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Find London restaurants for Burns Night

BEST FOR FOLK MUSIC FANS
Eclectica: Burns Night
Jan 21
Soak up the atmospheric sounds of Scottish folk music at this evening of Celtic culture, curated by Scottish composer James MacMillan. Performers include Catriona McKay (harp), Chris Stout (fiddle) and vibrant 11-piece Latin-folk band Salsa Celtica.
Eclectica: Burns Night, LSO St Luke's, Old St, EC1V 9NG (7490 3939). Old Street tube. 8pm, £7-£21. Feature continues

BEST FOR CAMDEN KIDS
Castles Burning
Jan 23
Burns Night Camden-style at this popular Chalk Farm boozer with a good old-fashioned folky knees-up. Topping the bill are rising Americana rockers Henry Brill and the Electric Company with support coming from rootsy indie folksters Ryan O’Reilly and band.
Castles Burning at The Enterprise, 2 Haverstock Hill, NW3 2BL (7485 2659). Chalk Farm tube. 7pm, £6.

BEST FOR CHARITABLE TYPES
Burns Night Ceilidh
Jan 23
Get drunk for a good cause! Fulhamites can down drams of whisky with a clean conscience at this Beating Bowel Cancer fundraising Burns bash. Don’t worry about having two left feet – the band's caller will guide you through the steps. There’s a buffet and a free drink included in the ticket price and all proceeds go to charity.
Burns Night Ceilidh, Fulham Town Hall, Fulham Broadway, SW6 1ET (0845 071 9300/www.beatingbowelcancer.org). Fulham Broadway tube. 7pm, £22-£25.

Ceilidh Club

BEST FOR LONDON SCOTS
Ceilidh Club
Jan 23-31
Due to popular demand, this toe-tapping organisation is holding four Burns Night events this year. The formula is pretty standard – three dizzying hours of ceilidh dancing, the traditional ‘Bill O’ Fare’ (haggis, neeps and tatties) complete with bagpipe accompaniment and, of course, a bit of poetry.
Ceilidh Club, Hammersmith Town Hall, King Street, W6 9JU (08444 771 000/www.ceilidhclub.com). Hammersmith tube. 7.15-11pm, £10-£20.

BEST FOR WHISKY-LOVERS
Vinopolis
Jan 23
Vinopolis swap wine for whisky at this traditional shinding with a gourmet three course meal, detailed poetry readings, the obligatory ceilidh band and Auld Lang Syne singalong.
Vinopolis, No 1 Bank End, SE1 9B (7940 8300/www.vinopolis.co.uk). London Bridge tube/rail. 7pm-midnight, £125.

BEST FOR LYCRA-LOVERS
Hackney Cyclists
Jan 24
The East End’s finest two-wheelers lock up their bikes and don their dancing shoes at this popular local event. Now in its thirteenth year, it follows the basic dinner-and-dance routine with the chance to recite a traditional poem, sing a Celtic song or perform a vaguely Scottish party piece. Cracking six-piece ceilidh band The Muckers will talk you through the various reels and there’s even a raffle. Just don’t try cycling home after one dram too many…
Hackney Cyclists, Sir Thomas Abney School, Fairholt Road, N16 (7690 5206/www.hackney-cyclists.org.uk). Manor House tube. 7pm-midnight, £4-£10.

BEST FOR EAST ENDERS
The Hackney Marshins
Jan 24
Recently made-over Hackney haunt, the Royal Sovereign, is hosting this amusingly titled Burns Night soirée. Included in the £15 ticket price is a slap-up haggis supper with trimmings plus fiddlers and a ceilidh band which will lead the dances – space permitting.
The Hackney Marshins, Royal Sovereign, 64 Northwold Rd, E5 8RL (07828 442719). Clapton Rd rail. 7pm, £15.

Saor Patrol © Ali Price

BEST FOR AIR-GUITARISTS
Saor Patrol Hootananny
Jan 25
It's all 'Braveheart', bagpipes and headbanging from the band labelled the 'Gaelic answer to Motörhead' at this southside Burns Night party special. Expect lots of aging Scottish rockers doing air guitar in kilts – one of the few sights that’s potentially more unappetising than haggis.
Saor Patrol, Hootananny, 95 Effra Rd, SW2 1DF (7737 7273/www.hootanannybrixton.co.uk). Brixton tube. Free.

BEST FOR CULTURE VULTURES
The Immortal Memory
Jan 25
This dramatic celebration adds a contemporary cultural twist to Burns’s 250th anniversary. Hosted by the Live Canon ensemble, it will feature live acapella settings of the traditional verses with three new works by emerging composers. There’s a gourmet-standard three-course meal and a free (wee) dram of whisky for all to help keep the creative juices flowing.
The Immortal Memory, Finborough Theatre, 118 Finborough Road, SW10 9ED (7244 7439/www.finboroughtheatre.co.uk). 7.30pm, £24-£28, Earl's Court/West Brompton tube.

BEST FOR HIGHLAND SWINGERS
Ronnie Scott's Jazz Orchestra's Highland Swing
Jan 25
If wailing bagpipes aren’t your thing why not book a table at this famous club’s first ever Burns Night. An 18-piece big band will attempt to play classic swing anthems with a Scottish slant. Menus will be tweaked to include a Burns special and there’s a fine selection of malt whiskies to wash it all down.
Ronnie Scott's Jazz Orchestra's Highland Swing, Ronnie Scott's, 47 Frith St, W1D 4HT (7439 0747/www.ronniescotts.co.uk). 6pm, £20-£36, Leicester Square tube.

BEST FOR CRAFTY COCKNEYS
HungaMunga's Burns Night
Jan 25
It's all about the arts and crafts at this offbeat celebration from recycled-arts crew, HungaMunga. Glaswegian ‘tweecore’ duo The Bobby McGees provide an alternative soundtrack, while the skills of unicycling bagpiper Count Adriano de Bombast and regular DJ Martin will keep everyone entertained. There’s also a Hibernian gameshow, a Robbie Raffle, tossing the crayon, and loads of Scottish snacks – and of course scones...
HungaMunga's Burns Night, Bethnal Green Working Men's Club, 44-46 Pollard Row, E2 6NB (www.myspace.com/hungamunga). Bethnal Green tube. 7pm-midnight, £6 (incl art materials and scones).

Find London restaurants for Burns Night