Dinner Under the Stars

A woodlands with many dining tables arranged within a central area with atmospheric lighting. Luxury Private Event Planner.

A Cornucopia of Culinary Wonders Served Under Starlight 

Invoking all of the magic of literature, drawing inspiration from Tolkien’s Middle Earth, the beauty and grace of Mirkwood and Rivendell, with the spirit of Shakespeare’s ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’, this courtly dinner under the stars was a true masterpiece.
Our guests, the characters of this enchanting story, become lost in a bewildering and pathless forest, came across a party of elves and woodland creatures feasting and carousing at this cornucopia, who cried out in joy at this welcome interruption, “welcome to our dinner under the stars”…
It was important to consider all the usual design elements of a dining room, even though our pop-up was in the woodland. It was a dream occasion for our luxury private event planner who chose large wooden banqueting tables, the ones you’d find in grand ballrooms surrounded by chairs in different styles with colour seat pads in a variety of colours. We wanted to bring the family sharing concept to the forefront, as if the setup was lifted from the dining room at home into the magical forest. Classic, mismatched cutlery and elegant glasses completed the look.
A wooden dining table with wooden dining chairs set on grass with silver candelabra and lit pillar candles
Wooden Dinner tables setup in a woodlands with chandeliers and candles.
The presentation of food was an integral part of the success of Dinner Under the Stars. As an open kitchen, over flame, a riot of colour, sound and smell was an extraordinary sensory experience, but it was crucial to extend the sharing concept by using large presentation plates, bowls, silverware and natural props, such as bark, cut specifically to house scallops.
A person holding a tray of canapés which is dressed with herbs
Tomahawk steaks cooking over charcoal on a large frame
Scallops served in their shells presented on a hallow piece of tree bark
A fine dining wooden dinner table set with mismatched flatware and candles on a lawn in front of a woodlands
A midnight blue menu with silver foiling typography that reads 'Dinner Under the Stars' on the front
A fine dining wooden dinner table set with mismatched flatware and candles on a lawn in front of a woodlands
Three large crystal chandelier in a bespoke wooden cross frame set on a green lawn in a woodlandsA fire performer entertaining guests at a dinner party on a lawn under fairy lights
"You are, quite literally, a cornucopia of creative wonders! How do you do it?"

Guest at Dinner Under The Stars
Two performers dressed like foxesA hair aerialist suspended amongst the trees
Lots of dining tables positioned in a woodlands dressed with fair lights and green uplighters
Fireworks exploding above a bonfire
The grand finale, as the nymphs, fairies and elves made their return to the forest, was a spectacular fireworks display over a roaring bonfire. This calamity of skyward colours was the perfect end to one of the most magical evenings, and as guests stood eating dessert, wrapped in blankets, it was without doubt a moment to reflect on how amazing it was to be there in that moment.
Two figures huggings in front of a glowing bonfireFireworks in a night's sky over a bonfire
Silver fireworks

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Dinner Under the Stars

The most captivating tales often begin in the heart of a mystical forest, where ancient trees stand as silent witnesses to wonder and magic. Add the shimmer of starlight and a cast of woodland creatures, and you have the setting for something truly extraordinary. From this inspiration, the enchanting "Dinner Under the Stars" experience was born—a pop-up “fine-dine-in-the-forest” restaurant that transformed the natural world into a spellbinding dining experience. It's undoubtedly one of the most magical and unforgettable occasions we’ve ever curated; every detail felt as though it had been touched by stardust.

Brief

For this celebration, we had a simple brief which was to produce a dining experience based on a sharing concept. It was important for our clients that the experience should be informal, to provide entertainment and something unique. With any client we look to the sublime before considering a more traditional approach.  

The dinner, part of a weekend of celebrations, was the moment when all guests came together for the first time. It had to be extra special. They were instructed to rendezvous at the edge of the forest where they were greeted by two unusually clad maître ds.  

What We Did 

“Dinner Under the Stars” was a fantastical creation, blending elements from some of the most beloved fantasy tales into the ultimate pop-up dining experience. Imagine stumbling upon a feast straight out of the Lord of the Rings, where guests dine as though in the Elven kingdom of Rivendell, but with Michelin-starred flair. Our goal was to combine our client’s passion for fantasy with a unique, unforgettable proposition: an alfresco banquet for 150 guests set in a magical woodland. The concept featured an open-fire kitchen and a shared dining experience, as though a fine dining room had appeared, as if by enchantment, deep in the forest. The juxtaposition of silver service elegance with mis-matched tableware, chandeliers, and glowing candlelight created a surreal, one-night-only spectacle, seemingly brought to life by the mystical creatures of the woods.

The evening was nothing short of extraordinary. Guests were welcomed into an enchanting alfresco dining room bathed in soft, golden light, where chandeliers shimmered among the trees. The open-fire kitchen roared with energy, adding drama to the culinary process, while a cast of fantastical performers—magical creatures, contortionists, fire breathers, acrobats, and tree-dwelling artists—entertained the crowd throughout the night. The entire event was steeped in folklore, and acoustic musicians provided charming interludes as they serenaded the diners, enhancing the ambiance of a dinner surrounded by nature. 

The menu itself was a culinary masterpiece, prepared entirely in the open kitchen. The feast included dishes like butternut carpaccio with foraged pickled mushrooms, whole turbot served on the bone with sea herbs, and wood-roasted Tomahawk steak with Hampshire watercress. Every plate was a celebration of both fine dining and wild, woodland ingredients, accompanied by sides such as miso and blood orange hollandaise and chimichurri.

For dessert, an indulgent spread awaited: Chocolate Sachertorte with mirror glaze and gold leaf, elderflower panna cotta with Amalfi lemons, and a cornucopia of summer berries, figs, and peaches. Each bite was a testament to the magical evening, leaving guests utterly captivated.

The night culminated with a dazzling fireworks display, clearly orchestrated by Gandalf the Grey himself. It was a breathtaking end to an evening that felt like a dream, full of wonder, colour, and joy. "Dinner Under the Stars" was a spectacular, one-of-a-kind event, perfect in every way.