A Cotswold retirement community is opening its doors to pensioners feeling the cold as heating costs soar this winter.

Brio Retirement Living has declared Beechwood Park in Stow a ‘Warm Hub’.

From Tuesday, November 1, Beechwood Park will offer shelter to local OAPs in need of warmth or companionship.

Karl Hallows, director of Operations at Brio, said: “People across the Cotswolds – in particular older people – are facing high fuel bills and the prospect of not being able to stay warm.

“It’s a dreadful position to be in and we want to help as many people as we can in and around our Brio communities.

“We want to offer respite and ensure this demographic has somewhere that’s not only safe and warm, but somewhere in which they can socialise and enjoy their time.

“There is much to feel sad about in the world right now and we want to counter that with this positive initiative; we will host events and other activities at our developments too, helping give people things to look forward to in the coming months.”

Cotswold Journal: The hobby room at Beechwood Park. Credit: GNSThe hobby room at Beechwood Park. Credit: GNS (Image: The hobby room at Beechwood Park. Credit: GNS)

Beechwood Park is an age-exclusive community in Stow, just off Fosseway.

The ARCO (Associated Retirement Community Operators) development opened in the summer of 2019 and features 106 homes for retirees in a range of two and three-bedroom bungalows and one, two and three-bedroom apartments.

There is also a range of facilities including a contemporary wellness suite, a hobby room, a roof terrace, landscaped gardens, a fitness studio and an outdoor exercise trail.

The Warm Hub will be situated at the Slate & Grain brasserie, bar and coffee lounge.

It will open during set days and times from November 1 to local people aged 65 and over.

Mr Hallows added: “We have created a well-thought-out provision of amenities that provide customers with a safe and secure environment in which they can live life to the full, and it is our pleasure to extend this out to other older people in each Brio neighbourhood who may need to use our facilities this winter.”

For further information, visit www.brioretirement.co.uk/.