vividventures

Hotel Review

Location:

The CASA Hotel is one of Derbyshire’s leading four star hotels and is conveniently located on the outskirts of Chesterfield, 6 miles from Junction 29 of the M1 motorway.  For guests arriving into Chesterfield by train, East Midlands Railway offer regular services to the town from Norwich, London, Sheffield, Nottingham and Leeds.  The town and its station are a 25 minute walk or a five minute taxi ride from the hotel.

Arrival and check-in: 

It was early afternoon when we arrived at the hotel which has its own large car park.  The hotel was constructed in 2010 as a luxurious base for both visitors to Chesterfield and the nearby Peak District.  Automated glass doors lead into the spacious entrance lobby which has been tastefully designed to incorporate a galleried landing.

We were warmly welcomed by the receptionist on duty who offered us glasses of home made lemonade which was very refreshing after a lengthy journey.  Check-in formalities were completed swiftly and after confirming our dinner reservation in the hotel’s restaurant for 7.30 p.m. we were soon taking the lift up to our room on the second floor.

The Room: 

We had been booked into one of the hotel’s junior suites which was located at the far end of the corridor.  On opening the door I fell in love with the well appointed room immediately.

In addition to a spacious bedroom with a very comfortable king size bed, bed side tables, wall mounted television and wardrobe we also had the benefit of a large lounge.  This came complete with a comfortable sofa, a pair of armchairs, coffee table and a 55″ television.  The sofa could also be converted into a bed making the room ideal for families with young children.

In one corner, the large dressing table/ desk had numerous sockets and USB points with ample room to set up a laptop for guests needing to work.  The en-suite bathroom came with a walk-in shower, luxurious Velve toiletries, fluffy bathrobes, slippers and ample storage space for wash bags and make up.  With a well stocked hospitality tray and fridge containing complimentary bottled water and fresh milk we had everything needed for an enjoyable stay.

Large French windows opened out onto an outdoor secluded balcony with wooden decking and luxurious grey rattan outdoor furniture.  The weather was quite mixed over the weekend of our stay but we did manage to sit outside a few times.

Dining:

Dinner is served in the hotel’s 2 AA rosette Cocina restaurant which is located on the first floor of the hotel.  The contemporary styled restaurant has been designed to create an intimate dining experience with stylish seating and green leather corner booths.

We were looked after during our meal by Sarah, the restaurant manager and her team who were all very professional and efficient striking the right balance with their friendly manner.  The restaurant prides itself on its use of high quality locally sourced ingredients.  After selecting a white Rioja we perused the menu and chose starters of seared scallops and Lebanese style guinea fowl which were both delicious and bursting with flavour.

Moving onto mains we both opted for the specials board offerings of Walton Lodge rump of lamb and yellow tailed kingfish.  We hadn’t come across kingfish before but my husband was intrigued to try it and impressed by its firm white flesh and depth of flavour.  My lamb was served pink just as I prefer it, succulent, tender and full of flavour with its accompanying redcurrant jus.  Moving  onto desserts I chose lemon curd with an earl grey tea meringue which was light with its blend of sweet and tartness.  Meanwhile, across the table my husband was more than happy with his poached pear in mulled apple cider.

Breakfast is also served in the Cocina restaurant and available from 7.30 a.m.  We started the day with a continental buffet selection comprising fresh fruit, yoghurts, cereals and pastries before moving on to hot dishes.

Traditional cooked breakfast items were available for self selection whilst other items such as eggs Benedict, kippers and omelettes could be ordered from the breakfast menu.  My husband helped himself to a full English whilst I tucked into eggs Benedict served with thick slices of locally farmed roast ham.

The Facilities:

The hotel has 100 rooms ranging from affordable deluxe doubles through to hot tub and sauna suites.  To one side of the reception area is a lounge with orange sofas and chairs adding a pop of colour.

To the other side of the entrance foyer is the Barca Bar, a brightly furnished cocktail lounge giving a nod to the CASA’s Spanish styling.  With cosy seating and an outdoor terrace it’s a delightful spot for a pre-dinner drink or bar snack.

The hotel also boasts a well equipped gym, conference facilities, meeting and function rooms.  With a 24 hour front desk, room service and strong Wi-Fi throughout the building everything is at hand for a pleasant stay.

Out and About:

The town has some beautiful Tudor architecture, good shopping and is a pleasant place to spend a few days.

Chesterfield – is an attractive town with some beautiful architecture, rows of Tudor buildings, good shopping and a historic open air market.  After browsing the shops take a tour of the town’s famous Crooked Spire which can be seen from miles around.

There are 144 steps to climb but these are broken down into manageable chunks with stops in the bell ringing chamber and then to see the bells themselves.  Continuing upwards, the spiral staircase gets narrower but it’s worth the climb to enjoy the panoramic views from the church rooftop, Crooked Spire Tour.

Canal boat trips – pleasure boats depart from Tapton Lock, located just across the roundabout from the CASA Hotel.  There’s a visitor centre and attractive outdoor garden with seating beside the lock where you can relax until it’s time to board.  Tickets for one hour boat trips are very reasonably priced at only £7 and if time allows 2 hour afternoon tea and fish and chip cruises are also available.  Chesterfield Canal Trust.

Barrow Hill Roundhouse Museum – the Barrow Hill Roundhouse Museum at Staveley near Chesterfield is a 19th Century Grade II listed building and the last remaining operational railway roundhouse in the United Kingdom.  It was constructed in 1870 by the Midland Railway to service the steam locomotives serving the Staveley Ironworks and Derbyshire coalfields where they were repaired and replenished with coal and water.

The building, which was threatened with demolition, was saved by a group of passionate volunteers who have transformed it from a redundant artefact into a unique railway heritage museum and visitor centre.  It contains a unique collection of steam and diesel engines radiating from the original turntable of which the Roundhouse takes its name.  Some of the engines are on loan from the National collection.  Demonstrations of the working turntable take place daily and visitors can also walk a short distance along the track to the signal box where demonstrations of its operation also take place.  Barrow Hill Roundhouse Museum.

Bolsover Castle – located six miles from Chesterfield, this fantasy pleasure palace was created as an extravagant retreat by the playboy poet and horse mad courtier Sir William Cavendish.  Explore the sumptuous rooms which are richly adorned with marble fireplaces and stunning painted ceilings.  There’s also an impressive indoor riding school which occasionally hosts spectacular dressage displays and a beautifully restored sheltered garden surrounded by a high wall.  Standard admission is £16 and free for English Heritage members.  Bolsover Castle.

Hardwick Hall – situated nine miles from Chesterfield and approached by a long driveway through extensive grounds.  This 16th century hall is a rare survivor and you can wander through its majestic rooms for a glimpse into the opulent lifestyle of the era.  The palatial rooms were designed to impress and for extravagant entertaining.  Follow the main staircase up to the High Court Chamber and the adjacent Long Gallery which runs along the entire length of the east side of the house to view some of the finest collections of Elizabethan tapestries and embroideries in Europe.  Standard admission £17 and free for National Trust members.  Hardwick Hall.

Overall:

At first glance this modern hotel located just off a main road roundabout might not spring to mind as the most relaxing place for a weekend away.  However, first impressions aren’t always the best because as soon as we’d walked into the entrance foyer we were enthralled with the hotel’s splendour.

Our dual aspect room had floor to ceiling windows and was perfectly quiet to outside noise as the hotel is set in large grounds back from the main road.  Service was exemplary with polite, friendly staff and dining in the restaurant a gastronomic treat.

Coupled with  ease of access for exploring Chesterfield and the surrounding area I would definitely recommend a stay at the CASA when visiting this part of Derbyshire.

Details: CASA Hotel, Lockoford Lane, Chesterfield, S41 7JB.

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During our stay we were guests of the CASA Hotel and Visit Chesterfield and as always, all views and opinions are entirely my own.