Putting Residents at the Heart of Dining at Ambleside Bank

At Ambleside Bank, we believe that great care includes great food. Mealtimes are about far more than nutrition — they are moments of comfort, choice, and connection. That’s why we’ve recently made some exciting changes to our menus, ensuring they truly reflect what our residents love to eat.

Listening to Our Residents

For many years, menus were shared across our sister homes. While this worked well, we felt it was time to take a more personalised approach — one that put our residents’ preferences front and centre.

We held a resident meeting and invited our chef and kitchen team to join the conversation. This gave residents the opportunity to speak directly with the people preparing their meals and share what they would like to see more of on the menu. The feedback was clear: residents wanted more traditional, comforting homemade dishes such as pies, corned beef hash, stews, and fish.

Our chef took this feedback on board and completely rewrote the menu to better reflect these preferences, creating dishes that feel familiar, hearty, and homemade.

Continuous Feedback Through Menu Surveys

To make sure we continue improving, we’ve also introduced a quick menu survey. At random mealtimes, residents are invited to complete a short survey giving feedback on:

• Meal quality

• Flavour

• Temperature

• Portion size

• Anything they felt was missing

  
  

This simple but effective approach is already proving hugely beneficial. At the end of each month, feedback is shared with our chefs so they can learn, adapt, and continue raising standards based on what residents actually think.

Making Food Wishes Come True

We don’t just ask what residents like — we also ask what they miss. One resident mentioned how much they would love a fillet steak. Our chef was delighted to prepare this especially for him, and it was thoroughly enjoyed. It’s moments like these that truly reflect our commitment to person-centred care.

Welcoming Families to Share Mealtimes

Food has a wonderful way of bringing people together, which is why we now invite families to book meals with their loved ones at Ambleside Bank.

For some families, taking a loved one out isn’t always possible. One lady visits her husband every Sunday after church and lives alone. She finds it difficult to take him out, so we invited her to join us for Sunday lunch instead. We set up our quiet room beautifully so they could enjoy a relaxed, private meal together. It’s become a highlight of their week, and something they both really look forward to.

We also offer family meals for special occasions such as birthdays, anniversaries, and Valentine’s Day, helping families create meaningful memories in a comfortable, familiar setting.

More Than a Meal

At Ambleside Bank, dining is about dignity, choice, and enjoyment. By listening, adapting, and involving both residents and families, we’re creating mealtimes that feel personal, welcoming, and truly special.

Because when people feel heard, cared for, and well-fed — it makes all the difference.