Wednesday marks the annual celebration of one of Britain’s most brilliant poets. Have a look at London’s best places to ceilidh in style – haggis, whisky and tartan are a guarantee!
- Craft London and Compass box in Greenwich are offering a special four-course menu to help celebrate the Ploughman Poet. Stevie Parle will serve Craft London’s take on the traditional haggis feast with each course accompanied by a carefully chosen Scotch whisky pairing. In true Burn’s night style, there will also be a poetry recital.
Venue: Craft London
Address: Peninsula Square, Greenwich, London, SE10 0SQ
Price: £48
2. Burns night in the WigWam at the effortlessly cool Queen of Hoxton offers free Glenfiddich whisky tastings, music from Will Allen and the Address of the Haggis.
Venue: Queen of Hoxton
Address: 1 Curtain Rd, London, EC2A 3JX
Price: Free
3. D-word Present: Divorce Ceilidh is one of the more unusual events on the list: this Battersea based Ceilidh is doubling up a celebration of the organiser’s divorce. All money raised will go towards providing support for those going through divorce. Kilts are encouraged but not compulsory.
Venue: Battersea Arts Centre
Address: Lavender Hill, London, SW11 5TN
Price: £25
4. Ceilidh Club in Camden is expanding from its usual location to multiple spaces across London. Celebrations include the Address to the Haggis at half time and a buffet with haggis, neeps and tatties. No dress code, but tartan is appreciated. Booking in advance is advised.
Venue: Across London
Address: 2 Regent’s Park Rd, London, NW1 7AY
Price: £16.50- £34.50
5. The Well pub in Clerkenwell is adding a little modern competition to the traditional proceedings of the Bard of Ayreshire’s celebrations with a Burn’s Night Poetry Slam. Poets Jan Noble and Tim Wells will be battling it out as guests indulge in a dram or whisky cocktail, and feast on Scottish-inspired canapés.
Venue: The Well, Clerkenwell
Address: 180 St John Street, London, EC1V 4JY
Price: £15
6. Rabbit and The Shed will be celebrating Burn’s night by offering diners Scottish specials fit for the bard himself. The Burns Night menu will include a Neeps and tatties rosti with whisky ketchup, Lamb faggots with pumpkin spaghetti and a traditional deep fried homemade Mars Bar.
Venue: The Shed
Address: 122 Palace Gardens Terrace, London, W8 4RT
Price: n/a
7. Now for less serious Burns Night knees up, Burns, Baby, Burns in Hackney is hosting a riotously fun party to celebrate Scotland’s most loved and horniest poet. Featuring all the traditional Burns Night festivities with a modern twist, there’ll be a three-course Burns supper – including live pipers ‘piping in’ everyone’s favourite offal-based dish, the haggis – recitals of Robbie Burns’s poetry, a lot of hearty toasting with a good few drams of whisky (from a specially built whisky bar) and a huge, delightfully rowdy ceilidh. The party takes place over three nights, so there’s no excuse not to let your hair down and induldge in true Rabbie Burns style.
Venue: St-John-at-Hackney church
Address: Lower Clapton Rd, London, E5 0PD
Price: £35-£49