Go the traditional route
Available 23-30 January 2016
£35 pp
If it’s fine Highland produce you’re after this Burns’ Night, look no further than Fitzrovia’s new(ish) star, from the folks behind pop-up sensation The Wild Game Company. Mac & Wild will be celebrating the Scottish bard Robbie Burns for a whole week. Each day features a different variety of haggis including clapshot, haggis in the hole and haggis pops. Proceedings kick off on Saturday 23 January with a traditional Burn’s Supper at the restaurant, and, in keeping with tradition, the haggis is to be piped in and several of Robbie Burns’ poems read aloud. The evening ends with a live sing-a-long of Auld Lang Syne.
Available 18-25 January at Belgravia
Available 21-25 January at Bishopsgate
Available 23-25 January at Canary Wharf
£35-55 pp
Head to one of Scotland’s principalities in London (there are three – Boisdale Belgravia, Bishopsgate and Canary Wharf). There you’ll not only find “plush jock-inese decor” and a “spectacular whisky selection”, but Burns’ Night celebrations that include piping in the haggis at each table, a speaker reciting The Ode to a Haggis (sounds a bit Vogon-esque) in full 18th century period costume, and the stabbing of the haggis each night in the traditional manner. On the set menus: Hebridean salmon, mini roast Macsween haggis, grass-fed dry-aged Aberdeenshire beef steaks and a noggin of single malt Scotch.
Planning to push the Burns’ night boat out?
Monday 25 January
£105 pp
This Burns’ Night, Jason Atherton’s original solo venture is offering an eight course tasting menu showcasing the best Scotland has to offer. Dishes include produce from our neighbours to the north like Scottish langoustine, Hebridean halibut, Highland venison and the traditional Haggis, neeps & tatties.
Monday 25 January
£60 pp
Fittingly for a restaurant named after the dining livery of the Flying Scotsman, Plum + Spilt Milk is hosting a celebration for the birthday of Scotland’s national poet Robert Burns. The special three-course Burns’ Supper includes all the traditional dishes: The ceremonial haggis with neeps and tatties accompanied by a piper; Arbroath Smokie, leek and whisky soup; loin of venison; cranachan for dessert; and a drink paired with each course. Kilts are not compulsory but encouraged! For bookings contact events@gnhlondon.com or call 020 3388 0818.
Outlaw’s, The Capital Hotel SW3
Monday 25 January
£75 pp (whisky flight £39)
This Burns’ Night Nathan Outlaw’s London restaurant will host a special menu for whisky lovers. Guests will be served a five-course menu of Scottish inspired dishes, each paired with its own carefully selected flight of whisky or wine. The tasting menu features sustainably sourced Scottish scallops and haggis with celeriac broth and apple paired with a dram of Dalwhinnie, 15 year old; a cod & ox cheek stew with neeps and tatties with Highland Park, 25 year old; Scottish blue cheese with fruit cake and chutney with Bowmore, 12 year old; And a chocolate mousse with orange, Innis and Gunn Ale accompanied by Balvenie, 12 year old signature whisky.
For a good value Burns’ blow-out
Monday 25 January
£32 pp
To start choose from whisky cured salmon or a warming soup, followed by Bistro Union’s own culinary ‘Address to a Haggis’ where the traditional recipe will be paired with clapshot mash, Scotch whisky and mustard, a seasonal mutton dish is available if you’d prefer. For dessert there’s wild winter berry cranachan. And it wouldn’t be truly Burns’ Night without a wee dram to end your evening so choose from three warming whisky brands to see you home.
Monday 25 January
£35 pp
If you’re in London’s financial heartland, Canary Wharf, this Burns’ Night then stop by D&D’s vantage-point Plateau. The restaurant will be serving a special four course menu in celebration of the famous poet. Dishes include: Smoked salmon, blinis and baby watercress; Cock a leekie soup; traditional haggis with neeps and tatties, served with a shot of 15 year old Glenfiddich; and cranachan to finish.
Something completely different?
Available throughout January
£5
If you don’t fancy a pricey set menu but still want to sample something Scottish this Burns’ Night then head to this Soho spot that revels in the art of the cheese toastie. To celebrate Caledonia’s most famous bard they’ve laid on a cranachan toastie – a unique twist on the classic Scottish dessert. Melt Room have combined whisky syrup, raspberry conserve and whipped cream and melted it together inside two pieces of milk bread to create a new sweet treat.
If you just fancy a wee dram
Available throughout January
£8
Celebrate Scotland’s national hero with this trendy cocktail parlour’s newest creation, the Burns’ Sipper. Available throughout the month of January, Dewars Scotch Whisky, Amer Picon, Maraschino Cherry Juice, Green Chartreuse and Grapefruit Bitters make up a sweet flavoured libation with citrus notes of grapefruit bitters that inspire poetic slurs reminiscent of Burns’ prose (so they say).
Available throughout January
£9
Or head to this friendly Shoreditch bar and restaurant, where cocktail got top billing from our reporters in the 2016 survey. Raise a glass to Robbie Burns at the Jones Family Project with the Jones Dram – a blend of Chivas Regal 12yr blended scotch and Drambuie. Garnished with a twist of lemon peel.
