Burns Night: where to celebrate January’s hottest event in London
Mr Fogg’s
The waiting staff at Mr Fogg’s, a bar themed around the famous fictitious Victorian traveller of the same name in Mayfair, are swapping their military uniforms for kilts. Guests are invited to toast the Scottish bard with a glass of Glenmorangie Original 10yr whisky, sample haggis canapes and enjoy a recital of his poetry.
020 7036 0608/mr-foggs.com
Haggis pops with sticky ooze at Mac & Wild
Mac & Wild
Not content with toasting Rabbie on his birthday, celebrations at Mac & Wild in Fitzrovia start the Saturday before and continue throughout the week. The chef will serve up a different rendition of haggis every night, from clapshot to haggis-in-the-hole and haggis pops (pictured). Venison and whisky, sourced directly from the Highlands, is also on the menu.
020 7637 0510/macandwild.co.uk
Haggis neeps and tatties at Boisdale
Boisdale
This establishment is Scottish fine dining at its best and it goes all out for Burns Night, as you’d expect. Pipers in full Highland regalia will pipe the haggis at each participating table in its restaurants in Belgravia, Bishopsgate and Canary Wharf while a speaker in 18th century garb recites The Ode. A truly authentic Burns experience.
020 7715 5818/boisdale.co.uk
Whisky and blue cheese at Outlaw's
Outlaw’s at the Capital Bar
Whisky connoisseurs will find 30 to 50-year-old classic bottles to toast Burns with at this Knightsbridge bar. It’s also home to acclaimed chef Nathan Outlaw’s fine dining restaurant, if you’re looking for a particularly refined way to spend the evening. The five course tasting menu boasts Scottish scallops with haggis, apple and celeriac broth, cod and ox stew with neeps and tatties, and a dizzying selection of blue cheese.
020 7591 1202/capitalhotel.co.uk
Get stuck into a whisky cocktail at The Gallery
The Gallery
This gem of a bar in West Hampstead is perfect for Scotch fanatics. Manager Daniel Pavey will host the Burns Night Tour of Scottish Whisky on the night itself, exploring five flights of the spirit from the Highlands, Lowlands and Islands, three samples of beer and a serving of haggis. Drinkers will be encouraged to share notes and learn about the history and craftsmanship behind each one.
020 7625 9184/ilovethegallery.com
Even the Cutty Sark is getting involved
Cutty Sark
The world’s last remaining tea clipper in Greenwich actually derives its name from a Robert Burns poem, Tam O’Shanter, in which it’s an archaic Scottish term for a particularly scanty nightdress. It’ll be celebrating Burns Night for the first time this year, with traditional sea shanties and a merry dance accompanied by Cut A Shine Ceilidh Band. Entry includes a free shot of whisky.
020 8858 4422/rmg.co.uk/cutty-sark
Arbroath Smokie Remoulade with crispy egg and watercress at Loch Fyne
Loch Fyne Seafood & Grill
Still paying for Christmas? Grab a free dram of Talisker single malt with the three course menu on offer at Scottish restaurant Loch Fyne in Leadenhall Market. It includes a traditional cock-a-leekie soup, haggis wi’ bashit neeps an’ champit tatties, a clootie dumpling or typsy Laird for after, followed by a cheeseboard with bannocks, finished off by a speech on the life of Robert Burns. The smoked salmon is pretty top notch, too.
020 7929 8380/lochfyneseafoodandgrill.co.uk
A warming hot toddy at Rabbit
Rabbit
Warm your cockles with a wee dram or six of hot toddies at Chelsea restaurant Rabbit. The Gladwin brothers’ venue usually focuses on serving sustainable produce from the family farm in Sussex, but for one night only, it’ll join sister restaurant The Shed in hosting a traditional Burns Night supper and it’ll be preparing a special homemade haggis for the occasion.
020 3750 0172/rabbit-restaurant.com
The Jones Dram, available in Shoreditch
The Jones Family Project
The achingly cool way to spend Burns Night is at The Jones Family Project in Shoreditch. It’s serving up some traditionally Scottish dishes especially for Burns Night, but with a few twists. Mini haggises served with textures of neeps and tatties is available to start followed by venison wellington with scotch sauce, then a dessert of layered cranachan. Finish it off with The Jones Dram, a cocktail of Chivas Regal 12yr blended with Drambuie.
020 7739 1740/jonesfamilyproject.co.uk