In case you missed the memo, this Sunday is Burns Night. And whilst we might not all be Scottish, when there's whisky, warm grub and men in kilts, we don't need much convincing that celebrating Scotland's national poet is a great idea. If you don't fancy staying in and cooking the haggis and tatties yourself, you're in luck because London has well and truly ran with it and loads of places are celebrating all things Robert Burns. Click through to see the best places to join in on the celebrations here in the Big Smoke.
Haggis Pizza at Yard Sale Pizza
***If straight up haggis, neeps and tatties isn’t quite your thing, head forYard Sale Pizza in Lower Clapton where a weekend-long love-in with Deeney’s Scottish café (famed for their haggis toasties) is about to give way to the haggis pizza — think cheesy stone-baked pizza, wilted cavolo nero, homeade black chilli jam, and haggis thrown on top. There’ll be Iron Bru cocktails too! *Yard Sale Pizza, 105 Lower Clapton Road, London, E5 0NP
Whisky cocktails at Discount Suit Company
Mix up your tipple of choice and cheers to Scotland’s national poet with a whisky tipple. The unashamedly hip speakeasy,Discount Suit Company, has developed The Flying Scotsman cocktail just for the occasion — a mix of 10 year old Talisker, Walnut Wine, Pedro Ximenez Sherry, Red Dubonnet and Angostura Bitters. Bottoms up! Discount Suit Company, 29A Wentworth Street, London, E1 7TB
Burns Night Supper at Bonnie Gull
For non-haggis lovers, the fun needn't stop. Bonnie Gull Seafood Shack will be shaking things up a little in aid of the Scottish celebrations with a special Burns Night-inspired dinner menu this Saturday. Think less Haggis and more rock oysters, Scottish langoustine and scallops, Scottish cheese boards and a whisky truffle gateaux. (Haggis options available for traditional types too..) Bonnie Gull Seafood Shack, 21A Foley Street, London, W1W 6DS
Join in on Mr Fogg’s’ Burns Night Celebrations
Those familiar with Mr Fogg’s will no that it’s not one to brush off an excuse for a party. Taking Burns Night in its stride, this Saturday night the eccentric Mayfair bar will be hosting Burns Night Celebration, to include haggis toasting, bagpipe performances and plenty of Glenmorangie. Guests are encouraged to get into the spirit of things with their choice of attire — men that means brushing the dust off your kilts and sporrans. Mr Foggs, 15 Bruton Lane, London W1J 6JD
Visit SCOTCH at Brown’s Hotel
****Brown’s Hotel is getting well and truly into the spirit of thing with SCOTCH, a two-week Scottish whiskey pop-up running through to 8th February. The pop-up (which will be housed in the hotel’s newly refurbished library room) is a tribute to whisky bar, SCOTCH in The Balmoral, Edinburgh — Brown’s’ sister hotel. With 40 whiskies behind the bar, it’s the perfect place for whiskey connoisseurs to go, taste, and get merry. SCOTCH at Brown’s Hotel, Albemarle Street, Mayfair, London, W1S 4BP
Swap out your steak at Hawksmoor
Hawksmoor in Spitalfields is encouraging guests to swap their steak for lamb and haggis nuggets with swede purée and a whisky-inspired peated kimchi dip this Burns Night. But that’s just to get things started. The real celebrations are downstairs in the Basement Bar where Chivas Regal will be taking over the bar. Five exclusive whisky cocktails have been developed with names as out-there as Blood and Actual Sand…we’re definitely intrigued. Get yours until 31st January. Hawksmoor Spitalfields, 157a Commercial Street, London, E1 6BJ
York And Albany
Gordon Ramsay’s Camden outpost will be dishing up something special this Burns Night with a Scottish-themed four-course feast. Diners can choose from a selection of delicious sounding dishes including highland venison haunch with salt-baked beetroot and ‘Neeps & Tatties’ gratin, Aberdeen Angus beef consommé with barley and truffle oil, and seared scallops with smoked turnip purée and a black pudding Scotch egg. The Tipsy Laird trifle for afters doesn’t sound half bad either. York & Albany, 127-129 Parkway, London NW1 7PS
