Are you spending Christmas alone?

A Bracknell pub is set to open its doors this Christmas Day welcoming lonely and vulnerable people from across the community.

The Woodcutters Pub, located on Bere Road has recently been taken over by local publican Kas Cox.

To cater for her older clientele and people in Bracknell who are struggling this winter, she is opening the established pub to customers for free tea, hot chocolate, mince pies, turkey sandwiches and a ‘good old chin wag’ during the festive period.

Kas explained: “The reason I have decided to open the pub for Christmas Day is because I am very conscious that we have quite a lot of older clientele who are struggling with electricity and gas prices going up.

“I couldn’t sit with my family eating Christmas dinner when I knew that people were at home spending the day cold and alone.

“This way I know that less people are spending Christmas on their own and everyone can come in and enjoy a nice chat and leave with a full stomach.”

On Christmas Day, to ensure a strong turnout, Kas and some of her locals are also offering a free pick-up service for residents, young and old, who don’t have an easy way of getting to the pub.

The locals, alongside Cox, have also started to collect blankets which they will be distributed out to the homeless on Christmas Eve.

Kas, who is the former owner of The Golden Farmer has created a community of pub goers and residents who want to do good for others in the area.

Locals have already started to collect packets of mince pies and mugs for the day, aiding Kas in her attempts to make the event as cost efficient as possible.

She said: “We’ve got a proper little community here. Bracknell has always had a sense of community but now we’ve really got together to help people this Christmas.

“Even if it’s just a small minority of people it’s still worth it.

“Although I’ll be missing my family this Christmas it’ll be worth it to know that I’m offering a day of Christmas films, the Kings Speech, a belly full of hot food and a good old chin wag for someone who would otherwise be on their own.

The Woodcutters will be open from 2pm to 5pm for customers to enjoy lots of free Christmas treats, a few Christmas movies and a viewing of the King's Speech. However, no alcohol will be served on the day.