Home to the world-famous Chatsworth House, Crooked Spire Church in Chesterfield and Bakewell Pudding, it’s no surprise that the Peak District and Derbyshire visitor economy is worth £2 billion annually.
And Chesterfield is making the most of its proximity to the Peak District with a number of new hotel developments in the pipeline.
The former Co-Op department store in the town centre is currently being transformed into a hotel and this will be joined next year by an 86-bed hotel at Basin Square at Chesterfield Waterside.
Less than three miles away, work has also started on the £200 million Peak Resort development, which will boast 4 and 5-star hotels. Already Chesterfield is home to two 4-star hotels – Ringwood Hall and Casa Hotel.
It’s not just accommodation though – links to the Peak District from the Chesterfield town centre and train station are set to be improved with the creation of a virtual platform, pointing visitors towards the town centre and the many sights and sounds to experience there – from climbing the Crooked Spire, to the town’s outdoor market and plethora of independent shops and stores.
In the evening, the town boasts a growing food and drink scene which is celebrated annually in the Chesterfield Food and Drink Awards. Alongside this, there are two entertainment venues – the Winding Wheel and Pomegranate theatre which regularly welcome national touring shows and acts.
A town that combines its medieval and industrial heritage with modern thinking, Chesterfield is proving an increasingly attractive option for both investors and visitors.
Peter Swallow, Managing Director of Bolsterstone Plc, the company behind the £340 million Chesterfield Waterside regeneration scheme commented: “The accommodation offering within Chesterfield is evolving to reflect both the growth of the town as an investment destination for businesses and also capitalising on its proximity to the beautiful Peak District.”
In addition to the hotel at Chesterfield Waterside, tourism in the town will be given a further boost with the connection of the canal basin to the canal. This will facilitate the creation of a brand new public realm, home to the Dame Barbara Hepworth sculpture – Curved Reclining Form. The developers of Waterside are already in talks with Chesterfield Borough Council to hold canal festivals, further adding to the many great events held in the town, such as the artisan, street food and medieval markets.
Discover more about the events happening in the town here: http://www.chesterfield.co.uk/visiting/events/, or for further information about Chesterfield Waterside, visit www.chesterfieldwaterside.com.