The TasTy choice
Ritzy restaurants with top chefs are the latest perk in smart villages for later-lifers
TELEVISIOn shows such as Come Dine With Me and MasterChef all whet the appetite for dinner parties. And living in a retirement village needn’t stop you from entertaining royally — especially if the development has its own restaurant, or private dining room.
Stanley and Mandy Birch, both 76, moved to Audley Inglewood retirement village in Kintbury, Berkshire, four years ago and have made good use of its restaurant, Blandy’s Bistro, which was awarded an AA Rosette in Culinary Excellence last year.
The couple had previously lived in Lyme Regis, Dorset, where they had entertained many of their friends, but eventually found the house too big for them.
They bought two flats at Inglewood, which they combined into one, so there’s space enough to have six friends or family round for a meal, but they also like the ease of entertaining either in the Bistro, or the smaller Morning
Room. ‘If we want to have a dinner party, we sit down with Gert Pienaar, chef of Blandy’s, and decide on a menu, which he prepares specially for us.
‘Then, we can all enjoy a good meal without the hassle of preparation or washing up afterwards,’ says Stanley.
Ten other Audley Villages around the UK have private dining rooms, most of which are regularly used.
At Inglewood, one and twobedroom apartments start at £325,000 ( audleyvillages.co.uk).
Brian and Caroline Henderson, who are in their mid-80s, moved to Grove Place retirement village in Romsey, Hampshire, last February. This year, on February 14, they held a party in the Middleton Room, the village’s private dining room, to celebrate their first year at the development. ‘We wanted to thank all the friends we’ve made at Grove Place, who have made us feel so welcome,’ says Brian.
Grove Place also has a billiards room and library, swimming pool, spa and gym plus 27 acres of grounds and gardens set around a 16th-century Manor House. One and two- bedroom apartments and bungalows are available from £ 275,000 ( www.lifecareresidences.co.uk/
residences/ grove- place). At Wadswick Green retirement village in Corsham, Wiltshire, there is a large restaurant, The Greenhouse, which is open to the public, and a private dining room, the Royal Arthur Room, which holds up to 14 people.
On average, one resident per week hires this out for a private function, especially during school holidays when relatives come for big family gatherings. aS
LOnG as food is ordered, there’s no hire charge. Darren Sharp, head chef of The Greenhouse, will put together a personalised menu for residents’ functions in the private dining room, the restaurant or even outdoor events.
Sandra Farley, who moved to Wadswick Green in 2019 and who loves to play croquet, held a garden party last July catered for by The Greenhouse, so 25 of her friends could play croquet on the lawn. Re-sale one-bedroom flats at The Pavilion cost from £249,950 and new two-bedroom flats at Almond Close, a phase of Courtyard Apartments, from £439,500 ( wadswickgreen.co.uk).
So, don’t let living in a retirement development cramp your style.