My favourite place in my home town of Chesterfield is Chatsworth Road. When I leave my studio (usually covered in clay!) I wander home along this road and feel really lucky to live in this area. The street has recently undergone a wonderful regeneration and is now the place to find fabulous cafes and great independent boutiques.

The top stops on the road have got to be Libby’s and Ian Morris Antiques, Mes Amis for lunch, the Beer Corner for real ale (my husbands favourite!) and Nonna’s for a wonderful evening meal. Other places worth mentioning are Hudson Florists who make fantastic bouquets, and Non Solo Vino who are expert wine sellers and now do evening meals which I’ve heard very good things about.

One of the great things about these shops, cafes and restaurants is that they are run by people with a real love for what they do. You’ll find shop owners who are very knowledgeable about what they sell. They’re passionate about sourcing the best products for their shops and always seem friendly and happy when you pop in to see them. There is now a really lovely atmosphere on this road and it’s a great alternative to the usual high street shops.

For me, there are two things that really are a must when visiting Chatsworth Road. Have a look around Libby’s to find the antiques sourced by Ian Morris. I love Ian’s hand written notes – he always has a quirky way of describing things! I’d also recommended a pain au chocolat from Mes Amis, hand made by their chef Gary – a very friendly chap and a great cook! I like to have a black coffee with the pain au chocolat. Rich and bitter, it’s makes a wonderful treat!

Photo courtesy of Hudson’s Florists