Burns Night in London

Julie’s, west London’s posh boho bistro, is celebrating Burns Night with an evening of Scottish cuisine. Sit down in the restaurant’s famously plush dining room to tuck into dishes including lamb belly and haggis scotch egg, crispy langoustines with black pudding, and the classic Haggis with neeps and tatties. For pudding, there’ll be a traditional Clootie dumpling served with whisky ice cream. Woolf it all down with fine wines, Scottish whiskies and even an Irn Bru daiquiri, all while being serenaded by a traditional bagpipe performance. You’ll be reciting Tam o’ Shanter before the evening’s through. 

Ria’s Pizza is putting on a big Burns blowout at both its Soho and Notting Hill branches. The set Scottish menu starts off with haggis pops followed by a deliciously filthy haggis-neeps-and-tatties pizza pie. Then for dessert there’s deep fried Mars bars and Irn Bru ice cream from cult brand Big Kid. And of course, the most appropriate way to wash all of that down will be with Ria’s specially made whiskey cocktails.

For most of the year, the Gladwin brothers serve up sustainable produce from their very English farm in West Sussex. But this January, they're heading northwards with a Scottish menu of Burn's Night fare. All the traditional trimmings will be present at their Soho bar restaurant Sussex: whisky cocktails, a two-step highland fling, a live bag-piper and of course creative takes on classic dishes like haggis and cranachan, preceded by creative starters including a mushroom marmite eclair. If you want a simpler way of marking Rabsy's birthday, then head to other Gladwin brother joints such as The Shed, Notting Hill or The Pig's Ear Chelsea, where you can order just a dish of haggis, neeps and tatties for £18.

The Galvin brothers' Michelin-starred collection of restaurants are all putting their best foot forward for Burns Night this year, with special menus, pipers and readings of the legendary poet's work. You'll find the most lavish bash at Galvin La Chapelle,  which will serve up an elaborate fine dining menu including Isle of Harris gin-cured salmon with Oscietra caviar, followed by rump of lamb with haggis (tickets £105). Galvin Bistrot & Bar will present a more comforting, convivial take on tradition in a bistro-style setting (tickets £75) while Galvin Green Man in Chelmsford will offer a more classically Scottish four course menu (£55). 

London’s biggest Burns Night event is back. The Ceilidh Club runs Ceilidhs in the capital all year long and has been doing so since 1998 – so, if you’re looking for a proper authentic Burns’ celebration, this is the place. It’s a night of jigs, reels, poetry, Haggis, bagpipes and proper Scottish trad. A live caller will talk you through the steps and will have you doing the ‘Flying Scotsman’ in no time, ready to belt out Auld Lang Syne at the end.

Big Penny Social, the massive taproom and community events space off Blackhorse Lane, knows a thing or two about throwing huge frolicking events, so expect a belter for its Burns Night celebrations. The largest beer hall in London will be inviting over 1,000 Londoners to strip the willow across a selection of ceilidhs over five days, with an added Burns Night supper on Sunday. As well as a traditional live band and caller to lead you through the Gaelic dances, there’ll be bagpipes, a bar stocked full of Scottish whisky and haggis on the menu. 

Hackney’s very own ceilidh band Cut A Shine has made a name for itself with its regular dances in the beautiful Round Chapel on Glenarm Road. So, expect the group to pull out all the stops for Burns Night. Its four-day Burns celebration promises nights full of non-stop dancing as well as a food stall selling traditional Scottish scran (but make sure you order your food in advance). There’s also a dedicated whisky bar if you need some Dutch courage before pulling out your moves. Get practising your strip the willow and dashing white sargeant now. 

Almost all of the classic traditions of Burns Night will be honoured at The Duke Organic’s knees-up. The gastropub’s special £60 set menu will serve up cullen skink, haggis, neeps and tatties and a cranachan and clootie dumpling (all organic of course, with veggie and vegan options available too). As guests woolf down the Scottish scran and sip on drams of whisky, there’ll be live bagpipes, a reading of Burns' Address to a Haggis and the ceremonial piping-in of the haggis taking place at 8pm.

With streets like ‘Caledonian Road’ and buildings like ‘Great Scotland Yard’, it shouldn't be too surprising that London has its fair share of Scottish secrets. To celebrate Burns out in the fresh air, why not tour the city while learning about the capital’s most Scottish spots?

If you’re well and truly committed to January hibernation or would rather be a bit cautious when it comes to social events because of the pandemic, why not order in some fine whisky and cheers to Burns from your home? Check out our pick of the best whisky delivery services.