Every January, restaurants, bars and entertainment venues mark Burns Night in London by putting on fabulous, lip-smacking events. Cullen skink, a thick soup of smoked haddock, potato and onion, usually starts proceedings, followed by hearty platefuls of haggis – minced sheep’s offal mixed with oatmeal and various spices. Many establishments dust off bottles of their finest Scottish whisky, while others pull out all the stops and enrol bagpipers, bands, and native Scots for a riveting ‘Address to a Haggis’ – all before a foot-stomping Cèilidh, of course. Here, we round up the best Burns Night events in London for 2025, in no particular order.
What is Burns Night?
Every year, the Scottish – and admirers of the Scots – celebrate Burns Night in London; an annual party in honour of the life of Romantic poet Robert Burns. Burns is one of the country’s most celebrated writers – you probably know him as the man who penned ‘Auld Lang Syne’ – who lived in Scotland in the 18th century. Every year, Scots mark the occasion with a Burns Supper that incorporates lots of traditional food and dress (think kilts, haggis and whisky).
When is Burns Night?
Each year, Burns Night falls on 25 January – not great for those committed to dry January or Veganuary, sure, but a wonderful excuse to throw caution to the wind a little early.
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1. Mount St Restaurant, Mayfair
Look no further than Mayfair’s Mount St. Restaurant for an uber-indulgent Scottish celebration. Secure a coveted spot at the restaurant between Monday 20 January and Saturday 25 January, when chefs are cooking up a decadent four-course menu in honour of Robert Burns. Dishes include Orkney scallops with smoked haddock mash, a classic haggis dish, and Eccles cakes. Still peckish? Sink a pint of craft beer in The Audley, the cosy pub on street level, and you may have an appetite for the haggis scotch egg.
Address: Mount St. Restaurant, First Floor, 41-43 Mount Street, London W1K 2RX
Website: mountstrestaurant.com
Price: £125 per person for the set menu
Dates: Monday 20 – Saturday 25 January
2. Auld Hag, Angel
Who knew Angel would be the home of London’s most sought-after Scottish scran? It didn’t take long for the delivery service devised by Gregg Boyd and his partner Maddi during the Covid lockdowns to gain a following, and the pair soon evolved from the comfort of their kitchen to a food stall at Westgate St Market. Now, their bricks-and-mortar site is the place to go for a taste of what lies beyond the border, as the duo rustle up bulky haggis and cheese toasties, rolls stuffed with generous portions of black pudding and runny eggs, and an ever-changing selection of treats from gooey brownies to pretty square macaroons. Join the team for Burns Night as they set up shop for the evening at LOCK Warehouse in Oval; expect an address to a haggis, a live piper and a foot-stomping ceilidh alongside all the usual tasty goods.
