Christmas Lunch 2024

The Ely Community Christmas Lunch team are looking forward to providing festive meals for our community once again this year.

Many of those who have enjoyed the Christmas lunch in the past were individuals or families who were struggling financially with the demands of the festive season. Some were facing spending Christmas on their own and a few were living on the streets. Ely Community Lunches works alongside Ely Foodbank, Lighthouse Centre and others who recommend to us people who might benefit from complementary meals.

Anyone who is on their own or will not be having a Christmas meal for any reason can request a delivered meal or a sit down meal at our Christmas tables.

Option one: Gather together on Christmas Day.

The traditional Christmas Day meal – turkey and all the trimmings – will be served simultaneously at our two venues in Ely: The Ely Methodist Church and The Cathedral’s Almonry Restaurant. The main course is prepared by a professional chef and served by our lovely team of volunteers. The meals are available at a subsidised cost of £10 each. Ely Methodist Church is fully accessible for those with mobility issues. The Almonry Restaurant has a small number of seats that are fully accessible but many that are not, so please make sure that you inform us of any mobility issues at the time of booking.

Option two: Let us bring lunch to you.

If you can’t come to us, let us come to you. We deliver festive meals on Christmas Eve for you to store cold and heat up the following day. Meals are delivered within a six-mile radius of the centre of Ely. These meals are also £10 each and delivered free of charge.

Option three: Make someone’s Christmas special!

If you just wish to donate towards the cost of someone else’s meal, you can give £10 to Ely Community Lunches to help us provide for those who are most feeling the financial pinch. All donations are welcome.

To request a meal, please visit our bookings and payment website: www.buytickets.at/elycommunitylunches.

Bookings open on 19 October and close on 18 December.

For further information, email: events@elycommunitylunches.com. If you can’t book online, please telephone 07579 783228 / 01353 662228 (option 2).

To make a donation, please visit:  https://donate.stripe.com/8wM4jWabl5ve9eE8ww.

Cash donations may be made in person at the Cathedral’s Ticket and Information Office between 10.00am and 4.00pm or at The Lighthouse Church Office.

The Christmas Lunch is organised by Ely Community Lunches (Registered Charity Number 1204354). The Christmas Lunch is for everyone and anyone. We do our best to ensure that everyone at our sit-down meals receives a warm welcome, with live music, plentiful food, a visit from Father Christmas and a goody bag to take home.

We are grateful for the support we receive from our wonderful team of volunteers and from local charities and supermarkets. Any excess donated foodstuffs are passed on to the LuvEly Pantry.

We hope that you can share with us in this project and join the celebrations.