Well time for this weeks blog post, and as I sat down to write it, I quickly realised that there isn't a lot to tell you this week & I know how upset you might be about this -

So I have tried very hard to get you some news from Old Bolsover Yard .......
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I think I had reported a few weeks ago that our bid to the Heritage Lottery Fund had been unsuccessful, and we were awaiting a letter from them to tell us why we were not successful.

Well the letter has now arrived, and just a couple of extracts from the letter -

"Although your bid was of good quality, there were a number of other applications which achieved our outcomes more strongly or represented better value for money"

"We appreciate the high quality of the refurbishment work that has been carried out to date at Old Bolsover Yard but....."

So there you are, make of that what you will. Our bid was of 'good quality' & we are complimented for our 'high quality of the refurbishment, but ....

Anyhow, undaunted we are going to do some 'tweaking' of the original plan and resubmit it.

In the meantime, our plans to complete the restoration of the Courtyard, will have to be put on hold.

Watch this space for more updates .......

Begins in just two weeks time on Saturday 6th April from 10am to 3pm.

On that day we will be showcasing all of the tenants that we now have in residence, as well as having our Gallery open for you to browse around.

This will be the start of a series of events on Saturdays between now & the end of August, with all sorts of exciting things happening. You can find a full list of the Programme on our website - click on the Courtyard Programme in the menu at the top of the first page. You can also find a full list in the Events section of our Facebook page.

In next weeks blog post we will be featuring each of the tenants 'in their own words' as a lead up to the event.

So, we are looking forward to welcoming you on Saturday 6th.

So finally, just to show you how short of material we are this week for the blog post - our highlight of the week!! We have uncovered the waste pipe to the old toilet block in The Yard!! Why is this such a momentous occasion I here you asking? Well it means that very soon we will have a toilet in the Yard. 

We knew it was there according to the old plans that we had of the Yard, but couldn't find it.

Now after a valiant effort by Damion Smith of Ethos Upcycling, we have found it under a great big concrete slab, and a visit from a friendly plumber has confirmed that it is usable.

All we have to do now, is get a new manhole built around it, do some work in the old toilet building, knock down a wall, seal up a doorway, plaster the room that is created by this work, decorate the new room, and then finally declare the Old Bolsover Yard toilet block - OPEN - for business!!

Wednesday 20th March - that's TODAY! - is the Spring Equinox in the northern hemisphere, and the first day of Spring. So, to be precise at 9.58pm tonight, Spring will spring!!

So here at Old Bolsover Yard we will be 'springing' into action, as we are only two weeks away from the first of our Courtyard Events - a programme that will last on almost every Saturday until the end of August.

​More of that & lots of other news - so .......

It was blowing a gale & pouring with rain as we set off for the Octagon in Buxton, armed with lots of leaflets, and samples of each of our tenants work to display. Our 'mission' to tell all the visitors about Old Bolsover Yard, what we are doing, what there is to see when they visit, and a little bit about Bolsover itself.

By the time the event ended at 3pm, we had done just what we set out to do, and we made some good contacts too that will help us as we move forward in our development.

The pictures at the top if this piece give you a flavour of what we looked like.

In last weeks blog post I told you that we would be welcoming Councillor Steve Fritchley, the Cabinet Member for Town Centre Renewal, Media & Marketing, along with Scott Chambers, Communications, Marketing and Design Manager at Bolsover District Council, to Old Bolsover Yard last Friday.

For Councillor Fritchley it was a first visit to Old Bolsover Yard, though Scott Chambers had been before.

I am pleased to say that Councillor Fritchley was genuinely impressed with what we had achieved, and after taking him around to meet some of businesses, we had a wide ranging discussion over a cup of coffee, about OBY, Bolsover business & Bolsover in general.

He encouraged us to keep up the good work, and offered any help & support that he & the District Council might be able to give.

​Scott Chambers will be back later in the year to film OBY & the businesses in it, to add to the new video programmes that they have launched on Bolsover TV.

As I said last week, it is, I believe, important for us to continue to nurture these links, if we are going to be able to move forward in the coming years.

I told you last week that we had let our final Unit to Molly Felicity Designs. Well after a lot of thinking & talking, Sarah has decided to rename her Unit - The Fabric Den - so that there can be no doubt about what she does. 

During this last week, miles & miles of fabulous fabrics having been arriving at The Fabric Den and are slowly filling the shelves, for you to come & have a look at.

In addition to the fabrics there are sewing patterns, thread & other sewing bits & pieces for you to buy.

And - this is 'hot of the press' news, Sarah will be running sewing workshops, and hopefully next week we can give you more detailed information.
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Next week we will be telling you about the first of our Courtyard Programme events, but for the moment a little reminder that we still have space at two events that are occuring later in the year -

If you are interested or know anybody who might be interested in having a stand at either of these events, then please email: [email protected]
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On Monday this week, I met Joshua Mason from Inspirations Theatre Company, who are based in Chesterfield, and who are celebrating their 20th Anniversary year this year

Inspirations Theatre Company is a multi-award winning drama group for all ages from 6 years to adults.

They specialise in producing west-end style shows in venues across the region by covering all three disciplines (acting, singing, dancing) at a level where everyone can be involved.

We had a long discussion, and I am pleased to say that the Company will be joining us as part of the Courtyard Programme 2019.

Firstly, they will have an input to the Cake Bonanza on July 27th & 28th which is Old Bolsover Yards contribution to the Bolsover Food & Drink Festival.

And then again on August 10th, they will take over the Courtyard as a whole, to showcase what they do, and entertain one & all.

​So Joshua has gone away to plan both these appearances, whilst at the same time they prepare for their performance of Chicago at The Hasland Playhouse from 9th to 13th April.

I have mentioned the Courtyard Programme quite a bit today, and you may have thought - 'Our organisation could do with a bit of that'

Essentially, the idea is that we want to primarily promote 'craft type' events, but at the same time have a mix of activities from local community groups.

The 'Courtyard Programme' takes place every Saturday from April through to the end of August usually from 10am to 3pm.

We have a few dates left for this year, so if you think that you might like to showcase what your organisation does, or you have a craft skill that you could demonstrate, email - [email protected] - and tell me a little bit about  who you are, what your organisation does etc. and which of the vacant dates you are interested in, and we can have a discussion.

Perhaps before your email, have a look at the Courtyard Programme page on our website, and see the type of activities already booked in.

The available dates are -
                                       Saturday 13th April  

                                       Saturday 1st June
                                       Saturday 8th June
                                       Saturday 29th June  

                                       Saturday 3rd August

The blog post for this week is complete - hope you have enjoyed it.

Don't forget you can keep up to date day by day on our Facebook page - www.facebook.com/oldbolsoveryard
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Looking out of the window from my desk, it is pouring with rain, and the forecast is for high winds. But are we disheartened at Old Bolsover Yard? - 'No we are not!'

Another week gone and another one to look forward to - so let's get started
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Tomorrow (Thursday 14th) we are off to Buxton to the Tourist Board Annual Tourism Leaflet Swap.

This event gives businesses the opportunity to tell each other about what they do, and to make sure that their promotional material is out in as many places as possible.

A first year for us, so we are going to be waving the flag for OBY, and talking to people like B&B businesses, tourist information centres etc. and making sure that when their visitors as that question - "Where do you suggest we go for a day out today" - they tell them about us & about Bolsover. 

We have a photographic display of our tenants and their offering, and also information about Bolsover itself, as well as some samples of the work being done by our tenants.

And lots & lots of leaflets to give away!

Working on the principle that if 'you don't tell them about, for sure they will never come'

We'll let you know how it went next week
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Another chance to get involved in spreading the word, and so we have sent off press releases to the organisers & hope that they might give us a mention.

Also we will be using the logo of the week in all the things that we do.

​Can't say we aren't trying!!
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As part of an ongoing dialogue between Old Bolsover Yard & Bolsover District Council about trading in the town & related matters, we will be welcoming Councillor Steve Fritchley, the Cabinet Member for Town Centre Renewal, Media & Marketing, along with Scott Chambers, Communications, Marketing and Design Manager at Bolsover District Council, to Old Bolsover Yard this coming Friday.

We are hoping for a wide ranging discussion including opportunities that might be available through initiatives like the Future High Streets Fund, which was launched by the Government at the end of last year.

It is important for us to continue to nurture these links, if we are going to be able to move forward in the coming years.

More information on the meeting next week.

During the last week we have updated the information on the Courtyard Programme page of the website, to give a bit more of a flavour of what to expect at each of the events currently confirmed.

And just a gentle reminder that spaces still exist at our Yarn Shop Event & the Cake Bonanza event which is part of the Bolsover Food & Drink Festival 2019

Just a few of the photos that we will be using at the Leaflet Swap event - we are really beginning to look good now!

OK, so it is March already - how time marches on! and things are being prepared for an exciting Spring/Summer at Old Bolsover Yard.

It is hard to imagine that it is just coming up to one year since we first bought 2 Castle Street, with lots of vision, and how in 12 short months we have achieved much of that vision.

Still work to be done - yes, but with all our Units now let, our Gallery becoming more & more popular with visitors & craftspeople wanting to rent space, things are looking promising.

So lets have a catch up on the last week, and future offerings.
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Next Thursday - 14th March - we will be at the Tourist Board Annual Leaflet Swap.

Organised by the Tourist Board - of which we are members - it is an opportunity for us to tell everybody about Old Bolsover Yard, what we are doing & when we are doing it.

Visitors to the event, being held in Buxton, will include hotel owners, B&B owners, tourist information centres and many others, and if we can get to tell them all about OBY all in one place, then it is going to be a day well spent.

As well as the Yard itself, we will be promoting each of our tenants & those in our Gallery.

And indirectly, we will be promoting Bolsover as a tourist destination too!

Recently I told you about my meeting with Edge Events, who are organising this years Food & Drink Festival on behalf of the Old Bolsover Town Council, and that we at OBY were going to work with them on the project. 

Well, yesterday I had a second meeting with them, to move things along, and I'll let you know in more detail next week what we decided
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Last week you will remember - if you are a regular blog post reader - I told you that we had filled our last Unit, with Molly Felicity Designs joining us very soon. Well on Monday their Unit was painted, and I know that much planning of the interior layout etc. has been taking place. So it won't be long now until the doors are open & you can come & see just what they have got to tempt you.

Meanwhile, two doors down, Creative Handmade Crafts, have been busy laying flooring, putting up shelves & getting ready to move in. And my information is that they did 'move-in' on Monday, so time for some photos I think.
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And if new things happening in the Units wasn't enough, this coming Saturday we welcome - Scentuals by Charlene - into the Gallery. Based in Bolsover, Charlene has been busy setting up her small business making candles etc. and is now going to take space in the Gallery to provide her with a local outlet.

And to tempt you here is a gallery of some of the products that she produces -

You will remember that last week I told you about the new videos being produced by Bolsover District Council (BDC) to promote the area.

Well hot on the heels of those videos comes Bolsover TV. Introducing the launch Scott Chambers from BDC said - 

​Following the successful launch of our Destination Marketing promotional films last week, we have now launched our first Bolsover TV news programme.
 
This new programme will initially be aired once a month and will feature the latest news, local issues and views from across Bolsover District and can be viewed on our website - www.bolsover.tv
 
The channel is not just about what we as a council are doing. It’s also about the District and our communities and we want to showcase what is happening, what community groups are available for people to join in with, what tourist attractions we have on offer, what businesses are doing and what events are taking place. So if you or you know someone that would like to be featured on Bolsover TV then please ask them to make contact with me or complete our online form at www.bolsover.tv/index.php/contact
 
My team have worked very hard to get this new channel and programme up and running and we are really excited about it and the options it opens up to us to communicate with our residents, tourists and businesses to help promote what is happening across our district.

The video about Bolsover & District was put up on the Old Bolsover Yard Facebook page a couple of nights ago. It is well worth a watch, and I am hoping to get Old Bolsover Yard on the TV Channel real soon!
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I am surprised that there has been little or no interest in two of our forthcoming events, so here we go again .... the first is - 

And the second one is - 

If you are interested in either of these events, we have stall space still available. Email us for more detail on - [email protected]
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Well that is about it for this week - more exciting news next week!!