Every year on the 25th of January, people come together to celebrate the life and works of Robert Burns, a famous Scottish poet. Commonly celebrated with a Burns Supper, this tradition goes back many years and involves an evening of merriment where food, whisky, and verses are shared and music is enjoyed.
Up and down the country, Burns Night has become a well-known tradition, with pubs putting on raucous feasts and lining up a variety of entertainment (pipers, of course) to accompany the festivities.
So, whether you fancy raising a glass to Rabbie Burns at your local or would like to toast the literary hero in the comfort of your home from home, here is everything you need to know about Burns Night.
What is Burns Night?
Taking place on the anniversary of Robert Burns’ birth, Burns Night is one of Scotland’s most time-honoured traditions. Robert Burns (also known as Rabbie Burns), was a poet in the 18th century, writing many poems in the Scots language that are still recited and enjoyed to this day. He is known far and wide as Scotland’s national bard - one of his songs even became Scotland’s unofficial anthem.
It’s an opportunity to raise a dram to the famous Scots bard while enjoying a series of mouthwatering, traditional Scottish dishes, from haggis to cranachan (discover these lip-smacking dishes in more detail bellow).
Although everywhere will differ slightly, some features are universal when attending a Burns Night celebration. Bagpipers will nearly always be on hand to fill the air with traditional music, with the piper taking centre stage during the piping in of the haggis (a short procession where the haggis is brought out on a silver platter).
Before the meal starts, two of Robert Burns’ poems will be read out, starting with the Selkirk Grace (a short but beloved prayer) and the Address to a Haggis (a much longer, more haggis-centred literary work). The evening usually ends with a rendition of Auld Lang Syne, one of Burns’ most well-known poems that is famously sung on New Year’s Eve as the clock strikes midnight.
What is a Burns Supper?
A Burns Supper is the meal that’s shared in celebration of Robert Burns on Burns Night. Often featuring a hearty mix of Scottish dishes, it’s a true feast for the senses. Here are some of the most popular dishes to look out for…
Scots broth - Also known as Scotch broth, this soul-warming starter is perfect for cosy nights in. Made with broth, barley, dried peas, and chunky veg, it’s wonderfully easy to make and perfect for a Burns Night celebration.
Cock-a-leekie soup - Another delicious soup to try your hand at when on holiday, cock-a-leekie brings together tender peppered chicken, leeks, and broth for a super warming meal or starter. Serve as it is or add some rice or barley for a fuller meal.
Cullen skink - If two soups aren’t enough, adding Cullen skink to the menu is a surefire way to ensure everyone gets up from the table satisfied. Centring around smoked haddock, this creamy dish is a winter warmer through and through.
Haggis with neeps and tatties - Perhaps the most well-known of Scotland’s dishes, haggis is a true Scottish comfort meal. Made with oats, sheep’s offal, onion, suet, and spices, and served with neeps and tatties (mashed turnip and potatoes) and a whisky sauce, there’s a reason this warming dish has an entire poem written about it.
Clootie dumpling - Similar to Christmas pudding, this densely delicious dessert is a hearty mix of dried fruit and other simple ingredients, which are boiled in a cloth (known in Scotland as a ‘cloot’). Serve with your favourite accompaniment, from fresh custard or cream to a scoop of your favourite ice cream.
Cranachan - A devilishly good dessert, cranachan is a merry mix of cream and fresh raspberries topped with a dusting of baked oats (usually presoaked in whisky for an extra kick).
Cheese course - Finishing off any Scottish meal with a cheese course is a must, combining a selection of local cheeses with proper Scottish oat cakes and an assortment of chutneys and grapes.
Whisky - Would it really be Burns Night without a dram or two of whisky? With over 130 active distilleries in Scotland, you’re spoilt for choice when it comes to picking a tipple to toast with.
Where to celebrate Burns Night
From the tip of Scotland to Cornwall, Burns Night events can be found all over the country, from cosy celebrations to jam-packed hootenannies full of live music and performances.
The Citizen, Glasgow
Raise a glass to the great bard at The Citizen, a welcoming restaurant in Glasgow promising a fun-filled evening of haggis and a rather impressive selection of whiskies. The set menu features a scrumptious list of Scottish classics, including Cullen skink to start, a stack of haggis, neeps, and tatties followed by your choice of main, and a helping of cranachan with whisky cream for dessert. Not forgetting a classic Scottish cheeseboard full of local cheeses and a selection of oatcakes and chutney.
St Vincent’s Chapel, Edinburgh
Set in the beautiful St Vincent’s Chapel in Edinburgh, this Burns Night Hootenanny is a feast for the senses, with a programme of live music and light shows promising an extraordinary evening of entertainment. A series of popular Scottish songs will be performed throughout the show, ending with Robert Burns’ famous Tam O’Shanter and Auld Lang Syne.
Cameron House, Loch Lomond
In true homage to Rabbie Burns, Cameron House is putting on a wonderfully traditional evening, complete with a piper playing you in and an Address to a Haggis ceremony followed by more live entertainment. Sit down to a lip-smacking four-course meal, featuring the likes of Scottish smoked salmon, haggis with neeps and tatties and traditional Scottish cranachan shortbread. Set along the beautiful banks of Loch Lomond, you can spend your day beforehand exploring one of Scotland’s most famous landmarks.
Glamis Castle, Angus
What better backdrop to a truly Scottish evening than one of the most celebrated castles in the country? Glamis Castle is celebrating the bard with a delicious Burns Supper consisting of cock-a-leekie soup, haggis with neeps and tatties, and clootie dumpling, all finished off with some melt-in-your-mouth Glamis shortbread and coffee. Accompanying the feast, a series of performances is set to fill the air with music and words, including the chance for everyone to sing along to Auld Lang Syne.
Most Scottish pubs will be celebrating in some way or another, so always make sure to check your local if you’re looking for a Burns Night shindig.
Outside Scotland
The poems of Robert Burns have spread far and wide, ensuring you can find a rip-roaring Burns Supper pretty much anywhere in the UK. Here are just a few to tickle your fancy…
Knightor Winery, Cornwall
Knightor Winery is putting on an evening dedicated to the Scots poet with a Cornish twist. Toast the haggis to the musical stylings of bagpiper Paul Jackman, before tucking into a mouthwatering spread of haggis, neeps, and tatties while sipping something special from the bar. For the rest of the evening, the Ceilidh band, Whipple Tree, will fill the air with foot-stomping tunes so you can dance the night away in true Scottish style. When booking your ticket over the phone or by email, quote Classic Cottages for a 10% discount.
The Farmers Arms, Lake District
Honouring the poetic and arable sides of Burns, The Farmers Arms in the Lake District is putting on an unforgettable evening with a fabulous mix of traditional and contemporary twists. Sit down to a three-course Burns Supper full of Cullen skink, haggis, and clootie dumpling, while listening to a series of poetic readings and musical interludes by DJ Country Soul. We’re particularly excited about the Highlands-themed cocktails!
Spirit of Yorkshire Distillery, Yorkshire
Second only to Scotland, a distillery is one of the best settings for a Burns Night event. In Yorkshire, Spirit of Yorkshire Distillery invites you to raise a glass (or three) to the great Robert Burns with a three-course Burns Supper paired with three Filey Bay whiskies. Live music from Scottish singer-songwriter Gary Stewart will be enjoyed throughout the evening, which finishes on the best note with a dram of special Filey Bay whisky as you salute the bard.
Northwood House, Isle of Wight
Get your kilts ready, Northwood House on the Isle of Wight is putting on a spectacular evening of fun in the name of Robert Burns. After a massively successful inaugural event last year, 2025 is seeing the return of the Grand Highland Fling-a-ling. Alongside the usual three-course supper and ceremonial address, you’ll enjoy an evening of dancing and haggis hurling, ensuring you leave rosy-cheeked and singing Auld Lang Syne with renewed vigour!
Immerse yourself in Scottish culture with a memorable holiday at one of our beautiful cottages in Scotland, from the Scottish Highlands to the wild and wonderful Outer Hebrides.
