Celebrating life at Barchester

Residents, relatives and staff at the home celebrated bringing in the New Year in style!

Our New Year’s Eve party was in full swing as the home welcomed the mother and daughter duo the ‘Cherry Tones’ Residents enjoyed champagne and festive treats prepared by head chef, Karen Garbutt.

Senior General Manager, Susan Carter said: “Our residents love a party and we’re all really excited to see what 2026 has to offer us all.”

 

Chestnut Gardens welcomed recently the Kingswood Shetland Ponies to the home as part of the December Christmas activities. 

The first stop was to visit the residents who were all eagerly waiting in the Bistro area and what joy they brought.
But hey they did not stop there , they were so well trained they popped into the lifts and visited each and every floor to meet all the residents.

It was so such a memorable and magical experience not only for the residents but for all the guests and staff and we will look forward to another visit soon in 2026. 

 

It is with genuine appreciation and pride that we recognize Kuldeep as our Employee of the Year.

Kuldeep dedication to her work has not gone unnoticed, but also a kindness and positivity that lifts everyone around them.

We were delighted to welcome a very special visitor to our home this festive season, as Santa Claus arrived with his cheerful elf helper to spread Christmas joy among our residents. The visit brought a wonderful sense of excitement throughout the home.

Santa and his elf took the time to visit each resident individually, enjoying friendly chats, sharing festive cheer and listening to Christmas memories from years gone by. These personal moments meant so much to our residents, many of whom spoke fondly about past celebrations, family traditions, and favourite Christmas songs. The elf added extra fun with jokes and playful energy, ensuring plenty of laughter along the way.

The atmosphere was truly magical, with residents beaming as Santa wished them a Merry Christmas and a joyful season ahead. For many, the visit created a comforting sense of connection and reminded everyone of the warmth and togetherness that Christmas brings.

We would like to thank Santa and his helpful elf for taking the time to make our residents feel so special. It was a heart-warming experience that will be fondly remembered by all.

We had the most wonderful visit today as the ponies came to see our residents. So many smiles, laughs, and happy memories were shared as everyone enjoyed spending time with them — especially seeing the ponies dressed in their adorable Christmas outfits!

The visit sparked beautiful conversations, with residents reminiscing about the days they owned horses, rode them, or cared for them when they were younger. It was truly heartwarming to see the joy on their faces and hear the stories that came flooding back. Moments like these remind us how powerful animal visits can be in lifting spirits and creating meaningful connections. Thank you to everyone who helped make this festive and special day possible!  

Thank you to the lovely ladies and ponies Lollipop Pony Parties. We had a lovely time.

What a wonderful afternoon we had here at Harper Fields care home, enjoying beautiful music with the talented Barry Styles! His performance brought smiles, memories, and plenty of toe-tapping all around.

Our residents were treated to chilled Prosecco and delicious nibbles lovingly prepared by our amazing kitchen team — the perfect pairing for a truly elegant afternoon.   

A huge thank-you to Barry for sharing his incredible voice with us, and to our staff for making the day so special.  

Here’s to many more musical moments together!