Get your best tartan on and go full Scottish for Burns Night on 25 January 2019. Here are the top spots for groups to celebrate
Number Five at Devonshire Club, Liverpool Street
What? A traditional Burns Night dinner finished with a deep-fried Mars bar
Apart from the neeps, why go? World champion piper, Matthew Supranowicz, will be entertaining for the evening. From 7pm onwards, groups can devour a menu of traditional cock-a-leekie soup, haggis with neeps and tatties with a whisky gravy, and cranachan for pudding. There’s an alternative menu of smoked salmon, crème fraiche and lemon, followed by fish pie, finished with a Scottish cheese board.
How much? £28pp for two courses | £35pp for three courses
Mac & Wild Devonshire Square, Liverpool Street
What? The perfect spot for the full Scottish experience
Apart from the neeps, why go? Mac & Wild do not only serve up high-quality Scottish produce such as quality venison, lobster and salmon (not to mention top-notch whisky). There are also interesting twists on neeps and tatties – the haggis pops is a must-try, the tattie tots are delicious (and vegan) and the venison scotch egg is a novel and tasty experience, made with venison, black pudding and haggis. The snazzy PDR further makes it ideal for groups and you can go full Scottish and be transported to the Highlands with the virtual shooting range.
How much? Minimum spends apply for the PDR and set menus start from £60pp | The virtual shooting range is £600 per hour
What? An evening comprising the whole shebang of Burns Night with the haggis’ prayer and the plunging dagger surrender
Apart from the neeps, why go? Fortnum & Mason’s Gallery is a pretty neat spot for any occasion, but particularly so when putting on its Burns Night event, ideal for a group to attend. The four-course meal will start off with the long-held tradition of the Selkirk Grace – the triumphant procession of addressing the centrepiece haggis. There will be entertainment during the night (pipers will appear of course), before it concludes with the surrender to the plunging dagger blade of the dirk. Wines and whiskies will follow the ceremony.
Skylight, Tobacco Dock
What? A rooftop Burns Night party
Apart from the neeps, why go? Maybe the fact that there won’t be any neeps, tatties or haggises. What there will be, though, is a range of Burns Night-inspired drinks and entertainment. Traditional pipers will welcome the evening in at 7pm, followed by a special highland dance performance at 8.30pm, and at 9.30pm the Piping of the Haggis and the ‘Ode to Haggis’ by Robby Burns will commence. Elsewhere, you can sign up to a whisky tasting and drink special Glenfiddich cocktails all night while listening to a specially-curated DJ set. Oh, and its famous ice rink will still be standing if you fancy a spin.
How much? £3pp, which includes a free Glenfiddich cocktail on arrival |
Book here
What? A late-night party filled with drams and haggis tacos
Apart from the neeps, why go? Excellent for groups wanting a twist on the traditional Burns Night celebrations. With haggis tacos (we’re intrigued) and beef shin stovies, there’ll be an abundance of aged-whisky drams (five types of them to be exact) at Neil Rankin’s joint. Food will be served sharing style and come with a side of entertainment and Irn Bru – open until 2am.
What? A night of live music on a boat
Apart from the neeps, why go? The three-course Scottish feast with live music, toast to the haggis and interactive Burns evening is elevated by being hosted in this beautiful barge might be reason alone to visit. But the boat’s lovely atmosphere (moored as it is in Hackney Wick), is another incentive. Locally sourced produce and rustic feels are further plusses.
Boisdale restaurants, various locations
What? An authentic Burns Night celebration with food and music
Apart from the neeps, why go? The chain calls itself the ‘unofficial Scottish embassy in London’ and claims sanctuary for homesick Scots across its locations in
Canary Wharf,
Mayfair and
Bishopsgate. Haggis (obvs), angus beef and smoked salmon will be served while pipers pipe and a live band performs. Whisky and wine will be in abundance too.
Haymarket Hotel, St. James
What? A whisky masterclass
Apart from the neeps, why go? No neeps! If Burns Night is synonymous with whisky for you, there’s nowhere better to go than to a whisky tasting masterclass – also great as a teambuilding experience. This can be found at the Haymarket Hotel, where a dram or two can be enjoyed with a selection of canapés. Scotsman Danny Whelan, an expert in scotch whisky, will host an evening of BenRiach’s unusual approach to Speyside Single Malt Scotch whisky.