Ashton Pub Celebrates a Decade of Making Tuesday Nights Special

For the past ten years, Tuesday nights at The Old Fire Station in Ashton-under-Lyne have been anything but ordinary. Every week, around 100 adults with disabilities, learning difficulties and additional support needs come together at the Amber Taverns pub for an evening of music, entertainment, friendship and fun, thanks to the extraordinary dedication of local charity Ambitions.

Just recently there was even more reason to celebrate as Ambitions marked ten wonderful years at the pub with a spectacular anniversary party. The celebrations certainly lived up to the occasion, with live singers, a magician, caricaturist, photo booth, photographer, DJ, fire show, free buffet and a visit from the Mayor of Ashton. It was an evening filled with laughter, dancing and plenty of memories as guests, volunteers and supporters celebrated a very special milestone. Behind the glitter and celebrations lies a remarkable community success story.

For a decade, The Old Fire Station has provided a welcoming home for Ambitions’ weekly gatherings, offering adults with additional needs the opportunity to enjoy a proper night out, make friends, build confidence and feel part of a supportive community. With around 100 people attending every Tuesday, the evenings have become a much-loved fixture in Ashton-under-Lyne, providing regular opportunities for social interaction, independence and, above all, enjoyment. The initiative is entirely volunteer-run, with around five volunteers helping each Tuesday evening. At its heart are Jonathan and Stephanie Griffiths-Barnes, whose dedication has helped create something that means so much to so many people.

Laurie and Ant, operators of The Old Fire Station, said, “We absolutely love having Ambitions here every Tuesday. To see around 100 people coming together every week, enjoying themselves, making friends and having such a brilliant time is something really special. Jonathan, Stephanie and all the volunteers are incredible. The time, energy and commitment they put into making these evenings happen is amazing, and they do it all because they genuinely care about the people who come along.

“The tenth anniversary was a fantastic night. The atmosphere was brilliant, everyone had such a wonderful time, and it was lovely to see so many people celebrating together. We’re incredibly proud that The Old Fire Station has been home to Ambitions for the past ten years. For us, this is exactly what a community pub should be about. It’s somewhere people can come together, feel welcome, make friends and enjoy themselves.To know that our pub plays a part in making Tuesday nights something that so many people look forward to is a wonderful feeling.”

Jonathan and Stephanie Griffiths-Barnes, organisers of Ambitions, added, “Celebrating ten years at The Old Fire Station is an incredibly proud moment for us. What makes Ambitions so special is the people who come along every week, the friendships that have developed and the confidence and happiness these evenings bring. We’re very fortunate to have such a dedicated group of volunteers who give their time to make everything happen. It’s a real team effort, and we’re so grateful to Laurie, Ant and everyone at The Old Fire Station for their continued support.

“Our anniversary celebration was a fantastic night and a wonderful way to recognise everyone who has been part of Ambitions over the past decade. Whether it’s our weekly social evenings, day trips or holidays, our aim is always the same – to make sure people have opportunities to enjoy themselves, experience new things and feel part of a community.”

And the celebrations aren’t stopping there. The Old Fire Station will host a special charity fundraising day on Saturday 14 November, working alongside Ambitions to organise an event featuring live entertainment, raffles, a food van and more, with the local community invited to get involved and show its support. The event will provide another opportunity to celebrate the charity’s work and help support its continued activities.

For Amber Taverns, the partnership is a shining example of the important role pubs can play at the heart of their communities, providing much more than somewhere to enjoy a drink.
And after ten years, thousands of Tuesday night gatherings and countless friendships formed, one thing is certain: there’s still plenty more fun to come at The Old Fire Station.