Burns Night 2023: food boxes, UK events, restaurants and attractions in Scotland
Celebrate Scotland’s national bard, Robert Burns, on 25 January
- 1. How to host your own Burns Night and what to eat
- 2. Robert Burns attractions around Scotland
- 3. Swaledale x St. JOHN haggis
- 4. The Scottish Cookaway
- 5. Farmison & Co’s Burns Night menu
- 6. Pipers Farm’s sustainable Burns Night box
- 7. The Scot Box’s Burns supper box
- 8. Stornoway Black Puddings’s Burns Night in
- 9. Blackwells Farm Shop three-course Burns Night supper
- 10. Eversfield Organic Burns Night box
- 11. McIntosh’s £1.25 Haggis, Neeps & Tatties
- 12. Kahani
- 13. St James’s Hotel & Club, Mayfair
- 14. Glenfiddich x Virgin Hotels: a grand celebration
- 15. Centurion Club, St Albans
- 16. The Mutton at Hazeley Heath
- 17. The Oarsman, Marlow
- 18. A Question of Burns
- 19. HIDE x The Dalmore
- 20. Burns Night at the Glenfiddich Time:Capsule, Rosewood London
- 21. The Betjeman Arms
- 22. Burns Night with Bowmore at The Savoy
- 23. Bourne & Hollingsworth Buildings
- 24. Local & Wild
- 25. Nc’nean London Supper at The Barley Mow Mayfair
- 26. Galvin Bar & Grill
- 27. The Prince Alfred
- 28. Laurel’s On The Roof
- 29. The Castle Wayne Burns Supper at Park Row
- 30. Galvin Bistrot & Bar
- 31. Monkey Shoulder: Mixing Up Burns Night
- 32. The Sun Tavern
- 33. Burns Night Sip & Paint at Enderby House Greenwich
- 34. The Real Mary King’s Close Burns Night package
- 35. Prestonfield House
- 36. Burns Night at Dewar’s Aberfeldy Distillery
- 37. Royal Yacht Britannia Burns Supper
- 38. Burns Night at The Fife Arms
- 39. The Big Burns Bash
- 40. Drinks by the Dram’s Regions of Scotland whisky tasting set
Millions of Scots around the world will raise a dram to celebrate the birthday of Robert Burns, the country’s national bard, on Wednesday 25 January.
The traditional Burns supper began a few years after the poet’s death in 1796 as a way for “Rabbie’s friends and acquaintances to honour his memory”, said the Manchester Evening News. Today it has become a celebration of all things Scottish, including haggis, whisky, bagpiping and Highland dancing.
The night’s celebrations follow a reliably scripted order – poetry recitals and haggis eating, boozy toasts and perhaps a chaotic ceilidh. Through it all “single malt whisky is the toasting tipple of choice, especially during the ceremonial slicing of the haggis”, The Independent said. Most famous of all the traditions is the recitation of Address to a Haggis, a poem written by Burns in 1786. This is usually performed over the intestinal delicacy, before it is cut open and eaten.
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If you can’t be in Scotland for Burns Night this year, here’s some top tips, food boxes and whisky sets for hosting your own supper. Plus, we take a look at some of the special events, restaurants and attractions where you can celebrate “Rabbie”.
1. How to host your own Burns Night and what to eat
Top tips
Celebrate Scottish cuisine with the classics on Burns Night: smoked fish soup; haggis; and neeps and tatties (swede/turnip and potatoes). According to Great British Chefs, traditional Burns supper recipes include creamy Cullen skink (thick Scottish soup made of smoked haddock, potatoes and onions), sweet Cranachan (traditional Scottish dessert) and of course haggis. Alternatively, your feast could feature a fillet of Scottish beef or spiced Scottish scallops. It’s also a tradition on 25 January to raise a glass of Scotch whisky to “Rabbie”.
If you’re planning to host a Burns Night supper then follow these instructions provided by VisitScotland. “All that’s needed is haggis, neeps, tatties, great company… and some Scottish whisky, of course!” For Burns Night menus, running order and entertainment ideas see the tourism board’s ebook.
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To start
Everyone gathers, the host says a few words, everyone sits and the Selkirk Grace is said.
The meal
The starter is served, the haggis is piped in (by a piper in a kilt, naturally, or find a piper “virtually”), the host performs the Address to a Haggis, everyone toasts the haggis and the main meal is served, followed by dessert (cranachan is a great option).
After the meal
The first Burns recital is performed, the Immortal Memory (the main tribute speech to Burns) is given, the second Burns recital is performed, and then there’s a Toast to the Lassies, followed by a reply to the Toast to the Lassies, before the final Burns recital is performed.
To end the night
The host gives a vote of thanks, everyone stands and sings Auld Lang Syne, crossing their arms and joining hands at the line “And there’s a hand, my trusty fere!”
2. Robert Burns attractions around Scotland
Travel
Locations with a Burns connection are fascinating and certainly worth visiting on a trip to Scotland, including the Robert Burns Birthplace Museum in Alloway, South Ayrshire. There is also an opportunity to visit the home of Souter Johnnie, who was immortalised in a famous Burns poem, in Kirkoswald. Other Burns attractions in Ayrshire include the Bachelors’ Club in Tarbolton, the 17th century thatched cottage where Burns established his debating club, and the Burns House Museum in Mauchline where Burns lived and worked between 1784 and 1788.
Burns enthusiasts, or anyone simply interested in seeing a beautiful corner of Scotland, can take a trip to Dumfries and Galloway. Burns’s former home Ellisland Farm is now a museum where some of his original writings and possessions are on display.
A welcome sight for those in search of warmth and comfort (and perhaps a whisky), the Globe Inn in Dumfries is notable in that it is one of the country’s oldest hostelries and used to be frequented by Burns himself. It is rumoured that anyone who dares sit in Burns’s old chair (which is still at the bar) is challenged to recite a line of his poetry and buy everyone a drink at the bar.
While in Dumfries, visitors can also spend an afternoon at Burns’s final home, Robert Burns House, on the aptly named Burns Street. Discover the famous Kilmarnock and Edinburgh editions of Burns’s work and take a look around the study where he wrote some of his best-loved poems. The Burns Mausoleum, the final resting place for Burns, his widow Jean, and five of their children, is also only a short walk away in St Michael’s Kirkyard.
Burns’s connections with Scotland’s capital city have long been celebrated. On 28 November 1786, when Burns arrived in Edinburgh, its gates were flung open to him. He stayed in Baxter’s Close in a house which has been demolished and is now Deacon Brodie’s Tavern on the Royal Mile.
Also based on the city’s Royal Mile, the Writers’ Museum has a permanent Burns collection which is recognised to have national significance. Displayed in the museum is a collection of portraits of Burns along with the writing desk from his Dumfries home at which he wrote some of his best-known work. While in Edinburgh, fans of Burns will be able to see one of the most famous portraits at the Scottish National Portrait Gallery – Alexander Nasmyth’s portrait of Robert Burns.
3. Swaledale x St. JOHN haggis
Haggis
Swaledale Online Butchers has collaborated with St. JOHN Restaurant to produce 80 haggises to celebrate Burns Night. True to Fergus Henderson’s iconic cookbook Nose to Tail Eating, first published in 1999 and arguably a greater influence on a generation of chefs than any other, these haggises have been crafted in the hallowed kitchens of St. JOHN by head chef Farokh Talati. Weighing approximately 1kg and feeding four people, each haggis contains a sheep’s “pluck” (its heart, liver and lungs) which is seasoned, spiced and combined with buttery onions, oatmeal and suet. Delivery on 24-25 January only.
4. The Scottish Cookaway
Food boxes
The Cookaway has teamed up with 2020 Young Chef Young Waiter (YCYW) winner Peter Meechan to launch a new recipe kit – the Scottish Cookaway. There are two menu options: the gourmet aged ribeye experience and the wild venison Scottish feast, both of which come with premium British cuts of meat. Boxes also contain traditional Scottish sides, such as Cullen skink and haggis bon bons with whisky nayo, made with Nc’nean organic single malt whisky.
5. Farmison & Co’s Burns Night menu
Food boxes
Sustainable online meat company Farmison & Co has a range of spectacular food and drink options for Burns Night. Food boxes include the Rabbie Burns pie, neeps and tatties box (£30, serves two) and the haggis celebration box (£40), which comes with a traditional haggis, Bruichladdich The Classic Laddie Single Malt Scotch Whisky (200ml) and Bruichladdich whisky cream sauce. There are a range of haggis on this year’s menu – a small wee haggis, a traditional haggis and a 3.6kg chieftain haggis – ideal as a centrepiece for Burns Night celebrations. Other items include the Rabbie Burns pie (£12.95 for two), chicken Balmoral with haggis and black pudding (£29.95), lorne sausage (£5.95), and bashed neeps (£5.95).
6. Pipers Farm’s sustainable Burns Night box
Food boxes
Ethical retailer Pipers Farm has teamed up with Nc’nean distillery to create an exclusive recipe kit, providing everything you need for a sustainable Burns Night supper at home. The box includes a handmade, small batch Pipers Farm’s haggis made with 100% grass-fed lambs’ offal and pastured Saddleback pigs’ offal, oats, and an array of beautiful herbs and spices. The haggis is packaged up with its full recipe and cooking instructions, as well as a dram of Nc’nean’s organic single malt whisky which pairs perfectly with the richness of the meal. If customers are feeling creative they can even make the signature Bobby Burns cocktail using Nc’nean’s custom recipe card.
7. The Scot Box’s Burns supper box
Food boxes
Selling “novelty Scottish scran packages”, The Scot Box is an obvious place to go for all your Burns Night essentials. You can either send its Burns supper box to “a Scot you know”, or keep it for your own supper on 25 January. The Scot Box’s Burns box includes one Stahly haggis, neeps and tatties mix (vegetarian option available); one 5cl bottle of The Robert Burns Blend Whisky; two 250ml bottles of Irn Bru; one packet of Stockan’s Orkney oatcakes; one Burns poetry/song book; one musical bagpipe or a wee haggis fridge magnet; one Mrs Tilly’s whisky fudge/tablet gift box; and one packet of Loch Ness Cranachan creams.
8. Stornoway Black Puddings’s Burns Night in
Food boxes
Have a Burns Night in with this haggis box from Stornoway Black Puddings. It comes with a selection of natural Scottish haggis (450g approx) along with Nevis Bakery’s oatcakes, Isle of Arran cheese (various flavours), whisky sauce, Nevis Bakery’s shortbread, two packs of Mackie’s crisps and a card with the Address to a Haggis verse.
£34.95; stornowayblackpudding.co.uk
9. Blackwells Farm Shop three-course Burns Night supper
Food boxes
Celebrate Burns Night with a delicious three-course meal for two from the Blackwells Kitchen. Start the Burns supper with a smoked salmon and dill pate with a sourdough baguette, followed by a main course of haggis served with leek and swede gratin, mashed potato and a whisky gravy. For dessert it’s Cranachan cheesecake. Orders to be placed by Friday 20 January.
£47.50; blackwellsfarmproduce.co.uk
10. Eversfield Organic Burns Night box
Food boxes
Eversfield’s new Burns Night box is packed full of organic food to create your very own traditional Scottish dinner at home. It comes with organic ingredients to make a classic starter of cook-a-leekie soup, followed by a delicious main of baked haggis with neeps and tatties. The box contains haggis (350g), baking potatoes (1kg), swede, Eversfield Organic butter (200g), family pack of chicken thighs and drumsticks, leeks (500g), carrots (500g), thyme (30g) and bay leaves (10g).
11. McIntosh’s £1.25 Haggis, Neeps & Tatties
Ready meal
If you’re looking to do Burns Night on a budget then you can enjoy haggis, neeps and tatties for less than a couple of quid. Scottish ready meal brand McIntosh has stocked the shelves of leading retailers with its inflation-busting homemade “heat and eat” chilled meal, which costs just £1.25. Ready to eat after less than five minutes in the microwave.
12. Kahani
Event: 23-29 January – London
Gourmet Indian restaurant Kahani is adding some subcontinental flavours to London’s Burns Night offering. For one week only – 23-29 January – a limited edition haggis bhuna will be on the Chelsea restaurant’s menu. A unique Indian take on a Scottish classic, the dish has been created by Michelin-starred chef and owner Peter Joseph. It features the finest quality British lamb paired with traditional Indian spices, including ginger, chilli, garamasala and mace. The spices are fried before allowing the meat to marinade and absorb the flavours, resulting in a rich and fragrant curry. It’s garnished with fresh coriander and served with hot parathas.
13. St James’s Hotel & Club, Mayfair
Event: 24-28 January – London
Burns Night will be celebrated for five days at St James’s Hotel & Club in Mayfair. Beginning in Bar 1857, you can enjoy a glass of whisky from notable pours including Dalmore’s 15 Year Old Highland Single Malt or the signature Dalmore Port Wood Mackenzie Highball. As the evening draws on, guests can head to the intimate dining room at Seven Park Place for a tasting of Michelin-starred chef William Drabble’s menu gourmand with dishes including roasted veal sweetbread and baron bigod, black truffle with calvados and brioche crumb. Exclusively for Burns Night, Drabble will be serving his signature seasonal haggis raviolo, with confit turnips and Dalmore 12-year single malt and thyme jus.
14. Glenfiddich x Virgin Hotels: a grand celebration
Event: 25 January – Edinburgh
Burns Night at The Commons Club, Virgin Hotels Edinburgh will witness an intimately indulgent celebration with Glenfiddich single malt Scotch whisky. Limited to ten guests, this event will focus on some of the finest food and drams Edinburgh has to offer. Hosted by Mark Thomson, Glenfiddich ambassador to Scotland, you’ll be guided through a tasting of the Glenfiddich Grand Series – drams aged between 21 and 26 years, matched to a bespoke menu crafted by Virgin Hotels chef de cuisine, Emma Hanley. Tickets £125 per person.
15. Centurion Club, St Albans
Event: 25 January – St Albans
The Centurion Club in St Albans will be serving up a menu full of Scottish delicacies, including whisky and of course haggis. The evening will start with a glass of Glasgow Punch, followed by a five-course menu including traditional Cullen skink, haggis served with neeps and tatties and a dram of whisky. Main course is Scottish beef and a selection of seasonal sides. A dessert of Cranachan will finish the evening. A traditional piper will play and there will be a recital of Address to a Haggis. 7pm start.
£75 per person; centurionclub.co.uk
16. The Mutton at Hazeley Heath
Event: 25 January – Hampshire
Located in the picturesque village of Hazeley Heath in Hampshire, the recently-opened gastropub The Mutton will be celebrating its first Burns Night. Guests will enjoy a warming Boulevardier to start before tucking into a menu consisting of twists on the traditional Burns Night feast from head chef Robert Boer. Menu items include smoked haddock chowder, scallops and haggis, homemade black pudding and romesco and to finish a honey parfait with whisky jelly and toasted oats. During their meal guests will enjoy live music from a traditional Scottish piper and in true Burns Night fashion, an ode to Robert Burns.
£55 per person; sevenrooms.com
17. The Oarsman, Marlow
Event: 25 January – Buckinghamshire
The Oarsman, a contemporary bistro pub and wine bar in the heart of Marlow, Buckinghamshire, will celebrate Burns Night with a tasting menu nodding to head chef Scott Smith’s Scottish heritage. Kicking off the evening, guests will be welcomed with a Boulevardier cocktail to warm up. Inspired by the Burns Night supper, Scott has created a tasting menu of classics with a modern twist. To start there will be haggis, neeps and tatties and broon sauce. Mains will be roast cod with Arbroath smokie braised leeks and to finish Dundee cake with whisky cream. In true Scottish style, diners will be treated to an optional whisky flight and the evening will wrap up with a reading of Address to a Haggis.
18. A Question of Burns
Event: 25 January – Glasgow
Celebrating its 30th anniversary, “A Question of Burns” will be held at the newly-refurbished ballroom of the Glasgow Hilton on 25 January. Organised by SBH Scotland, Grant’s Haggis and Endura, the night will feature comedian Fred MacAulay as well as the world’s leading Robert Burns performer, Chris Tait, and all hosted by rugby legend Andy Nicol. Standard guest tickets cost £105 or it’s £1,000 for table of ten.
19. HIDE x The Dalmore
Event: 25 January – London
HIDE restaurant on Piccadilly in London is collaborating with Highland whisky The Dalmore for its Burns Night celebration on 25 January. The exclusive dinner set in the elegant Hide & Seek Room will see the unveiling of the 2022 collection of vintages, The Dalmore 2003 and The Dalmore 2007, and the five-course menu created by Ollie Dabbous will showcase the best in Scottish produce. A premium wine and whisky pairing will be served alongside the menu, including a toast to Scotland’s greatest poet. As well as the tasting menu and wine and whisky pairing, guests will also enjoy a welcome cocktail, coffee, petit fours and a bottle of The Dalmore 2007 to take home. Price is £450 per person.
£450 per person; sevenrooms.com
20. Burns Night at the Glenfiddich Time:Capsule, Rosewood London
Event: 25 January – London
The Glenfiddich Time:Capsule terrace at the Rosewood London hotel will host a modern Burns Night where tradition is interwoven with contemporary performances. Guests can enjoy a selection of specially created Scottish-themed dishes, including Rosewood London’s take on Cullen skink, Glenfiddich dill cured Loch Duart salmon and traditional haggis, neeps and tatties, in addition to cocktails and whisky tastings with Glenfiddich brand ambassador Alex Walker. In celebration of both the traditional and modern aspects of Scottish culture maverick poetry collective “I Am Loud” will recite a selection of Burns classics, as well as several bespoke pieces created for Glenfiddich. Tickets £135 per person.
21. The Betjeman Arms
Event: 25 January – London
Celebrate the life and work of the Scottish national bard at The Betjeman Arms in St Pancras. Taking place on Wednesday 25 January and priced at £50 per person, enjoy some of the finest Scottish fayre along with a wee dram or two of The Glenlivet scotch whisky in celebration of Scotland’s most loved poet, perfectly paired with a three-course feast.
£50 per person; thebetjemanarms.co.uk
22. Burns Night with Bowmore at The Savoy
Event: 25 January – London
In collaboration with Bowmore Single Malt Scotch Whisky, The Savoy hotel in London is hosting an evening of Scottish-inspired food, whisky and live entertainment. Guests will be able to enjoy a welcome tipple with Bowmore before indulging in an unforgettable five-course meal, featuring Savoy twists on traditional dishes, and paired with a specially curated selection of Bowmore whiskies. Following the dinner, entertainment and poetry, there will also be an opportunity to try ceilidh dancing. Tickets are £165 per person and includes a raffle entry to win an incredible stay for two at Fairmont St Andrews to continue the Scottish celebrations. The hotel is also offering a special rate starting at £600 for all guests staying the night on 25 January.
23. Bourne & Hollingsworth Buildings
Event: 25 January – London
In true Burns Night style, laddies and lassies will don their finest tartan attire and head to Bourne & Hollingsworth Buildings for the ultimate Scottish celebration. Set against the backdrop of Clerkenwell’s most beautiful townhouse, guests will be invited to celebrate the life of Robert Burns with a tasting flight of four Glenmorangie whiskies. Once the whiskies have been sipped, revellers will be ushered to the dancefloor for traditional ceilidh dancing, a heart-warming rendition of Auld Lang Syne and participate in “The Burns Factor”, reciting some of the poet’s trickier verses. The festivities will continue until 11pm with many ceilidh favourites.
From £40 per person; bandhbuildings.com
24. Local & Wild
Event: 25 January – London
This Burns Night the Local & Wild restaurant group, helmed by brothers Oliver and Richard Gladwin, will be partnering with Bruichladdich Whisky on a special two-course menu to mark the occasion. This will be available only on 25 January, across all of their London restaurants including The Shed in Notting Hill, Sussex Soho, and Rabbit on the King’s Road. Featuring traditional fare, a main course of homemade baked haggis, neeps and tatties will be served with a Bruichladdich whisky jus, designed for sharing between two (£28). This will be followed by a pudding of cranachan, heather honey and raspberries (£7). Also on offer will be a limited edition cocktail featuring Bruichladdich’s finest blends.
25. Nc’nean London Supper at The Barley Mow Mayfair
Event: 25 January – London
Nc’nean has teamed up with The Barley Mow Mayfair to bring Burns Night to London. Diners can expect an authentic experience, including the traditional ode to the haggis and bagpipes. Executive chef Ben Tish has also created an exclusive three-course menu with items including Cullen skink (£14); venison and haggis wellington with neeps and tatties, seasonal greens and whisky gravy (£36); and rhubarb Cranachan with Scottish blossom honey, whisky and Ivy House cream (£10). The dishes can be paired with Nc’nean’s organic single malt cocktails (whisky spritz, wild negroni and Morvern bellini, all £14) so guests can raise a toast to celebrate the life of Robert Burns.
26. Galvin Bar & Grill
Event: 25 January – London
In the 100-cover dining room of the Kimpton Fitzroy London Hotel, Michelin-starred chefs Chris and Jeff Galvin will guide their diners on a culinary journey of Scottish delicacies, showcasing the finest seasonal produce. Dishes will include haggis, neeps and tatties; Buckfast-braised short rib of Scottish beef with rumbledethumps; and to complete the meal, the Cranachan with oats, cream and raspberries. To drink, guests will have the opportunity to enjoy all that Scotland has to offer with a choice of three whiskies honouring a different area of Scottish countryside, including Glenfarclas from the Highlands and The Macallan from Speyside.
27. The Prince Alfred
Event: 25 January – London
Raise a toast to Scotland’s most celebrated bard on 25 January at The Prince Alfred in Maida Vale with a Burns Night supper club. Priced at £40 per person, celebrate in true Scottish style with a three-course menu including traditional haggis, neeps and tatties, perfectly paired with 12-year-old Glenfiddich single malt Scotch whisky.
28. Laurel’s On The Roof
Event: 25 January – London
Laurel’s On The Roof at the Mondrian Shoreditch hotel in London will be partnering with Aberfeldy Whisky to celebrate Burns Night. To mark the occasion guests will be invited from 6pm, where they will be greeted with a limited edition Aberfeldy Chamomile Cocktail on arrival. This will be followed by a three-course set menu (£39pp) with a starter of cock-a-leekie soup served with soda bread; a traditional main course of haggis, neeps and tatties; and a pudding of raspberry Cranachan. Each dish will be accompanied by flights of whisky and finished off with a Bobby Burns cocktail.
29. The Castle Wayne Burns Supper at Park Row
Event: 25 January – London
Experience a unique evening where tradition meets the DC Universe with a feast for the senses courtesy of acclaimed chef Alyn Williams at Park Row. Step off the streets of Soho into the Gotham-inspired, art-deco grandeur of the Grade II-listed building and sit down to a supper fit for billionaire Bruce Wayne himself, with a menu from his ancestral home Castle Wayne located in the town of Inishtree, Scotland. The feast begins with a selection of canapés from the Castle Wayne Estate that will transport you deep into the Scottish Highlands. Menu items include warm potato pancakes with whiskey-and-soy-smoked salmon; decadent Scottish salmon caviar with crème fraîche; and rich black pudding, apple and smoked chicken toastie with pickled walnuts. The main event is three courses of Gaelic-rooted gastronomy from chef Williams. Each course comes with the option for elevation by way of Alfred Pennyworth-approved whisky pairings from Glenfiddich distillery. Diners can expect all the traditional trappings, including the piping of the haggis, a ceilidh band, dancing and more. The Castle Wayne Burns Supper at Park Row is £65 per person for three courses (with paired classic whisky flight for an additional £60 per person).
30. Galvin Bistrot & Bar
Event: 25 January – London
Burns Night will be celebrated at Galvin Bistrot & Bar in Spital Square with a six-course tasting menu of traditional Scottish delicacies including Cullen skink; haggis, neeps and tatties; Isle of Mull cheddar; raspberry Cranachan; and Scottish fudge. As well as the feast, the evening will also have entertainment with live music and poetry to mark the occasion. The tasting menu is priced at £60 per person with additional wine or whisky pairings also available.
£60 per person; galvinrestaurants.com
31. Monkey Shoulder: Mixing Up Burns Night
Event: 25 January – London
On the evening of 25 January, Monkey Shoulder whisky is “Mixing Up Burns Night” to host a free event at Shoreditch cocktail bar and liquor store TT Liquor. Guests can expect an evening of dancing, delicious whisky cocktails, and Scottish-inspired street food with a twist, featuring entertainment from some of the best emerging talent from the UK underground scene, including the likes of DJ Santero and Ball-Zee. Starts at 6.30pm, free tickets available to reserve via Eventbrite. Walk-in spaces will be available on the night.
32. The Sun Tavern
Event: 25 January – London
East London cocktail bar, The Sun Tavern, will be raising a glass to Scotland in a special collaboration with Highlands whisky Aberfeldy to create an exclusive cocktail menu available for one day only. The bar will also be serving up free haggis bites from Broadway Market stalwarts, Deeney’s, to pair with the whisky-based cocktails. There will be an Address to a Haggis and a rendition or two of Burns’s best work. Rennie, of Scottish indie legends The View, will be on the decks with a Scottish-heavy DJ set until 12am.
33. Burns Night Sip & Paint at Enderby House Greenwich
Event: 25 January – London
Get your creative juices flowing with a one-of-a-kind tasting and painting masterclass in the stunning Octagon Room at Enderby House in Greenwich. For one night only on Wednesday 25 January, enjoy a special Burns Night-themed session from 7pm, where everything is inspired by Scotland, from the art to a Scotch whisky flight.
34. The Real Mary King’s Close Burns Night package
Event: 25, 27 and 28 January – Edinburgh
The Real Mary King’s Close has partnered with Wedgwood The Restaurant to create an unforgettable Burns Night package filled with poetry, history, Scotch whisky and delightful dishes. Guests will start with a one-hour guided tour of The Real Mary King’s Close, where they will get to explore the uniquely preserved streets and spaces underneath Edinburgh’s famous Royal Mile. They will learn about the city’s hidden history, listen to a recital of Burns’s poetry and raise a glass to Scotland’s favourite son. The tour will be followed with an exquisite three-course menu at Wedgwood The Restaurant, the multi-award-winning Scottish restaurant located on The Royal Mile. Price: £79 per person for the tour and dinner, over 18s only.
35. Prestonfield House
Event: 26 January – Edinburgh
Edinburgh luxury hotel Prestonfield House will host its Burns Supper on Thursday 26 January, providing an evening of fine dining and cultural delights. Guests will be greeted with a welcome drink before sitting down for an indulgent three-course meal, accompanied by the usual mix of wit, wine, whisky and wisdom from the revered guest speakers. The evening will be in aid of Prestonfield’s charity Prostate Scotland, with a live auction to raise money for the cause, followed by one or two musical surprises. Starts at 7pm, tickets priced at £85 per person.
prestonfieldevents.hungrrr.co.uk
36. Burns Night at Dewar’s Aberfeldy Distillery
Event: 27 January – Aberfeldy, Perth and Kinross
Dewar’s Aberfeldy Distillery is collaborating with Ballintaggart for its big Burns Night event on Friday 27 January. Taking place from 7pm-10pm, the evening will see guests enjoy a Bobbie Burns welcome drink on arrival followed by a three-course meal with all the food being centred on the finest Scottish ingredients. Whiskies will be matched to each course, including Aberfeldy 18 Year Old Côte Rôtie Red Wine Cask Finish. Guests will also be able to enjoy the address to the haggis and the “ultimate Burns speaker” for entertainment throughout the night. The menu includes Ballintaggart sourdough, whipped salted butter, Great Glen charcuterie, and winter pickles to welcome; wild game terrine, pickled walnut, gooseberry and rye bread to start; Ballintaggart haggis, roasted rosemary potatoes, confit garlic neeps, buttered kale, and garden herbs to follow; and Dewars 12 whisky creme caramel, poached rhubarb and barley crisp to finish.
37. Royal Yacht Britannia Burns Supper
Event: 27-28 January – Leith
Head to Leith for a luxurious Burns Night aboard the Royal Yacht Britannia. A piper will welcome guests on the former royal yacht where they’ll enjoy drinks and a canapé reception in the State Apartments. This is followed by a stunning five-course dinner made with only the finest Scottish ingredients, complete with Address to a Haggis in the State Dining Room and whisky tastings.
£240 per person; royalyachtbritannia.co.uk
38. Burns Night at The Fife Arms
Event: 28 January – Braemar, Aberdeenshire
Guests can enjoy an evening of poems, pipers and puddings at The Fife Arms’s annual Burns Night celebration. This event will include Scotland’s Makar, Kathleen Jamie. There is no place more atmospheric than The Fife Arms to mark this uniquely Scottish event. Price from £1,145, based on two people staying. The offer includes two-night stay, breakfast in the Clunie dining room, a formal Burns Dinner with an Address to the Haggis and evening entertainment including traditional readings and musical performances.
39. The Big Burns Bash
Event: 28 January – Kinross
KLEO (Kinross-shire Local Events Organisation) is bringing back the highly successful Big Burns Bash for 2023. Taking place on Saturday 28 January at Kinross Golf Club, the big bash will be a rousing celebration of the life and works of Robert Burns. The fun and informal event will feature all the favourites, including Address to a Haggis, and guests will enjoy a two-course meal, Highland dancing and a wee bit of light-hearted poetry.
40. Drinks by the Dram’s Regions of Scotland whisky tasting set
Whisky at home
Perfect for those who like to try a bit of everything, this tasting set from Drinks by the Dram explores the five whisky regions of Scotland – Campbeltown, Highland, Islay, Lowland and Speyside – and includes a set of five 30ml drams.