On Wednesday 31st December, Bernard Sunley, our Woking-based residential, nursing and dementia care home is hosting its first, free, New Year’s Eve Community Jazz Café to get the year-end celebrations underway and to start 2026 on the right note. “The residents enjoy jazz music and love our regular jazz-tastic’ Jazz Café events, so we thought a free Community Jazz Café to start the New Year’s celebrations and to say goodbye to 2025 would be a wonderful idea, not only for the residents, but also for older people who live in and around Woking to come along and enjoy as well,” said Andy Cumper, the Registered Manager at Bernard Sunley.
From 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. on New Year’s Eve, the care home’s Smiles Café will be transformed into a Jazz Speakeasy that would make Ronnie Scott proud. To get the jazz ambience and smooth, relaxing atmosphere pitch perfect, the Care Team will be decorating café in true Jazz style. “We will be creating a Jazz-marvellous’ space for the residents and guests,” said Monika Ahmed, one of the Activities Coordinators at Bernard Sunley. “We hope everyone will like the Jazz-themed decorations and really enjoy the range of tasty snacks, sweet treats, cocktails and mocktails we have planned whilst they enjoy the show.” Michael Lack, a well-known Jazz performer who sings and plays the Saxophone will be entertaining the residents and guests at the free Community New Year’s Eve Jazz Café event. “Michael has performed for the residents many times, he is one of their favourites,” continued Monika.
“He is really looking forward to putting on a ‘Jazz-mboreel’ morning show for everyone that will be full of Jazzy Razzamatazz.” Michael knows the residents very well and will make sure he performs all their favourite songs. “Michael is a really great performer,” added Andy. “He has said that he finds it a real privilege to be able to visit Bernard Sunley and put on a tremendous Jazz show for them all.”
“The residents really get into the ‘swing’ of things and love to sing along with Michael,” continued Andy. “They really love music – in fact, all genres of music – but Jazz is at the top of the list – they definitely know their Louis Armstrong from their Dave Brubeck and Nat King Cole.
The residents are also very knowledgeable about Jazz. “One resident told me that Duke Ellington coined the phrase, ‘It Don’t Mean a Thing If It Ain’t Got That Swing’ back in 1931 whilst he was preparing the song of the same name,” added Monika. If you are an older person who lives in or around Woking and would like to join the residents and Care Team for the ‘Jazzical’ New Year’s Eve Jazz Café celebrations.
Please note, spaces are limited and will be reserved on a first come, first served basis. Alternatively, simply pop into Bernard Sunley Care Home and have a chat to one of the Care Team who will gladly reserve your seat at the ‘Jazz-tacular’ show.
please call 01483 764300 or email [email protected] before Wednesday 17th December 2025 to reserve your space at this FREE Community New Year’s Eve Jazz Café Morning.