A Belfast couple is preparing to host a special Christmas dinner for those who would otherwise be spending it alone.
After running a similar initiative last year, online food and nutrition experts Tony O’Neill and Jen Curran, who previously owned Tony and Jen’s restaurant on the Lisburn Road, are preparing for a day filled with ‘fun, food and music’ on December 25
“Tony was watching the John Lewis ad a few years ago and it centred around that idea of people being on their own at Christmas and he didn’t think anyone should have to experience that,” Jen told The Irish News.
“So, we hosted our first Christmas dinner just before Covid and it went really well and brought so many people together.
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“It created such a lovely feeling, so we always knew we wanted to do it again.”
Jen said that although many believe the event is catered towards the elderly it attracts a “variety of different people.”
“We’ve had people in their late teens come along, we have a fella from India who comes because the rest of his family doesn’t live here, and we have people whose family members have passed away and have just found themselves through circumstance to be on their own.
“It’s mental how easily stuff like that can happen.”
She added that the aim of the dinner is to give people a warm and comfortable setting to enjoy Christmas without any stress.
“A lot of times people will get offered to go to a neighbour’s house or something but they’re too embarrassed to do that, so it’s almost easier to go somewhere where you feel a bit more anonymous and I think that’s what people like about our set up.
“We provide a service where we or our friends pick people up and take them to the venue where they’ll be welcomed by musician Matt O’Reily – who will be playing a few festive songs.
“And then we kind of just run it the way we used to run our restaurant so guests will get sat down, have their drink orders taken, hopefully enjoy their three courses and then after that they’ll get a wee card and a gift.
“They can stay as long as they want and then we can drop them back home again.”
Last year the couple teamed up with Lagan Construction to host their Christmas dinner in the company’s new staff restaurant in the city centre, where they will be holding the event again this year.
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“It’s a really lovely restaurant and the guys at Lagan Construction have been amazing with letting us use the space and the kitchen - it just works really well.
“Actually, a lot of their staff and their kids help us out on the day as well, last year we had their kids make apple crumble for the guests and we’ll probably do the same thing again this year.”
The couple have been “bawled over” by the support they have received from locals and businesses on the run up to the big day.
“We’ve nearly got more people wanting to help than we do coming along,” joked Jen.
“We’ve room for 35 people but we’ve had what feels like hundreds offer to help us in whatever way they can.
“Born & Bred are doing gifts for everybody and people have donated vouchers for the likes of Tesco for us to give to guests.
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“It’s just wonderful to see everyone pull together and it just shows you how good people can be.”
Although it’s a different way to celebrate Christmas both Jen and Tony “absolutely love it.”
“It’s hectic and it’s full on and there’s lots to sort out but on the day, the feeling that you get during and after is so worth it, it’s just lovely,” added Jen.
“Anything that’s worth doing has to be a wee bit hard to make it feel good - it’s a big team effort and wouldn’t be possible without people being so generous.”
