As the nights draw in and the dark half of the year begins, join writer and kitchen witch Laura May for an atmospheric evening of food, folklore and seasonal ritual.

Set within the ancient surroundings of Chelsea Physic Garden this is a feast inspired by remembrance, autumn’s deepening colours and a touch of black magic.

The evening begins with a Midnight Gilda and Blackthorn Martini opening ceremony, before rosemary soul cakes invite a moment of remembrance. From black sesame and miso-glazed aubergine to pumpkin gnocchi and smoked rosemary, the meal moves through earthy flavours, fragrant herbs and the rich, dark colours of the season.

Expect an evening that is part supper, part seasonal gathering, with food and ritual woven together. Black Magic Cake leads into a final balsamic brownie closing ceremony, with a wormwood blood shot for those brave enough.

What to Expect

A shared supper guided by Laura May, with an opening ceremony, a rosemary soul cake remembrance ritual and a closing toast.

Settle in for a sequence of autumnal dishes and accompanying drinks, with alcohol-free alternatives available for those who prefer them.

Menu

• Opening ceremony: Midnight Gilda and Blackthorn Martini
• Rosemary soul cakes remembrance ritual, with black olive tapenade butter and a black poached pear
• Apple shrub
• Black sesame and miso-glazed aubergine baba ganoush, served with a root terrine stack, black rice salad and crispy baked pumpkin gnocchi
• Smoked rosemary spritz
• Black Magic Cake
• Closing ceremony: Balsamic brownie with an optional wormwood blood shot

What’s Included

• The seasonal supper and accompanying drinks listed above
• Opening and closing ceremonies led by Laura May
• A rosemary soul cake remembrance ritual
• Alcohol-free alternatives to the alcoholic drinks

Who Is It For?

This event is for adults and anyone curious about food, folklore and seasonal ritual, or looking for an unusual way to gather and mark the turning year.

Booking Information

£40 per ticket, includes entry to the Garden

Dietary Information

The menu contains nuts, sesame, gluten and alcohol. Alcohol-free alternatives will be available.

All dishes are meat-free, dairy-free and egg-free.

For questions about ingredients or allergies, please contact .

About Chelsea Physic Garden

Established in 1673, Chelsea Physic Garden is London’s oldest botanic garden. For over 350 years, it has been a place for discovering the remarkable ways plants can be used for medicine, food and wellbeing. Today, the Garden brings people and plants together through horticulture, learning and creative experiences for all ages.

About Laura May 

Laura May is a writer, kitchen witch and folkloric food enthusiast. She is the author of Kitchen Magic: 65 Enchanting Recipes for a Cosy Witchy Kitchen, a book that blends herbal folklore, magical theory and traditional knowledge with practical recipes for everyday enchantment.

Drawing on the histories of witchcraft, folk medicine and plant lore, Laura’s work explores how the wisdom of our ancestors can still nourish, protect and empower us today – one meal, one spell, one cup of tea at a time.

Through her workshops, writing and immersive events, and through an online community of more than 400,000 people, Laura invites others to rediscover the kitchen as a sacred space connected to the rhythms of the natural world.