A big day in the Scottish calendar, Burns Night celebrates the 253 anniversary of poet Robert Burns, Scotland’s “greatest cultural icon” according to Culture Secretary Fiona Hyslop.
Traditional Burns Night celebrations take the form of a Burns Supper in which haggis is eaten and Scotch whisky drunk.
You might be surprised to learn, however, that the English actually eat more haggis than the Scots.
Haggis-making firm MacSween revealed that it exports vast quantities of the meat-filled sheep intestines South of the border and in particular to London.
“English people are really enjoying it too, especially in London. It’s a lot of hard work keeping up with the demand. We sell thousands of pounds of the stuff down there – they order it in huge volumes,” a spokesperson said.
For something less traditional, a Burns Night app has been launched, featuring leading Scottish actors and musicians performing some of the poet’s greatest works and an autocue to help people recite Tam o’Shanter.
Here’s a list of London venues that will be putting on events or serving special menus for Burns Night.
Albannach
66 Trafalgar Square, Trafalgar Square, WC2N 5DS
020 7930 0066
albannach.co.uk
The Avalon
16 Balham Hill, London SW12 9EB
020 8675 8613
theavalonlondon.com
Boisdale
13-15 Eccleston Street, SW1W 9LX
020 7730 6922
boisdale.co.uk
The Cadogan Arms
298 King’s Road, SW3 5UG
T: 020 7352 6500
thecadoganarmschelsea.com
My Dining Room
18 Farm Lane, SW6 1PP
020 7381 3331
mydiningroom.net
