08.04.26 - Jess Pattrick
RHS Garden Wisley Dining Club Launches with a Celebration of Spring
Last Thursday saw the launch of the RHS Garden Wisley Dining Club, a brand-new series of curated dining experiences celebrating the very best of each season through food, drink and horticultural storytelling.
Set within the stunning surroundings of RHS Garden Wisley, the inaugural evening was a true celebration of spring – a time of renewal, freshness and anticipation. Our guests were welcomed with a drink on arrival before embarking on a guided tour through the gardens, experiencing the sights, scents and textures of the season at its very beginning.
“A wonderful experience – from the guided tour around the gardens to the delicious meal…”
The evening was hosted by MasterChef: The Professionals winner, Steve Groves, who brought the menu to life by sharing the inspiration and stories behind each dish. Drawing directly from the gardens, the menu reflected the earliest signs of spring – from emerging herbs to delicate blossoms and vibrant new growth.
Guests were then seated for a carefully curated five-course tasting menu, designed to capture the essence of the season.
The experience began with a glass of Wisley sparkling on arrival, followed by elegant canapés of caviar, egg and truffle.
The tasting menu then kicked off with scallops with coral and lovage, highlighting fresh, bright flavours paired with a subtle herbaceous depth. This was followed by a refreshing iced watermelon course, cleansing the palate and echoing the lightness of the season.
“It was very interesting to hear the description of each dish by its chef.”
A standout course featured locally sourced Surrey lamb, smoked within the gardens and cooked to perfection. Served with green sauce, pine and spelt, the dish embodied a true garden-to-plate philosophy, with ingredients reflecting both provenance and seasonality.
“We had probably the best lamb dish out there… cooked to perfection, accompanied by salsa verde freshly made using spring herbs again from their gardens.”
Dessert brought a delicate balance of sweetness and floral notes, with meringue paired with rhubarb and apple blossom, followed by a cheese course featuring honey and pollen – a fitting tribute to the vital role of pollinators in the garden ecosystem.
“A delightful evening and wonderful sensory experience, from the sights and smells of the plants to the wonderful tastes of the carefully curated food.”
To extend the experience beyond the evening, guests were given a recipe card for the scallop, coral and lovage dish, along with seasonal gardening tips to inspire them at home – reinforcing the connection between garden and plate that defines the RHS Garden Wisley Dining Club.
This first event set the tone for what promises to be a truly special series, hosted on the first Thursday of every month. Each Dining Club will explore a new seasonal theme, offering guests the opportunity to discover exceptional food alongside practical garden inspiration and behind-the-scenes insights.
The next RHS Garden Wisley Dining Club will take place on 7th May, with the theme An English Garden Table. Book your space here.