News from producers around Derbyshire

The eagerly awaited Derbyshire Cook Book is launching with a special event at Bean Caffe on Wednesday 20^th May.  To mark the occasion, the book’s publishers, contributors and guests will celebrate with a delicious selection of canapés and drinks from recipes and producers featured in the book.

The Made In Derbyshire campaign has gone from strength to strength since launching at the start of 2015. There are thousands of followers on social media and nearly 500 companies have registered with the website so far to show their support for the campaign and their pride in their county.

Derbyshire Literature Festival in 2015 has been themed Made In Derbyshire and there are many more Made In Derbyshire themed events on the near horizon.

CQ Saturdays Knickerbocker Glorious,Derby’s premier outdoor variety showcase, returns to the Cathedral Quarter on Saturday 16th in the merry, merry month of May.

With four hours of fun and fantastic entertainment for all the family, CQ Saturdays Knickerbocker Glorious takes place at The Waterfall Stage in the Market Place from 11am till 3pm.

The day will be compered by Dan Webber who will be joined on stage by a host of local and regional performers including a number of talented singer songwriters. 

Lonsdale Swimming & Sports Trust is stepping up recruitment of swimming teachers to cater for the current and future demand for lessons.

The charitable Trust oversees Gayton Pool in Littleover on behalf of Derby City Council and  Lonsdale Pool in Mickleover, which it is currently hoping to replace with a new £4 million facility as soon as another local 1.5 acre site can be found.

Visitors to Intu Derby shopping centre on Saturday May 23 will be invited to join a hula hoop workshop and flashmob as part of the build-up to an exciting performance which is coming to Derby Theatre on Friday June 12.

‘Hercules’ has been created by and stars award-winning comedy double act Tom Roden and Pete Shenton of New Art Club who are performing in the city as part of their 15-venue UK tour.

Flaming Skirt Festival is a unique contemporary arts festival based in Amber Valley, Derbyshire. It’s art on the move, transported by a double-decker bus; a day of travelling around to different small towns and villages – 7 June in NW Leicestershire and 28 June in Amber Valley Derbyshire.

The Old Station Gallery in Rowsley have a busy few weeks ahead and excitement is mounting at the prospect of hosting the gallery's inaugural Arts Festival this Spring Bank Holiday 2015.

Approx 30 Artists and Artisans will be exhibiting their work throughout the Old Station Gallery, a second venue within Peak Shopping Village and under the canopies leading up to the gallery. The festival will take place on Sunday 24th & Monday 25th May 2015 from 10am until 5pm.

Actors in lavish Edwardian costumes will be entertaining visitors to Derby’s Cathedral Quarter in the latest part of the CQ Saturdays programme to launch later this month.

The official opening in St Matthew’s Church will be performed by TV celebrity auctioneer from Bamfords, James Lewis and the Mayor of Derby compered by Andy Potter of Radio Derby, after which the Old Vicarage and Walter Evans schools and St Matthew’s Church Choir will sing in the church, followed by another selection of music. The day continues at various locations throughout the village with a range of activities, such as:

The village of Darley Abbey, on the northern outskirts of Derby, is busy making plans for its fifth biennial Darley Abbey Day, which will be held on 13^th June.  The day starts with the opening ceremony at 11 o’clock, continues at various locations throughout the village and culminates in a Barbecue with Entertainment in the Village Hall in the evening.

Darley Abbey Day showcases our beautiful village and the various organisations and businesses in it, providing a fun day for all ages and raises money for local charities.