Tables and chalets are now available to book ready to welcome you back to Derby's alfresco dining experience, which re-opens in Derby Market Place at 6pm on Friday 23rd April. The website will be open for bookings from 5pm tonight, initially for up to Sunday 13th June.

Last year the venue attracted more than 28,600 additional visitors to the city centre to enjoy outdoor dining, entertainment and markets. It was launched to create a new COVID-secure area for socialising while providing a much-needed boost to the city's hospitality industry.

The first tickets go on sale today (Friday 16 April) for 12 Derby Book Festival events to be hosted at Derby Theatre. The Festival, funded by Arts Council England and the University of Derby, runs from 27th May to 5th June with over 60 events for all ages and interests with something for everyone.  

Opening will kick off city and Derbyshire-wide events in a year of celebrations 

The New Museum of Making in Derby is delighted to announce it will be throwing open its doors to its first visitors from Friday 21 May 2021. After much planning and anticipation, this brand new museum, on the site of what is widely regarded as the world’s first modern factory, is excited to be able to welcome visitors to this new destination.

Déda reopens for Déda | Academy, the regarded programme of dance classes for children and young people from 19 April 2021.

Déda is delighted to announce the return of in person children and young people’s classes as Déda | Academy reopens in their Chapel Street building in Derby this month, following government confirmation that children’s indoor activities can recommence from 12 April.

In these current uncertain times we’re planning to run again! But -isn’t there alway- the festival will need to adapt.

We want to run something that’s as magical as ever but also something that’s legal and – above all – safe, so we will probably have to make changes as we go. Whatever we do we’ll still be aiming to create that magical Stainsby atmosphere and that magical Stainsby experience.

Who’s on?

Last month, we recorded the first of what we hope will become a more regular series of video blogs from the Barn, and we're delighted to be able to share the first of these with you today!

We hope you enjoy this short video which takes a look at what our garden volunteers have been up to throughout lockdown, and be sure to let us know what you might like us to feature in future. A thank you must go to Mark from Bracken Media for helping us to record this footage.

After having had to close our doors to the public at the beginning of November 156 days ago, we're delighted to report that Dronfield Hall Barn will finally be re-opening from tomorrow (Monday 12th of April) for outdoor hospitality!

A warm welcome to Spring 2021 from the team at LEVEL! We've got great things planned for this year and we're so happy to have you here with us to share them with.

New Job Opportunities

We're so excited to announce four new Associate job opportunities at LEVEL. We're looking for creative people with exciting ideas to join us for a year on a freelance contract, helping us to develop our programme and projects.

We're looking for:

Thornbridge Hall, the delightfully different 12th century stately home that lies on the outskirts of Ashford-in-the-Water, in the heart of the Peak District, is getting ready to invite the public in for the first time in two years.

The gardens, shop, plant nursery and the Carriage House Café will fully reopen on Monday 12 April at 10am. They will be open seven days per week from 10am-4pm. The cost of entry to the 12-acre gardens will be £7 per adult with no charge for children.

Organisations in Derbyshire are being invited to bid for funding to deliver projects that will get people back into work and boost the local economy.

We have been identified by government as the lead authority in the county to deliver the new national Community Renewal Fund which has been set up to support people and communities most in need, tackle disadvantage and break down the barriers to employment and better skills.