The doors open at the Swan – West Drayton’s newest pub

Company news

Oct 25, 2012

Residents at Care UK’s Franklin House in West Drayton, are set to become regulars at their very own pub, thanks to the ingenuity of one of the care home’s team and some genuine pub artefacts.

When the Swan pub, on Swan Road, closed for the last time, Lola Krasser, Senior Activities Coordinator at Franklin House, was struck by an idea.

“Each year I try to find a project that will give our residents a new form of entertainment and stimulation,” she said.

“We have created a music room full of memorabilia where we play vinyl records from the 1920s to the 1970s. Residents love it as it brings back many happy memories. We have started a social club that residents enjoy for the fun, conversation and competitions but I wanted to come up with something that residents could enjoy with their relatives and, with the colder, shorter days coming in, a pub seemed ideal.”

Lola suggested turning one of the home lounges into the pub. She wrote to the company, who owned the former Swan pub, explaining her plan and asking whether they could spare some fixtures to give the new bar an authentic feel.

She said: “We were delighted when they said yes and we went over with a screwdriver and took pictures from the wall, the dartboard and other bits and pieces, including a blackboard with the Swan’s name on.

“We want to encourage relatives and friends to come and spend time in the bar with their loved one, so there will also be teas, coffees and soft drinks as well as lots of pub and table-top games, making it somewhere the whole family can spend time and have fun reminiscing as well as creating new memories.”

Lola was helped by a number of the relatives of residents at the home. Graham Sadd, whose mother Grace lives at Franklin House provided the home with an authentic bar and tables whilst Sheila Blake’s daughter Julie Rolls bought a record player and resident Ronald Cornwall’s sister who bought shelves for the pub.

An opening night party officially launched the pub, which is now available for residents and their relatives to use whenever they want to.

Photo: Care UK employee Michael Krasser behind the bar at Franklin House.