Welcome
Welcome to Somerville, a unique Senior independent living complex for senior retirees in the heart of Leicester.
The development resonates comfort and warmth and visitors cannot help but immediately feel part of the Somerville family as soon as they walk through the doors.
The stunning arts and crafts building emanates care and well-being. The impressive renovation and design of the Leicester landmark is inspired by the five star glamour of some of London’s best known hotels.
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“Marvellous, like a hotel.”
John – Somerville Residents
Explore Our Luxury Apartments
Barbara and Brian, aged 79 and 83, moved into Somerville in January.
The grandparents left their bungalow on the other side of Leicester after a friend told them about the exciting independent living development.
Previously having lived in New Zealand and on the south coast of England, the couple had high standards for the quality of lifestyle they knew they wanted.
They were immediately impressed when they visited Somerville.
And they are positive they have made the right decision by moving in…
Why Choose Somerville
- No Hidden Charges
- 24/7 CCTV
- On Site Warden
- Table Service Restaurant
- Social Lounge
- Car Parking
- No Exit Fees
- No Maintenance Charge
- Disabled Access
- Tunstall Warden System
- Free refreshments
- Domestic Assistance
- Organised Excursions
- Landscaped Gardens
Our Residents
Name:
Barbara
Age:
79
In January, my husband Brian, who is 83, and I, aged 79, moved into Somerville. We left our bungalow on the other side of Leicester after a friend shared with us the wonders of this exciting independent living development. Having previously lived in New Zealand and on the south coast of England, Brian and I were quite particular about the standard of living we sought. Our visit to Somerville left us deeply impressed, and we are confident that moving here was the right choice.
As a retired engineer from Taylor Hobson, Brian struggles with Alzheimer’s, and I, having worked as a hairdresser, sought a place where support was readily available should we need it. I needed to know there was someone I could turn to at any hour for my husband’s sake. He isn’t ready for a care home yet, and Somerville offered the perfect intermediary step from our previous home.
The sense of community here at Somerville is truly comforting. There's a wealth of activities to participate in, ensuring that no one feels isolated. We've enjoyed community barbecues, celebrated Valentine's Day, and even had a birthday celebration for a 90-year-old resident. The gardens provide a beautiful retreat during summer, and it was a joy to have our son and grandchildren visit once the lockdown restrictions were lifted. Such visits would have been impossible to enjoy to the same extent back at our bungalow.
The presence of companionship for those who’ve lost their partners here is invaluable. The warden has been exceptional, especially in how she communicates with Brian, making his transition to Somerville much smoother. The staff's support has been instrumental in helping him settle in.
Additionally, the restaurant here is fabulous; Brian and I cherish the moments we spend there, indulging in delicious meals. Reflecting on our move, I can wholeheartedly say that relocating to Somerville has been the best decision we've ever made.
Name:
Martin Mitchell
Age:
82
When my late wife was admitted to a Residential Care Home in November 2019 I realised I needed to look for accommodations that was far more manageable than my large house and high maintenance garden – an apartment where I could enjoy my independence but which had the benefit and character of a community. After a website search I found Somerville which looked impressive and a visit confirmed the feeling that this was the place for me. After a lengthy house clearance in early 2022 I moved in and have never regretted it. You can be as independent as you wish to be; if you’re a driver the car park is secure as is the building. There’s a full programme of activities, physical help day and night with extra care if required. You’re never without friends here.
Name:
Janet Carnill
Age:
84
I’ve been here two and a half years and settled in the first day. Before I lived in a nice bungalow in Nottingham. I had two falls therefore I was unable to go out. Before I fell, I had a very good social life. I belonged to a jazz club and had a subscription to a library housed in a beautiful 1752 Georgian Townhouse. I went to adult college for different subjects. After my second fall, my sister who lives in Leicester found Somerville and I agreed to visit. I was struck by the luxury & the facilities. These days I’m happy to relax in my lovely apartment and the Somerville Lounge although there a lot of activities which I can take part in if I want to, it’s my choice
Name:
Rodney Ryan
Age:
65
I moved to Somerville when my Mum was taken ill. My daughter Becky lives nearby and came to view Somerville for me. She told me how nice it was and how wheelchair accessible it is which is ideal for my needs. I decided on a ground floor apartment. All the staff are vey helpful and are there even if needed in the night. It is very easy to make friends and there are plenty of activities that you may join if you want you – it’s your choice.
Name:
Rukhiben Mistry
Age:
75
My children wanted for me to be somewhere where I had independence but not worry about house maintenance such as cutting grass & cleaning windows etc. After doing some research, they presented Somerville to us as our ideal new home. My husband and I moved into Somerville in November 2022 and we can only describe it as moving into a 5 star hotel. It felt perfect but unfortunately within a few days of moving, my husband passed away. This meant at 85, I was alone without life partner and had to settle into a new home, new environment, new surroundings and new neighbours.
With the help of the Somerville family (staff & residents) I slowly but surely adjusted to a new way of life. All the staff & residents have been absolutely brilliant in making me feel that I am not alone and that people were there for me 24 hours a day.
I have made new friends who have helped me immensely and today 14 months on, I am a comfortable member of the Somerville Family, who strives to settle in new members with the same support & encouragement that was given to me.
My favourite part of the day is in the morning when my fellow resident neighbour friends & I gather for a coffee and chat which I thoroughly enjoy. I have woke up with anxiety in the middle of the night after my husband passed away, and from pressing my ‘emergency’ button the night staff have sat and chatted to me, reassuring me & making me a cup of tea in the middle of the night.
On the whole, I love my apartment and all the weekly activities like yoga, art class, singing and movie afternoons. I love the homely environment and friendly atmosphere
I am forever grateful to to all the residents and staff for making me feel safe, happy and comfortable every day.
Frequently Asked Questions</span?
We have a partnership with Spirit Home Care who supply caregivers to our residents at the council rate of £16.75 per hour. If Somerville is ever at a stage where more residents need care than not, we would look to building our own care team on site. Somerville can provide Domestic Assistance for £14 an hour. Whether a resident is in need of care or not, prior to any resident moving in to Somerville, we will arrange for a care assessment to take place with Spirit Home Care (arranged by us – no charge) to ensure the potential resident is eligible for independent living within Somerville. This is a mutually beneficial reassurance that also allows us to hold a record of any medical information in case of emergency. Although the relationship between resident and caregiver is personal, we will remain as an overarching control to ensure our resident is happy and no mistreatment is taking place. Therefore, we will ensure ongoing feedback from our residents and intercept if necessary. We will also always keep next of kin informed should any concerns/praise be highlighted.
Being a rental model allows residents the unique opportunity to be exempt from any service/maintenance charges. This means our residents are able to financially plan without the worry of incurring extra charges on a yearly basis. All maintenance and servicing of our beautiful building & gardens is taken care of by the Somerville team.
Somerville will have a Warden on site 24 hours a day 7 days a week. Wardens are first aid trained and where necessary will call for medical assistance immediately. As they are already on site, they will be able to significantly shorten emergency response time, which should hopefully be resultant in a quicker recovery. All residents will have a Warden call system in their apartments with pull cords and will be handed an emergency wrist fob to wear should they want to wear one. The Warden call systems will also be situated in all the communal areas i.e. Restaurant, Lounge, Salon, Activities Room and Laundrette.
Somerville is situated 1 mile from the local High Street (called Uppingham Road). This contains a Bank, Post office, small supermarkets, and other general handy stores. We are also within 1 mile of the local newsagents, library, Doctors, Dentist and petrol station.
Yes. The bus stop is just under a mile away. Bus 58 takes you directly in to the City Centre and bus 58a brings you back (approximately a 10 minute journey each way)
Our residents are handed a menu a week in advance (with attached allergen sheets) from which they choose their selections. Ingredients are fresh, cooked and prepared daily by our on site two rosette Chef.
Yes friends and family can join our residents for £13 per 3 courses
Yes, evening meals are available to purchase at £9 for 3 courses and £7.50 for two courses. These are fresh ingredients cooked and prepared by our onsite Chef and delivered to your door.
No. The restaurant is open to all residents and their friends and families.
Currently we have singing, yoga and sketch sessions running on a bi-weekly basis. A current running activity is on teaching our residents to play Backgammon and Chess. These are all courtesy of the Somerville team at no extra cost to our residents. We encourage and welcome suggestions on activities from our residents!
The Somerville team are continuously looking for fresh and new ways to provide entertainment e.g. Movie Nights, Live Band, dinner, dancing and comedy nights. We strive to mark all occasions such as Mothers Day picnics, Fathers Day barbecues, or even simply serving pancakes on Shrove Tuesdays. Friends and family are always welcome to join. We encourage and welcome suggestions on entertainment from our residents!
Should you ever wish to leave Somerville, after the first 12 months, a minimum of 60 days notice is required. There are no exit fees.
Yes. A disability friendly minibus is available to take our residents on free weekly grocery shopping trips. They may use this independently or with family, friends & caregivers to accompany them! We will also provide excursions from Christmas shopping at Fosse Park to visiting picturesque villages for quaint shopping, a spot of afternoon tea and people watching!
