Speyside residents serving up community cheer at Aberlour Tea Room

Residents and staff at Speyside Care Home have resumed their weekly pop-up tea room at Aberlour Old Station.

Every Thursday during the summer months, they’ll take over the tea room for a few hours in the afternoon, serving up teas, coffees and homemade baked goods to visitors.

The village tea room was closed for almost a year after sustaining flood damage, forcing the pop-up tea room to operate from the care home itself. Speyside manager Louise Gillies says residents are delighted to be back in the former station building serving refreshments to villagers and visitors.

She said: “We are immensely grateful to Aberlour Community Association for allowing us to use the tea room once again. This initiative is a wonderful opportunity for our residents to engage with the local community and visitors. It's heartwarming to see them being active citizens, contributing to the vibrancy of the village.

“The closure of the tea room was a big loss to the village and I must pay tribute to the team at Aberlour Community Association who have worked tirelessly to reopen it. Our residents are absolutely delighted to back.”

Proceeds from the weekly tea room sessions will contribute to Speyside Care Home's comfort fund, supporting various entertainment and activities for the residents.

This is the third year the care home’s pop-up café has been in operation. This summer will also see the return of Speyside’s popular playscheme for local children. Meanwhile its choir The Heart Strings Choir is tuning up for a busy summer of performances in the village and in neighbouring care homes.

Speyside has been recognised by the Care Inspectorate for its close connections with the local community. In its last report in November 2022, it wrote: "The home was integrated into the local community and people were visible and active members of the village."

Speyside Care Home’s pop-up tea room is open every Thursday from 2 – 4.30pm.