Arctic Cabins & Cabin Master
Derbyshire is a county that produces some of the country’s greatest products and each month we feature one of Derbyshire’s best independent producers. Arctic Cabins and Cabin Master, based in Derbyshire, have quietly built a reputation for quality, craftsmanship and community over the last two decades. From beautifully hand-built garden rooms to authentic BBQ cabins, this family-run, employee-owned business has helped thousands of customers across the East Midlands and beyond transform their outdoor spaces into something truly special. A Business Built on Family and Local Values Founded over 20 years ago, Arctic Cabins and Cabin Master began with a simple mission: to create unique, high-quality timber buildings that bring people together and help people make the most of their homes. What started as a small family business quickly grew through word of mouth, fuelled by the care and detail that goes into every single build. Today, the business still holds on to its family-run ethos but is also, proudly, an Employee Owned Trust. This means every team member has a stake in the success of the business – something that translates directly into the pride they take in their work and the outstanding service they provide. When you speak to someone at Arctic Cabins or Cabin Master, you’re not just speaking to an employee, you’re speaking to someone who genuinely cares about your project, because it’s their company too. Hand-Built in Derbyshire Unlike many companies that outsource manufacturing, all of Arctic Cabins and Cabin Master’s buildings are designed and hand-built right here in Derbyshire. The dedicated team of craftspeople work out of purpose-built factories in the heart of the East Midlands, using locally sourced, high-quality materials wherever possible. Every structure is built with durability, beauty, and practicality in mind. From the initial design to the final installation, attention to detail is at the core of the process. Each building is made to order, allowing customers to customise size, layout, cladding, doors, windows and internal finishes to suit their individual needs. Whether it’s a peaceful garden office, a fully insulated gym, a backyard bar, or a luxury BBQ cabin, every space is crafted with precision and passion. Serving the East Midlands and Beyond Being based in Derbyshire gives the company a central location that’s perfect for serving customers across the East Midlands—including Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire and beyond. But the reputation of Arctic Cabins and Cabin Master has stretched well outside the region too, with happy customers dotted all over the UK. The company’s commitment to transparency, honest pricing and full-service project management makes the entire experience, from design to delivery, straightforward and stress-free. With show sites in Nottingham and Warwickshire, visitors are welcome to browse over a huge range of buildings in person, explore different styles, and speak with the knowledgeable team to bring their ideas to life. 20 Years of Trust and Innovation Reaching a 20-year milestone is no small feat in today’s competitive market, but Arctic Cabins and Cabin Master haven’t just stood the test of time—they’ve continued to evolve and innovate along the way. The team is always looking for ways to improve materials, design, energy efficiency and installation practices. But at the heart of it all, the values that shaped the business from day one remain unchanged: honesty, craftsmanship, and service. What also sets them apart is their flexibility. While some companies only offer set designs, Arctic Cabins and Cabin Master specialise in bespoke builds tailored to how customers want to live, work or relax. Need an office with extra insulation and built-in storage? No problem. Looking for a cabin that doubles as a guest room and garden bar? They’ll help you make it happen. More Than Just Buildings—It’s a Lifestyle What makes these garden buildings special isn’t just how they’re built, it’s what they make possible. For some customers, it’s finally having a quiet place to work from home. For others, it’s a cosy hideaway to enjoy the outdoors all year round, or a space to gather with family and friends for food and laughter. Each garden room becomes a natural extension of the home; a space to recharge, create, celebrate or simply relax. And it’s not just the end result that people appreciate. Customers regularly praise the whole team for their professionalism, friendliness, and willingness to go the extra mile. From the initial design consultation to the final day of installation, the journey is just as satisfying as the destination. Looking Ahead As Arctic Cabins and Cabin Master look to the future, the company is committed to staying true to its roots while continuing to grow sustainably. With increased demand for high-quality, sustainable outdoor buildings, the team remains passionate about delivering solutions that combine form, function and longevity. They may have expanded in size, but they’ve never lost the personal touch that earned them their loyal following. Every cabin tells a story of craftsmanship, of local pride, and of people who genuinely love what they do. So, if you’re looking to enhance your outdoor space with a structure that’s beautiful, functional and built to last, you won’t find a better team than the one at Arctic Cabins and Cabin Master. Handcrafted in Derbyshire. Powered by people. Built for life. www.cabinmaster.co.uk www.arcticcabins.co.ukTel: 0115 932 8888 251 Toton Lane, Stapleford, Notts, NG9 7JA 00
Derbyshire Makers – John Stevenson Jewellers
A Derbyshire Tradition of Trust and Quality From heirloom pieces to modern masterpieces, John Stevenson Jewellers offers personalized service and exceptional craftsmanship. For more than 50 years the name Stevenson has been synonymous in Derbyshire with not only quality jewellery but also trust. And the number of people returning throughout their lives to the Chesterfield company shows that they trust the family business implicitly. As an example, the genial Ben Stevenson, director of the firm established by his father John, tells how one customer has returned again and again to the company’s shop on Glumangate. “She started off with a three-stone diamond ring. For her 40th wedding anniversary she changed the centre stone for a ruby. For her sapphire anniversary she changed the ruby for a sapphire. And at the weekend she collected an emerald for her emerald anniversary. “We think that’s a fun thing that shows how long people stay with us. We can know what they want and they’re happy with us. A lot of the jewellery business is about trust, whether you like what we do and whether you trust what we do. I think that’s the most important thing.” John Stevenson Jewellers has an unrivalled reputation for unique jewellery which is designed in-house; jewellery repairs; and servicing of the top brands of watches. John Stevenson started his career as a news photographer. He then went to work for Shiphams which had a jewellery shop on Stephenson Place in Chesterfield. He enjoyed it so much that he set up on his own and the business grew and grew. Ben was working in London until ten years ago when his father made the decision to retire – sort of – and Ben returned to Derbyshire. John who turns 80 next year still goes into the shop every Friday and other days too. “He can’t keep away!” says Ben who explains the principles on which his father founded the business: “Doing something that was a bit different from everybody else. “You can make jewellery by mass-producing it. Nothing wrong with that. Why people come here is they want something that’s individual. We’re an individual, stand-alone shop – there’s not another one.” Go into the shop and you’ll be served by John, Ben or John’s daughter Polly: “There’s always one of us here and that means you always get the service. “If you want to design something from perhaps your grandma’s or your parents’ jewellery which is of its time – you don’t necessarily want to wear it but you don’t want to get rid of it because it’s sentimental – what do you do? “We might say you’ve got five lovely things there – let’s make one pendant or one ring. Recently, for example, a grandmother died and left a five-stone diamond ring. We melted the gold down and a little bit of the gold went into five new rings. That meant a sister, three daughters and a niece have all got part of grandma’s ring. “The great thing with gold and gems is you can turn them into as many things as you want. We do a video of us melting the gold down so you know it’s your gold you’re getting back. People like that provenance.” Ben designs the jewellery which is created by the company’s workshop team in Birmingham. He brings to the business 20 years’ experience working for luxury jewellers Hirsh, first in London’s Hatton Garden and then in Burlington Arcade on Piccadilly. “That was a great success. We had people from all over the world buying crazy, expensive things, putting a credit card through ten times to buy a million pound necklace because you couldn’t get anything over £100,000 to go through the machine! “We used to go to exhibitions every year in Switzerland, Hong Kong and New York. So I know the right people around the world for sourcing stones and that’s what I’ve brought to the business. If you need something super-unusual, I know where there’ll be one.” John Stevensons Jewellers sells new and pre-owned watches, especially Rolex. Ben says there are two types of people who want a Rolex. “You’re either a very wealthy person who goes ‘I must have a Rolex’ which is fine. A lot of people have a collection of them. A Rolex is an asset. It goes up in value far more than bank rates have been going up in the past few years. “Then there are people who’ve worked hard all their life, maybe they’ve just retired, and they say ‘I’ve always wanted to own a Rolex’. You can see it really means something to them when they leave. And you think that’s what it’s all about – you’re actually buying happiness.” The company also services Rolex watches and Ben advises that they have to be looked after. “You keep your car MoT’d and take it in for a service. If you think about it, the car’s probably worth the same as a Rolex. There are about 200 moving parts in each Rolex; they all need lubrication and they all need tender, loving care. “As they get older, they perhaps need a little bit more attention, like a vintage car. But that’s the fun of having something that’s genuinely old. The great thing is you can be wearing a Rolex from 100 years ago as a daily watch and it still works.” A large part of the business is servicing watches including Rolex, Omega and Cartier. “We’re very lucky that people come from far and wide to bring their watches to us and again it’s a trust thing,” says Ben. “If it’s your pride and joy that you’ve been wearing since your 21st birthday, you don’t want to be handing it over just anywhere.” During the pandemic, like many other businesses John Stevenson Jewellers had to close. When they reopened they had their busiest ever year. “Interest rates were at zero, so no one was getting interest on their money. No one had spent anything,
Derbyshire Makers – Heldrich
“A Lifetime of Craftsmanship: Derbyshire’s Neil Heldreich Reflects on the Timeless Art of Antique Furniture Restoration” After nearly 40 years in the trade as an antique furniture restorer I have seen many fashions in collecting come and go, but one thing that always remains consistent is the recognition of the skills required to create these pieces of the past, compared to the soulless modern machine made furniture of today. Whether it be a fine mahogany or walnut piece designed and made by a well known maker, such as Thomas Chippendale, Robert Adams or Gillows of Lancaster, or a vernacular country or town piece made by a local craftsman using materials they had to hand, sometimes with their own unique style. The finer pieces were of course functional but were mostly for aesthetic effect for the customer who could afford the latest fashion in furniture design. Where as the vernacular pieces, which sometimes tried to emulate the latest fashions, were almost always made as a functional working piece of furniture. They were again finished with what was to hand, for example, varnishes, paints, pigments and oils. These methods also reflected how these pieces eventually aged and created their own unique patination. The fine pieces were usually finished using materials that would enhance the full beauty of the expensive and often imported timbers from which they were constructed. I may be biased but, I think we have the most varied, beautiful and skilfully made antique furniture in the world which reflect the rich history our Island has had over the centuries. TV programs such as salvage hunters, have begun to highlight these attributes and the appreciation of the history of such pieces , sometimes focusing on the story, originality and patination of the items and not just its monetary value. Drew Pritchard and his dealer friend Alistair from TV’s Salvage Hunters visited me last September for a day of filming for his new series and the episode was aired this October on Quest (season 19 ep 1). I spent a pleasant day with Drew and his team through out which we talked about and looked at various items I had for sale and some that were not. He has a genuine love and understanding of what makes a piece desirable to ether a seasoned collector or a novice buyer who just appreciates the history of an item and it was great fun to converse on this subject with a fellow antique geek. It takes many years of working and handling such pieces to understand which materials to use and how to approach the restoration of them, with my training and experience, so far, these are the principles I strive to achieve and if possible, to preserve these precious qualities our treasured antique pieces hold. 00
Derbyshire Makers – Martin & Parker
Looking for the perfect sofa, corner unit or chair to bring comfort and style to your home? Look no further! Since 1980 family-run Martin & Parker in Derby have been handcrafting high quality bespoke furniture designed and made to last. Located on Ascot Drive in Derby, they specialise in creating handmade sofas, corner units and chairs, tailored to your unique style and needs. With over 45 years of experience and with a loyal customer base, they take pride in exceptional customer satisfaction. Visit them today to experience the craftsmanship that has made them a trusted name in furniture. Whether you have your heart set on a specific piece or you would like something made uniquely for your home, come to Martin & Parker. Their extensive furniture range is handcrafted by their skilled and talented team. A vast number of pre-made pieces are on display while they also craft bespoke furniture in line with your specification. For people with a discerning taste in soft furnishings and sofas, 1980 was a good year. It was the year that they opened their first sofa factory. Their aim was to produce quality, handcrafted soft furnishings and sofas and soon built a reputation for the quality of their excellent products. Martin and Stephen are very proud of their skilled craftspeople and their numerous, happy clients have since provided testimonials to say they too are very pleased with their work. They rapidly grew and went from strength to strength. If it’s a piece of handcrafted, upholstered furniture look no further. Based in Derby they produce bespoke furniture made from the finest materials in line with your customer specification. Each piece is handcrafted in their workshop to provide you with many years of uninterrupted comfort. Getting the measurements right is crucial, so for customers who would like a piece of furniture made for an alcove, corner or even a boat they provide a made to measure service. Martin & Parker provide a contract service for companies in the licenced and leisure industries. Over the years, a number of reputable companies and establishments have used their corporate service, all have received a first-class product as well as unrivalled customer service. Martin & Parker also offer a re-upholstery service from their Derby workshop. What’s more they stock a co-ordinated range of soft furnishings to compliment your main furniture, including window dressing with their custom made curtains and blinds, including swags, tails, tab tops, eyelets, pencil pleats and pinch pleats. All of their curtains and blinds are made to measure. Providing a soft feeling under foot and patterns to add to your interior, carpets are a stylish addition to your home. At the Martin & Parker showroom, they stock an extensive range of modern, attractive carpets from leading flooring companies Corman Carpets and Abingdon Flooring. When it comes to supplying high quality wicker, cane or rattan furniture for your conservatory Martin & Parker is the only place to go. With styles and designs to suit every taste, all of their conservatory furniture is supplied by Daro, an industry-leading company. The Daro company name has always been synonymous for their top quality handmade products. Handmade furniture is a wonderful addition to any home and there is only one place to go for handcrafted brilliance. With our illustrious range of chairs, two and three seater sofas, sofa beds, armchairs and footstools you’ll find exactly what you are looking for at Martin & Parker. Check them out now on Ascot Drive in Derby. 00
Derbyshire Makers – Richdale Sofas
For over 20 years, Richdale Sofas has been a family-run business proudly serving the Derbyshire community. Established in 2004 by husband and wife team Richard and Rachael, they started as a sofa manufacturer, but their passion for furniture has seen them grow into a leading retailer of home furnishings in Ilkeston. Their success lies in a simple philosophy: offering a friendly and knowledgeable approach to every customer. The Richdale team takes pride in helping you find the perfect sofa, chair, corner sofa, or carpet for your needs. This dedication to personalized service has built them a loyal customer base who keep coming back and recommending them to friends and family. Today, Richdale Sofas boasts a wide range of competitively priced, high-quality furniture, all conveniently located in their showroom. From British-made sofas and chairs to carpets and oak furniture, they offer a variety of pieces to create the perfect living space for your home. As a celebration of Richdale’s 20-year anniversary, they are proud to announce their most innovative, sustainable and comfiest suite yet, the Green Cheltenham Sofa. The Derbyshire based company have used their expertise and experience to create a sofa for the future, finding both comfort and the environment can be prioritised. Try it out at The Old Co-op Building, 51a Wharncliffe Rd, Ilkeston DE7 5GF or for more information visit their website at https://www.richdalesofas.co.uk/green-sofa/ Over recent months, the company has undertaken a comprehensive overhaul of the Cheltenham’s manufacturing process to ensure every aspect of its production is sustainable. The result is a sofa that is not only stylish and comfortable but most importantly, kind to the planet. The Cheltenham sofa features FSC certified hardwood frames made in Long Eaton, Derbyshire, offering a lifetime guarantee. In a shift from traditional foam fillings, Richdale has opted for natural fibres such as cotton, wool, felt, and feathers. The springs are locally manufactured and designed to be recyclable, supporting local industry and minimising waste. Each sofa is handmade in Derbyshire and can be tailored to any size, ensuring a perfect fit for your home. Customers can choose from a range of natural fibre fabrics, including cotton and wool, or fabrics made from recycled materials, offering not only a wide range of colours and patterns but also a variety of eco-friendly options. Additionally, the sofa incorporates eco-adhesives and other sustainable components, further enhancing its green appeal. Deliveries are conducted using reusable packaging, reducing the environmental impact of distribution. The company is also proud to be celebrating 20 years of service this year with the new design being a celebration of their dedication and development throughout this time. Richdale Sofas is justifiably proud of their achievement. “We’ve tried to make this sofa as sustainable as possible and can’t wait to show you all,” said a spokesperson for the company. For more information about the innovative green sofa check our website at:www.richdalesofas.co.uk/green-sofa/or come and see us at:The Old Co-op Building, 51a Wharncliffe Rd, Ilkeston, Derbyshire DE7 5GF 00
Ashton Coleman
Ashton & Coleman Furniture Matlock’s latest retail shop, Ashton & Coleman Furniture, may be new to Matlock but they have been busy building the foundations of their business for almost 10 years. Starting the business partnership in late 2014 combining two separate joinery businesses run by Simon Ashton and Peter Coleman. Settling on Ashton & Coleman as a business name wasn’t as easy a choice as you might think. Wanting to build a brand name they considered many alternatives, all of which seemed like a gimmick. After great deliberation they settled on the name Ashton & Coleman which aligns perfectly with their general ethos of keeping things simple. Their brand name exudes a quality that you find in all of their products and the use of their names brings a personal touch that sets them apart from the larger national companies. There are 4 very simple but important reasons to consider Ashton & Coleman Furniture the next time you are looking to revamp or improve your home. 1. Value For Money. In a market that has over the last twenty years slowly pushed independent companies to one side by offering cheaper products, customers are now realising that they have lost one of the most important factors, ‘value for money’. As you might expect, buying a hand-crafted solid wood bed that’s made in Derbyshire and delivered and installed by professionals won’t be as cheap as a flat pack self assembly bed that’s mass produced in a factory and posted out by courier. However in many cases the actual price isn’t much different to some of these brands. The message that Ashton & Coleman are spreading is that as conscientious human beings we shouldn’t simply be looking for the cheapest products, we should be focussing on value for money. The simple fact that their handmade beds have a lifetime guarantee says it all. 2. Choice. The element of ‘choice’ means that you can have one of their stunning dining table designs made exactly the size that you need and if you want to team it up with a sideboard or console table that compliments the dining table design or a tailormade cabinet that fits your vinyl collection in it, you can have that too. Many companies only offer a small amount of table sizes and they certainly don’t have other pieces of furniture in that range in adaptable sizes or layouts, generally because these pieces are bought from overseas manufacturers. Almost all of us have similar yet different needs in our home, and furniture for your home isn’t, and never has been, a one size fits all market. 3. Sustainability. As we all know, the climate change issue isn’t going to go away. If we don’t change the way we live, it will simply worsen, and we can make a big difference if we all make little changes to the way we choose to spend our money. Ashton & Coleman furniture is designed and built to last forever, not one lifetime, forever. This means that if the whole nation slept on Ashton & Coleman beds, no more beds would need to be made, and through responsible reforestation the trees used to make Ashton & Coleman beds would simply keep replacing themselves again and again. Problem solved. It couldn’t be simpler. Adding to that, the fact that all of the wood shavings produced during the manufacture of their furniture are turned into wood briquettes that they use to heat their premises and you have a truly eco friendly business model that they intend on improving still, one day hoping to use an electric vehicle for their deliveries. 4. Wellbeing. Last but not least we have ‘wellbeing’. Today we are very much at the beginning of what is becoming a mental health revolution. The digital world we live in gives us so much, but also takes something from us that we cannot see or measure. The human race for the vast majority of its existence has been immersed in and connected to the natural world in a variety of different ways and in recent years the technology boom has taught us that we have become very much disconnected with nature. Bringing furniture and products made from natural materials into your home along with plants, reconnects you with nature in a way that is so deep it’s actually hard to describe the way it makes you feel, and what it’s doing to your general health and wellbeing. Ashton & Coleman Furniture is a business steeped in traditional values yet simultaneously drives forward with a modern ethos and outlook. They currently run their brand new shop at 66A Dale Road in Matlock which showcases a few of their best selling products from leather sofas, beds and mattresses, dining tables, benches and chairs with additional homeware products from chopping boards and stools to coat hooks, wool throws and cushions, to hand blown glass pendants and recycled glass lamps and shades. Recently adding gifts such as bottle openers, a candle company’s products from Yorkshire and picnic blankets. Their workshop and showroom in Two Dales being much larger comprises many more bed designs and mattresses with additional dining table sets and a variety of wardrobes and cabinetry. For more information visit their showrooms or their website at www.ashtonandcoleman.co.uk. Any questions email info@ashtonandcoleman.co.uk or call 01629 259304. 00
English Wine Project – Award winning wines from Derbyshire
Derbyshire is a county that produces some of the country’s greatest products and each month we feature one of Derbyshire’s best independent producers. It’s just getting interesting again for Darley Abbey based wine maker, Kieron Atkinson. After a couple of weeks of ‘quieter’ times post-Christmas, Kieron’s gearing up for the announcement of the latest international wine award. This time it’s him up against some global winemaking ‘heavyweights’ from the southern hemisphere, competing for the coveted Wine Maker of the Year award, chosen by Naked Wines. If Kieron wins, he will be the first ever English wine producer to earn the accolade. After over a decade of winning multiple awards for his wines, you might think they become less special over time…? “Absolutely not!” Kieron clarifies; “every award I am nominated for is special to me and each time I win an accolade for the wine I produce, I feel really proud of what I’ve been able to achieve from here in Derbyshire; not the usual place you would expect to see an award winning winery!” Kieron left the army in 2010 after serving tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, deciding to start a totally different career in wine production and vineyard management. After graduating from Plumpton College to gain a second degree, he hasn’t stopped. The English Wine Project was established to allow Kieron to produce the best possible English wine, made from grapes grown here in Derbyshire at the historic and wonderfully atmospheric Renishaw Hall Estate in North Derbyshire. Kieron conducts vineyard tours in the spring to autumn months which visitors love as well as running courses in grape growing, pruning and the annual harvest. “We have lots of fun harvesting. It really is what the wine growing year is all about,” Kieron explains. “Seeing people getting stuck in to harvest, hauling juicy grapes into crates and enjoying the fruits of their labour all together is great to experience.” There are also tours of the urban English Wine Project Winery throughout the year, based in the attractive mills at Darley Abbey on the edge of Derby. On a winery tour, visitors see the process of wine making up close; enjoying tasting multiple wines, and ciders (also an award-winning venture of Kieron’s) which can be paired with foods and – sometimes – live music. The rustic yet urban setting of the winery, on the banks of the River Derwent as it flows towards Derby city centre, is really unique. “We really enjoy people dropping in to see us for a glass or bottle of wine by the river and the tours are great fun. People find out so much about the science behind wine, but also they come away having tasted delicious wines made right here by grapes that haven’t travelled far. We make a truly English product about which we should be really proud!” states Kieron. The range of English Wine Project wines include: Renishaw Hall Vintage Cuvée white and pink – Trophy medal winning – traditional method sparkling wine. Renishaw Hall Walled Garden White, Rosé and Red – A real hero wine range for us that sells out almost as soon as it’s in a bottle. Mills & Hills Bacchus and Pinot Noir – Mills & Hills is my own best of English label. For these wines I am working with the best growers in the UK, from the increasingly famed Crouch Valley in Essex through to Worcestershire. Kieron started producing cider in 2020 and now has four ciders in the range under the labels; Even Cider, King and Queen of the Orchard and soon to be joined by Buck Cider. These ciders are proving to be successful with pubs, deli’s and farm shops across the region. “At the winery we offer a totally distinctive experience for birthday parties, group tours, work events or simply get-togethers with friends, where you want to enjoy your own private space doing something special and memorable. People always have loads of fun and enjoy quality drinks at the same time as learning something new about wines, ciders and their production. We’re always happy to deliver orders to customers’ doors,”describes Kieron. So, as Kieron waits to hear on this latest global wine award, he’s busy down at the winery, preparing the 2023 wine for their next step ready to be released – and relished – in early summer 2024 To order award winning English Wine Project wines and ciders produced entirely by Kieron, visitwww.englishwineproject.co.uk 00
