Burns Night 2015: How to celebrate the Scottish poet’s birthday in London

Saturday night is Burns Night at Plateau, Canary Wharf. The five course set menu starts with smoked salmon, blinis and baby watercress followed by cock-a-leekie soup, before the traditional haggis is brought in, served with a shot of 15-year-old Glenfiddich. The night will be finished off with cranachan and a Scottish cheese selection.

 

 

This British restaurant near St Paul’s has teamed up with Dalmore single malt whiskies to pair with its haggis, neeps and tatties and other select dishes. Catch the events on Friday or on the day itself (Sunday). 

 

 

As you might expect, this Scottish stalwart goes all out on Burns Night. Its restaurants in Bishopsgate and Belgravia will offer themed menus throughout the week, but a particularly special celebration will be held at its Canary Wharf base on Saturday. Macallan’s Burns Night Dinner will see Willie the piper return to recite Ode to the Haggis before a five course menu is served, featuring a Macsween haggis, Aberdeenshire beef, Cullen Skink and Clootie dumplings, accompanied by Macallan whiskies. The Rat Pack will also be performing some swing classics to promote Boisdale’s campaign to overturn the haggis ban in the US.

 

 

Hawksmoor in Spitalfields is hoping Burns Night punters will swap their steak for a lamb and haggis nugget with swede puree and cheese, served with a peated kimchi dip. But this unusual bar snack is really just a stomach-liner, as the Basement Bar downstairs has partnered up with Scotch whisky Chivas Regal to create five new cocktails with no-nonsense names like Blood and Actual Sand (pictured above). The nugget and cocktails are available to try until 2 February. 

 

 

Andy Waugh (pictured, kilt and all) has dedicated a whole week to Rabbie Burns at the Charlotte Street pop-up of his Wild Game Company. Waugh cooks the finest haggis and venison sent to him from his father’s Highlands estate, and he’s serving a different variety of haggis every day. The week culminates in a traditional dinner on Saturday, when the not-so-wee beastie will be piped in, followed by some Burns poetry readings and a rousing rendition of Auld Lang Syne.

 

 

Warm your cockles at Great Northern Hotel’s whisky tasting on Saturday, starring five varieties of Dalmore paired with Scottish-inspired canapes, such as Isle of Mull cheddar and pickled walnut, haggis and neep croquettes and mini Highland venison burgers. Head upstairs to the Plum + Spilt Milk restaurant for a more hearty tasting menu, and throw in an overnight stay for a special Burns Night deal of £220 per person.