A CARE home group is expanding by buying and renaming a Bournemouth nursing home.

Luxurycare Group, which has five homes in Bournemouth and Poole, has bought Meyrick Rise, close to Bournemouth Gardens in Meyrick Park.

The site was the home of St Joseph’s Convalescent home in 1888 and the current building, dating from 1986, has been a convent and the Sanctuary HIV/Aids hospice before becoming a care home.

The home, in Branksome Wood Road, can accommodate up to 75 people but currently has fewer than 40.

It was bought from Brighterkind, a national group with more than 20 homes, and will be renamed Kingsman House.

Current residents and staff will stay, but Luxurycare says more residents are expected as it makes improvements and the staff team is expected to grow.

Mandy Kittlety, managing director at Luxurycare Group, said: “I already know this beautiful home well, as not only have several of the Luxurycare team worked there previously, but my own grandmother lived here many years ago.

“Sam Hoskins, our operations director, was an interim manager before joining us at Seabourne House, Southbourne in 2008 while our facilities director, Christina Barrett, was the head chef at Meyrick Rise in from 2006 to 2009.  It’s an emotional return for all of us.

“We are delighted to be taking on a fantastic, well-established staff team, who have such warm and positive relationships with those living in the home. And we’re excited about expanding the team further and bringing many improvements to this environment.”

The home, which was recently refurbished the previous owners, has five communal lounges, a dining room, a bar-lounge and a beauty spa, as well as a landscaped garden and patio area.

Luxurycare’s plans include reopening the top floor, which has been decommissioned, and reopening the hair salon and cinema.  

Ashley Liddington, who provides the in-house chaplaincy service at Luxurycare, will revamp the chapel to create a new multi-faith chapel.

The team has begun work on the driveways and brickwork and is planning to make the garden more accessible.

Mandy Kittlety added: “This grand and impressive nursing home is already well-run and welcoming, but we are thrilled to begin unlocking its enormous potential.

“This is an excellent addition to our portfolio, fitting well with and complementing what we offer with our five other homes across Bournemouth and Poole."