A Bolton pub has proved it is certainly at the heart of the community it serves.
The Beaumont Arms hosted its first of many special events to get senior citizens, out and about to socialise.
This week, to commemorate the 80th anniversary of D-Day, the pub was decorated in red, white and blue, to stage the first cabaret lunch, which will take place every week.
The sessions have been organised by Sarah Dennis. She organises 20 similar pub outings like this in Bury and has another at the Jolly Carter in Little Lever.
She spoke of her happiness at seeing people turn up for the launch and explained why events like these were so important.
She said: “This has been a special event to commemorate D-Day tomorrow.
“We do this work to stop isolation and loneliness.
“I started this just before Covid as my mother had dementia and I wanted somewhere my dad could bring her out.
“Everyone has had a great time today, they have had the food and sang along to the music.
“I hope they come back on a regular basis.
“We have one man who come to us in Bury called Harold, I have made him ten years younger, he was sat on his own and the last time I went to see him he was surrounded being eight ladies.
“They now have a group called Harold’s golden girls and have a trip planned together.”
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Mayor of Bolton Cllr Andy Morgan was invited to the launch of the 'club' .
He runs the Bakewells Care Home and brought some of the residents along to the launch event.
He said: “It has been fantastic.
“It is important to have a get-together and reduce isolation.
“I am also the ward councillor here and we got some money towards it from the area forum.”
The events will now take place weekly at the Beaumont Arms, Heaton on Wednesday.
Sessions will feature live entertainment, quiz and board games on a rotating basis.
Cllr Morgan said: "The pub was decorated in red, white and blue bunting and the theme for the afternoon was to commemorate 80 years since D-Day including entertainment by the “Forces Sweetheart”, Sarah Dennis.
"It was great to see so many residents together enjoying the companionship of their neighbours and friends.
"This is a new weekly luncheon club hoping to bring our senior citizens together for a few hours a week for social interaction and support.
"Thank you to Sally and her team at the Beaumont Arms for looking after us all."
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