Flights up to Edinburgh a little too expensive post-Christmas but still want to celebrate like a Scot? These Burns Night events across London will have you reeling.
Burns Night is held on 25 January and is a celebration of the life and works of the Scottish poet, Robert Burns, a pioneer of the Scottish Romantic movement.
This year is the 225th anniversary of the annual Burns Night supper, now designated a key cultural heritage event by the Scottish Parliament.
Although traditional Burns Night celebrations include bagpipes, Address to a Haggis and copious amounts of whisky – or Tennents – these London events should inspire even the most dedicated dry January aficionado.
So, don your finest tartan, and eat, drink and dance the night away.
The Ceilidh Club
If three hours of Scottish dancing is up your street, The Ceilidh Club will be hosting events on 24 and 25 January at Porchester Town Hall, with beginners welcome.
The event will also include food, drinking and poetry, with the haggis piped in as tradition dictates.
Doors open at 7pm, with dancing at 8pm and tickets are still available on their website.
Auld Hag at Lock Warehouse
Auld Hag will be celebrating Burns Night on 24 January by returning to Lock warehouse for a night of ceilidh, whisky and haggis.
As one of London’s only authentic purveyors of Scottish food and drink, if you can’t make it to Scotland, this is your second-best option.
Auld Hag have promised a live rendition of Tam o’ Shanter, Address to a Haggis accompanied by a live piper and a fantastic ceilidh, all courtesy of the Association of Exiled Scots.
Get you tickets before the word gets out.
The Macbeth
Although not one of Robert Burns’ works, Macbeth is still decidedly a Scottish masterpiece, and the iconic east London venue by the same name is hosting its own Burns Night extravaganza alongside Dom’s Subs.
Expect haggis, neeps and tatties on 24 January alongside a DJ set from the Glaswegian F17.
If you can’t make it down on the night, chefs at The Macbeth have curated a special Burns Sub for the full weekend.
For more information, look on their Instagram.
The Gladwin Brothers
From 19 January, chefs at Notting Hill’s Sussex bar and restaurant will be serving diners a four-course Burns Night set menu all week, including homemade haggis and a live bagpiper on 24 January.
If that’s not enough, their sister venue of The Shed in Notting Hill has curated a special Burns Night cocktail, The Bruich-lyn, bringing together Bruichladdich Classic Laddie, amber vermouth, maraschino liqueur and orange bitters.
Tickets are available here.
Feature image: Wikimedia Commons
Join the discussion