'I treated myself to a £120 Fortnum and Mason picnic and it was delicious'

Amidst the backdrop of blooming perfection at Tatton Park, the RHS Show captivated the hearts of nature-lovers with its first event in three years bursting back onto the scene.

The glorious sunshine bathed the park in a warm glow as families and friends settled among the vivacious blooms and sprawling greenery, a true paradise for those wishing to embrace the seasonal delights. With an electric atmosphere, visitors roamed around the meticulously crafted gardens, each pausing to take in the wonders of floral artistry and inhaled the sweet, summer-scented air.

Dianne Bourne of the Manchester Evening News succumbed to the allure of this enchanted setting, resulting in an unexpected splurge during her visit a foray that started at what's been coined as the 'garden party of the north'.

Caught up in the revelry and sun-kissed cheer, Dianne couldn't resist the temptation of a stall parked close to the entrance gates. To celebrate the mood, she found herself spending £120 on a luxurious picnic set from the renowned Fortnum and Masons.

The epitome of indulgence, this retailer is famed for its lavish London emporium and sophisticated hamper selection.

Presenting their premium picnic offerings at Tatton, they laid out enticing hampers filled to the brim with decadent four-course feasts, with her choice wrapped up in a cool bag in the brand's signature colours.

Commenting on the experience, Dianne said: "At Tatton, they're cashing in on the high-end hampers mine wasn't even the priciest, as you could opt for a champagne-laden version for £195."

With the sun beaming down on Wednesday's exclusive members-only day, attendees were seen savouring their luxurious spreads from FandM cool bags, wine glasses in hand, sprawled across their checkered blankets.

Dianne confessed her eagerness to mingle with the well-heeled picnickers, recounting her initial disappointment: "When I first approached the stall to buy one I was told they'd all sold out. Turns out the savvy RHS ticket holders had reserved their picnics online before they ventured out."

Fortune smiled on Dianne though when she visited the FandM stall at just the right moment, as a cancellation meant she could finally get her hands on the coveted Fortnum's picnic bag.

With the prized bag in tow, Dianne shared her excitement, saying "I duly took the bag, with much excitement, back to my colleagues who had been working hard all morning covering the opening event here at Tatton, and together we shared the food it contained."

The picnic bag came with a tech-savvy twist, as Dianne explained: "The tag on the side gives you a QR code to click through to find out what you're getting, and the first message trills: 'A picnic of delicious proportions awaits."

Curious about the contents, Dianne delved into the bag and found:

• The FandM picnic menu.
• Starter: Smoked trout with creme fraiche and soda bread.
• Main: Grilled chicken escalope with lemon caper sauce rocket and shaved Parmesan.
• Sides: Celeriac remoulade and Pink fir potato salad.
• Dessert: Botanical jelly with summer berries.
• Cheese course: British cheese plate with fig and fennel chutney, grapes and crackers.
• Wine: FandM Sauvignon Blanc from Chile.

She also discovered "two sets of reusable wooden cutlery, wrapped in a napkin and a rather Fortnum and Mason branded cuff. There were two wine tumblers and two spare recyclable plates."

Dianne embarked on a gastronomic adventure with smoked trout and soda bread, which she hailed as "absolutely delightful and a refreshing treat on the scorching day we found ourselves in".

She then generously shared the chicken escalope and salad with her companions, noting the generous portions. She said there was "an abundance of food that could easily serve four, as it was accompanied by additional dishes of a celeriac coleslaw-like concoction and a crunchy potato salad".

Despite her love for desserts, Dianne expressed mild disappointment at the absence of "cake-like items in the bag", but was pleasantly surprised by the 'Botanical jelly', which she described as unexpectedly exquisite: "I never knew jelly could taste so divine - it was packed with a variety of fresh summer berries and the jelly itself had a hint of something special."

Opting not to indulge in daytime drinking while on duty, Dianne saved the bottle of wine for later enjoyment, later revealing: "What a delight this wine was when I finally got home."

Her initial reservations about Sauvignon Blanc were soon swept away after a sip of the FandM branded Chilean wine. She said "I'm not always partial to Sauvignon Blanc, but this FandM branded version from Chile was almost the perfect summer white - fruity and crisp - and the ideal picnic bottle for those fortunate enough to be spending a leisurely day at the Tatton Flower Show."

"I savoured it with the remaining cheese plate where, once again, the quality of the produce was evident with superb blue, cheddar and soft cheeses paired with an almost perfect fig chutney that I made a mental note to purchase."

So, was it worth the £120 price tag?

Diane concluded: "you're shelling out for a luxury picnic bag here, so it was never going to be a bargain. You can reuse the cutlery, wine tumblers and of course the bag itself, so at least you've got something to hold onto from it all."

"There's no denying the food inside was of excellent quality - there wasn't a single disappointing dish in there, and the freshness of the seasonal produce used was palpable. It could easily serve four people, which would bring the cost per person down to £30 each."

"For a summer indulgence on a sunny day, at the 25th anniversary of The RHS Flower Show at Tatton Park, I'd say it was worth splashing out for."