Top 10 Burns Night celebrations in London

From celebrations to suppers, we round up London’s unmissable Burns Night festivities as the capital remembers Scotland’s national poet.

Burns Night celebrates the life and works of the Scottish Bard

Burns Night – the annual celebration of Robert Burns birthday – is recognised on 25 January.

Known as the Bard of Ayrshire, his life and works are commemorated with poetry and song recitals – including his most famous work, Auld Lang Syne – while a hearty feast, including haggis, is washed down with a dram or two of Scotch whisky.

The celebration was originally started by some of his close friends a few years after his death, and is now a Scottish institution, with cities across the world throwing parties and hosting suppers.

Although it falls on a Monday this year, haggis’ will be ‘piped in’ and lassies will be toasted across the weekend and well into next week, so there’s plenty of opportunity to sample a delectable dram or two.

Click through the following pages to discover our pick of London’s top Burns Night celebrations. Have we missed your favourite? Let us know by leaving a comment below.

Whisky 101 at The Gallery

The Gallery’s bar manager and resident whisky enthusiast, Daniel Pavey, will host a whisky-based exploration of the Lowlands, Highland and Islands of Scotland. Sample a selection of Scottish single malts, compile your own tasting notes and learn about the history and origin of each distinct whisky during this tasting workshop comprising five flights of Scotch, three samples of Scottish beer and a taster of haggis. The Gallery have also devised a selection of whisky cocktails especially for the event.

Address: The Gallery, 190 Broadhurst Gardens, West Hampstead, NW6 3AY

Burns Night at Merchants Tavern

Scottish head chef Neil Borthwick has created a bespoke menu to celebrate the country’s culture in true Tavern style. This former Victorian warehouse will offer seasonal fare with a Scottish stamp – including haggis croquettes, Cock-a-leekie soup & prunes, Scottish heather and honey tart and Isle of Aran cheese with oatcakes. A ‘Rabbie’s Dram’ cocktail is available at the bar; a combination of Laphroaig 10 year old, Drambuie, Cherry Heering liqueur, honey, and grapefruit which arrives complete with a Robert Burn’s poem on tiny scroll. There’s also the option to sample a whisky flight comprising Johnnie Walker Blue Label, Talisker 18 year old and Lagavulin 10 year old.

Address: 36 Charlotte Road, Shoreditch, EC2A 3PG

Bourne & Hollingsworth Buildings Burns Night Party, B&H Building

Don your finest tartan attire for this traditional celebration. A welcome reception will take place in the venue’s cocktail bar, complete with a traditional Burns night piper, before a five-course Scottish supper, created by executive chef Adam Gray, awaits you in the Greenhouse and Garden Room. The B&H Master of Ceremonies will take charge by reciting the Selkirk Grace. Then, the haggis will be piped in, addressed and toasted and the immortal memory enacted while live music plays in the background. The dinner will draw to a close with a toast to the lassies, a vote of thanks and with everyone joining hands for a rendition of Auld Lang Syne. Pair your meal with a Smoked Heather Dram cocktail – Laphroaig Quarter Cask, Pierre Ferrand Dry Curacao, sweet vermouth, apple juice and orange zest – or keep it simple with a dram of the Macallan, Highland Park, Laphroaig, Bowmore or Auchentoshan. If whisky cocktails, ceilidh dancing and banqueting doesn’t take your fancy, a Macmallan whisky tasting will hosted downstairs in Below & Hidden, led by Simply Whisky and Jim Wrigley respectively.

Address: 42 Northampton Road, Clerkenwell, EC1R 0HU

Hendrick’s Voyage of the Black Haggis, Hawksmoor Spitalfields Bar

This month Hendrick’s UK ambassador Ally Martin has been travelling the UK to deliver the brand’s ‘Voyage of the Black Haggis’; both a celebration of Burns’ ‘Address to the Haggis’ and exploration of its resemblance to the rituals behind the gin martini. Each city has welcomed it’s very own ‘Hendrick’s haggis’ – a creation crafted by Dram & Smoke that sees the key botanicals in the brand’s gin infused into a haggis. On Monday the voyage arrives in London, so head to the Hawksmoor for Hendrick’s Martinis, house punch, haggis dogs and nuggets along with a selection of bespoke Burn’s Night cocktails which include Heather and Salt, Hendrick’s gin, pomegranate syrup, Cocchi Rosa and a pinch of salt, served with a lemon zest; and Northern Special, Hendrick’s gin, sour cherry and hibiscus syrup, Manzanilla Sherry, lemon  Peychaud’s bitters, and floral tonic.

Address: 157B Commercial Street, Spitalfields, E1 6BJ

Burns Baby Burns at St John at Hackney Church

Hosted by Scottish comedian, Phil Kay, the event promises that “giant haggis will be piped, fire danced, drams raised, sporrans polished, lassies toasted, dosies do’ed, willow’s stripped and homage paid” in a momentous celebration of Rabbie Burns. There’ll be a three-course Burns supper, where live pipers will ‘pipe in’ the haggis, poetry recitals, dram toasting at the purpose-built whisky bar, and a ceilidh long into the night, led by the Ceilidh Liberation Front band. Traditional Scottish attire is encouraged, with “underpants optional”.

Address: St John at Hackney Church, Lower Clapton Road, E5 0PD

Burns Night at Outlaw’s at The Capital

Enjoy a four-course menu of Scottish inspired dishes, each paired with its own carefully-selected flight of whisky in this Michelin starred restaurant. Service begins with a serving of Scottish scallops and haggis with celeriac broth and apple paired with a dram of Dalwhinnie 15 year old; and ends with a chocolate mousse of orange, innis and Gunn Ale, accompanied by Balvenie 12 year old. The menu has been created by acclaimed chef, Nathan Outlaw, and The Capital’s bar manager, Cesar Da Silva, who is also the UK’s youngest Keeper of the Quaich. If you’re looking for a more informal experience, head to The Capital’s bar for whisky cocktail or whisky and cheese pairing experience.

Address: The Capital hotel, 22-24 Basil Street, Knightsbridge, SW3 1AT

Burns Night at Cahoots

You’ll be played in to this 1940s themed underground bar by a bagpiper, before toasting the haggis with a glass of Glenmorangie 10 year old  and a haggis canapé or two. The evening will continue with a Burns’ poetry recital that will showcase a selection of this best works while guests enjoy a “Highland fling” in the bar’s train carriage. Cahoots’ staff will swap their vintage uniforms for festive sporrans and kilts, and guests are encouraged to follow suit.

Address: 13 Kingly Court, Soho, W1B 5PW

Burns Night Tasting at The Whisky Lounge at The Met

This whisky-centric tasting of six specially-selected whiskies offers “a respectful nod to the Bard” with a half-time supper of Haggis, neeps and tatties. In the words of the whisky aficionados themselves, prepare to be “entertained and enlightened” in the ways of the dram.

Address: 225 Edgware Road, W2 1JU

Burns Supper, Mac & Wild

Scottish restaurant Mac & Wild will be celebrating Burn’s night with a whole week dedicated to the bard, starting with a rustic Burns Supper this weekend. Feast on venison and whisky from the Scottish Highlands, watch as the haggis is piped in, and rexlas while Robbie Burn’s most celebrated works are read aloud. If Scottish fare isn’t your thing, pop along for a Bonnie Brae, made from Haig Club, rowanberries and prosecco, while you enjoy a live rendition of the Bard’s most famous poem, Auld Lang Syne.

Address: 65 Great Titchfield Street, Fitzrovia, W1W 7PS

A Toast to Rabbie: Burns Night in the Rooftop Wigwam at Queen of Hoxton

Head up to the wigwam for a ‘Meet Our Family’ style Glenfiddich whisky tasting. Sample four whiskies and a whisky based cocktail as you learn about the history and family story of the distillery, and then soak it up with a platter of traditional Scottish snacks. There’ll also be music from fiddle player Tom Newell.

Address: 1 Curtain Road, Shoreditch, EC2A 3JX