IT WAS Chelsea Flower Show meets Masterchef for a select gathering of foodies in the elegant surroundings of No.38 The Park in Cheltenham.

The Evesham Road pillar of The Lucky Onion Group’s portfolio of restaurants and hotels in the Cotswolds is magnificently on-trend.

The public rooms in the splendid corner Georgian property are dripping in opulence but plenty of boxes are also ticked for any card-carrying hipster – the exposed red brick walls suggesting there has been a shortage of EU plasterers in this corner of the West, scrubbed wooden floors, statement lanterns, a hint of distressed driftwood here and there – and the beards are luxuriant.

Sam and Georgie Pearman’s Lucky Onion Group has form in putting on gastronomic gatherings. Already this season celebrated chefs Hemsley & Hemsley, Mark Hix, Valentine Warner and Fergus Henderson have been let loose in their kitchen.

The fact that these evenings are billed ‘The Lucky Onion Club Presents’ hints that you are about to enjoy a theatrical experience as much as a meal.

Damian Clisby, the culinary wizard behind the latest extravaganza told me after dinner that his hope was that punters left with a smile on their face.

Job done, most left beaming from ear to ear.

Clisby heads up a team of 10 chefs at the renowned restaurant attached to Petersham Nurseries in Richmond.

It became a world famous eatery under the guidance of Skye Gyngell, who earned a Michelin star there – Dobbies, buck up your ideas. Skye has now moved on to running her own restaurant (Spring) in London’s Somerset House.

I can vouch that Petersham’s reputation is in safe hands with Mr Clisby.

His partner in thyme for the evening was the nursery’s head gardener Thomas Broom who littered the tables with edible flowers and foliage, turning the dining area into something like Dame Judi Dench’s dressing room on an opening night.

And who’d have thought tucking into table decorations would be so much fun.

The evening’s theme began with cocktail mover and shaker James Fowler’s award winning tequila-based concoction which was accompanied by a large sprig of samphire.

The sharing platter of borlotti bean bruschetta with radishes maintained the horticultural theme, although the squid croquettes were the highlight of that particular dish.

Not only did they taste divine, there was enough black squid ink to sign the cheque at the end of the evening.

The sociable and entertaining bunch of Cotswolds fun-seekers present were game for anything, and tongues were soon wagging when the starter of flowers, roots, wild herbs, roots, stems and pulses arrived.

We were also encouraged to nibble on nasturtiums and munch of marigolds from the floral displays.

It was a forager’s fantasy land – but don’t try this when you are taking the Weimaraner for a walk in the woods. You’d need to have an expert like Broom by your side to know what to pick and what to leave in the ground.

If the tummies were still rumbling at this point, Clisby arrived with mounds of slow cooked shoulder of lamb accompanied by chickpeas and aubergines.

The lamb wasn’t just pulled, it was hung, drawn and quartered – and fell apart to the touch of the serving spoon.

Now pleasantly full, there was still room for the wild strawberries embedded in a Prosecco and rose jelly with a Chantilly cream-like mousse.

The curse of being designated driver for the evening disqualifies me from saying too much about the sommelier’s wine pairings with each course, but my two glasses of his Spanish Verdejo went down very easily.

The Pearmans are clearly not content to rest on their mantelpiece full of awards and bouquets. These evenings have added innovation and fun to the style and pizazz they have already introduced to the Cotswolds.

Next up at No.38 The Park is chef Russell Norman’s Venetian-inspired menu on Thursday, September 22. Tickets go on sale from Tuesday, July 19 on 01242 822929.

To hear about Lucky Onion Club news visit www.theluckyonion.com.

No.38 The Park has 13 individually designed bedrooms and room rates begin at £120 a night.