Kew Gardens has launched a new dining experience featuring a mouth-watering menu using ingredients straight from the gardens.

The Royal Botanic Gardens has worked with Kew and Ampersand and CH&CO -specialist catering business –to open a new restaurant, The Botanical.

Located in the heart of the gardens with stunning views of the Palm House and lake, the new venture has been designed to enhance the unique Kew Gardens visitors experience.

Rob Santos, operations manager for Ampersand, said: “The Botanical is so much more than a restaurant. It’s part of the Kew Gardens experience.”

Serving brunch, lunch and afternoon tea, The Botanical offers modern British dishes and twists on classic favourites featuring herbs, plants and flowers grown hand-picked from the gardens.

“The beauty of The Botanical is that through foraging for some ingredients and forging close relationships with local suppliers, we have the scope to develop the offer throughout the year.” Mr Santos added.

“Working closely with Kew experts, we will continue to discover exciting ingredients and create innovative dishes that capture the botanical essence of Kew Gardens.”

The innovative menu will change regularly throughout the year depending on the availability of ingredients and produce available – upholding the restaurants strong commitment to seasonality.

Athena Morse, head of visitor operations at Kew, said: “We are thrilled to have opened The Botanical restaurant, which offers visitors a very different dining experience to our other catering outlets.

“The view from the building is perhaps one of the best in the Gardens, stretching out across the water to the magnificent Palm House."

Advance booking of tables is recommended and can be made online at http://booking.favourite table.com/?SiteCode=1422 or on 020 8332 5155.

For more information on the gardens please visit http://www.kew.org/kew-gardens/plan-your-visit-to-kew-gardens