Prime Highlights:
- Oakland Care has opened the UK’s first dementia-friendly restaurant, Kentish Kitchen, at its Hyllden Heights care home in Kent.
- The initiative promotes inclusive fine dining for people with dementia, memory loss, and their families in a safe, welcoming space.
Key Facts:
- Kentish Kitchen was launched in partnership with BRACE – Dementia Research to support better accessibility and inclusion.
- The restaurant welcomed its first 22 guests on 7 October and plans to open six times a year with locally sourced tasting menus.
Background:
In a big step for inclusive dining, Oakland Care has opened the UK’s first dementia-friendly restaurant, Kentish Kitchen, at its Hyllden Heights care home in Hildenborough, Kent. The restaurant offers a comfortable fine dining experience for people with dementia and their families.
Created with BRACE – Dementia Research, it promotes a new, welcoming way to enjoy inclusive dining. The warm and welcoming space is designed not only for people with dementia but also for anyone who may find traditional restaurants difficult due to mobility or sensory challenges.
Located within the care home, Kentish Kitchen is run by Oakland Care’s trained staff, who provide personalised and caring support to every guest. The restaurant offers a safe environment and adapted dining options, including modified meals for those who may have trouble cutting, chewing, or swallowing. It also provides special cutlery and drinkware to make the experience easier and more enjoyable.
Kentish Kitchen officially opened its doors on 7 October, welcoming its first 22 guests and marking the start of a new approach to community dining. Going forward, it will open six times a year, offering a curated tasting menu designed by head chef Rob Lewis. Each menu will showcase locally sourced ingredients from Kent and pair them with regional beverages, allowing guests to enjoy seasonal British flavors in an elegant yet supportive setting.
All proceeds from the restaurant will initially go to BRACE Dementia Research, helping fund vital studies aimed at defeating dementia. In the future, funds will also support other charities as part of the initiative’s evolving community focus.
Joanne Balmer BEM, CEO of Oakland Care, said the project embodies the organisation’s commitment to inclusivity and wellbeing, “This restaurant offers people living with dementia and their families a place where they can enjoy high-quality dining in a safe and welcoming environment while raising funds for important causes.”
Liberty Harrison, Head of Fundraising at BRACE, praised the partnership, adding, “Kentish Kitchen is a fantastic initiative that combines exceptional dining with support for dementia research. We’re thrilled to be part of this first-of-its-kind project.”
With Kentish Kitchen, Oakland Care has set a new standard for compassionate, community-driven dining in the UK.
