See inside a care home's new bar where residents can enjoy darts, doms and a pint

The Pit Stop Garden Bar, at Lambton House Care Home, in New Lambton, near Fence Houses, is named as a nostalgic nod to the area’s mining heritage.

In a second fitting tribute, one of the beers to the served will be Lambton’s ale, courtesy of nearby Maxim Brewery, which has supported the project.

The Pit Stop Garden Bar was officially opened by Pat Boyes, who is an Alzheimer's Society Champion, to mark the recent Dementia Action Week.

It shares the former furniture store, which has also previously served as an accounts office, with the Rainbow tea room.

Mrs Boyes, widow of former Houghton and Washington MP Roland Boyes, who fought Alzheimer’s disease, was joined at the event by Durham county councillors Alan Bell and Phil Heaviside.

Speaking after the ceremony, Lambton House registered manager Marie Grant said: “The Pit Stop Bar will provide another fantastic social meeting place for Lambton residents to relax and enjoy traditional pastimes in a tranquil and stunning garden.

“This week is Dementia Action Week so we wanted to open the bar and show our continued support for the Alzheimer’s Society who continue to raise awareness of this life-changing condition.

“We expect to serve mainly non-alcoholic drinks, but residents who choose to have something stronger should be able to enjoy a beer or glass of wine as long as the alcohol intake is risk assessed and doesn’t interfere with their medication or increase their risk of falling."

Mrs Grant continued: “We have had fantastic support with this project from local community businesses including Morrisons supermarket, The Travellers Rest pub, at Witton Gilbert, The Dun Cow pub, in Durham, and the Maxim Brewery, at Houghton-le-Spring, who will provide drinks for the bar including the aptly named Lambton’s ale.”

Staff at Lambton House recently visited Maxim Brewery to learn about storing beer and keeping it cool.

The home has also thanked its maintenance team for its work over the last nine rooms in firstly creating the team room and now the bar.

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