St Patrick’s Day is a global celebration, both for the Irish diaspora and for revellers with no deeper connection to the Emerald Isle than a novelty hat.
Here are ten of the best St Patrick’s Day events in the UK.
Can’t Dance Ceilidh, London
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If you like your whiskey in the jar (and your inner Michael Flatley on the dancefloor), The Piano Works is the place for you this weekend. Starting off their St Patrick’s Day celebrations with a bottomless bloody mary and prosecco brunch, the party continues afterwards as house musicians play the crowd’s requests. Westlife, anyone? Serving £4 pints of Guinness from 5pm until close, you’ll be belting out Uptown Girl before you know it.
All Star Lanes are raising a toast to Ireland with a boozy brunch this weekend, and not just any boozy brunch - it’s a boozy drag brunch. Serving unlimited prosecco, mimosas and craft beer for two whole hours, the venue’s drag queens will have you singing along, in between mouthfuls of tasty grub. Their brunch menu is brand new with golden chicken and waffles and buttermilk pancakes taking centre stage.
The Sun Tavern, London
You’ll find London’s largest selection of Irish whiskey at the Sun Tavern, alongside Ireland’s notorious spirit, poitín, which was illegal until 1997. The Bethnal Green bar has teamed up with Slane Irish Whiskey to create three limited edition cocktails for St Patrick’s Day. Pick from 1981, the King George Cobbler or Ryanair, and watch your night take flight with live music and complimentary oysters from Oyster Boy.
Fiddler on the Roof, London
If you’re up for a right ol’ hoolie this weekend, Boisdale of Canary Wharf is where you need to be. Screening Six Nations rugby on Saturday, the bar has big screens so you can catch all the action, with the option of taking your antics outdoors afterwards. They’ll have a lively Irish duo on the terrace after 8pm and you can opt for a sit-down meal of pickled Galway herrings, boiled collar of bacon, and Baileys cheesecake.
Digbeth Dining Club, Birmingham
Digbeth Dining Club has teamed up with Jameson Irish Whiskey in a bid to throw Birmingham’s biggest St Patrick’s Day event, and they’re not doing a bad job of it. Entry is £1 and the first 300 people through the door get a complimentary serving of the whiskey. Alongside a sumptuous line-up of street food and drinks, people can get free trims and cuts from a Black Market Barbers pop-up.
Ruckus, London
Not one for “kiss me I’m Irish” T-shirts? There’s a raucous party at The Vaults on Saturday for those who choose to celebrate St Patrick’s Day in their finest attire. Taking you underground to a lair that’s rampant with mob bosses and gangsters, the party requires you to wear the best of the best: think braces, furs, shiny shoes and waistcoats. Dubbed as “Peaky Blinders but twice the craic”, this is going to be one helluva night.
Homeboy, London
London’s smallest Irish bar? For what it lacks in size, Homeboy makes up in atmosphere. This lively spot on Essex Road has been celebrating St Patrick’s Day all week, but on the day itself you can look forward to a home-away-from-home brunch; think full Irish breakfast, Irish stew and dressed fries. Hosting live bands throughout the day, and some of Ireland’s most loved DJs - including Arveene Juthan and CiCi Kavanagh, it won’t be hard to imagine you’re in Ireland.
Cahoots, London
Cahoots is - hands down - one of London’s coolest bars. And the vintage tube-themed bar isn’t missing out on the opportunity to raise a glass to St Patrick with their knees-up do on 17 March. Promising Guinness, Rose & Co Irish whiskey cocktails and live entertainment until 11pm, this is one craic-filled night you don’t want to skip. They’ve even gone as far as creating a cocktail that looks like a pint of Guinness. The Black Custard is made with coffee-infused Roe & Co whiskey mixed with Grant Brulot Coffee liqueur and vanilla syrup, topped with a Philadelphia cream cheese foam, a splash of Guinness, and cacao.
Camden Markets St Patrick’s Takeover, London
Not all St Patrick’s Day celebrations need to flourish in a pub, you know. The world-famous Camden Markets is taking part in the Official Festival this year, and they have some truly inventive bites to keep you fuelled all day Saturday. From Chin Chin Lab’s Lucky Four Leaf Clover ice cream to Young Vegans’ Guinness steak and ale pie and Cereal Killer Cafe’s Lucky Charms Superbowl, there’s no need to catch a flight for a taste of Ireland this weekend.
Mr Fogg's Tavern, London
The most Irish thing you can drink is a pint of Guinness? Not anymore. The good people at Mr Fogg’s Tavern have turned their house lager a vibrant emerald green for St Patrick’s Day, and it will be available all day on 17 March. If pints aren’t your thing, not to worry - they’ll have a selection of themed cocktails to choose from too, The Luck of the Irish and the Four Leaf Clover among them. An Irish band will be on hand to keep the craic going, and if you ask nicely enough they might just take the odd request.
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