Derbyshire Times news bulletin 12th October

Derbyshire Times news bulletin with editor Phil Bramley

Transcript

00:00 Here's today's Derbyshire Times video bulletin.

00:03 The future of a popular Chesterfield pub remains uncertain this week after the venue closed

00:08 suddenly at the weekend.

00:10 On Sunday, the Spotted Frog on Chatsworth Road at Brampton closed its doors.

00:14 In a Facebook post, the operators confirmed that they were no longer running the Spotted

00:18 Frog.

00:19 They added, "We would like to take this opportunity to thank all our customers, staff,

00:23 friends and family for sharing this journey with us."

00:26 The Derbyshire Times has contacted Stonegate, the owners of the venue, to confirm whether

00:30 staff had been made redundant and to discuss whether they were hoping to reopen the Spotted

00:34 Frog with a new team at the helm.

00:37 Stonegate, however, declined to respond to our enquiries.

00:40 The Spotted Frog had a major revamp in 2021, introducing eight outdoor beach huts with

00:45 their own TVs, heaters, Wi-Fi and USB connections for customers to enjoy.

00:50 A colourful mural was also added in 2020, with bosses at the pub working with artist

00:54 Pete Barber to pay tribute to the NHS amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

01:01 A Derbyshire dad whose grown-up children live in terraces either side of him has scooped

01:05 a coveted In Bloom award after turning the fronts of all three homes into a riot of summer

01:10 colour that was featured on television.

01:13 Widower Tony Christen was the talk of the town when a BBC news crew showcased his floral

01:17 handiwork which left passers-by agog.

01:20 He was interviewed on East Midlands Today but has refused to reveal the secret he uses

01:24 to feed the flowers, insisting "it's a secret".

01:27 Retired Tony, whose son lives on one side while his daughter has the house on the other,

01:32 won a special award for impact on the street at Ayrworsh Borough Council's annual ceremony

01:36 attended by Councillor Frank Phillips.

01:39 He was also picked up In Bloom awards in other categories, including a second prize for the

01:43 best hanging baskets and planters and joint third prize for the best front garden in his

01:47 house on Nottingham Road in Ilkeston.