Twynholm Senior citizens are being offered a slap-up meal for free at a local hostelry.
The Star Hotel is providing £25 vouchers to all local residents aged over 65 with Twynholm in their address.
The meal deal came about thanks to a remarkable effort by community volunteers to keep the pub going when closure threatened.
Thousands of pounds were raised in takings – which has been kept in a kitty ever since.
New proprietor Kim Coon took over in February and began successfully to rebuild the business, which comprises a bar, restaurant and accommodation.
However, the accumulated profits from the volunteer-run bar remained unspent in the bank – until now.
Kim told the News: “The community pub has some excess funds left over from takings at the bar.
“We gave £1,500 to the community gardens and we got a letter from them thanking us for the money.
“The other £1,500 is going towards vouchers for the over-65s who have Twynholm in their address.
“It is £25 per person and people can come in and enjoy a meal up to the amount of £25 each.”
Despite its generous terms, uptake of the free meal scheme has not yet met expectations – and Kim wants everyone eligible to take advantage.
She said: “We are simply asking for people to pop in and get your voucher – just bring some ID.
“The community pub was there to raise funds for the community and we know that a lot of over-65s or older people might not get an opportunity to go out and have a meal any more because the cost of living has gone up so much.
“So this is just a way of helping them out to have a meal out and socialise at the same time.
Kim, 49, who is secretary of the Star Community Pub collective, added: “People can use their vouchers whenever they like up until the end of November. Just come in whenever it’s convenient.”
