New Cinema and Café Opens At Lynwood Care Home

Movie nights have a luxurious new look at Lynwood Care Home following the opening of a brand-new café and cinema space.  On Monday, residents, staff and guests gathered to celebrate the official opening of The Pantry and Oscar’s Cinema, enjoying afternoon tea while listening to a superb live performance by the tenor, James Schouten.   

Located on the ground floor of this highly-regarded care home in Sunninghill, near Ascot, Oscars Cinema and The Pantry café will be open 24 hours a day, seven days a week for residents, their families and visitors.  The Pantry has a coffee machine, a vending machine that dispenses cold drinks and snacks and a kitchen area.  At the opposite end of the room is Oscar’s Cinema, with plush velvet armchairs arranged around a large drop-down screen and projector on which residents and guests can watch movies.  There will also be regular scheduled movie screenings that residents can attend if they wish. 

The furniture in the new spaces was specially selected to suit the needs of the care home residents.  The plush armchairs in the cinema space are higher and firmer than standard seating, making them easier to get in and out of, with sturdy arms to assist elderly and frail residents who will also be supported by their carers.  The Pantry café space also has sturdy, comfortably upholstered chairs with arms around each table so residents and families can enjoy coffee or snacks together in comfort.  There is also a relaxed lounge-style seating area at the far side of the Pantry which has sofas and armchairs. 

Lynwood Care Home residents already enjoy a programme of activities built around their interests and hobbies, with activities managers tailoring sessions to suit individual needs.  For care home residents, regular participation in activities is essential to maintain physical and mental wellbeing and it is hoped that the new space will provide even more opportunities for residents to enjoy. 

Zara Ross, CEO of Ben, the automotive industry charity that runs Lynwood Care Home, cut a ribbon to mark the official opening of The Pantry and Oscar’s Cinema, thanking interior designer, Gary Mickle, for his work in creating the beautiful new space. 

Nicola Hall, Care Home Manager, said, “Oscar’s Cinema and the Pantry is a wonderful addition to our home.  It’s a lovely place to go and spend time with friends and family and it will enable us to hold movie nights and events.  For our residents, many of whom are frail and have mobility issues, being able to ‘go to the cinema’ will be a real treat.  We work very hard to ensure our residents enjoy a good quality of life and this space is another way in which we can help ensure residents are having fun.”