Marlow Tastes, the town’s excusive safari supper, is now open for bookings to allow hundreds more diners to sample gourmet food while helping charities that support families in need of help.

The three-course mystery tour of some of the town’s finest restaurants was introduced on a limited scale last April and was a resounding success. Places were sold out within a few weeks and the evening raised £8,000 for charity.

This year Marlow Tastes plans to double in size to enable around 400 food-lovers to sample the culinary delights of eight of Marlow’s top restaurants. But the mystery is, they won’t know which three restaurants they will be eating in until they arrive for each course.

A choice of menus will be offered a few weeks before the supper to include dietary needs and preferences. Then the adventure begins with a drinks and canape reception at All Saints Church in Marlow on Tuesday, April 30.

The event is being hosted by Marlow Thames Rotary Club and the website for bookings opens on New Years Day.

The club’s president, Julian Rhodes, explained: “This progressive supper is unique to Marlow, a town gifted with fine restaurants. It’s an opportunity to try out some of our best fare at new venues.

“Rotary is at the heart of its communities but is also quick to respond to worldwide demands. This year our Marlow Tastes adventure will support two leading charities: Marlow United Charities which supports struggling local families, and Parkinsons UK. Further funds will be distributed to other charities supported by Rotary.

Restaurants welcome Marlow Tastes because it enables them to showcase their offerings. Taking part are the Compleat Angler Riverside restaurant, La Cantina del Vino, Cote Brasserie, The Ivy Marlow Garden, , Lavvin, The Marlow Bar and Grill, The Oarsman and Suum Kitchen.

The cost of the reception and the three courses is £65 and much of this amount will be shared by the charities.

Bookings open on Monday, 1^st January on the website Marlowtastes.menu and close on March 25 ahead of the event on Tuesday April 30. Bookings can be made for groups of up to six people, in even numbers. Every effort will be made to place known groups together.

The selected restaurants for all groups will not be announced until arrival following the reception and are always within ten minutes’ walk.

Hundreds of thousands of pounds have been raised by Marlow’s three Rotary clubs in a variety of ways and the most familiar – and the biggest contributor – is the Santas Fun Run.

Beneficiaries include One Can Trust, Marlow United Charities, Horizon Sports Club, Marlow Opportunity Playgroup, Rivertime Accessible Boating, Wycombe Homeless Connection, various refugee support groups (including Ukraine), Thames Valley Air Ambulance, JAM Theatre, Bucks Young Carers, South Bucks Hospice, South Bucks Headway, Thames Valley Hospice, Alexander Devine Hospice, Thames Valley Adventure Playground, Bucks MIND, Aquabox, Shelter Box and many more.