This Salford pub is setting the table to combat loneliness this Christmas 

Tomorrow is December. And that can only mean one thing. The Christmas countdown has begun. Many of us are already in the festive spirit for one reason or another.

Pubs, bars and restaurants are all starting to fill up and there is that air of excitement that only Christmas brings.

It’s a time of year where we indulge in drink, food, music and mostly spending quality time with friends and family.

Whilst we begin to relax and enjoy ourselves we should remember that so many people at this time of year find themselves alone for a variety of reasons. And it can be very overwhelming and lonely.

A pub in Swinton is doing its bit to do something about it this Christmas by offering a table for singles on Christmas Day.

It’s a great opportunity for anyone who is alone this Christmas to enjoy a traditional Christmas dinner with other people who are in the same position.

“This isn’t about feeling sorry for anyone,” says Charlotte Faye Hanmer, landlady of the Moorside Farm. “It’s about giving everyone the same opportunities to enjoy Christmas how it should be enjoyed.”

Charlotte and her husband Gary recently took over the Marston’s pub just off the East Lancs Road.

The four course meal which consists of the traditional Christmas dinner – or several different options if that’s not your thing – costs just £29.99 per person.

There are lots of other ways to try and prevent feeling down about being alone at Christmas.

The most common one is to volunteer your time for a local charity.  There is always someone in a worse situation than you and, with such an epidemic of homelessness in Manchester at the moment, volunteering at a food shelter could be a great way to spend some time.

Another is giving up some of your time to visit an elderly person who is on their own. Many older people are extremely vulnerable at this time of year and often don’t leave their homes. A few hours of your time could make all the difference and could even save someone’s life.

Living alone can often make you feel like there is no point in bothering with the Christmas traditions but a few festive decorations around your home could really make all the difference to your mood.

So too could be preparing yourself a little Christmas playlist to listen to during the holidays.

The best thing to do is to make Christmas yours.  Spend the time doing the things that you enjoy such as going for a walk – the countryside and public walkways are open all year round.

Did you have certain traditions growing up? A particular decoration you always put on the tree? Reviving past traditions is a simple way to spark a bit of Christmas feeling.

A night on the sofa watching any of the great number of Christmas films such as Home Alone, Elf or It’s a Wonderful Life is guaranteed to cheer you up – especially when accompanied by a Bailey’s or two.

To book Christmas dinner at the Moorside Farm or for more information, call the pub on 0161 478 9676.

Moorside Rd, Manchester M27 9LD