A new monthly Veterans Café at Hutton Manor Care Home has got off to an excellent start, with more than 20 veterans and members of the Armed Forces community attending the very first gathering on Saturday morning.

Around ten residents from the care home also joined the event, helping to create a lively and welcoming atmosphere as people came together for conversation, refreshments and shared memories.

Veterans from a range of services were represented, alongside members of the Pudsey & Farsley Royal British Legion branch and residents from Hutton Manor itself.

The café, hosted by Hutton Manor Care Home in partnership with the Pudsey & Farsley Royal British Legion branch, has been created as a relaxed monthly social morning where veterans can meet, talk and enjoy good company in an informal setting.

The launch event quickly filled with conversation and storytelling, with many attendees staying for nearly the full two hours. For some, it was an opportunity to reconnect with people they might only normally see at commemorative events such as Remembrance Sunday, while others were meeting for the first time.

Hutton Manor Care Home provided free refreshments throughout the morning, including breakfast sandwiches, tea and coffee, which proved particularly popular with those attending.

Several visitors also expressed an interest in learning more about the Royal British Legion locally, with some considering joining the Pudsey & Farsley branch in the future.

Emma Muirhead, Head of Activities at Hutton Manor Care Home, said:

"On behalf of all the residents at Hutton Manor we’d like to thank everyone who attended our first veterans cafe it was a great success. Thank you to the members of the RBL Pudsey & Farsley branch, and councillor Trish Smith for supporting us, we look forward to welcoming everyone back in April."

Many of those who attended said they were already looking forward to returning for the next café, with the event offering a welcoming space for veterans to come together, share stories and enjoy the camaraderie that often comes from shared experience.

The Veterans Café will now take place on the first Saturday of every month at Hutton Manor Care Home.

The next café will be held on Saturday 4 April from 10am to 12pm, and all veterans and members of the Armed Forces community are warmly welcome to attend.