Bar a solid flow of Pimm’s, the Cambridge Union Garden Party left much to be desired. Perhaps my expectations were too high, having been told that last year’s (cheaper) event featured oysters and the Fudge Kitchen, but it felt like a commendable budget garden party, except we all know there was no tight budget.

The supply of alcohol - Pimm’s, Gin and Tonic and glasses of Prosecco - was good and queues for drinks were short. The Pimm’s was very popular as the fresh mint, berry and orange combination added an authentic touch. This, however, was one of few things that felt quintessentially summery and worth the 28-39 pounds paid by guests. The food selection was very limited, and felt out of place alongside prosecco, chinos, pastels and florals.

“Signage was also poor – the word ‘Sausage’ in circa 2003 WordArt isn’t all too easy on the eyes.”

Although long queues are to be expected at such events, waiting two hours for a crêpe was asking a bit too much from guests on a 30 degree day. There was a lot of preparation, such as cutting bread and making sure the barbecues were always full, that could have been done beforehand to avoid this. The food itself would have been appropriate at the garden party of a small society with half the budget – burgers, sausages, veggie patties, cheese, fajitas, crepes and ice-cream isn’t exactly an exhaustive menu, especially when you pay a hefty amount to stand in a queue for half the time you’re there. Signage was also poor – the word ‘Sausage’ in circa 2003 WordArt isn’t all too easy on the eyes.

The gardens of Sidney Sussex were a beautiful venue, and the chilled out area with picnic blankets, picnic tables and a ground-level stage for musicians complemented the lovely surrounds. However, other spaces could have been used far more effectively – a large marquee at the back of the event only had a few tables in it, and bags of popcorn strewn on the floor. A few picnic blankets, bean bags or some more benches would have made a world of difference.

While an enjoyable afternoon, primarily because of great company, good alcohol and lovely weather, I’m not sure I’ll rush to buy tickets to next year’s Union Garden Party. Maybe I expected too much, but can you really blame me when my 180 pound membership and 28 pound member ticket were on the line? Guests got dressed up, the gardens looked their best and the alcohol delivered, but I was left feeling rather underwhelmed