Bristolians try out secret supper

Secret supper meals are cooked at a stranger's house

A new secret supper club has opened in Bristol where diners have a meal in a mystery location which is made by strangers.

The address of the dinner party is secret until the last moment and the guests pay a donation for their meal.

The chef at Bristol's club, Louise Barnard, has been holding the events at a secret location near Blaise Castle.

At each event she can accommodate around 20 diners in an old Quaker meeting room complete with log fire.

She told BBC Bristol the event was inspired by some time spent abroad and that she wanted to use the room for something fun.

"It's a bit like a cross between a dinner party and a restaurant and we've started doing it because we had this great big space and we love throwing dinner parties.

We're just asking for donations and we don't sell alcohol and... hope for the best! Louise Barnard

"I got the idea after spending a bit of time in Hong Kong a few years ago and there was a lot of people doing it there.

"In Hong Kong it's very exclusive - there sometimes they would only have two or four diners and you'd pay more than a three star Michelin restaurant."

The club, though, is not regulated by council health and safety rules. Louise hopes the events will stay under the radar.

"We're just asking for donations and we don't sell alcohol and... hope for the best!

"The secret location is just because it makes the evening a bit more exciting. It's a bit different; people don't know where they're going.

"It pretty much breaks even but it's a good, fun thing to do and it's a great way to meet people."

One diner, Chris Jones, said he had enjoyed his first taste of a secret supper club.

"I didn't have any expectations, didn't know what to expect. Very pleasantly surprised, the food is spectacular."

Another diner, Kate, said the state of many people's finances could push them towards alternative events such as this.

"I'm really impressed. I think with the recession going on at the moment this will definitely grow. I also think it's bringing people together - people are socialising."