Robinson’s ‘Land of the Rising Sun’ was a spectacular start to May Week despite rather dubious music choices and slightly sparse decoration. Set against a warm red brick backdrop, you entered into a labyrinth dotted with cherry blossom trees and hanging fairy lights towered over by Mount Fuji. Winding through the corridors and into the gardens, you found yourself immersed in the oriental atmosphere.

Kudos for the food - it was delicious and plentiful. Entering into the dining hall was a highlight, with parasols hanging down from the ceiling as a string quartet serenaded the diners decked out in elegant gown and suit. The only thing that surpassed the finery of the fabrics was the attention to detail of the dishes themselves. Ranging from crisp tuna Tataki to lychee and green tea ice cream, the diners were wowed by every single course.  Though one might question the ‘Japanese-ness’ of the menu, the fusion of flavour worked beautifully. Those who didn’t dine were equally spoilt for choice with sexy sushi waiters on every corner, fajitas on demand and an array of white paper boxes filled with Asian treats. You were never far from a bar, where spirits, cold beer and inspired cocktails were churned out by a team of dedicated workers - to whom all in attendance owe a big thank you.

The Ents were equally as captivating, though some worked better than others. The casino provided a taste of grown up fun and the dodgems were typically in high demand. The coconut shy proved more of a hazard than a highlight but fortunately the crazy golf and surf simulator offered more controlled forms of exhilaration. The constant stream of somewhat bizarre ‘cruise-ship’ courses in the main hall was hit and miss – judo, ballroom dancing and salsa lessons did not contribute much to the ball, although credit must go to the attempt to do things differently.

Musically, the ball left rather a lot to be desired. Lorelai were the stars of the show showing an innovation lacking in some of the other headliners. The blues of Ouse Valley Collective and the Indie-Pop of Maribou State were both fantastic, while the DJ set of Itchy feet was most definitely a crowd favourite. As the sun began to rise, over the magnificence of Robinson’s lush gardens, the Abba Gold tribute band could not have felt more out of place, and should have arguably not been entrusted with the tall order of playing out the night.

Overall, Robinson May Ball was a superb start to the season, not to be overshadowed by the giants of the coming week. Top marks all round.