New Year's Party (Alvaston) with Darren & Isobel

 New Year's Party (Alvaston)

Our JollyDays New Year celebration at Alvaston Hall in Cheshire was the perfect way to welcome 2026, filled with laughter, friendship and unforgettable moments. 

The delicious three-course dinner was the perfect start to the holiday, followed by fantastic entertainment from the resident band, The Blackjacks. The highlight of the evening was the lively show Rock of Stages, featuring iconic rock hits from famous musicals. Before long the dance floor was full, and we danced late into the night, already setting the tone for a wonderful few days ahead.

New Year’s Eve began with a hearty breakfast before the group split off for a variety of fun activities. Archery proved a big success, with some impressive scores and friendly rivalry, while the rest of the group took part in the morning quiz and achieved a fantastic third place. The fun continued with a lively game of Mölkky and an entertaining session of Nintendo Switch bowling, where plenty of strikes and laughter filled the room. 

After lunch we sat back and enjoyed the colourful pantomime Dick Whittington, joining in with the traditional boos and cheers before meeting the cast for photos afterwards. 

As evening approached, excitement built for the much-anticipated New Year’s Eve party. The celebrations began with dinner, party hats and crackers, followed by the dramatic entrance of the Warner’s piper leading us outside for a spectacular fireworks display lighting up the night sky above the lake. Back inside, the party truly came alive as The Blackjacks and the entertainment team performed lively hits from the 70s and 80s. The fantastic vocal harmony group The Base Tones kept the celebrations going with classic songs that had everyone singing and dancing together. As midnight approached, the room filled with anticipation, and when the clock finally struck twelve, balloons and streamers cascaded from the ceiling as we joined arms to sing Auld Lang Syne. With laughter, music and the biggest conga line of the night, we danced our way into the New Year surrounded by friendship and joy.

New Year’s Day began under bright skies with warm wishes and a relaxed breakfast together. The celebrations continued with the morning quiz, where our Jolly team achieved an impressive joint second place. The day was packed with more friendly competitions, including indoor curling, rifle shooting and shuffleboard, with plenty of impressive scores and certificates to celebrate our achievements. 

Following dinner, we enjoyed wonderful music from the end-of-dinner vocalist before settling in for the main event of the evening — The Elvis Legacy Show. With a live band and an outstanding Elvis tribute performance, the show took us on a musical journey through the King’s greatest hits. The energy in the room was electric as guests joined the dance floor, and two members of our group even received Elvis’s famous red silk scarves — a truly memorable moment. It was the perfect finale to an incredible holiday.