Editing Chesterfield, Derbyshire (section)

===Shopping, entertainment and leisure===
[[File:Market Hall , Chesterfield (3658417102).jpg|thumb|Part of Chesterfield's market and the Market Hall]]
The town centre of Chesterfield has retained much of its pre-war plan. [[Chesterfield Market]] is one of the largest open-air markets in Britain, the stalls sitting either side of the Market Hall. In the middle of town, a collection of narrow medieval streets makes up The Shambles, which houses the ''Royal Oak'', one of Britain's oldest pubs.{{citation needed|date=June 2024}}

Near Holywell Cross is what was (until 2013) Chesterfield's largest department store, the Co-operative or Co-op. The main building opened in 1938,<ref>[http://www.picturethepast.org.uk/frontend.php?keywords=Ref_No_increment;EQUALS;DCCC003361&pos=2&action=zoom "Elder Way – Knifesmith Gate"], Picture the Past</ref> and now occupies the majority of Elder Way,<ref>[http://www.chesterfield.gov.uk/Site/1/Documents/Economy/Documents/Chesterfield%20Report%20-%2001%20Chesterfield%20Today.pdf ''Chesterfield Town Centre Masterplan, October 2009'', Chesterfield Borough Council website, p. 13.] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131004220701/http://www.chesterfield.gov.uk/Site/1/Documents/Economy/Documents/Chesterfield%20Report%20-%2001%20Chesterfield%20Today.pdf |date=4 October 2013}}</ref> including an enclosed bridge, and part of [[Knifesmithgate]]. Here the façade is in the mock-Tudor style fashionable in the 1930s, which still dominates the north side of Knifesmithgate. In 2001, the Chesterfield and District Co-operative Society was incorporated into a larger regional [[Midlands Co-operative Society]] Limited, now the biggest independent retail society in the UK.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.midlands.coop/index.php?/about/ |title=About Midlands Co-op |publisher=[[Midlands Co-operative Society]] |access-date=31 March 2011}}</ref> Owing to a decline in retail sales, the large home and fashion Co-op department store closed at the end of July 2013,<ref name="DT0402">[http://www.derbyshiretimes.co.uk/news/business/chesterfield-co-op-hopes-doomed-store-will-attract-developers-1-5380544 "Chesterfield: Co-op hopes doomed store will attract developers"], ''Derbyshire Times'', 4 February 2013.</ref> The area has had some redevelopment with a [[Premier Inn]] and retail stores now open.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.chesterfield.co.uk/developments/chesterfield-elder-way-former-co-op-store/ |title=Chesterfield Elder Way (Former Co-op Store) |publisher=[[Chesterfield Borough Council]] |access-date=28 December 2017}}</ref>

====The Pavements====
[[File:Chesterfield - shops along middle section of Low Pavement - geograph.org.uk - 3605407.jpg|thumb|Low Pavement, Chesterfield]]In the late 1970s the area between [[Low Pavement, Chesterfield|Low Pavement]] (in the Market Square) and New Beetwell Street was redeveloped to build "The Pavements" Shopping Centre, known by some as The Precinct. The existing buildings were demolished except for the façades on Lower Pavement. The shopping centre was opened in November 1981 by the [[Charles, Prince of Wales|Prince]] and [[Diana, Princess of Wales|Princess of Wales]]. It has entrances opposite Chesterfield Market and escalators leading down to New Beetwell St and the bus station. An enclosed bridge links the site to a [[multi-storey car park]] built at the same time, adjacent to the town's coach station.

Chesterfield's multi-storey library stands just outside The Pavements in New Beetwell St. The building was opened in 1985. In annual figures compiled by the [[Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy]] it ranked fifth in the UK for number of loans in 2008, rising one place on the previous year.<ref name="Norfolk Boasts Busiest Library in England, survey shows">{{Cite web |url=http://www.cipfa.org.uk/Press/press_show.cfm?news_id=32026 |publisher=Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy |title=Norfolk Boasts Busiest Library in England, survey shows |access-date=30 December 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100410225011/http://www.cipfa.org.uk/press/press_show.cfm?news_id=32026 |archive-date=10 April 2010}}</ref><ref name="Norfolk library is most popular in UK">{{Cite web|url=http://www.cipfa.org.uk/Press/press_show.cfm?news_id=59847 |publisher=Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy |title=Norfolk library is most popular in UK |access-date=30 December 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110928005000/http://www.cipfa.org.uk/Press/press_show.cfm?news_id=59847 |archive-date=28 September 2011}}</ref> The area beside the library was redeveloped, but retains the old narrow passageways while accommodating small shop units and offices.

On 27 June 2007, the [[Somerfield (UK retailer)|Somerfield]] store in the Precinct was gutted in a fire in which the roof collapsed, a few shoppers suffering minor injuries.<ref name="DTSomerfield">{{Cite web |url=http://www.derbyshiretimes.co.uk/news/local/town_centre_store_fire_1_466856|title=Town centre store fire – Local – Derbyshire Times|publisher=Derbyshire Times |access-date=31 March 2011}}</ref> The fire reportedly started after a welding torch being used to repair flood damage had been left ignited. It started at 13:10 on 27 June and was not extinguished until 23:30 that day.<ref name="DTSomerfield" /> After the fire, Somerfield decided to cease trading in Chesterfield. The unit re-opened in September 2008 as a [[Tesco]] Metro store.

====Vicar Lane====
{{Main article|Vicar Lane Shopping Centre}}
Vicar Lane was redeveloped in 2000 as a pedestrianised open-air shopping centre creating two new shopping streets. This meant demolishing almost all of the existing buildings, including a [[Woolworths (United Kingdom)|Woolworths]] branch and a small bus station.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.vicarlaneshoppingcentre.co.uk/index.htm |title=Vicar Lane Shopping Centre |publisher=vicarlaneshoppingcentre.co.uk |access-date=31 March 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110202222540/http://www.vicarlaneshoppingcentre.co.uk/index.htm |archive-date=2 February 2011}}</ref> It now includes major chains such as H&M and Iceland.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.vicarlaneshoppingcentre.co.uk/stores/ |title=Vicar Lane Shopping Centre – Store Guide |publisher=vicarlaneshoppingcentre.co.uk|access-date=31 March 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101217051047/http://www.vicarlaneshoppingcentre.co.uk/storeguide.htm |archive-date=17 December 2010}}</ref> The development had been planned in the 1980s but delayed for economic reasons. A multi-storey car park on Beetwell St was added under the revised plan. The area lies between the Pavements Centre and markets and the crooked spire.

====Food and drink====
Nightlife is centred mainly in the Church Way, Holywell Street and Corporation Street areas. The Brampton Mile, west of the town centre is known for the number of public houses on a {{convert|1|mi|km}} stretch of Chatsworth Road.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bramley |first=Phil |date=24 November 2023 |orig-date=1 December 2022 |title=The lost pubs of Chesterfield's famous Brampton Mile |url=https://www.derbyshiretimes.co.uk/heritage-and-retro/retro/the-lost-pubs-of-chesterfields-famous-brampton-mile-3938608 |access-date=8 April 2024 |website=Derbyshire Times}}</ref>

In February 2006, the first international [[gluten free beer]] festival was held in Chesterfield.<ref>{{Cite web |first=Carolyn |last=Smagalski |year=2006 |url=http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art39558.asp |title=CAMRA & The First International Gluten Free Beer Festival |publisher=BellaOnline}}</ref> The [[Campaign for Real Ale]] (CAMRA) hosted the event as part of its regular beer festival in the town.

====The arts====
The Winding Wheel, hitherto an [[Odeon Cinemas|Odeon Cinema]], is a venue for concerts, exhibitions, conferences, dinners, family parties, dances, banquets, wedding receptions, meetings, product launches and lectures.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.chesterfield.gov.uk/default.aspx?CATID=328&TType=Summary&CID=1723 |title=Winding Wheel – Chesterfield Borough Council |publisher=Chesterfield Borough Council |access-date=31 March 2011}}</ref> Past notable performers include [[Bob Geldof]], [[The Proclaimers]] and [[Paddy McGuinness (comedian)|Paddy McGuinness]]. It also hosts performances of the Chesterfield Symphony Orchestra.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.chesterfieldsymphonyorchestra.co.uk/|title=Chesterfield Symphony Orchestra |publisher=Chesterfield Symphony Orchestra |access-date=31 March 2011}}</ref>

The "Pomegranate Theatre", formerly the Chesterfield Civic Theatre and previously the Stephenson Memorial Theatre, is a listed Victorian building in what is now known as the [[Stephenson Memorial Hall]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/346754 |title=SK3871: Stephenson Memorial Hall |publisher=[[Geograph]] |access-date=13 May 2011}}</ref> It has an auditorium that seats about 500 people.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.pomegranatetheatre.co.uk/ |title=Pomegranate Theatre |publisher=Pomegranate Theatre |access-date=31 March 2011}}</ref> Shows are given throughout the year. Also in the Stephenson Memorial Hall is the [[Chesterfield Museum]], opened in 1994. Until 1984 it was used as the town's main library. The museum is owned by Chesterfield Borough Council, as are the Winding Wheel and the Pomegranate Theatre. The box office for both venues is located in the entrance area of the theatre.

The Royal Mail building, Future Walk, in West Bars, was once the site of Chetwynd House, referred to locally as the AGD. Here a work by sculptor [[Barbara Hepworth]] ''Curved Reclining Form'' or ''Rosewall'' was prominently displayed for many years and nicknamed ''Isaiah'' by local critics, as it resembled a crude human face with one eye higher than the other ("eye's 'igher"). The work was due to be sold in 2005, but reprieved as a work of national significance.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/derbyshire/4363152.stm |title=BBC NEWS – Sculpture sell-off plans scrapped|date=21 October 2005 |work=[[BBC Online]] |access-date=31 March 2011}}</ref> Other artworks of note include ''A System of Support and Balance'' by [[Paul Lewthwaite]], outside Chesterfield Magistrates' Court.