Visitors flock to Chesterfield Canal as popular coffee shop reopens

Katey’s Coffee Shop and the trust’s information centre and shop at the Hollingwood Hub welcomed customers again from Monday as lockdown restrictions eased across England.

Trust publicity officer Rod Auton said the sunny weather had attracted plenty of walkers down to the canal.

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“We welcomed lots of people and everyone seemed very pleased, especially to see Katey’s Coffee Shop open again,” he said.

However, people will have to wait a little longer to enjoy one of the popular boat trips along the canal because of restrictions which will remain in place until at least June.

Rod said: “We will not be running public boat trips until Step 4 of the Government’s Roadmap, June 21, at the very earliest; this is because of social distancing restrictions.

"As long as the social distancing rules are in place, we can’t have 12 people sitting next to each other in a tripboat cabin.”

The trust is now hoping to relaunch its ‘Crafty Sundays’, with a table inside or outside the information centre and shop, where local crafters can display and sell their wares. The trust will charge £10 for this.

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From April 24, the volunteers are also hoping to start canal clear-up sessions at Renishaw – and these will continue on the last Saturday of every month.

Rod says planning is also well underway for the annual Walking Festival set to take place later this year.

He said: “We are gradually putting walks together for our Walking Festival which will run from September 11 to 19.

"We are still looking for new walks and walk leaders, in particular we need someone to lead our full length walk that we run over three consecutive days.”

Katey’s Coffee Shop is now open every day between 9.30am and 4pm, and the information centre and shop will be open from 11am to 3pm. Both are based at the trust’s Hollingwood Hub.

For more information about the Chesterfield Canal Trust and the work of volunteers, visit its website or Facebook page.

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