Caring landlady of Milton Keynes pub to throw free party for lonely people on Christmas morning

A pub landlady who is truly the heart of the community is throwing open her doors to entertain lonely people for free on Christmas morning.

Anna Clarke runs Halley's Comet in Bradville and is determined to make sure everyone on the estate has a truly happy festive season.

She is opening the pub an hour early, at 11am, on Christmas morning specially for people who are spending the day alone. And she will provide free tea, coffee, mince pies and biscuits to make the gathering go with a swing.

"Halley’s Comet is on an estate and most of our customers live locally. I’ve lived on Bradville my whole life, so I take my role as pub landlady seriously. I like to make sure everyone in our little community is happy,” she said.

“We have a lot of lonely people who come in the pub for a chat or to cheer themselves up. I hate to think that there are some who will be spending Christmas alone.

"Everyone is welcome to come…. elderly people, single mums, anyone who faces having a lonely time.”

Children are also welcome and Anna will ensure each receives a gift of sweets.

The party will run until 12 noon, when the pub opens for general customers. But the guests are welcome to stay until closing time at 2.30pm, said Anna, who will be giving up her own time with her six-year-old daughter Bonnie.

“I talked to Bonnie about it and she thought it was lovely that lonely people had somewhere to go,” she said.

Anna is also holding a special senior citizen’s Christmas lunch at the pub of December 14 and has kept the cost down to £7.99 for a two course festive meal, which will be followed by a game of Bingo.

In January, she has vowed to further ease loneliness on the estate by launching special MIND mornings, where elderly people can drop in for free tea, coffee, biscuits and a chat.

"Looking after everyone in the community is really important to me,” she said.