Cake Stories on Brentwood Avenue is opening its doors on Christmas Day from 11am to 1pm, offering free drinks and cakes in an attempt to alleviate loneliness and bring members of the community together.

“We’ve opened on Christmas Day every year since we started the business in 2015,” said Ben Evans, who owns and runs Cake Stories with wife Hannah and her parents Liz and Jon Ward

“We’ve always wanted to be part of the community, that’s always been part of the mission of the business. People are important to us, whether that’s staff, customers, the community around us, the people that we supply or the people who supply us. We always try to treat people the best way possible. We offer the free drinks and cake as a gift to the community. Running a business is not always about making money, it’s about doing something good for society.”

Christmas can be the loneliest time of year for many people, with those who have been bereaved often feeling it the most. This Christmas, more than 200,000 elderly people are expected to spend Christmas alone according to research conducted by Age UK.

However, it isn’t just elderly people who are affected by loneliness. According to the Office of National Statistics (ONS) those aged 16-24 can experience loneliness more often than those in older age groups.

“We are just conscious that some people may not have family and friends around them and so want to use our space to do something great for the community,” said Mr Evans. “We find that everyone’s got a different story as to why they are here on Christmas Day.

“It’s becoming like a little reunion, as Hannah’s parents and brothers come along each year, we’ve got friends from different countries who are away from family and they’ll be here, along with a few students too.”

Cake Stories’ offer to open on Christmas Day has received support online, including from north east comedian Sarah Millican, who has started the #JoinIn hashtag for anyone feeling lonely or alone on Christmas Day.

Hi @SarahMillican75! We’re a coffee and cake shop in Jesmond open on Christmas morning for free drinks and cake so if anyone is on their own they have somewhere they can go for a hangout and chat. It’s a lovely vibe and anyone is welcome #joinin

— Cake Stories Jesmond (@CakeStoriesJes) December 19, 2019

What a fab idea! Good on you guys! ??

— Ellie Ward (@EllieWa42646325) December 20, 2019

How lovely from you ? So sad I’m living in Germany, otherwise I would come other to you for a nice talk ?

— die Lehrende (@freie_platzwahl) December 21, 2019

Mr and Mrs Evans also told JesmondLocal that in 2020 they will be investing in a new kitchen. “It means we’ll be able to make more cakes, including more for birthdays, weddings and other events.”