You can keep your full moon raves in Goa. Dinner, wine and music under the stars in the Secret Herb Garden is where it’s at.

The 5pm Dining blog is delighted to see the days slowly but surely getting longer. After the darkness of the winter (December ain’t so bad as Christmas is on the near horizon), it feels like a breath of fresh air if you don’t have to switch on your desk light until 7pm or so.

Having said all that, night time is still when the magic happens. Few good days match the bliss of a good night. Daytime might be productive or successful but night time is when the most memorable fun happens.

There is plenty of fun on offer at the Secret Herb Garden on the outskirts of Edinburgh. Over the next few months, the Lothianburn herb nursery, shop, café and event space is hosting new series of Full Moon Celebrations and New Moon Dinners.

New Moon

The New Moon Celebrations are laidback affairs where guests are welcome to explore all 7.5 acres of the gardens, listen to live bands under the stars and enjoy dinner from Union of Genius followed by dessert from Crema Caravan. There will be drinks available to buy from the Potting Shed bar.

Visitors are invited to bring a rug and enjoy the nights which run Friday 6th May, Saturday 5th June and Monday 4th July. Tickets, which include dinner and the bands, are £37.50 each.

Full Moon

The Full Moon Dinners are more lavish affairs held in the Glasshouse at the Secret Garden. The 2015 dinners were a huge success and were enjoyed by over 300 people.

This year, the chefs rattling the pans under the light of the full moon include Neil Forbes of Cafe St Honore, Tom Lewis of Monachyle Mhor, Ben Radford of Timberyard, Stuart Ralston of Aizle and Edward Murray and Dale Mailley of Gardeners Cottage.

Launching the series on Friday 22nd April is Brian Grigor, head chef of the Michelin-starred Balmoral Number One. Accompanying Brian’s dishes will be wines from the Domaine Zind-Humbrecht in Alsace. Wine maker Olivier Humbrecht will be on hand to introduce the wines.

Hamish Martin, co-owner of the Secret Herb Garden, said, ‘We are so delighted to welcome Brian and his team from Balmoral Number One to open our Full Moon season of dinners here at the Secret Herb Garden. To add to the excitement of the evening we have one of the world’s greatest wine makers, Olivier Humbrecht from Alsace to introduce his wines with Brian’s signature dishes – all under the watchful light of the Full Moon – it promises to be a magical evening.’

Tix for the Brian Grigor dinner from here. 7pm for a 7.30pm start; dinner ends at around 10.30-11pm. Price: £55 per person for 4 course meal; £75 per person for 4 course meal and paired wines.