A NEW pub has been opened at a Winchester care home to encourage residents to reminisce.

The Mary Rose will enable those at Westholme care home to recreate the good old days, which is an effective way of communicating with people with dementia, and improving their well being.

Westholme manager, Christine Chirimumimba said: "Our residents will benefit from the new pub, which has a dry bar, and have been voting to decide upon its name. We will be making full use of this new facility with social activities such as pub quizzes and other games such as cards and darts. It will also provide residents and their families and friends with a new place to socialise."

The replica pub follows positive feedback from similar projects across the county.

Local GP, Dr Jason Bradbury declared the Mary Rose open and praised the efforts of staff in creating the room as part of reminiscence therapy.

Councillor Liz Fairhurst, Executive Member for Adult Social Care and Public Health said: "The Mary Rose opening at Westholme is just one example of the work happening across Hampshire to make it a more dementia friendly county, such as dementia friendly high streets in Winchester, Fareham, Lyndhurst, Romsey, Fleet and Alton where local businesses are signing up to training to help support people with dementia."