Every May, as the gardens of the RHS Chelsea Flower Show burst into colour, another ritual quietly unfolds nearby – one that has become just as sought-after as the show gardens themselves. Tucked within the grounds of the Royal Hospital Chelsea, Spring Garden returns for 2026 with a new culinary partnership set to become one of the capital’s most talked-about dining moments.
This year, the immersive restaurant experience will be led by Jeremy Chan, the chef and co-founder of London’s two-Michelin-starred Ikoyi, alongside Spanish culinary authority José Pizarro – a pairing that promises both creative precision and soulful generosity on the plate.
Chan has built his reputation on a fearless approach to flavour. Born in Hong Kong and raised between Canada and the United States, his cooking blends global influences with an almost scientific attention to detail. At Ikoyi, he works closely with British farmers and fishermen, interpreting seasonal produce through bold spices and layered heat — a style that has earned the restaurant two Michelin stars and a place among the world’s most innovative kitchens.
Pizarro, meanwhile, brings warmth and heritage. Widely considered the leading ambassador of Spanish cuisine in Britain, he has championed simple, produce-led cooking for more than two decades through his restaurants = including José and Pizarro. His food is rooted in the flavours of Extremadura, celebrating ingredients with an instinctive generosity that contrasts beautifully with Chan’s analytical style.
Together, the chefs will create a vibrant menu that mirrors the sensory richness of Chelsea in bloom.
Enjoying a meal in the gardens
Curated and produced by AP&Co, the luxury events company behind some of Britain’s most iconic sporting and cultural occasions, Spring Garden is designed as a multisensory experience – part restaurant, part garden escape.
Guests spend the day moving through a sequence of carefully orchestrated moments: live music drifting through the marquee, guided walks through the flower show, curated wine pairings and chef-led masterclasses, all woven around an elegant seasonal menu.
It is less a lunch reservation than a full immersion into the rhythms of the show.
Chan himself describes the collaboration as a natural fit.
“I’ve always admired Spring Garden’s commitment to creativity and storytelling through food,” he says. “I’m excited to join forces with José and the AP&Co team to create something new and deeply delicious.”
Pizarro agrees. “Last year’s Spring Garden was truly special – the energy, the setting, the produce,” he says. “It’s the kind of event chefs love to be a part of. I can’t wait to be back.”
The lowdown
Spring Garden will run from 19–23 May 2026, coinciding with the week of the RHS Chelsea Flower Show.
Two sessions are available: Meridian, a morning-to-afternoon experience running from 9am to 5pm, and Nocturne, an evening programme from 3:30pm until 10pm.
Packages are available for both private and corporate guests, with tickets ranging from £525 to £1,095, while newly introduced Saturday access tickets start from £242.
For those who know Chelsea well, Spring Garden has quietly become the show’s most exclusive table – where horticulture and haute cuisine meet in a fleeting but unforgettable setting.
- Location: Royal Hospital Chelsea
- Dates: Tuesday 19th May – Saturday 23rd May
- Book tickets here: https://springgarden.eventist.group/
LUXE Serendipity magazine 
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