Chichester care home hosts special Derby Night complete with racing pigs and champagne

Waterhaven Place, an all-inclusive luxury care home in Chichester, recently organised a special community ‘Derby Night’ bringing the excitement of the races to the home’s bistro. Residents, families and local guests gathered to cheer on their favourites on-screen, while competing to see who could pick the most winners across the night.

As well as traditional horse racing, guests were even treated to a few raucous pig races as well! The event was hosted by Go Race Nights, a specialist entertainment company which provided a varied selection of pre-recorded races, giving residents plenty of opportunities to pick their favourites and enjoy some friendly competition.

Although no real money was wagered, the competition was fierce: with most of the crowd on the edge of their seats as they watched the races unfold. To add to the evening’s theme, the Waterhaven Place team even dressed up in elaborate horse costumes, racing around the tables to serve drinks and chat with the guests.

Cheryl Tyson, Customer Relationship Manager at Waterhaven Place, who helped organise the event, comments: “Many of our residents used to love a day at the races, but unfortunately mobility challenges can make it difficult for them to attend the races in person. So, we thought, why not bring the Derby to them? The team worked hard to try and create that same sense of energy and excitement, and they did a fabulous job at simulating the bathysphere of an actual racecourse!”

With the home’s bistro packed out for the occasion, there was plenty at stake for those hoping to prove themselves the evening's most successful tipsters. At the end of the night, the residents who had correctly predicted the most winners were awarded first, second and third-place prizes, including a large box of Thorntons chocolates and a bottle of Kingscott champagne.

For the team at Waterhaven Place, the evening was about more than simply recreating the excitement of a day at the races. By bringing together residents, their families and the wider community, these kinds of events help make the home a lively social hub where people can build friendships and enjoy memorable experiences together.

Cheryl Tyson explains: “Our team put a tremendous amount of effort into organising the evening, so it was lovely to see everyone having so much fun. We want to be a place where residents, their families and wider network can genuinely relax and enjoy quality time together. Events like our Derby Night are a wonderful way of making that happen, while helping us build the strong sense of community that makes our home such a special place to live.”