Age UK lunch club wings into Grasmere’s The Swan

A popular lunch club will have a new home in Grasmere this summer, as The Inn Collection Group’s The Swan becomes the host venue for Age UK’s monthly meeting as part of the Reconnecting Cumbria project.

Starting on June 28 and then taking place on the fourth Wednesday of each month, dates have so far been confirmed up to November and the lunch club will provide the opportunity for attendees to enjoy each other’s company and a well-cooked two-course meal.

The lunch clubs will start with arrival from Noon and food served promptly from 12:15 and attendees will be welcome to stay as long as they like, with The Swan open all day, every day, as per all properties belonging to The Inn Collection Group.

Reopening back in April after a multimillion-pound refurbishment The Swan is one of the Lake District’s oldest Inns and has stepped into a breach that has existed since 2020, with the Grasmere lunch club left without a host venue since the Covid-19 pandemic.

With The Swan as much for local residents as the multitude of visitors calling into Grasmere, general managers Nellie Buxton and Nigel Brown are thrilled to be offering the lunch club a new home and are looking forward to hosting members of the community.

Nellie said: “The Swan has a history of being part of the heart of the community in Grasmere for hundreds of years and it is brilliant that we’re able to continue that tradition by being an asset for people in the village and surrounding area to use.

“Wendy has been looking for a venue to restart this club for some time now and with The Swan back to being a traditional country inn, we’re a really good fit for this sort of event and we’re really excited to host.”

Nigel added: “We’re very keen to support village life any way that we can and with plenty of comfortable space for people to enjoy each other’s company and of course our hospitality, we hope The Swan is somewhere the guests are going to be delighted by.“

Reconnecting Cumbria is a major collaborative project between four Age UK branches in Cumbria that is aiming to re-establish social activity groups like the lunch club and founding new ones to help isolated older people to re-engage in their local communities.

Lunch clubs are an important part of a calendar of events organised by Age UK South Lakes, with walking sports, social clubs and exercise classes also taking place across the area.

Wendy Ingham, social engagement officer for Age UK South Lakeland said: “We’re really looking forward to re-starting the Grasmere lunch club and are looking forward to working with the team at The Swan.

“The original club in the village was a very popular one and we have had some strong early interest from people in attending the first meeting at the new venue.

“The Swan looks fabulous following its refurbishment and I’m sure those joining us for the lunch club are going to enjoy their afternoon.”

To book a place at the Grasmere Lunch Club at The Swan, call Age UK South Lakeland on 01539 728118.