Celebrating life at Barchester

Each year hospitality teams from Barchester homes and hospitals up and down the country compete for the coveted Christmas Cake of the Year title.  The competition is run by the central hospitality team and the bar is set very high. Many of Barchester’s chefs are trained in patisserie and the Christmas cake designs are very elaborate and highly technical.  Competition is fierce and only the very best recipes and designs will prevail.

The hospitality team at North Park put their heads together and donned their aprons to come up with the most amazing Christmas cake decorated to perfection.  Their fabulous cake is designed as a Christmas fire place and consists of a delicious homemade Fruit Christmas Cake. Annie came up with the idea as she felt that it embodied a cosy warm evening around the fire place. 

We were delighted to welcome the 3rd Poole Sea Scouts and Leaders Alex, Charlotte, and Jill for a wonderful evening .Residents enjoyed Christmas carols, received handmade cards, and shared festive cheer. Karen, our Activities Lead, thanked the Scouts with a gift. Everyone’s excited for more visits in the New Year.

Staff, residents, relatives and the local community came together at Leeming Bar to enjoy a wonderful Christmas Fete.

The wonderful Carole from ‘Cats Pyjamas Theatre Productions’ got the festive frolics well underway as she sang her heart out to everyone’s favourite Christmas hits of the decades, complete with many a costume change!

As Carole's sweet melodies filled the home there was opportunity to browse all that the wonderful stall holders had in store. There were delicious cakes and bakes, an indulgent hot chocolate station, along with beautiful homemade craft and gift items.

The residents at South Grange put their heads together and donned their aprons to come up with the most amazing Christmas cake decorated to perfection. Their fabulous cake has 3 separate tiers- one designed as Santa, the other two tiers are decorated with different types of holly and icing. It took weeks of planning and preparation; residents couldn’t agree on just one design so that’s when they came up with the idea of making a separate 3 tier cake and having everyone’s ideas combined. The cakes were traditional Christmas cake packed with dried fruits and some festive spices like cinnamon and nutmeg and covered in a delicious royal icing.

After almost 5 years of continuous service at our home much-loved Home Administrator, Lorraine has decided to retire.

Staff and residents sent Lorraine off in style with champagne (non-alcoholic) and presents to thank her for many years of dedication. Everyone at the home has very fond memories of Lorraine and she will be sadly missed. 

This Christmas season has been a truly magical time at our home filled with wonderful moments shared together.

Throughout December we enjoyed several festive parties, each one bringing its own sparkle. Our home was beautifully decorated and residents, families, and staff came together to celebrate with delicious food, Christmas music, games, and plenty of cheer. These gatherings created a warm and joyful atmosphere giving everyone the chance to relax, reminisce, and enjoy the spirit of the season.

One of the highlights was a very special visit from Santa Claus himself. Santa spent time with residents, sharing smiles, listening to Christmas wishes, and handing out thoughtful gifts. It was really lovely to see so many happy faces and to capture such precious moments.

We were also delighted to welcome pupils from our local primary school, who visited to sing traditional Christmas carols. Their beautiful voices filled the home with festive sound, and residents thoroughly enjoyed singing along. 

Adding to the fun we were treated to a lively Christmas pantomime. Full of humour, colourful costumes, and audience participation, it had everyone laughing and clapping along.

Overall, this Christmas was filled with togetherness, joy, and unforgettable memories. We would like to thank everyone who helped make the season so special and look forward to creating many more happy moments in the year ahead.

Residents enjoyed a Christmas to remember this week, as the home pulled out all the stops with a multi-day celebration featuring festive treats, a visit from the North Pole, and high-energy live entertainment.

The festivities began on Christmas Eve with a "Cheers to Christmas" trolley service. Deputy Manager Cristina led the way, visiting every room in the home with a specially decorated drinks trolley. Residents were invited to choose their favourite festive tipple, from sherry to sparkling fizz, as they toasted to the holiday season and shared stories of Christmases past.

The excitement reached its peak on Christmas morning when the home welcomed two very special VIPs. Santa Claus, accompanied by his cheerful Elf, made a grand tour of the home, delivering hand-wrapped gifts to every resident. The surprise visit brought smiles and laughter to the hallways, ensuring that the magic of Christmas was felt by all.

To cap off the celebrations, the home hosted a live performance by the popular musical duo 2 of Diamonds, Rob and Sally. The entertainers provided a high-energy set of festive classics and timeless hits, which saw residents, staff, and visiting family members singing along and dancing in the lounge.

Cristina, Deputy Manager at Brampton View, said "Christmas is such a sentimental time for our residents, and we wanted to make sure every moment felt personal and joyous. From the quiet moment of a Christmas Eve toast to the high energy of the 2 of Diamonds performance, seeing the residents’ faces light up is what makes our jobs so rewarding. It truly felt like one big family celebration."