Things To Do In Belper
Reunion Deli on Strutt Street
Since our launch earlier this year, we noticed many of our customers are visiting the area for the first time and several of our Reunion @ Hub Space coworking members have recently moved to Belper.
As long-term residents of the area, we would love to share some recommendations of things to do in Belper, events to look out for, and other opportunities to get involved in the local community.
Visit the Award Winning High Street-
Belper’s High Street won the Champion High Street Award for England in 2019 and we can see why! Love Belper is a community organisation driving the success of our high street by raising the profile of Belper, planning events and encouraging collaboration.
Belper is home to a wide variety of both local and national businesses, some of our favourite local businesses include: The 1924 Shopping Arcade, Cheeky Bambini Ethical Children’s Clothes and Toys, Think Twice Vintage Clothing Shop, The Willow Gift & Craft Shop, Strut Clothing, Sankara Imports and The Ritz Cinema. We also have Dormouse Book Shop coming in September!
The majority of what a household needs is available in the wider town with the option to make sustainable purchasing decisions. Eartharmony Belper, a local low impact living shop, offers ethical products, vegan home supplies, and liquid refills giving residents an alternative to the typical supermarket shop.
Belper’s award winning High Street.
Countryside Walks-
Belper visitors and residents are fortunate to have countryside walks right on the doorstep of our town with many residents living 10 minutes away from beautiful, rural scenery.
The Chevin Circular is a popular walking route in the area which has views from both sides of the river alongside views of Belper and the surrounding area. Our Community Builder, Maggie, is a long-time Belper Resident, and one of her favourite walking locations is Longwalls Lane near Handley woods just near the A517, describing the area as, “a really special place”.
Local publisher Boom House Books have produced Family Walks for Little Legs in Belper & Derbyshire, a guide detailing a range of locations in and around Belper for family walks.
Jo’s Mum on the Chevin, one of many picturesque walking locations in and around Belper.
Belper River Gardens-
Situated close to the Strutts North Mill with beautiful views of the River Derwent, the Belper River Gardens are a great place to spend time outdoors.
There’s plenty of benches and picnic spots as well as a cafe, bandstand and lovely flowerbeds.
Rowing boats and a play area for children make the gardens a fantastic location for a family trip outdoors. The gardens are also home to a section of the Beth’s Poetry Trail, which uses artwork to depict chosen poems, a free leaflet depicting the trail can be found in Belper Library to explore the trail in its entirety.
Boats available to hire at the Belper River Gardens.
Micro-Pubs and Drinks Venues-
Belper is also the home to several micro-pubs and other social venues offering a range of Real Ales, Gins and Ciders.
Our favourites include; the Angels Micro Pub for a selection of real ales, Monk Bar for fantastic cocktails and the location of our first Reunion @ Hub Space social, Bang in Belper - which certainly has the approval of many of our founding members!
Reunion @ Hub Space Members in our communal space ready to head to Bang in Belper for our first social event.
Transition Belper-
Sustainable living and the climate crisis is high on both the global and national agenda. Organisations and small businesses in Belper including Reunion are looking for ways to reduce our impact on the planet. Transition Belper are a volunteer group helping to make Belper a more sustainable place to live and also organise local events.
Belper Goes Green is Transition Belper’s Community Arts Festival with talks on sustainability in Belper, workshops and live entertainment.
Alongside their festival, Transition Belper also run other initiatives including a Repair Cafe to reduce the number of items sent to landfill by fixing damaged items.
Belper Goes Green- Transition Belper’s annual Community Arts Festival.
Reunion Deli-
We couldn’t create this list without inviting you to visit our wonderful deli! Reunion Deli is located on Strutt Street in Belper and offers a wide range of deli items, quality coffee and a menu full of flavour. We pride ourselves on our ethos of serving ethically sourced food, prioritising our planet, and being accessible to as many people as possible.
As a local cafe we want to support the community where possible and contribute to local events such as Pride in Belper and Belper Food Festival.
We will also be hosting community networking events with our sister coworking site Reunion @ Hub Space and would love to see you there!
A beautiful picture of our bright and beautiful deli taken by local Photographer Dickon Clark.
Reunion @ Hub Space-
As remote and hybrid working became more mainstream as a result of the pandemic, a collaboration between Reunion and Hub Space was formed to offer an affordable and easy alternative to working from the kitchen table. Reunion was founded to create a welcoming work community where members could have a space to work, connect and collaborate. Hub Space was independently created to provide the perfect space to work in a serene environment with top notch facilities.
So, working together, this collaboration of Reunion @ Hub Space, provides the perfect environment for a thriving workspace within the incredible historic location of The Old School House
With great design features and cutting edge technology that cannot be rivalled anywhere else in Belper, The perfect workspace!
Memberships also include a variety of benefits including; free coffee and biscuits, tickets to networking events and discounts on food from Reunion Deli- with free lunchtime delivery to your desk. For local workers looking to avoid the morning commute and the distractions of working from home, Reunion @ Hub Space is a great option to change your work life.
The bright and open coworking office space available to Reunion @ Hub Space Members.
Heage Windmill-
A beautifully restored piece of industrial history, Heage Windmill is a fantastic and unique place to visit right on the doorstep of Belper. This historic working windmill has incredible views of the Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage Site and offers multiple events each year.
During visits, stoneground flour can be purchased which is produced at the mill using wheat grown in the UK, perfect for bread-making at home.
A fully restored Grade II listed building, Heage Windmill a tourist attraction in Belper.
Pride in Belper-
A non-profit organisation run by local volunteers supporting the LGBT+ community in Belper. Pride in Belper runs an annual parade or ‘Strutt’ as it is known in Belper, to celebrate inclusivity and diversity in our town.
The Strutt is accompanied by live music, performances from local groups, and an outside seating hub in collaboration with local hospitality businesses.
Reunion are proud to have contributed to Pride In Belper in 2022 as a Silver Sponsor, we are looking forward to future Pride events to showcase the diversity in our town.
A previous Pride in Belper ‘Strutt’ flourishing through the streets of Belper.
Belper Fringe Festival-
A yearly festival which includes a variety of events based around the arts. From literature to photography, theatre to music, there is something for everyone.
This community-led organisation runs a plethora of events throughout the year and are also involved in other occasions such as offering live entertainment at the Belper Food Festival in Summer 2022.
Belper Fringe also supports community charity events, and recently had success at the ‘Better Together’ campaign with Fleet Arts, welcoming refugees to Belper and raising funds.
A picture from a performance at Belper Fringe.
Boom Magazine-
An essential for new residents to the area, Boom Magazine is a free handbook for local parents, carers and families in Belper and the Amber Valley area, with everything you need to know in one convenient place. The magazine includes interesting articles, compiles upcoming events in the area and advertises local businesses.
This magazine is certainly worth a read and can be found in many local shops and community areas with a new edition every two months.
Reunion are delighted to have featured in the May/June 2022 edition and look forward to working with Boom in the future.
A recent issue of Boom Magazine, with one of our Founding Member Ryan’s daughter on the cover!
Belper in Bloom-
An award winning Belper-wide initiative that transforms the town with colourful flower displays through collaboration between the local councils and volunteers. Belper in Bloom is a true community effort showcasing the best of our town with the transformation of residential gardens, beautiful hanging baskets and other floral displays throughout the town.
Local awards are distributed by the Belper in Bloom group with categories including best front garden, best commercial property and best public house. Belper has previously entered regional and national awards winning prizes in the East Midlands in Bloom Competition multiple times.
A floral display in the heart of Belper from a previous Belper in Bloom.
Belper Arts Trail-
The Belper Arts Trail started in 2014, with the aim of bringing together a diverse group of local artists.
It takes place in May of each year across many venues, shops, cafes and restaurants, all hosting different artworks. There is also a full programme of music across the weekend.
The Belper Arts Trail at No. 28 on the Market Place
Belper Food Festival-
Belper Town Council holds two food festivals each year allowing local food producers to showcase their offerings throughout the streets of
Belper. We are proud that Reunion Deli took part in these festivities in Summer 2022 offering Mexican Pulled Pork Wraps and our usual Deli items.
We can’t wait to get involved in future food festivals to bring the local community together.
A previous Belper Food Festival, a highlight in the community events calendar!
Belper Woollen Woods-
Starting in 2015 and growing ever since, Belper Woollen Woods is a community arts initiative supporter by local organisations such as Belper Fringe. Participants sew, knit or crochet amazing woollen animals and other decorations to display in trees at Belper Nature Reserve, Belper Memorial Gardens and other locations throughout the town.
Anyone can be allocated a tree to get involved creating their own woollen art installation. If knitting or crafts isn’t for you, visiting the installations and events throughout the year is an amazing way to see the creative talent in our town! The growing number of people and organisations participating in the Woollen Woods makes it the perfect event to meet local creatives and members of Belper’s thriving arts community.
A beautiful installation by local organisation Blue Box Belper at a previous Woollen Woods event.
Fleet Arts-
Belper is also home to Fleet Arts, a Derbyshire-wide community arts organisation which runs a wide programme of high-quality and inspirational activities all year round. Fleet Arts collaborate with other community organisations, local councils and the local NHS to offer a range of inclusive events.
Many events are family orientated such sad the regular Lego Workshops in Belper Library encouraging local families to take part in creative building activities. Fleet Arts are also involved in other local events with their ‘Street Beats’ Samba Reggae band participating in the Pride in Belper celebrations in 2022.
A previous community event in 2021 from Fleet Arts with local arts, music, food and much more in Belper!
Belper Unitarian Chapel Virtual Tour
Belper Unitarian Chapel have just had this virtual tour made for them by James Oldrini for Belper Unitarian Chapel. You can view it here: https://tour.panoee.com/belper-unitarian-chapel/62fa7c72dec5a84fe7579590
So that’s our brief roundup of some of the wonderful things on offer in Belper.
Do you think there’s something we’re missing?
Let us know so we can add it in!