Words by Smiley Team
The Christmas spirit is alive and well in Wimbledon, where one pub is continuing its annual tradition of offering a free Christmas Day lunch to anyone who is alone on December 25.
Simply turn up between 12pm and 3pm on Christmas Day to The Alexandra in SW19, and you’ll be treated to a full roast dinner and drinks. It doesn’t matter if you live locally, or not, and the aim is to make it so simple, that anyone who otherwise would have been on their own on Christmas Day would be encouraged to go.
Guests will be seated at tables of four, six or eight people, to enjoy their three-course festive feast. It’s extra special this year, as due to the pandemic, the pub has been unable to run it’s annual tradition for the past two years.
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In a tweet, The Alexandra pub wrote: “Don't be on your own on Christmas Day. Come to the Alex, we'll give a free roast turkey dinner, free vino, laughs and memories. I absolutely promise you there is no catch, you turn up, we sit you down, you have fun, you go home (we may even be able to do a lift). It's 100% free.
“We don’t want your email address, don’t need your phone number or care where you live. We don’t care if you have absolutely no intention of ever visiting us ever again in your life. Just don’t be on your own in Christmas Day, come here instead!”
Having been run since 2014, The Alexandra Christmas Day event is not specifically for those who are homeless – although they are welcome too – but for anyone who is feeling lonely and has nowhere to go.
Every year, The Alexandra is inundated with people who would like to volunteer on Christmas Day, and spread some merriment to people who need it most.
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The pub said: “We hope to make this the best Christmas ever. If you’re likely to be on your own, please come. You can eat, drink, make friends, wipe down tables, help us to cook or serve or wash up and no doubt make some lifetime friends. We’re all in the same boat really, it’s life isn’t it?”
If you’d like to volunteer, or just to find out more about The Alexandra’s Christmas plans, you can email [email protected].
