Party planner Bridget Stott test-runs a fabulous new dinner party delivery service, and is an immediate convert! Meeting new suppliers, producers and entertainers, is all part of my role as a professional party planner, so I was intrigued to learn of a new dinner party concept 'Russells Dine At Home' devised by Andrew Riley and Barry Hancox, co-owners of Cotswolds' restaurant Russells of Broadway.

The 'Dine At Home' service promises a stress-free way to entertain at home and offers dinner parties for up to 14 people, drinks parties, lunches, afternoon tea and breakfast, within a 30-mile radius of Broadway, including Oxford. Perfect then for those who can't face all the time-consuming hassle of shopping, cooking, cleaning and washing-up for a number of guests.

Eager to test-run the service myself, I arrange a Friday night get-together for ten with Barry Hancox. Barry wants to know how much space I have at home.

'Dine at Home' includes the services of head chef, Matt Laughton, and optional hire of a Russell's waiter and Barry or Andrew to oversee proceedings.

I admit to owning a small-but-perfectly-formed kitchen, which doubles as a dining room. It's fine when shoe-horning in ten or more family members on Christmas Day, but eight friends, plus the Russells' crew? I could sense Barry's eyes watering at the thought of it.

"Perhaps you could ask a friend if they would have the 'do' at their place, " he suggests tentatively.

I pitch the idea to my good friend, Dibby.

She agrees, but has one small reservation - her temperamental Aga-style oven.

"Tell Dibby not to worry, " says Barry. "We arrange a visit to all our Dinner at Home clients pre-event, so we know what we'll be working with and to organise storage of the wine, crockery, glasses and table decorations."

Our thoughts then turn to the menu.

Russells serves modern British food using only the best fresh, seasonal ingredients and local produce whenever possible. They have even started buying produce direct from local allotment growers. It is early autumn, so we have all the warm, succulent flavours of the new season to enjoy.

'Dine At Home' is a bespoke service, so Matt and Barry create a sample three-course menu, which I immediately approve. I also opt for the crockery, cutlery and glass hire service and ask them to provide and match the wines with the menu too.

Dinner is set for 8.30pm. Playing host to your friends in someone else's house feel slightly surreal, as does having a chef in the kitchen and Noah, the charming waiter, serving pre-dinner Champagne cocktails - vintage Spanish Cava mixed with a French blackberry liquor called Muer - to my friends in Dibby's sitting room.

At exactly 8.30pm dinner is served. How cool, calm and collected the Russells brigade seem, even though they have a chef preparing food in unfamiliar surroundings and in very close proximity to the client and guests.

Dibby admits she barely lifted a finger this evening. Barry and Matt turned up at 6.30pm to set up in the kitchen and lay the table using simple silver and glassware, linen napery, candles and vases of fresh flowers, to pretty, contemporary and stylish effect.

Wine and water arrive promptly, along with a choice of herb or white home-made breads. Matt had devised a genuinely fresh and imaginative menu. A good starter of tender grilled fillets of Bibury trout is served with roasted beetroot and chicory salad with glazed chestnuts and a Hook Norton beer mustard dressing. Noah replenishes glasses with either a delicious and perfectly chilled Albarino Segrel, Cosecha 2005 or a ruby red Rioja Torre Aldea Gran Reserva 2000 bursting with chocolate, raisin and vanilla flavours, both from Spain.

Next up, a main course of a meltingly tender roast breast of chicken comes with crispy pancetta and glazed button onions and a deeply-flavoured wild mushroom and tarragon gravy. Roasted pear, spiced Bramley apple ice cream and a tangy damson jelly makes for a light and aromatic end.

The Russells team then quietly packs up the dirty dishes and leaves us to enjoy the rest of a relaxed and fun evening Service throughout was slick and friendly, and at £70 a head, including wine, seems reasonable given the quality of ingredients and all the extras, including three round trips to Dibby's to deliver on their ambitious promise. And Russells 'Dine at Home' certainly delivers.

Despite the concept, gimmickry is not the game here. What you actually get is a grown-up product, well-rounded and nicely polished. You will want to return to it again and again, even if you do have a dodgy Aga.

For more information contact Russells of Broadway. Tel 01386 853555, e-mail info@russellsofbroadway.co.uk or visit www.russellsofbroadway.com

Bridget Stott runs Piece of Cake Party Planners and arranges bespoke private parties, weddings, corporate events and short breaks.

Call Bridget on 01608 646 905 or visit www.pieceofcakeuk.com