Monmouthshire Nursing Home Rings in the New Year in style

The Monmouth-based Gibraltar Nursing Home heralded 2026 with a memorable New Year’s Day celebration held in its own Pillars Restaurant.

Residents came together to enjoy glasses of bubbly, an array of cakes and sweet treats, and a selection of games including bingo and pass the parcel.

Cake stands filled every table, offering a variety of treats and party food to suit different dietary needs while a well-stocked drinks trolley was set up as a bar for the afternoon to dispense stocked wine, lager, and a choice of soft drinks.

The celebration began with some good old-fashioned songs playing in the background as everyone arrived and settled in.

For those who chose to take part, bingo quickly filled the room with excitement as numbers were called out and many prizes were won. The fun continued with pass the parcel, as team members and residents formed a wide circle around the restaurant, cheering one another on as parcels were passed and unwrapped. One resident, Florence, 89 years young, added her own flair to the game by dancing whenever it was her turn to hold the parcel.

The New Year’s Day celebration followed a very special Christmas Day, when the home opened the doors of the Pillars Restaurant to welcome residents’ friends and loved ones for Christmas lunch. And the kitchen team was kept busy throughout the day, serving Christmas dinner to a total of 153 people.

Home manager Verity Walmsley reports: “It was really great seeing so many family members getting involved, smiling, and enjoying the afternoon together. It felt like the perfect way to start the year.’

After a lively celebration, residents returned to their households, ending the day with tea and a homemade scone with clotted cream and jam.

You may also be interested in…