A private dining room was the scene of a fundraising pop up restaurant event in Great Bardfield earlier this month.

Dunmow Broadcast: Pop up dining room. Gabriella flanked by organisers Jane Tillotson and Clare Parker with their band of helpersPop up dining room. Gabriella flanked by organisers Jane Tillotson and Clare Parker with their band of helpers (Image: Archant)

Held over two evenings with 25 people attending each evening, £2,000 was raised for The Neuro Foundation who support those affected by the debilitating condition Neurofibromatosis.

Known as NF, this is a group of three conditions in which tumours grow in the nervous system. The tumours are generally non-cancerous but can be extensive and have wider health implications.

Organised by friends Jane Tillotson, whose niece Gabriella White was diagnosed with the condition six years ago aged three, and Clare Parker, the evening began with wine tasting courtesy of Waples Wines and continued with an Indian feast with all the food being prepared and cooked by Jane and Clare.

Jane said: “The idea for the pop up restaurant came about as both Clare and I love to cook and entertain.

“We spoke to friends and family and felt confident that this was an event they would support and we were able to sell all the tickets within seven days.

“A friend very kindly offered to let us use her home to host the event and another friend who has recently launched an event styling and planning company, Festoon and Revel, offered to help out, which resulted in a very glamorous dining environment.

“Both evenings were a fantastic success and we have been overwhelmed with the generosity of all of our guests, the local companies and friends who helped us. Priors Hall at Lindsell supplied all of the meat at cost, the Co-op in Great Bardfield donated many of the ingredients we needed and local estate agents Mullucks Wells made a contribution towards food costs, meaning that most of the money we made on the night can go directly to the charity.

“We really are incredibly grateful to everyone involved – we couldn’t have done it without them.”

Jane and Clare will be running in the London Marathon this April to raise further money for this cause. Any donations can be made on their Virgin Money page uk.virginmoneygiving.com/team/ClareandJane – they have already raised more than £3,500.