When you find the right care home, you know. The worry lifts and what felt impossible becomes clear. This is life at Berkley.
Our award-winning homes have been listed multiple times as a top 20 care home by carehome.co.uk, as well as being winners and finalists in the Care Awards 2020. Why? We focus on what makes life worth living. Morning tea on the terrace. Laughter over cocktails. Residents tending gardens they planted themselves. This is what outstanding care looks like.
Kevin, son of resident
Families tell us their loved ones are happier at Berkley. More social, more themselves than they’ve been in years. We provide the care and environment that helps people live well.
Request a callback
Palliative care means caring for the whole person when an illness cannot be cured, managing pain and symptoms while protecting comfort, dignity and quality of life. It does not necessarily mean someone is dying. Here’s Berkley’s palliative care teams on…...
A Recovery Stay is a short, all-inclusive convalescent care stay in a luxury Berkley home – bridging the gap between hospital discharge and being ready to live at home again, with physiotherapy, 24-hour support and a planned departure date. Being…...
Why chefs from Michelin kitchens and restaurants choose care, and what happens when you ask three to bake against each other.
As promised. Gino`s focaccia recipe.
Gino learned this from his wife and brought it with him when he moved to Berkley. Now he has taught it to our chef Kieran, so it carries on. That is what By Heart is all about.
You will need:
For the dough (one large tray): 600g strong bread flour, 12g fine sea salt, 14g fresh yeast, 475ml warm water (32°C) and 50ml extra virgin olive oil.
For the tomato sauce: 1 tbsp olive oil, 1 finely sliced garlic clove, half a 400g tin of chopped tomatoes, 2 tsp tomato purée, half a teaspoon of dried oregano, a pinch of chilli flakes, salt, pepper and a little sugar if it needs it.
To finish: anchovies, black olives, capers, thinly sliced red onion, peppers, chilli, oregano, grated Parmesan and a generous drizzle of good olive oil.
Method:
Dissolve the yeast in the warm water. Mix the flour and salt in a large bowl, keeping the salt and yeast apart to begin with, then add the yeast water and the oil. Work it to a smooth, elastic dough, around 8 to 10 minutes in a mixer or 12 to 15 by hand. Cover and prove until doubled in size, 1 to 2 hours.
For the sauce, soften the garlic in the oil without colouring it, stir in the purée for a minute, then add the tomatoes, oregano and chilli. Simmer 20 to 30 minutes until thick, season and leave to cool.
Oil a large tray and gently stretch the dough to fill it, letting it relax if it springs back. Prove again for 30 to 45 minutes until puffy. Spread over a thin layer of the sauce, scatter on your toppings and drizzle with oil. Bake at 180°C for 15 to 20 minutes until golden and crisp at the edges. Finish with a little more oil, and some Parmesan or fresh basil.
The secret, according to Gino, is a generous hand with the olive oil and never rushing the prove. The real secret is time and someone who showed you how.
Tag us if you make it at home.
#BerkleyCollection #BerkleyCareGroup #BerkleyDining #ByHeart #RecipeCard
Is there ANYTHING better than the August evening G&T?
There is a point, around seven, when the light is perfect and someone suggests a drink on the terrace. At Berkley, that drink is often our Golden Hour G&T. A collaboration gin with Sky Wave, mixed with Fever-Tree and served with whatever the garden and our bar team has going as a garnish.
Some residents take theirs in the lounge. Some take theirs outside and stay until the light fades. Nobody is in a rush.
And that is the whole point. Savouring summer, one sip at a time.
#BerkleyCollection #BerkleyCareGroup #BerkleyCare #GoldenHour #SkyWaveGin
A phone call from a care home was once something families always dreaded.
Not here. At Berkley, our families tell us that the regular check-ins from our teams feel like a ray of sunshine.
"Just calling to let you know your dad had a lovely day. He beat everyone at cards this morning and had two helpings of pudding. He’s now started the crossword with a single malt..."
That shift, from worry to warmth, is one of the things we love to give.
#BerkleyCollection #BerkleyCareGroup #BerkleyFamily #FamilyFirst #CareReimagined
We love showing people around Berkley homes in August.
The gardens are extraordinary. The terrace is open and filled with laughter and conversation. The bistro has a summer menu that would make most restaurants envious.
And there just is something about seeing a home in sunshine, doors wide, residents outside, the whole place alive and buzzy, that no brochure can give you.
If you are thinking about care for someone you love, come and see us. A delicious artisan coffee and homemade cakes made fresh by our patisserie chefs are waiting for you.
#BerkleyCollection #BerkleyCareGroup #BerkleyFamily #VisitBerkley #CareReimagined
We challenge you to try and watch this story without a tear in your eye.
Gino came to Bristol from Italy when he was 18. He and his wife spent 63 years together, and she taught him to cook everything she knew: focaccia, pizza, homemade pasta.
The dish closest to his heart is her focaccia. So our chef Kieran asked Gino to teach him how she made it. It turns out Gino is a strict teacher.
Anchovies laid exactly where he wants them (his favourite, and Kieran got them in specially). Chilli on one half ONLY.
But when the tray comes out of the oven, his verdict is `Bellissima. Assolutamente bellissima`.
The best dishes always come from the heart. And so does the best care.
#BerkleyLife #BerkleyCareGroup #CareReimagined
"I have been to the salon.
I went in for a brush and a tidy-up because the heat has been playing merry hell with my fur. The lady was very kind. We talked throughout. She said I had ‘good volume’ which I think is a compliment.
I am now relaxed, pampered and smelling of something expensive. I feel like a new bear."
Love from Fynn, the bear who cares.
#BerkleyCollection #BerkleyCareGroup #AdventuresOfFynn #TheBearThatCares
Visit the homes you're considering and trust your instincts about whether it feels welcoming. Look for places where residents seem comfortable and staff have time to chat. Each of our 12 homes has its own character. Book a tour to see which one feels right for your family.
Yes, we do our utmost to cater for couples. Depending on the specific home, you may be able to share a room or have separate rooms if preferred. Our staff coordinate care plans for both partners and offer activities designed for couples.
Care funding can be complex, involving personal savings, property, pensions and potential council support. We help families understand the options available. Read our complete guide to care funding for detailed information about costs and financial assistance.
