Community Leaders Spend the Night at Keymer Hall Care Home

We did something a bit unusual this week. Before Keymer Hall officially opens later this month, we invited the people of Burgess Hill to come and spend the night with us.

Not just a quick look around. We’re talking about the full experience – prosecco welcome, three-course dinner, quiz night, sleeping over, and waking up to a live radio broadcast from our bistro.

On 4th-5th December, Councillor Stuart Condie, Mayor of Burgess Hill, along with his Mayoress, Julie Holden, CEO of Burgess Hill Town Council, Jennifer O’Grady, Head of Community Engagement, Dr Mandy Claiden from The Brow Health Centre, the local social prescribing team, Gail Millar from Befriended, and Mid Sussex Radio presenters Mike Bonsor and Steve Bird all came to experience Keymer Hall exactly as our residents will.

“I was delighted to attend the launch of the Keymer Hall care home,” Councillor Condie said. “It is a well planned facility in a beautiful location which is going to be well loved as a home for many of our residents. The staff and the team behind Keymer Hall are not only professional but also caring. I wish them all the best and look forward to visiting again when residents have moved in.”

The evening started with tours of the home – through the residential and dementia care communities, the beauty salon, hobby room, lounges and bistro. We wanted everyone to take their time, ask questions, and really get a sense of the place.

Bex, one of the social prescribers, told us what it felt like walking in for the first time: “As soon as we walked in it was so warm and welcoming and the decor is absolutely beautiful, it’s just amazing. You’ve got everything you would need and more. Everyone was so lovely, it’s been a really lovely experience.”

Then came dinner. Our Head Chef Mark created a three-course menu showcasing what our residents can expect: mozzarella salad and spiced sweet potato and coconut soup to start, pan-fried chicken supreme with fondant potato, red cabbage, carrot puree and broccoli alongside Mediterranean vegetarian cannelloni with rocket and sun-dried tomato salad for mains, and a dessert trio of apple crumble, chocolate brownie and panna cotta with strawberry coulis.

Dr Mandy Claiden from The Brow Health Centre said afterwards: “Thank you so much for the most lovely evening. It has been such a pleasure to look around this new home, it’s wonderful, very comfortable. Really a home from home.”

After dinner, our Admissions Manager Jenna hosted a quiz night that was full of laughter and competitive spirit. Ronnie, another social prescriber, summed it up perfectly: “We had a really lovely evening. The home is beautiful and we were made to feel very, very welcome.”

The next morning, Mike Bonsor and Steve Bird broadcast their Mid Sussex Radio breakfast show live from Keymer Hall’s bistro, sharing their experience with listeners across the area.

For Mike, the visit was particularly meaningful. “I haven’t been in this kind of facility for many years since my mum was going through a care home journey and I only wish this kind of place had been around when she was looking,” he said. “The standard of the building, accommodation and the attention to detail that has been put into what the team are looking to provide is quite mind-blowing. Putting the needs and wants, the desires of the residents front and centre.”

So why host a sleepover before we’ve even opened? Martin Murphy, our Operations Director, explained: “We wanted the people of Burgess Hill to experience Keymer Hall exactly as our residents will – from the warmth of the welcome to the quality of the food and the comfort of every space. Hosting this sleepover event was our way of saying ‘this is your care home too.’ The relationships we’re building with local healthcare professionals, community organizations, and the Town Council are fundamental to how we care.”

For Gail Millar, CEO of Befriended, the evening showed something beyond just beautiful facilities: “You have the most exquisite and beautiful home, it does feel like you’re walking into a five star hotel with a very homely and welcoming feeling. But for me what I love is that as an organisation you have worked so hard to build connections with community. Delighted to be working with you and coming in regularly.”

Christine Bunce, our Home Manager, reflected on what the evening meant: “Seeing our guests settle in for the evening, enjoying Mark’s incredible food and having such a wonderful time together – that’s exactly what we want life at Keymer Hall to feel like every day. My team and I are ready and excited to welcome our first residents. We’ve created something really special here, and watching people experience it for the first time has been genuinely moving. This is what care should be.”

Keymer Hall opens later this month, offering residential care, specialist dementia care (Nostalgia Care), and short stay respite care. If you’d like to arrange a visit or have questions about the home, we’d love to hear from you.