BURNS NIGHT IN LONDON & SURREY
Burns Night in London & Surrey
Get out your tartan and your dancing shoes, and prepare for some haggis and (plenty of) whisky at these knees-ups. Kate Byng-Hall reveals the top places for a fun Burns Night
In case you didn’t know, Burns Night – Scots’ biggest night of the year in celebration of their national poet Robert Burns – is almost here. Tuesday 25 January is the date for the diary, and there are plenty of events around London and Surrey to celebrate.
- Whisky & Batman at Park Row, Soho
Just off Regent Street, London’s first DC comic-inspired restaurant is hosting a Burns Night feast in collaboration with Glenfiddich Single Malt Whisky. (Batman was Scottish, after all.)
A dinner with bespoke menu and Glenfiddich cocktails (including an intriguing whisky and Irn-Bru syrup combo) will be accompanied by the piping of the haggis, a ceilidh band and dancing. Book tickets here.
- A meal and pipes at The Crown, St Margaret’s
This charming gastro pub between Twickenham and Richmond is putting on a Scottish-inspired 3-course meal to celebrate, with a live piper performing in the evening from 7.15.
- Whisky tasting at The Golden Hinde, Southwark
The iconic ship, captained by Sir Francis Drake during his tour around the world in the 16th century and now permanently moored at St Mary Overie’s Dock in central London, is hosting a whisky tasting event on 28 January.
The Scotch Malt Whisky Society will be providing multiple tastings of special malt whisky around the Tudor galleon, along with traditional Scottish canapés and even bagpipes!
- A meal at The Wych Elm, Kingston
On the 25th, the Wych Elm will dedicate an evening to Burns with a Scottish-themed specials board, whisky for toasting and a reading of Burns’ Address to a Haggis.
- Ceilidhs at Ceilidh Club, Marylebone
The Ceilidh Club at St. Mary’s Marylebone will be doing exactly what it says on the tin for Burns Night. Four ceilidhs will be held on the weekends of 21-22 and 28-29 January, complete with haggis, pipes and plenty of dancing.
- A meal and pipes at The Canbury Arms, Kingston
One of Kingston’s best pubs will be offering a 3-course Scottish meal on 25 January, complete with an atmospheric bagpipe performance at 8.15.
Pictured: No 50 Cheyne, Park Row
- Ceilidhs at St Thomas’ Church, Balham
St Thomas’ Church just off Tooting Common in Balham is hosting Burns Night ceilidhs from 21-23 January. Guests will enjoy a night of traditional Scottish dance, as well as drinks from pop-up bar Bearfeast.
- Live music at The Spice of Life, Soho
At this Country Soul Sessions live music event, folk and country performers will celebrate Robert Burns. You can enjoy the music while tucking into a meal of haggis, neeps and tatties, along with a glass of claret to raise during the traditional poetry readings.
- A meal at The Wheatsheaf, Esher
The gastro pub on Esher Green is putting on a specially-designed Scottish menu on the 25th, with a range of Scottish whiskies available to toast the occasion.
- Celebratory curry at Brigadiers, Bloomsbury
This one-off feast is marking the Scottish tradition with a spicy twist on 25 January. Their Burns Night menu, including Shahi Highlands Venison Biryani Feast, Tandoori Masala Aberdeen Angus Rib Eye Steak and Neeps Korma, is enough to tickle the taste-buds.
- A meal at Browns, Kingston
From 22-25 January, the restaurant on Kingston riverside is putting on a 3-course meal of Scottish mussels, haggis, neeps & tatties and cranachan, each with a Glenfiddich serving.
- A gourmet meal at No Fifty Cheyne, Chelsea
If you’re looking to splash out, No. Fifty Cheyne in Chelsea is hosting an opulent celebration on the 25th. The set menu features langoustines, venison carpaccio, haggis, lamb and cranachan, along with 12-, 16- and 21-year-old drams of Aberfeldy Scotch Whisky.
- A meal and poetry at The Watermill, Dorking
This 4-course meal at The Watermill on the 25th will be accompanied by whisky toasts, poetry readings and bagpipe performances.
- A meal at The Lion, Teddington
This evening at The Lion just off Kingston Road on 25 January will feature a 3-course meal, whisky and a traditional presentation of the haggis.
