Page 15 - Destination Chesterfielfd:: Billion Pound Town

Thursday,September13,2018 www.derbyshiretimes.co.uk DerbyshireTimes 71
Chesterfield: A great place to eat
Host of new restaurants open as green light given for European-style development
The Batch House promises something completely unique for Chesterfield, as a ‘food destination’ like those seen in many big European cities
Town undergoing food revolution
Chesterfield is undergoing a food revolution, with a boom in the sector.
The last few years have seen a surge in new restaurants and bars opening, including the likes of The Rectory, Bot- tle and Thyme, Junction Bar, Ciuri Ciuri, Pump + Grind and The Crafty Dog
These have bee been joined most recently by the Sorbo Lounge, in the Market Place
after a £500,000 redevelop- ment of the town’s former Post Office building.
However, the biggest change in the world of food and drink could be the Batch House development opposite the Proact Stadium on Shef- field Road opposite the Proact Stadium on Sheffield Road
Chesterfield Borough Council has now granted con- ditional permission for Blue Deer Ltd to create the centre
as part of its Glass Yard mas- terplan.
The development prom- ises to transform the former fire station site - with 18 new offices and accommodation for artisan food producers, restaurants, cafes and retail units.
A barn-like building called The Batch House will be at the centre of the project.
According to Blue Deer Ltd, the masterplan has al-
The Sorbo Lounge has opened as part of a £500,000 redevelopment of the former Post Office building
ready attracted ‘exciting local businesses and artisan food producers from across the country’ - and now the com- pany is urging more firms to get involved.
Tim Turner, managing di- rector of Blue Deer Ltd, said: “I’ve visited food destination buildings in lots of European towns and cities and always have the same thought ‘why don’t we do something like this back home in Derbyshire’. Now we’re going to.
“The Batch House will bring a European culture and experience to Chester- field and its neighbours that is currently springing up all over London.”
There is also a strong growth in food and drink pro- duction in the town.
Leading the way is Glo- bal Brands, which exports to over 30 countries worldwide from its base in the acclaimed Casa hotel. The firm now in- cludes brands like VK, Hooch,
Corky’s, Amigos tequila beer No.3 London Dry Gin and Adoro wine.
Another major player in the local food and drink busi- ness is Northern Tea Mer- chants, based on Chatsworth Road, which makes a stagger- ing 100 million tea bags each year.
Beer lovers can enjoy local- ly-produced ales at town bars from a number of local brew- eries like Brampton Brewery, also on Chatsworth Road.
Bottle and Thyme is just one of a host of restaurants which have opened in the town in recent years