Posts Tagged ‘derbyshire’

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little blog competition

Monday, May 25th, 2009

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I was so surprised to find out the fabulousplaces.co.uk blog had been nominated for the Dorset Cereals little blog competition!  I’d like to say a HUGE thank you to everyone who have taken the time to vote for me over the past few weeks!  )

THE COMPETITION IS NOT OVER JUST YET….the winner is the blog with the most votes at the end of May, so there’s plenty of time to scoop that fabulous first place position.  Please take a moment to click here and place your vote…I will be eternally grateful!  

Debs

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something for the weekend!

Thursday, May 7th, 2009

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Looking for something to do this weekend?  Why not get out and about and visit some fabulous places in Derbyshire?  fabulousplaces.co.uk is the perfect ‘where to go’ resource if you’re looking for an extra special visit into Derbyshire.  This blog post is looking at the A6 journey into Derbyshire, starting from Duffield and ending at Avant Garde in Baslow.

Gifted is a lovely gift boutique on the main road in Duffield.  From jewellery to bags and homwares to childrens traditional toys.  Gifted is open 7 days a week.

Next on the A6 is Belper which has lots of fabulous places:


I Should Cocoa – a must see for all chocolate lovers.  This is artisan chocolate at its best and the selection is to die for…there are even a few surprising chocolates for the adventurous chocolate fan.  I Should Cocoa also have a lunch menu which is perfect for a light bite at a great price.  I Should Cocoa is open Monday to Saturday.

Fresh Basil – a fab deli eatery offering a great range of carefully selected local and continental deli produce, homemade cakes, bread, meats, eggs and lots of other tempting fresh goodies.  They also have a great menu, which I’m working my way through…delicious!  Fresh Basil is open Monday to Saturday.

Definitely worth a visit is Sweetings Interiors.  On several floors, this interiors shop is a wonderful place to lose an hour wondering round getting  lots of inspiration. Sweetings is open 7 days a week.

The next must see is Lavender grey.  This little shop is fabulous, each time I visit I know there will be something to tempt me.  Run by Lucy, an interior designer, who is always happy to help you find exactly what you’re looking for.  Lavender grey is open Tuesday to Saturday. 

Next would have to be Bow at the Printworks in Cromford.  I wonderful little shop full of accessories for the home, jewellery and cards.  What I love about Bow is that each item is carefully selected by the owner, Susanna, and the prices are very reasonable.  Susanna also sources locally and stocks lots of products made from all over Derbyshire.



Heading a little further towards Bakewell, I always stop off at Caudwells Mill.  The Mill has such a lovely atmosphere on a sunny day and the eatery is great….the hommity pie is delicious and the cakes always look and taste fab.

 After Caudwells Mill I would go for a wonder around the Chatsworth Estate.  A mid afternoon walk around Chatsworth is a treat.  The best walk, in my opinion, and it’s totally free, is to head up through the car park and follow the track past the farm yard and round to the right.  This takes you up to the back of the house, a great view and there are also magical-looking lakes, waterfalls and woodland – the perfect place to head with doggies and it’s normally very quiet.

Our Chatsworth ritual is to finish off in the farm shop to get sausages and other goodies to cook for tea when we get home…or in the case of the caramel slices, to eat in the car on the way home!

I’m not sure how much time you’ll have left, but Avant Garde in Baslow is one of my favourites.

This is a pretty full on day and it can be done with children and/or doggies…especially if you’re lucky like I am and have a partner who’s happy to wonder around with the dogs while I nip into browse round a shop!  ) 

Have fun!

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Delicious!

Friday, May 1st, 2009

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On Wednesday I went to Blackbrook House in Belper to start planning the website’s Summer Fete on the 26th July.  On my way back I decided to stop off in Belper and nip to Fresh Basil to say ‘hi’ and also to get some inspiration for my evening meal. As soon as you walk into Fresh Basil the wonderful array of smells hits you, from bread and homemade cakes to cheeses and olives, this is always followed by a warm welcome.  As always, I went straight to the free range eggs (my favourite), then a piece of coffee cake and I then noticed some brie on the counter top.  I have to say, that brie was the most delicious brie I have ever tasted!  Grilled, it was perfect sat on top of mushroom, chilli and tomato pasta, yum!  If Sam from Fresh Basil is reading this…please can you let me know what it was called?  I’ll definitely be back for some more!

I then called in to see Sid at I Should Cocoa across the road.  I Should Cocoa is one of my favourite places – I love chocolate and coffee, so this place is pretty much heaven in my book!!  I bought a piece of rocky road, a chocolate brownie and a coffee to go…the rocky road is naughty, but far too good to be missed!

Above are images of the brie from Fresh Basil and the rocky road and brownie from I Should Cocoa….I’m afraid I didn’t have chance to take a photo of the coffee cake as my partner, David, immediately took it from me as I entered the house and that was the last I saw of it!!

So, if you’re looking for somewhere to go this weekend…I recommend a stop off in Belper for some food shopping.  While you’re there you can also call into The Little Gallery, Clare’s Beautiful Beads, Lavender grey, Fresh Ground and Sweetings!

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Out & About

Wednesday, April 8th, 2009

I’ve been out and about over the past month visiting fabulous places and producers, visiting the Country Living Fair and doing the first promotional outing for the website this year!

Country Living Spring Fair

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A couple of weeks ago I went along to the Country Living Fair, held at the Islington Business Centre in London. The Fair was fantastic and full to the brim with great independent shops and producers. I was delighted to see Clare Gage exhibiting who won the Editors Choice Award – well done Clare! Also attending was Massey and Rogers with their fantastic range of hand printed textiles.

I came away with some great buys and will definitely be going along to the Christmas Fair, November 11th to 15th.

My favourite place for a skinny latte

fabulous places to visit in derbyshire coffee shop

It really is no surprise that The Bottlekiln Cafe has won awards for their coffee, it’s fabulous! I met a friend there last week and, I have to say, they do the best skinny latte! I love proper coffee and have tried coffees all over Derbyshire and I’m yet to find somewhere that comes close! So, well done The Bottlekiln, keep up the good skinny lattes!

Wirksworth Farmers Market
Saturday 4th April 2009

The first of what will be many outings to promote the website was Wirksworth Farmers Market. What a fantastic event, it was the first farmers market I have attended to promote the website and I’m so glad I did. I met some great producers of both food and goodies for the home.

Here’s what the FP stand looked like…

fabulous places to visit in derbyshire stand

I found a fabulous producer there too! New to the website is Hearts & Homespun Soaps. The soaps, bath melts and liquid soaps are made by Elaine, in the Amber Valley, using only natural ingredients. They smell fantastic!

fabulous places to visit in derbyshire Hearts & Homespun Soaps

Have a wonderful Easter break…there’s no better time to head out and about around Derbyshire!

Debs fabulous places derbyshire signature

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The first one

Monday, August 4th, 2008

fabulous places derbyshire blogI thought a blog would be a good idea….now I’m sat here staring at my laptop and my mind has gone blank, typical!

Ok, let’s start from the beginning…
I’m so pleased I decided to launch the website, after lots of long conversations with my partner, David, about how it could work etc. etc….here it is! As much as I’m in my element and loving it, I wasn’t quite prepared for how busy I would become. During every spare moment, I‘ve been visiting new places to feature on the website and, with that, spending lots of money….the problem with visiting all these fabulous places is that they’re full of fabulous things!
Anyone who knows me will agree when I say I’m unable to resist temptation, as much as I try, I’ve found
it’s just not worth fighting it!

fabulous places derbyshire blog Here are some of the places I’ve visited and given the Stamp of Approval:

Lavender Grey, Belper
A beautiful little shop selling gorgeous home accessories. Lucy, the owner, is an interior designer and it certainly shows in the way the shop is presented.

Wheatcrofts Wharf, Cromford
This has to be a one of my favourite places to go with my dogs, Molly & Toby. The cafe is perfect for a spot of lunch sat outside by the canal.

The Cake Sculptor, Shipley
What can I say….Ali makes the most amazing cakes and cupcakes!! She’s a talented lady and very passionate about what she does, which shows in every cake she makes.

Scarthin Books, CromfordAll Harry Potter lovers will lose themselves here. I walked around expecting a character from the movies to come whizzing round the corner. The cafe is great, selling an array of vegetarian and vegan treats. Clare Gage Ceramics, Chesterfield Clare Gage makes slip cast porcelain ceramics which are sold in galleries around the country. You can view Clare’s work at Created Gallery in Chesterfield.

Bow @ The Printworks, Cromford
Bow is a fab little shop selling home accessories, jewellery and toiletries. Susanna prides herself in selling an array of products from local suppliers.

I have to say, the website has enabled me to meet some fantastic business people, who have also become friends. They’re all so passionate about what they do and incredibly committed to their customers. The lovely Ali, The Cake Sculptor, has kindly offered me space on her stall at the Denby Food & Gift Fayre at Denby Pottery Visitors Centre on August Bank Holiday Weekend 24th & 25th. Please do pop by, say hello and grab yourself a cupcake!

Great News!! I have arranged an amazing prize for the website’s August Competition…..a spa day for two, including lunch and treatments, at Losehill House Hotel in Hope, Derbyshire. The competition is open to all FP Club members…all you have to do is leave a review for one of the fabulous places featured on the website.
The competition will end at midnight on Sunday 31st August.

fabulous places derbyshire blog Attention all FP Club Members:
I’m thinking about putting an evening together for fabulousplaces.co.uk Club Members and thought I would ask for your feedback…would you come along and do you have any suggestions on what you would like the evening to include? I would try and arrange for it to take place at one of the fabulous places featured on the website. Please click here to send me your feedback. Thanks!

Congratulations to Ann Cooper!! Ann was the lucky winner of the July Competition prize….a hamper full of fabulous things from fabulous places.

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