Residents and staff at adult care provider, Harrogate Neighbours enjoyed a whimsical trip down the rabbit hole as they stepped into a colourful ‘Alice in Wonderland’-themed afternoon tea party to celebrate winning Premier Foods’ Unleash Your Imagination competition.
Hosted during Afternoon Tea Week (11-17 August), the event marked the culmination of Premier Foods’ nationwide storytelling challenge. An initiative designed to enrich the lives of care home residents, by sparking fun and adventure through two of Premier Foods’ most iconic and playful dessert brands: Angel Delight and McDougalls Jelly.
The winning story – a magical, jelly-filled adventure crafted by 10 Harrogate Neighbour residents – inspired the theme of the afternoon tea party, which saw 30 guests dress up in Alice in Wonderland fancy dress, take selfies in a giant photo frame, and enjoy a fantastical spread curated by Premier Foods’ senior culinary advisor Louise Wagstaffe.
Highlights from the themed menu included Jelly in a Teacup (McDougalls No Added Sugar Vegan Strawberry Jelly with fruit and Strawberry Angel Delight); Chocolate Clock Face Biscuits; Queen of Hearts Strawberry Tarts; and Mini Angel Delight Banana Milkshakes – all served with a side of laughter, fun and games.
Activities ranged from arts and crafts with colouring sheets to a lively game of ‘Who Am I?’ – all set against a backdrop of Alice in Wonderland-themed decorations. Each guest left with a special gift box packed with special treats from Premier Foods, including Kipling Angel Slices, Lemon Slices, and Cadbury Choc Mini Rolls.
CEO at Harrogate Neighbours, Sue Cawthray said:
“Our residents have been buzzing with excitement ever since we heard we’d won. Taking part in the competition helped them tap into treasured memories and express themselves – and this afternoon tea has brought all that joy to life. It’s been a real boost to everyone’s wellbeing.”
David, Harrogate Neighbours resident and part of group who wrote the winning story:
"We meet twice a week on Tuesdays and Thursdays at what we call ‘the day centre’, where we enjoy activities like arts and crafts, playing cards, and Connect 4. The joke about the ‘big spoon’ in our winning story came from the film Jaws, ‘we’re going to need a bigger boat’, and the whole group chipped in with ideas. I have so many fond memories of jelly, it’s one of my favourite dishes, so it was especially gratifying to win. Being recognised in this way is truly lovely. I also have to mention the jam tarts and the ham and tomato sandwiches, they were delicious! Thank you for hosting such a wonderful celebration; it means so much to all of us."
Mariela Petkova, Channel Marketing Manager at Premier Foods Foodservice, added:
“Unleash Your Imagination was created to spark fun and adventure through two of our most loved foodservice brands – Angel Delight and McDougalls Jelly. From its magical story to this joyful celebration, Harrogate Neighbours’ journey shows just how powerful food and creativity can be in bringing people together and creating lasting memories. It’s been wonderful to see how our dessert brands have inspired creativity, connection and joy among residents.”
To see some of the highlights and heartwarming moments from the day, please visit Premier Foods’ social media channels: Instagram, X and Facebook.
Harrogate Neighbours’ winning entry in full:
It was a beautiful October day, and Angelica was feeling peckish. She thought a lovely bit of jelly would be just right. She knew that her boyfriend Angelo had made some jelly the day before, so she went to the fridge to get it. She opened the door, and a whooosing sound filled her ears. Before she knew it, Angelica was staring at an enormous brussel sprout. She looked around and saw a massive milk, an awesome avocado and a colossal cucumber. She had been sucked into the fridge! How on earth would she escape? Just then, she heard a muffled whistling. Angelo! His massive appetite meant he was never far from the fridge. He would save her! Angelica looked around and saw... the enormous bowl of jiggly jelly. Before she could over think it, she dived head first into the bowl. Surely Angelo would want some jelly and see her in the bowl. A whooosing noise filled Angelica's ears, and she saw, to her dismay, Angelo next to her in the bowl of jelly. Angelo looked around, turned to Angelica and said 'Looks like I'll need a bigger spoon!'
