site Muddy Stilettos.

The website has named regional winners across several categories. Across the UK, 77,000 businesses were nominated by the public, with an overall total of 800,000 votes cast.

See the full list of Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire winners at: https://nottsderbyshire.muddystilettos.co.uk/muddy-awards/muddy-awards-winners-2023-notts-derbyshire/

Speaking on the award win, Dawn Rudd, Head of Communications for Casa Hotel Group said: “We are thrilled to share the exciting news that Casa Hotel has been crowned with the prestigious Notts & Derbyshire Muddy Stilettos Award 2023 in the BEST HOTEL/INN category.

“Thank you to everyone who voted for us. Your votes have played an integral part in securing this esteemed recognition. We’re truly grateful for your support and trust in Casa Hotel.”

As winners in our regional category, Casa Hotel has automatically advanced to the next stage of the competition – The National Muddy Stilettos Awards 2023. These awards will be judged by the editors over the coming weeks. The National Finals will determine the ‘Best of the Best’ and results will be shared on 26 July.

Dawn added: “We are honoured to be among the top contenders in this prestigious competition, and we are determined to give our best to bring home this ultimate accolade. Until then we’ll continue to celebrate this momentous achievement.

“We are hugely proud of our teams here who go above and beyond every day to deliver an exemplary visitor experience for our guests.”

The latest win builds on the success of other recent accolades for the Casa Hotels Group, which also runs the Peak Edge Hotel and Red Lion Restaurant. The company was shortlisted for ‘Best Drinks Offer’ and ‘Best Premium Food’ in the 2023 Publican Awards, which represents the ultimate benchmark for the nation’s finest pub and bar chains.

Furthermore, the Peak Edge Hotel was crowned Derbyshire’s ‘Pub of the Year’ in the National Pub and Bar Awards 2023. Read more about the win here. 

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

Casa Hotel

 

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Create memories to last a lifetime this summer in Chesterfield

Make memories in Chesterfield this summer – with a packed events line up, including new family festivals, the return of some old favourites and lots of activities that everyone can take part in.

Chesterfield Borough Council and Destination Chesterfield have today launched Summer in Chesterfield, a campaign that will highlight all the fantastic things happening across the town this summer.

The campaign will support the town’s businesses by promoting what is happening in and around Chesterfield on social media, via website content and e-newsletters to communicate to as many residents, visitors and business owners as possible. There will also be prizes to win throughout the summer.

Councillor Kate Sarvent, Chesterfield Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Town Centres and Visitor Economy said: “Chesterfield has so much to offer, that it’s easy to plan fun things to do to make memories with your friends and families. We’ve got some great ticketed events which are new to Chesterfield but also the return of some familiar favourites. But we’ll also be promoting some great free activities and events to help ensure everyone can make memories together this summer.

“We have fantastic parks, lots of places to picnic, markets to wander around and a range of events many of which have no cost attached at all. The popular Medieval Fun Day will include a range of entertainment around the town, and many people return year after year to attend this.”

Peter Swallow, Destination Chesterfield Chair, said: “This summer is a great opportunity to create memories to last a lifetime in our beautiful market town, while supporting our fabulous independent retailers and venues.

“With an abundance of events and activities coming to Chesterfield to match all tastes, there has never been a better time to support our town and help showcase what an excellent visitor destination we have. Hopefully, we will get a nice dose of sunshine to go with them too!”

Events and festivals

Summer in Chesterfield events

Chesterfield is welcoming back popular events, but there are also some new events to make memories at this summer.

The BRM Solicitors Chesterfield Festival of Cricket, will return to Queen’s Park from 11 – 18 June, with the T20 game on Sunday 18 June expected to sell out once again.

Chesterfield Canal Festival will see all four tripboats in action over the weekend of 24 – 25 June, with two having wheelchair lifts, as well as concerts in the evening canoeing, mini diggers and more.

The Plastic Free Festival returns on Sunday 16 July, where you can learn how to reduce your single use plastic and have a fun family day out with craft workshops, kids entertainment, food, drink, and live performances.

Indulge in street food as well as enjoying live music and bubble magicians at the free two-day Chesterfield Food and Drink Festival which takes place in Queen’s Park from 22- 23 July.

One of the biggest pride festivals in the region, Chesterfield Pride will take place in Stand Road Park once again on 23 July, featuring headline acts A1 and Tinchy Stryder.

The popular Medieval Fun Day is returning to entertain the crowds on Tuesday 25 July, from 10am to 4pm in Chesterfield town centre. The Market Place will be full of stalls selling a range of goods as well as fun and games for children in the same location. Head to the medieval encampment in the grounds of the Crooked Spire Church to see knights in battle or look out for the medieval themed entertainment, including Epico the Dragon, a jester and a Tudor musician, across the town centre.

Celebrate imagination and play at the Children’s Festival, organised by Junction Arts from 29 – 30 July with entertainment to include a circus, story time yoga, silent disco and much more.

For foodies, tribute bands and local musicians, head to Eat in the Park in Queen’s Park from 5 – 6 August.

You can find out more about all the events happening and how you can get involved on the Summer in Chesterfield page: www.chesterfield.co.uk/summer

Great outdoors

Summer in Chesterfield outdoors

If you are a fan of the great outdoors there is a lot to experience from cycling adventures to, big hikes and even paddle sports with many activities being free to go along to.

Chesterfield has a range of organised walks throughout the week that are open to everyone, and two Parkruns for those who fancy something slightly more involved. You can also find local self-led walking routes that will take you into the countryside and Peak District through the Summer in Chesterfield campaign.

Get out on the water with the Chesterfield Canal Trust and try out paddle sports or cruise up the historic canal on one of the trust’s tripboats. You can also take in an unrivalled view of the town and the surrounding countryside with a tower tour at the Crooked Spire.

Shopping and markets

Summer in Chesterfield shopping

Visitors will be able to enjoy one of the country’s leading street food markets when Peddler Market takes over New Square from 23 June – 24 June. Come along to sample award winning street food, craft drinks, music, art, and family activities.

Chesterfield not only has regular markets on Monday, Friday, and Saturdays from 9am to 4pm, but we also have one of the largest flea markets in the country every Thursday. A variety of specialist markets are taking place throughout the year too including the record fair, artisan market, young person’s market, and the vegan market amongst others.

Shopping in Chesterfield is a great experience both in the town centre and just outside on Chatsworth Road and Whittington Moor. We have a number of well-known chain stores, and a fantastic selection of independent retailers who are happy to offer gift advice where needed. The Summer in Chesterfield campaign includes details of 50 independent retailers to try.

Food and drink

Pizza pi

If you are planning a special family meal out, or a night out with friends there are many different food and drink venues in Chesterfield for you to experience.

Check out the Summer in Chesterfield campaign’s blog detailing 50 different restaurants, cafes and bars to try.

For more ideas to make memories with family and friends this summer in Chesterfield, visit www.chesterfield.co.uk/summer.

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

Unusual markings designed to ‘ward off witches’ discovered at historic Chesterfield landmark

A series of unusual markings on the fireplace at Chesterfield’s Revolution House have been officially confirmed as protection marks designed to ward off witches.

The apotropaic markings (commonly referred to as anti-witch marks) depict a double ‘V’ which is a reference to the Virgin Mary Protector of Life and Family. Markings like this were usually placed near openings or windows with the intention of keeping witches and evil spirits out.

The unusual markings were spotted by one of the museum team who photographed them and sent the images to Professor Ronald Hutton, who kindly identified them.

Professor Ronald Hutton, a professor at the University of Bristol and leading authority on folklore, said: “These are convincing examples of apotropaic markings. The interlocked VVs are absolutely standard. The others are harder to make out but could correspond to more than one other known type of mark in the repertoire.”

Revolution House was originally constructed as a farmhouse in the 16th century and later became an inn during the 17th century – during this period there was a heightened belief in witches and witchcraft.

On Sunday 11 June Revolution House will be hosting a Witchcraft event. Visitors will be able to learn all about the 17th century witch hunts and get hands on to create their own witch pot.

Like apotropaic markings, witch pots were believed to protect your family and house from an attack by a witch’s curse and ensure you came to no harm.

Witch Marks at Revolution House

Councillor Kate Sarvent, Chesterfield Borough Council’s cabinet member for town centres and visitor economy, said: “We already knew that Revolution House had a rich history but this is an interesting discovery that tells us more about the people who have used the building in the past.

“We’ve been planning the Witchcraft event for a while and this discovery makes it even more relevant – the event is set to be a great day out for everyone and I hope lots of you will come along and make your own witch pot.”

The Witchcraft event is free to attend but donations are welcome and takes place on Sunday 11 June between 11am and 4pm. Creating a witch pot will be a drop-in session and visitors will be treated on a first come first served basis.

Other events are planned at the house each month throughout the summer including the return of legendary Tudor Minstrel Dante Ferrara, a demonstration of the healing properties of herbs and a display showing a selection of the council’s collection of sketches and art by Joseph Syddall.

You can find out more about Revolution House and the events planned by visiting: www.chesterfield.gov.uk/explore-chesterfield/revolution-house

Revolution House

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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 , , , , , , , , ,

Derbyshire residents to benefit from discounted bus travel across the county

A new ticket scheme is set to offer unlimited bus travel across Derbyshire from £6 a day.

Available from 24 April 2023, the new ‘Derbyshire Wayfarer’ tickets are part of a range of improvements for bus travel in the county, funded by the Government. All bus operators in Derbyshire are offering the new tickets.

Derbyshire County council has been awarded £47 million from the Government to improve bus services in Derbyshire, after submitting a Bus Service Improvement Plan. This amount was one of the largest awarded in the country. The new Wayfarer tickets are being funded from this money.

Day tickets can be bought on all buses, or can be bought online and loaded onto special Wayfarer smartcards. Several options are available, including weekly and group tickets. Wayfarer cards will also be available in libraries and tourist information centres.Derbyshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Highways Assets and Transport, Councillor Kewal Singh Athwal, said: “These new tickets are great news for everyone who currently uses the bus. We hope they will tempt more people to give the bus a go.

“For a small sum of money you can travel all across the county, making it cheaper and easier to get to work, to visit some of our wonderful tourist attractions or perhaps pop to see friends and family.”

“This new discounted travel scheme is one of a large number of improvements that we will be making to bus travel in Derbyshire and we are grateful for the financial support from the Government.”

Roads minister Richard Holden said: “People up and down the country deserve a modern, reliable, and affordable public transport system. That is why we have provided Derbyshire County Council with £47 million to boost its bus services.

“Supporting all bus operators in Derbyshire with providing unlimited bus travel for as little as £6 is great for local residents, who will now benefit and be able to make the most of the fantastic work, business and leisure opportunities Derbyshire has to offer.”

The Wayfarer tickets available are:

  • one day for an adult – £8
  • one day for a young person aged up to 16 – £6
  • one day for a group of up to 2 adults and 3 children – £15.50
  • seven days for an adult – £33
  • seven days for a young person aged up to 16 – £24.60

Wayfarer smartcards can be bought online at sytravelmaster.com. These prices are set for the next 6 months as an introductory offer.

The current Derbyshire Wayfarer ticket will become the Derbyshire Wayfarer Bus and Train ticket.

 

bus chesterfield

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Vicar Lane Shopping Centre invites visitors to celebrate the coronation in St. James’ Square

On Saturday 6th May, Vicar Lane Shopping Centre is set to host a celebration to mark the coronation of King Charles III in St James’ Square for shoppers and visitors alike to enjoy.

Between 10am and 3pm, families can pull up a deckchair on the green in St James’ Square which will be laid out amongst some family favourite giant games.

For those wanting to watch the ceremony, Vicar Lane will be showing the Coronation Service live on their big screen which is due to begin at 11am.

Throughout the day, there’ll be many more activities to marvel at such as stilt walkers, face painters and royal themed entertainers, bringing a sense of joy to Steeplegate and Vicar Lane. no booking is required and all the entertainment is free.

In the lead up to the event, Vicar Lane Shopping Centre are running a very royal social media competition, giving one lucky follower the chance to win a Hamper Fit for A King worth up to £80! Keep an eye out on their social media channels for further details.

Brandon Howard, Centre Administrator at Vicar Lane said: We are very much looking forward to welcoming new and existing visitors to celebrate this significant day that will go down in history with us.

“It is always so great to see the community using the space here at Vicar Lane so we hope everyone will enjoy the activities we have on offer.”

Based in the heart of Chesterfield, Vicar Lane Shopping Centre is  home to a range of popular high-street retailers and a mix of unique independent stores. Find out more about independent retailers in the town, alongside our historic market and market hall at: https://www.chesterfield.co.uk/visiting/shopping/

Find out more about local events taking place to mark the coronation of King Charles III in Chesterfield and North Derbyshire at: https://www.chesterfield.co.uk/visiting/events/

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

Wimbledon Vicar Lane Big Screen

The big screen at St. James’ Square, Vicar Lane

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Project announced to restore Chesterfield Canal’s missing link at Renishaw

A disused section of the Chesterfield Canal is set to be restored for the benefit of local residents, visitors and wildlife.

The mile-long section in Renishaw, which lies close to the original canal alignment, is land-locked and virtually empty of water.

Chesterfield Canal Trust is set to work alongside Derbyshire County Council on the project, which will improve the area visually, increase biodiversity and bring more opportunities for recreation.

Work is needed, subject to planning permission, to make the structure watertight and rebuild the overflow-weir so it is ready to connect to further sections of the canal when they are restored. A temporary pumping system would need to be installed to supply water from the River Rother to the canal and the towpath resurfaced to make it suitable for pedestrians and cyclists.

Further work is also proposed to resurface a further 915 metres of towpath to provide a circular 2.5km surfaced route incorporating the Trans-Pennine Trail. And new picnic benches, signage and cycle stands would also be installed.

The original canal was completed in 1777 and stretched 46 miles in total, providing navigation between the River Rother at Chesterfield and the River Trent at West Stockwith in Nottinghamshire. The section in Renishaw was rerouted in the 19th century with the building of railways.

This latest project – which is being carried out by the council and the trust as part of the Chesterfield Canal Partnership – is part of a wider ambition to make the whole route from Chesterfield to Kiveton navigable with nine miles yet to be restored.

Peter Hardy, Chair of Chesterfield Canal Trust, said: “We know that local residents are keen to see the re-watering of the canal around Renishaw and this project has been made possible thanks to the close cooperation between the trust and Derbyshire County Council. It’s also thanks to the enthusiasm of local people who will join with us to create an area they will be proud of for walking, cycling, fishing and watersports.

“The improvement in biodiversity and an increased sense of wellbeing will undoubtedly follow the completion of the works, which we anticipate will start this summer.”

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.

Chesterfield Canal

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Matlock Farm Park announces exciting 20th anniversary celebrations

Matlock Farm Park, located between Matlock and Chesterfield, is looking forward to celebrating its 20th birthday in April with its visitors.

The attraction has come a long way since humble beginnings, recently winning for the second year running Visit Peak District & Derbyshire’s Visitor Attraction of the Year, as well as their Accessible & Inclusive Tourism award and Best Event for their annual Peak District Highland Games from the National Farm Attractions Network.

Managing Director and founder Allan Finlay said: “We’ve really surpassed everything we set out to do. My background was hospitality and my wife Virginia has always been in farming – we started the park off just as a little something to do together. I look now at what we offer and feel immensely proud, especially of our team who work hard to deliver a great experience. Seeing children and adults happy when they’re with us is just wonderful.”

The farm park started off as a few outdoor pens, a small animal barn and a 15-seater tea room, but has more than doubled in size to be home to a wide range of animals such as goats, meerkats, donkeys, Highland cattle and wallabies. There are activities such as sheep racing, small animal handling and alpaca walking, as well as indoor and outdoor multi-zone play centres, a horse-riding school, function rooms, café and a Changing Places facility.

“There’ve certainly been some trying times over the years,” recalled Allan. “Obviously things were difficult during the pandemic, but back in 2013 we seriously thought about giving the farm park up altogether when things were quiet and we were juggling our young family with other full-time jobs. It was thanks to a small grant we managed to get to build a café and us starting social media posts when things started to change. Before we knew it, visitor numbers began rising and we were able to start re-investing in the park.”

Lotty Hawkins, Assistant Manager, said: “The positive feedback from visitors brings the most pride for the management and staff. Visitors really notice how much we’ve improved over the years and how much there is to do and see during a visit. Many people tell us how contact with our lovely animals helps their wellbeing too – animals can be so calming when there’s a special connection. Visitors with Autism and Dementia can also have such rewarding experiences with us.”

The farm park is now one of only a few attractions in the region to hold ‘Accessibility Champion’ status. “Our Changing Places facility has made such a difference to children and adults with additional needs,” added Lotty.

The team look forward to 20th anniversary celebrations with their visitors in April, including the park’s biggest ever social media prize giveaway and party event weekends.

Lotty said: “We really want to give thanks to all our visitors and to all those who’ve supported us over the years. With Easter and lots of Summer events coming up too, it’s an exciting time for Matlock Farm Park!”

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

matlock farm park sheep racing

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Chatsworth opens for new season with design led exhibition adding to 500 years of creativity

Chatsworth is once again back open to the public for the Summer season, with a new exhibition titled ‘Mirror Mirror: Reflections on Design at Chatsworth.’

The historic North Derbyshire house has always been a centre for creativity, with successive generations of the Cavendish family commissioning art and design contemporary to their times.

The new exhibition continues this legacy and is now on display in the house and garden until the end of September 2023.

The exhibition features commissioned works by 16 contemporary designers. Each has responded to one of Chatsworth’s spaces, either indoors or outside in the garden and have been chosen for the way that they reflect on the key issues of today, from climate, sustainability and equality to how people connect.

Alex Hodby, Senior Curator of Programme at Chatsworth, said: “This project is a fantastic opportunity to reflect on the design histories at Chatsworth and bring them to the fore with an exciting array of international artists and designers. We’re fascinated with how the contemporary works in our exhibition have used materials in innovative ways to make functional and intriguing objects that are also deeply connected to the house, garden and the collections here at Chatsworth – a place where design has been a key feature for 500 years.”

Jane Marriott, Director of Chatsworth House Trust, said: “We have invited 16 world renowned artists and designers to reflect on 500 years of design and craftsmanship at Chatsworth. Their bold, inspiring and sometimes humorous works allow us to connect with the many stories at Chatsworth and to also reflect on the urgent issues of our time from our use of materials, sustainability and the climate crisis. As a charity, we are very proud to continue to commission and support artists and by doing so we make Chatsworth’s history come alive, while looking forward to the future.”

Lord Burlington, Chairman of the Chatsworth House Trust said: “We are thrilled to bring Mirror Mirror and these 16 remarkable designers to Chatsworth, to continue the tradition of placing new objects and ideas in direct conversation with creative choices from generations past. With this exhibition, as well as a significantly enhanced programme of talks, tours and workshops, the aim is to ensure Chatsworth upholds its role as a gathering place and a resource for artists, thinkers, makers and learners. We look forward to welcoming them all in 2023.”

Co-curated by Alex Hodby, Senior Curator of Programme at Chatsworth, and writer, historian and curator Glenn Adamson, the exhibition places contemporary works in direct relationship to the historic design at Chatsworth, creating unexpected connections with the house’s architecture, interiors, furniture, ceramics, as well its essential materials of glass, stone, wood, and light.

The sixteen contemporary artists and designers featured in the exhibition are: Ini Archibong, Michael Anastassiades, Wendell Castle, Andile Dyalvane, Ndidi Ekubia, Najla El Zein, Formafantasma, Joris Laarman, Max Lamb, Fernando Laposse, Jay Sae Jung Oh, Samuel Ross, Chris Schanck, Ettore Sottsass, Faye Toogood, and Joseph Walsh.

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.

Joris Laarman, Maker benches in the Painted Hall

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Chesterfield reveals ambition to increase visitor economy by £32 million

Ahead of English Tourism Week 2023 (17 – 23 March), Chesterfield has announced its bold ambition to increase the value of its visitor economy by 20% by 2030.

A 20% increase in tourism will bring an additional £32 million into the economy annually helping create jobs for local people and opportunities for existing and new businesses.

The town will build on its heritage, retail and leisure offering as well as its proximity to the Peak District National Park, to increase the number of overnight stays in the town.

As part of its drive to attract people to visit and stay in the town, the town’s inward investment marketing campaign Destination Chesterfield has appealed to businesses and residents to ‘talk up the town’ within their networks and help attract visitors.

Peter Swallow, Chair of Destination Chesterfield said: “Chesterfield has an excellent offer for visitors, as well as the town’s close proximity to one of the most visited National Parks in the world. There is an opportunity for us to attract more people to visit and stay overnight in Chesterfield using the town as a base rather than just passing through on their way to the Peak District.”

The Peak District currently welcomes more than 13 million visitors annually with 83% of these arriving by car. Attracting some of these visitors to stay in Chesterfield and using its bus and rail links to visit surrounding areas, including major attractions like Chatsworth House, will not only benefit the borough’s economy but also support the Park Authority’s Sustainable Transport Action Plan.

Additionally, there are cycle paths into the Peak District, the border of which is just five miles from the town centre.

Jo Dilley, Managing Director of Visit Peak District & Derbyshire praised Chesterfield’s ambitions, saying: “Tourism already plays a vital role in making the area such a brilliant place to live, work and visit, and we strongly support Chesterfield’s ambition to grow the value of its visitor economy even further.

“The tourism sector generates billions of pounds for the local economy each year, supporting thousands of local jobs and displaying huge potential for future growth, particularly in areas such as sustainable and active travel, which Chesterfield can really capitalise on.

“Growing and developing the town’s tourism offer will not only benefit local businesses, it will also have a positive and lasting effect on local residents and communities. We look forward to working with partners in Chesterfield to support them in achieving this goal and ensuring the visitor economy’s long-term success.”

Mark Thurman, Managing Director of Casa Hotels which owns and operates two four-star hotels in the borough, urged people to ‘celebrate what we’ve already got,’ saying: “We don’t need to reinvent the wheel. We have wonderful accommodation, great restaurants and fantastic transport links to bring people to Chesterfield to then go and explore the surrounding area. We don’t need to do anything other than celebrate what we’ve already got.”

The town’s proximity to the Peak District has already attracted major investment to the borough including the £300 million PEAK, an all-year-round round leisure education, wellness and entertainment destination. PEAK’s masterplan has been developed around a transport and mobility system connected to the National Park. Phase one of the development, Gateway at PEAK, which is being developed by Milligan is expected to be completed in 2025.

celebrate 2023 visitor economy panel

Experts discuss Chesterfield’s visitor economy at Celebrate Chesterfield 2023. (Left to right: Jo Dilley – Visit Peak District & Derbyshire, Phil Bramley – Derbyshire Times, Mark Thurman – Casa Hotels, Jimmy Drew – Derbyshire County Cricket Club)

The town is already home to the award-winning Casa Hotel and further hotel accommodation is planned within the £320 million Chesterfield Waterside scheme located close to the close to town’s mainline train station. The developer, Bolsterstone Group Plc, is in talks with major hotel brands to operate the proposed 120-bed hotel within Phase 1 of the scheme. The new hotel will be a further addition to the popular 92-bed Premier Inn Hotel which was opened within the Elder Way development in the town centre in 2019.

Increasing the visitor economy of the town is one of the key targets in the 2023-27 Chesterfield Growth Strategy which was launched by Chesterfield Borough Council on 23 February. In addition to growing the visitor economy, key headline targets, include:

  • Increasing the number of employee jobs in the borough by 4% (2,000 jobs)
  • Increasing the number of businesses by 12% (400 businesses)
  • Increasing the number of higher value businesses by 15% (100 businesses)
  • Increasing the share of Chesterfield residents in knowledge-based occupations by 15% (baseline Census 21 – 18,000)
  • Increasing the value of the visitor economy by 20% (baseline £163m)

Councillor Kate Sarvent, Chesterfield Borough Council’s cabinet member for town centres and visitor economy, said: “We are already a fantastic visitor destination but growing our visitor economy strengthens growth across the borough, it leads to more people supporting our local businesses and town centre. This will in turn create new jobs and opportunities for our residents. To do this we need to work closely with our partners to promote our town, we have excellent transport connections, fantastic accommodation choices and our proximity to the Peak District puts us in a very strong position to bring more people to our town.”

Peter added: “The lasting and far reaching change we are striving for in Chesterfield cannot be done by one organisation alone; it must be a collaborative effort. By doing this, there is a real opportunity to build a thriving visitor economy in the town.”

Chatsworth Country Fair

Chatsworth Country Fair – Image by Chatsworth House Trust

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Success for Casa Hotel, Peak Edge Hotel and Matlock Farm Park at Peak District & Derbyshire Tourism Awards 2023

North Derbyshire businesses Casa Hotel, Peak Edge Hotel and Matlock Farm Park are all celebrating, after picking up ‘gold’ accolades at the Peak District & Derbyshire Tourism Awards 2023.

The awards culminated in a glittering awards ceremony attended by 180 people at Casa Hotel in Chesterfield on Thursday 2nd March.

Some of the area’s finest visitor attractions, experiences, pubs, restaurants and accommodation providers were amongst those recognised at the awards, designed to showcase excellence and outstanding achievement across the area’s tourism and hospitality sector.

Organised for the third year by Visit Peak District & Derbyshire, with support from the European Regional Development Fund, this year’s awards celebrated the success and resilience of tourism businesses whilst highlighting the sector’s valuable contribution to the local economy.

The Peak District & Derbyshire Tourism Awards 2023 were hotly contested and finalists progressed through shortlisting, mystery shopping and a rigorous judging process by an independent panel of experts.

Finalists, guests and partners enjoyed a drinks reception sponsored by Global Brands followed by a three-course formal dinner in the stunning surroundings of Casa Hotel’s Barcelona Suite.

Sir Richard FitzHerbert Bt, Chair of Visit Peak District & Derbyshire, opened proceedings saying: “I am delighted to be here to celebrate with you all and to help the Visit Peak District & Derbyshire team champion the very best of the county’s tourism and hospitality businesses.

“I have learnt through my involvement with Visit Peak District & Derbyshire that we each have our own businesses, our own challenges and our own opportunities for growth but when we work together, we can, and we do achieve so much more.”

Host Andy Miller compered the event as Gold, Silver and Bronze award winners were revealed. Gold winners were each presented with hand-crafted awards, designed and made by Derbyshire-based C W Sellors Fine Jewellery & Luxury Watches, whilst Silver and Bronze winners each received a certificate identifying them as one of the finest tourism businesses in the area.

In a further boost, Gold winners in each of the 13 core categories will now progress onto the national VisitEngland Awards for Excellence 2023, which represent the highest accolades in English tourism.

Jo Dilley, Managing Director of Visit Peak District & Derbyshire, said: “The Peak District & Derbyshire Tourism Awards are a celebration of all that’s great about the tourism industry locally, and recognise its vital importance to the economy as well as the hard work, talent and dedication of those who work in this important sector.

“The quality and diversity of our tourism offer is immense and, in light of the many difficulties faced by the industry over the past three years, we should be tremendously proud of not only our award-winners, but of all our finalists. They have shown adaptability, innovation, and commitment to delivering world-class experiences to visitors day in, day out and help make the Peak District and Derbyshire such a fantastic place to live, work and visit. Congratulations everyone!”

Full list of finalists and winners at the Peak District & Derbyshire Tourism Awards 2023:

Accessible and Inclusive Tourism Award

  • GOLD: Matlock Farm Park, Matlock
  • Silver: Croft Bungalow Accessible Holiday Let, Birchover
  • Bronze: LEVEL Centre, Rowsley

B&B and Guest House of the Year

  • GOLD: Grendon Bed & Breakfast, Buxton
  • Silver: Sheldon House, Monyash

Camping, Glamping and Holiday Park of the Year

  • GOLD: Upper Hurst Farm, Hartington
  • Silver: Landal Darwin Forest, Matlock
  • Bronze: Rivendale Lodge Retreat, Ashbourne

Ethical, Responsible and Sustainable Tourism Award

  • GOLD: Pure Outdoor
  • Silver: myGuidedWalks
  • Bronze: Landal Darwin Forest, Matlock

Experience of the Year

  • GOLD: myGuidedWalks
  • Silver: Pendragon Project Team Adventures
  • Bronze: Pure Outdoor

Hotel of the Year

  • GOLD: Wildhive Callow Hall, near Ashbourne
  • Silver: Peak Edge Hotel, Chesterfield
  • Bronze: The Maynard, Grindleford

New Tourism Business Award

  • GOLD: Great British Car Journey, Ambergate
  • Silver: Buxton Crescent Heritage Experience, Buxton
  • Bronze: The George, Hathersage

Pub of the Year

  • GOLD: The Blind Bull, Little Hucklow
  • Silver: The Scotsman’s Pack Country Inn, Hathersage
  • Bronze: The George, Hathersage

Resilience & Innovation Award

  • GOLD: Casa Hotel, Chesterfield
  • Silver: Rivendale Lodge Retreat, Ashbourne

Self-Catering Accommodation of the Year

  • GOLD: The Water Mill, Bradbourne
  • Silver: Wheeldon Trees Cottages, Earl Sterndale
  • Bronze: Tissington Ford Barn, Bradbourne

Taste of the Peak District & Derbyshire Award

  • GOLD: Red Lion Restaurant at Peak Edge Hotel, Chesterfield
  • Silver: The Maynard, Grindleford
  • Bronze: The Old Original Bakewell Pudding Shop, Bakewell

Team of the Year

  • GOLD: The Maynard Team
  • Silver: Creswell Crags Learning Team
  • Bronze: Hattersley Wines

Tourism Young Achiever Award

  • GOLD: Josh Butler, Longbow Bars and Restaurants
  • Silver: Courtney Charlton, The Old Original Bakewell Pudding Shop
  • Bronze: Hollie Fentem, Rivendale Lodge Retreat

Unsung Hero

  • GOLD: Soraya Ferrer, The Maynard
  • Silver: Gavin Moy, Pure Outdoor
  • Bronze: Martin Firth, Rivendale Lodge Retreat

Visitor Attraction of the Year

  • GOLD: Matlock Farm Park
  • Silver: Heights of Abraham, Matlock Bath
  • Bronze: Thornbridge Estate, Bakewell

Casa Hotel, Peak Edge Hotel, Matlock Farm Park and Visit Peak District & Derbyshire support the marketing and economic growth of the town through Chesterfield Champions, a network of over 200 organisations across Chesterfield and North Derbyshire.

Gold winners at the 2023 Peak District & Derbyshire Tourism Awards

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

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