A dram, a dance and chance to celebrate Scotland’s Bard

WHERE YOU CAN ADDRESS THE LESSER-SPOTTED HAGGIS ON BURNS NIGHT

IT’S almost time to don your kilt and raise a dram in celebration of the life and poetry of Robert Burns.

The famous Scot is remembered on or around January 25 – known as Burns Night – his birthday. Though it’s traditionally a Scottish celebration, events take place across the country and there are plenty happening here in Leicestershire.

Burns Night Ceilidh - The Guildhall, Leicester - Friday, January 24

Celebrate with an evening of energetic music and traditional dancing.

You’ll be able to dosey doe the night away in the Guildhall’s atmospheric Great Hall and enjoy a real fire and dram of whisky to keep you warm. With ceilidh band 3Around3.

All ages and experience welcome.

Tickets £8/advance £7/NUS / Under 16’s £6 (Door) £5 (Advance).

Contact The Guildhall on 0116 253 2569.

Burns Night 2020 - BrewDog Leicester - Saturday, January 25

Scottish company BrewDog will be celebrating the life and poetry of Burns, and all thing Scottish.

You’ll get a free pint if you’re wearing a kilt (or tartan trousers), plus there will be Boilermaker mini-flights and poetry on the bar from Some-antics. Event begins 7.30pm.

Burns Night at The Pumping Station, Cropston - Saturday, January 25

A poetic celebration of Scotland at The Pumping Station. Tickets cost £20 each and include three courses of bowl food – smoked salmon, haggis, neeps and tatties, and cranachan, plus whisky tasting and ceilidh dancing. Begins 6.30pm.

Burns Night Supper - The Geese and Fountain, Croxton Kerrial Saturday, January 25

Here’s your chance to enjoy a traditional Burns Night supper, along with lots of whisky, poetry, laughs and bagpipes.

There will be a welcome by bagpipes from 7pm, with guests seated by 7.20 for the Selkirk Grace.

The menu features starters including whisky-cured salmon, mains including haggis, neeps and tatties and desserts including deep-fried Mars bar. Tickets are £35, children £15.

10-day Burns event - Wetherspoon pubs - today until Sunday, January 26

Eight Wetherspoon pubs in Leicestershire will be celebrating the life and poetry of the Bard by hosting a 10-day Burns event.

To mark the occasion, the pubs will be serving two special meals: Scottish haggis, neeps and tatties, as well as Caledonian Burger (6oz beef patty, haggis, whisky sauce, chips and six beer-battered onion rings).

Customers will also be able to enjoy a guest ale, Harviestoun Haggis Hunter (4.3% ABV), from Scotland’s Harviestoun Brewery, in Clackmannanshire.

Among the drink choices for the Burns event meal deals are two Scottish single malt whiskies, Glenmorangie and Glenfiddich, Scotland’s BrewDog Elvis Juice beer, as well as a Scottish gins Tanqueray No. Ten, Tanqueray Flor de Sevilla, Hendrick’s and Edinburgh Gin Rhubarb & Ginger.

Participating pubs are: The High Cross, High Street; The Corn Exchange, Market Place, and The White House, Scraptoft Lane, all in Leicester, as well as The Lord Keeper of the Great Seal, The Parade, Oadby; The Sugar Loaf, High Street, Market Harborough; The Kettleby Cross, Wilton Road, Melton; The William Wygston, Leicester Road, Wigston, and The Monkey Walk, Marlborough Square, Coalville.

Burns Night Supper - Petite Chouette Cafe Bar, Hinckley Saturday, January 25

It may be a French cafe, but on January 25, it’s all about Scotland.

Guests will enjoy cock-a-leekie soup followed by haggis, neeps and tatties served with a whisky sauce, and a dessert of cranachan.

Three courses and shot of whisky cost £25 per person. A £10 per person deposit is required at the time of booking. Call 01455 697476.

Burns Night at The Balloon Bar Belvoir Castle - Saturday, January 25

Within Belvoir Castle’s retail village The Engine Yard, The Balloon Bar is hosting a celebration with traditional Scottish cuisine, live music and whisky.

The five-course meal includes Cullen Skink, haggis, neeps and tatties (vegetarian haggis is also available), venison Wellington (vegetarian Wellington also available), traditional cranachan and a selection of cheese and biscuits.

The cost is £49.95 per person. To book, call 01476 247059 or e_ mail:

Burns Night Feast - Round Corner Brewing, Melton Mowbray Livestock Market - Saturday, January 25

This fabulous county brewery not only makes cracking beer, but also holds regular food and drink events.

It will be celebrating Burns Night with an evening of fun, food and Uncommonly Good Beer.

Guests will be able to enjoy Scottish-themed pizzas topped with haggis, potato and cheddar, created by Chez Sebastien artisan woodfired pizzas. There will also be a ceilidh band performing. Food will be served from 2pm until 9pm, but the taproom and brew house will be open from noon until 11.30pm.

Burns Night Supper - The Tap and Run, Upper Broughton - Saturday, January 25

The Tap and Run team invite you to enjoy a Scottish-themed feast.

The four-course set menu includes traditional Scottish dishes such as Scotch broth, Aberdeen Angus beef rump served with haggis, neeps and tatties and homemade cranachan. This costs £40 per person. For an additional £10 you can add a whisky tasting package.

Call 01664 820407 to make your reservation, with a £5 per person deposit required on booking.