Community Cocktails at Belgrave Lodge Care Home, Edinburgh

On a delightful Friday afternoon at the end of April, Social and Cocktail Events Social and Cocktail Events made its way to Belgrave Lodge Care Home in Edinburgh to provide a special cocktail party to all the lovely residents as part of our Community Cocktail initiative.

Our bartender for the event was Joshua O`Connor, who set up the bar in the sitting room and made sure that the music fitted the bill with some classic Billie Holiday playing on the sound system. To help create the feel of a 1920s-style speakeasy bar, we put up props of old-style gangsters and some flapper girls, all whom helped define the era.

The menu for the party included the fruity Strawberry Daiquiri, the Brandy Alexander and the Old-Fashioned plus we had a range of delicious mocktails for the non-drinkers, including the Shirley Temple and the Blueberry Mojito.

“We want our residents to change their address – not their lifestyle.”

– Aileen Orr, Manager

The residents were all excited about the cocktail party and we were delighted to see a full attendance in the sitting room. Josh worked alongside the carers, who were incredibly helpful and co-operative, in determining what drinks residents would like, whether or not they can actually have alcohol and – for the ones that can – how many boozy beverages they can safely have.

David Goodwin, 88, from Dundee, enjoyed an Old Fashioned cocktail with wife Evelyn. “I’ve never really had a cocktail before,” admitted the retired quality assurance manager. “I like my beer and my shandies but, I have to say, this is nice.”

Wife Evelyn said: “It’s a great idea as it makes the residents happy.”

Joan Skilton, 94, from Edinburgh, thought her Brandy Alexander was “lovely” as she chatted to daughter Debbie.

Sprightly resident Janet Coyle, 96, joked with barman Josh as he served her a non-alcoholic Blueberry Mojito. After taking her first sip she joked: “It’s not bad. It has a taste!” But by the time the glass was empty she was ready to give her real opinion. “Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful,” she enthused.

Belgarve Lodge’s oldest resident, Bill Black, 99, limbered up after his drink and had a dance with Margaret Keenan, 84, -definitely one of the highlights of the event!

The manager of Belgrave Lodge, Aileen Orr, said the event helped totally transform the leafy enclave. “Seeing the smiles on residents’ faces makes me and the staff here happy,” she said. “We want our residents to change their address – not their lifestyle.”