London café to open its doors to the elderly on Christmas Day

A North London cafe will open its doors on Christmas Day to provide free Christmas lunches to older people, who would otherwise spend the Day completely alone.

The Haberdashery is situated on the High Street in Stoke Newington, and for one day only will provide a festive feast and an afternoon of entertainment for up to 30 local older people.

Organiser of the initiative and co-owner Massimo Bergamin, hosted a similar event in 2013 at cafés Crouch End site and hopes the event will prove to be as successful at the Stoke Newington café.

Speaking to the Evening Standard, Mr Bergamin said: “I remember speaking to a customer in his 60s about what he was doing for Christmas and he said he would be alone.

“It suddenly struck me people could be alone for Christmas and I'd never thought that before.

“Christmas is about being with people, spending money, drinking lots of booze and all the adverts are very happy. Then you realise there are some people who have nobody to spend it with.”

Mr Bergamin realised that he could help give people a memorable Christmas when they may have planned to spend it alone.

This year, Mr Bergamin hopes the event will become a regular occurrence, and will inspire others to host their own events. He said: “I have a public place and it is closed on Christmas Day so I thought why not.

“I think London can be so amazing but it can be very alienating if you’re old as everything stops.

“Nobody should be alone at Christmas.”

Mr Bergamin revealed he had been flooded with requests from volunteers after he announced his plans and has had to turn down some requests.

Local food companies, cafés and suppliers have offered their support to the day by pledging to donate enough free food for the lunch.

In addition to a festive feast, attendees can enjoy entertainment on the day, including: a game of bingo, live music and Secret Santa.

Some of Mr Bergamin’s employees have offered to work on the day to help out, he has received donations from his local community to help fund the day.

So far he has received more than £1,000 in donations and has enough money to provide free taxis to and from the event to anyone who requires them, while any money left over from the lunch will be donated to a local charity who work with older people.

He added: “It is all about having fun really. I don’t want this to be perceived as pity. This is about getting a bunch of people together who would otherwise be alone.

“I don’t want it to sound cheesy, but it is a very emotional day. When we did it in Crouch End, I couldn’t stop crying.

“I would be the happiest man in the world if I could get people to keep in touch with other people afterwards.”