Veterans invited to weekly breakfast club as Rochdale continues to support Armed Forces community

Military veterans from across Rochdale Borough are being invited to attend a weekly Armed Forces Breakfast Club held every Thursday morning at The Flying Horse Hotel in Heywood.

Supported by Rochdale Borough Council, the breakfast club has become a welcoming meeting place for former members of the Royal Navy, British Army and Royal Air Force. Breakfast is served between 9am and 10am every Thursday, with organisers reporting that thousands of breakfasts have now been served since the initiative began.

While the event offers a free breakfast, its real purpose is bringing veterans together. Leaving military service can often mean leaving behind the camaraderie and close friendships built over years of service. The breakfast club provides an opportunity to reconnect with fellow veterans, share experiences and offer informal peer support in a relaxed environment.

Rochdale has a proud military heritage stretching back generations. The borough has long been associated with the Lancashire Fusiliers and today remains home to a significant Armed Forces community, including serving personnel, reservists, veterans and military families. Many continue serving their communities long after leaving the military through volunteering, public service and local charities.

Research has consistently shown that social connection can play a vital role in improving wellbeing, particularly among veterans who may experience loneliness or find the transition to civilian life challenging. Community initiatives such as breakfast clubs provide an important opportunity to maintain friendships, reduce isolation and ensure no veteran feels forgotten.

The club is open to any military veteran, regardless of how long they served or when they left the Armed Forces. Whether someone completed a full career or served for only a short period, organisers say everyone who has worn the uniform is welcome.

The Armed Forces Breakfast Club takes place every Thursday between 9am and 10am at The Flying Horse Hotel, Heywood.

Rochdale has always been a borough that values those who have served. While remembrance services rightly honour military sacrifice each November, supporting veterans throughout the year is equally important. Initiatives such as the Heywood Breakfast Club demonstrate how something as simple as sharing breakfast can strengthen friendships, improve wellbeing and remind those who have served that their contribution continues to be appreciated by the community.