This article was created by National Geographic Traveler (UK).
The first Burns Banquet was held in 1801, five years after the death of beloved Scottish poet Robert Burns, and set a template that has remained largely unchanged since: music, poetry, food and whisky. Burns' dinner, held each year on or about January 25th (the writer's birthday), traditionally begins with a reading of his poem Selkirk Grace, accompanied by soups such as Cullen Lizard.
A platter of haggis is then paraded around the room, often accompanied by a bagpipe player, before it is passed to a 'speaker', after which Burns' poem 'An Address to Haggis' is read. After a few courses and a whiskey toast in between, the evening ends with a rousing rendition of Auld Lang Syne. Here are the places you can participate:
Current lizard is a traditional Scottish soup that gets its color and flavor from smoked haddock, potatoes and onions. Photo courtesy of Alamy
The Grove Inn, Dumfries
The Grove Inn, the poet's favorite hauf (ghost), naturally makes a big deal of Burns Night. The 2025 event will include entertainment led by piper Callum Watson, as well as special guests from the Hauf Club, made up of local Burns enthusiasts. There will also be a five-course feast that includes all the traditional toasts, including a toast to lassi. January 25th. £65 per person.
Meldrum House (Aberdeenshire)
Given its location one mile from Glen Garrioch Distillery, whiskey naturally figures prominently in Meldrum House Hotel's celebrations. There is a Glen Garrioch cocktail on arrival and a dram is served with haggis. The haggis itself is topped with a sauce made with the distillery's Founders Reserve whisky. A highland dance performance is followed by a lively ceilidh band. January 24th and 25th. £70 per person.
ubiquitous chip glasgow
Expect a twist on tradition at Ubiquitous Chip's Beyond Burns event. Performers from the National Theater of Scotland present fresh interpretations of the Bard's works. The menu includes venison haggis, hogget shoulder with mussel ragu and seaweed soup, and Arbroath smoky mousse with quail egg. However, this night doesn't completely ignore tradition. After dinner, there will be a ceilidh and Auld Lang Syne performance. January 23rd. £80 per person.
Prestonfield's walls have a fascinating history, from its beginnings as a medieval abbey to its opening as a hotel in the 1960s. Photo: David Cheskin
Prestonfield House (Edinburgh)
The hotel's whitewashed exterior comes into its own on Burns night, when it is used as a canvas for a giant projected image of the poet to greet guests. The 2025 menu promises haggis with neeps and tatties, as well as roasted Angus beef and whiskey-battered carrots, and finished with sticky toffee pudding with Drambuie butterscotch and clotted cream ice cream. Guest speakers include broadcaster Jay Crawford and historian Ian Randles. January 25th. £85 per person.
Boisdale, London
Boisdale, the self-proclaimed “London's unofficial Scottish embassy” housed in an old Georgian townhouse in Belgravia, will combine its Burns Festival with its 35th anniversary. The week-long dinner culminates in a Burns extravaganza on January 25th. There will be a piper to welcome guests and a live band playing traditional Scottish music. There will also be an 'Address to Haggis' and a five-course menu including Cullen skink croquettes, Balmoral Estate venison tartare, mini roast haggis, baked halibut with Orkney mate and Scottish shortbread. January 20th to 25th. £65 per person.
Grantly Hall, Yorkshire
Set in the rugged North Yorkshire countryside, historic Grantley Hall has a dress code of tartan and kilt or black tie to match its stately surroundings. Dinner includes a classic four-course menu of currentkage, haggis, neeps and tatties, as well as a whiskey cocktail on arrival and a Glenmorangie 12 Year Old Lasanta with haggis toast. Throughout the evening there will be bagpipe performances, poetry, singing and traditional Ceilidh dancing. January 23rd. £145 per person.
Marlow the rower
Wealthy and quintessentially British, Marlow might not seem like the most obvious place to celebrate Burns Night, but at The Oarsman, Glaswegian chef Scott Smith focuses on wine, whisky, and Scottish cuisine. Host a night of guessing. The four-course menu includes Stornoway Black Pudding and Tattie Scones, Trout and Arbroath Smoky Cullen Lizard, Highland Park Whiskey Baba and Buckfast Tonic Wine. For drinks, pairings from the restaurant's list of over 300 wines are available, as well as whiskey flights. January 23rd. £60 per person.
Glenturret Lalique Restaurant, Cliff
The star of Burns Lunch at Perth's two Michelin star restaurant and Kinross' Glenturret Distillery is homemade haggis featuring malted barley and, of course, whisky. It also appears regularly on tasting menus throughout the year in a variety of forms, from haggis-stuffed grouse to haggis sandwiches, and Burns Night is that time. The rest of the menu for this year's three-course lunch is yet to be confirmed, but you can expect champagne, bagpipes and poetry, along with a private distillery tour and tasting including a 14-year-old limited-release Glenturret whisky. . January 25th. £175 per person.
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