A KIND-HEARTED Southampton family is inviting anyone lonely this Christmas to join them for a festive feast.

Dean and Jessica Hayes and their sons Adam, 12, and nine-year-old Rhyley are already hosting more than 30 people for Christmas dinner and are inviting others to join the party.

Dean, from Bassett, bought bar, kitchen and live music venue Verde in Shirley a month ago and it finally gave him the space he has always wanted to host a mammoth community dinner for anyone due to spend the holidays alone.

He said: “I grew up in an environment where we always took in family members, friends of friends, anyone who had fallen on hard times, we would give them a place to crash. Our house was always full of people.

 

“Despite all of the hardships we had one house rule: if there is even a square inch of this house unoccupied then it is available to anyone who needs a roof over their head and a little food in their stomach.

“My mum used to own a cleaning company and she’d offer them jobs as a way of helping them to get back on their feet. We had all kinds of people living with us. I was just brought up that way and I’ve carried it into my adult life. It’s just the decent thing to do. If you’ve got the space to help people, you should.

“My tradition is to put on a huge Christmas dinner every year and invite as many people as I can to come eat with me and my family. Nobody should be alone at Christmas.

“Last year we were crammed into my little flat in Portswood, but this year I have been blessed with a place that can accommodate a good amount of people so we’re making it a big thing and having over anyone who can’t see their own families.

“I can’t think of anything worse than being stuck in alone eating a microwave meal so this has become a bit of a tradition for me. We want people to join us until they can make their own traditions. It will be a get together of the family you choose, not the family you’re given! That’s perfect for me and I just hope everyone has a good time.

“It’s going to be fun and there will be a great atmosphere I’m sure.

“It’s not right that I get to spend Christmas with my family, but other people don’t. We thought we’d extend an invite to everyone and have a kind of orphans Christmas. That’s the plan anyway, and it’s going to be incredible.”

Jessica, Verde’s chef, is busy preparing a traditional festive feast with all the trimmings while Dean has made sure the bar is stocked up on drinks.

 

As soon as he announced his plan to friends on social media, Dean was inundated with requests and has already confirmed more than 30 of the 40 people he can accommodate.

The guests include lots of friends who work in the club industry in Southampton and can’t get home to their families for Christmas dinner, but is open to all.

Dean, who will be making a minimal charge to help cover costs, can be contacted at Verde or through their phone, email or Facebook page.