Moat Park by Retirement Villages

03/09/2025

The Thursday Murder Club released last week across cinema and Netflix and we gifted some lucky winners tickets to the release! La-Vern, Brian and Madeline from our Debden Grange village went to watch it along with friends and here was La-Vern's review! 🍿

"Having read the book, written by Richard Osman, I was interested to see the film.

The cast looked very promising with Helen Mirren as Elizabeth, Pierce Brosnan as Ron, Celia Imrie as Joyce, and other talented actors.

The residential home as a theatre for action and intrigue seemed unlikely until you realise that these people had all had very diverse lives and the clientele a force of life experience.

The story began with a group of 4 who met up to try to solve murder crimes from the past that had never been resolved. Very quickly they had their own murder and became a group fighting for their own existence as the owner was hell bent on selling the property to build new houses on the site, with very little thought for the current residence.

The Thursday Murder Club matched the determination and lack of respect for the law shown by the owner and the result was a witty and sometimes hilarious story with enough interest to keep you going until the end. Thoroughly enjoyable." 💚

02/09/2025

Thinking about joining one of our Discovery Days this September?

If you’re feeling unsure about what to expect, you’re not alone, and that’s exactly why we’ve created a short video just for you.

Our Discovery Day: Start to Finish film gives you a friendly introduction to the calm, enjoyable and personal experience that awaits. With no pressure and a relaxed atmosphere, you’re free to explore at your own pace.

Meet our team 👋🏻
Enjoy one-to-one tours 😊
Start the day with refreshments ☕
Chat informally with residents and like-minded people 💚

Watch the video and read the blog to discover helpful tips, insights, and the full journey of a Discovery Day! https://www.retirementvillages.co.uk/open-days/

29/08/2025

28/08/2025

The Thursday Murder Club is out on Netflix - and we can't wait to watch it! 📽️

The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman is a witty, heartwarming mystery set in a quiet retirement village where four unlikely friends - Elizabeth, Joyce, Ibrahim, and Ron - meet weekly to dig into unsolved crimes. When a real murder lands on their doorstep, they swap puzzles for police work, proving it’s never too late to solve a mystery… or cause a little mischief!

Let us know your thoughts on the movie by leaving your comment below. 🤩

20/08/2025

"Coopers Chase is full of the great and good, people who have done something or other with their lives. It's really a lot of fun. There's someone who helped design the Channel Tunnel, someone who has a disease named after them and someone who was the ambassador to Paraguay or Uruguay."
- Richard Osman, The Thursday Murder Club

Like Cooper's Chase, our retirement communities are home to people from all walks of life, each with incredible stories, experiences, and achievements. They're communities as vibrant and diverse as the lives within them.

The community featured in Richard Osman's best-selling books is actually based on a real retirement village, and the stars of the book inspired by the residents he spent time with there. Our latest article follows a journalist from Good Housekeeping who spent time with the real life residents who inspired the stories. Read more on our blog here:
https://www.retirementvillages.co.uk/thrive-life/purposeful-living/retirement-lifestyle/the-real-thursday-murder-club/

"What I’ve learned is that this community is definitely not about ‘retirement’ – not in the conventional sense, in any case. What I can see is growth. And joy. And it’s pretty damn inspiring."

19/08/2025

The Thursday Murder Club Countdown - A Day at the Open Air Theatre!

Today, residents at The Wyldewoods by Thrive Living enjoyed a wonderful trip to the Open Air Theatre to see The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes as guests of the amazing team at Storyhouse, thanks to our partnership.

This also marked the launch of our Thursday Night Murder Club theme month here at the village, with more themed events to follow. What a fun way to start, and a lovely day out with great company and plenty of laughs. 💛

18/08/2025

“It was a community, and in Ibrahim's opinion that was how human beings were designed to live. At Coopers Chase, anytime you wanted to be alone, you would simply close your front door, and anytime you wanted to be with people, you would open it up again. If there was a better recipe for happiness than that, then Ibrahim was yet to hear it.”
― Richard Osman, The Thursday Murder Club

We are delighted to begin our 10-day countdown to the official release of The Thursday Murder Club film! Based on the best-selling series of novels by author and TV personality Richard Osman, the story follows the adventures of four friends living in a retirement community similar in many ways to our own villages. Using their unique backgrounds and life experience, this group set out to examine cold cases, but end up solving real life mysteries.

Starring Helen Mirren, Pierce Brosnan, Ben Kingsley and Celia Imrie, the film will be released on Netflix on the 28th of August and will have a limited cinema pre-screening on the 22nd. Over the next 10 days, our communities will be hosting themed events, discussing the series and attending screenings.

We will keep you updated here, so please do check back regularly for more!

18/08/2025

Last week we were delighted to unveil the name of our latest sustainable Integrated Retirement Community in West Malling: The Russetts, (Thrive Living in West Malling) as part of the topping out ceremony which was celebrated with the local community.

The name, chosen by members of the community, reflects the area’s rich apple growing heritage including at the adjacent Maceys Meadow, as well as Kent’s symbolic status as the leafy garden of England.

Community is at the heart of everything we do and we’re proud to be integrating with and supporting the local area:

🏫 Inspiring and teaching local West Malling CofE Primary School & McGinty Language Centre primary children about architecture and construction
🏏 Supporting Town Malling Cricket Club with sponsorship and club house renovations
🍜 Sponsoring the Kent Food Festival
🌱 A landmark partnership with local charity Communigrow.org.uk to deliver a therapeutic gardening initiative focused on improving mental and physical wellbeing for older adults and those with long-term health conditions

A huge thank you to everyone who is bringing this incredible project to life. We’re proud to be creating spaces that support wellbeing, community connection, and long-term environmental responsibility.

Find out more about The Russets here:
https://www.retirementvillages.co.uk/our-villages/west-malling-kent/

14/08/2025

Today we’re at The Priory by Retirement Villages for our Great Communities, Amazing Lives campaign, hearing Olive’s story. Olive is getting her hair and make-up ready and set for her time in front of the camera.

We’re sharing the experiences of our residents and giving a glimpse into the warmth, friendships and everyday moments that make life in our villages so special.

Find out more about life at our villages here: https://www.retirementvillages.co.uk/about-us/

13/08/2025

🎥Capturing Village Life🎬

We’re out filming our Great Communities, Amazing Lives campaign at Blagdon Village by Retirement Villages, The Priory by Retirement Villages and Roseland Parc by Retirement Villages.

This shoot is all about showing the warmth, energy and joy that fill our villages every day. We’re celebrating the wonderful stories, passions and experiences of our residents, and how these make our communities such special places to live.

Find a community near you here: https://www.retirementvillages.co.uk/our-villages/

05/08/2025

Discover Thamesfield at Our Open Day – 14th August 2025
Henley-on-Thames Oxfordshire | 10:00am – 2:00pm

Want to know more about retirement living? Join us by the river this summer to explore Thamesfield by Retirement Villages – an elegant, independent community in a stunning riverside setting.

Enjoy a warm welcome, guided tours, homemade refreshments, and the chance to meet residents and staff who make Thamesfield feel like home.

In the words of one resident, “Don’t stop and think about it, just come.”

Whether you're exploring for yourself or a loved one, we’d love to meet you. Find out more about our Thamesfield open day and book your place here:
https://www.retirementvillages.co.uk/events/thamesfield-event/

31/07/2025

🎥 Behind the Scenes at Cedars Village! 🎬

We’ve just wrapped up filming a new Open Day video at Cedars Village, offering a glimpse into what you can expect at an Open Day across any of our communities.

From welcoming teams and guided tours to conversations with residents and a feel for village life, the finished video will bring the experience to life for anyone considering a visit.

Thank you to everyone at Cedars Village by Retirement Villages and the wider team who took part, we’re looking forward to sharing the finished film soon!

Find out more about our Open Days here:
https://www.retirementvillages.co.uk/events/