Best Burns Night celebrations

Robert Burns
Robert Burns is widely regarded as the national poet of Scotland

Still not decided where to celebrate the life and times of Scotland’s favourite poet, Robert Burns? Read our guide to the best Burns Night celebrations.

Robert Burns
Robert Burns is widely regarded as the national poet of Scotland

The annual celebration of the life and works of the Scottish bard Robert Burns’ life traditionally takes place on or around his birthday of 25 January. With the date edging closer, here is our pick of the best places to celebrate Burns Night.

READ ABOUT BURNS NIGHT TRADITIONS

Burns Night in London
For a grand celebration in the heart of the City of London, try 1 Lombard Street, a restaurant set in a former bank, built in 1776 to a neo-classical design. Those of you brave enough to don a kilt (we’ll leave it up to you to decide what to wear underneath) will be rewarded for your efforts with a free dram. Guests will also be treated to a three-course set menu, against a musical backdrop of bagpipes, together with some recitals from the famous poet’s works.
When: Friday 24 January
Cost: £45 for the set menu
Contact: 1 Lombard Street

Burns Night Supper in North Yorkshire
Why not have a Highland fling amid the Georgian surroundings of Grassington House Hotel in North Yorkshire, one of the Great Inns of Britain, which will serve up a four-course Scottish menu, (including, of course, haggis, neaps and tatties), in memory of Burns, all accompanied by a traditional kilted piper? And what better way to end the meal than to wash all this lovely grub down with a wee dram?
When: Sunday 26 January
Cost: £39.50 per person. Stay the night from just £55 per person
ContactGrassington House Hotel

Burns Night, Grassington House Hotel
The Georgian Grassington House Hotel will host its own Burns Night celebrations

Burns Night in Edinburgh
There will be celebrations across the city over the bard’s birthday weekend but our tip is for the traditional four-course Burns Supper in Hadrian’s Brasserie. The evening’s festivities will commence with a rendition of Address to a Haggis by Pipe Major Ian Grant and there is an option for specially selected whiskies to complement the menu, which gives a contemporary twist to the traditional Burns’ Night Supper, with such offerings as haggis hash browns and Letham chicken stovies.
When: Saturday 25 January
Cost: £32 per person, plus £24.50 each for the whisky pairing
Contact: Hadrian’s Brasserie

Burns Night in Glasgow
The Glasgow bar and restaurant Arisaig, situated in the courtyard of the historic Merchant Square, will be hosting its annual Burns Supper with an evening of “celebration, song and banter”, hosted by Scottish actress Joyce Falconer and comedian Bill Barclay.
When: Saturday 25 January
Cost: £55
Contact: Arisaig

Big Burns Supper in Dumfries
Robert Burns’ adopted hometown celebrates his birthday each year with a three-day celebration of music, theatre and comedy, the highlight of which is the colourful Homecoming Carnival, which will march through the streets of the city – this year telling the story of an unknown solider sent to war 100 years ago to commemorate the start of World War I.
When: Friday 24-Sunday 26 January
Cost: Varies but the carnival is free
Contact: Big Burns Supper

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