Burns Night: Where to celebrate in the Midlands and Shropshire
January 25 marks the annual celebration of Scotland's national poet Robert Burns.
Burns Night suppers are traditionally commonplace in Scotland and Northern Ireland, but the event has become increasingly popular all over the UK in recent years.
See below for the top places to celebrate the Scottish poet in the Midlands and Shropshire:
Bar Sport, Cannock - Burns Night Whisky Tasting - Thursday, January 25
High Green watering hole Bar Sport will host a Burns Night Whisky Tasting evening later this month, complete with live music and a dinner.
Entry to this event is free, with dinner included.
Entertainment on the evening will consist of a piper early on, with Scottish singer Richie McHynes performing live later on.
There will be a total of 50 whiskies to choose from.
Dinner will be haggis, neeps and tatties.
Dress code is casual dress, though kilts and tartans are welcome.
Runs from 7.30pm till 11pm.
To book, call 01543 572092.
For more information, click here
Weston Park, Weston-under-Lizard, Staffordshire - Burns Night Dine and Stay - Saturday, January 27
Landmark stately home Weston Park will host a lavish event this Burns Night, including a five-course meal and overnight stay.
Guests are welcome to the estate from 2pm, when they can check into one of the rooms and take a stroll around the park and ‘Formal Gardens’, as well as cosying up in front of the library fire.
Whisky tasting will be led by head butler Barry Fairhurst, followed by a drinks reception in the Marble Halls.
A traditional poem will then be read to accompany the ‘stabbing’ of the haggis.
After this, guests will indulge in a five-course meal, including haggis, neeps and tatties.
One they have enjoyed a nip of whisky by the fire, guests may then return to their rooms, with a full English breakfast provided the following morning.
Tickets cost £399 per couple for a bedroom with private bathroom or £425 per couple for a ‘principal’ bedroom with an en-suite bathroom and landscape view.
To book, call 01952 852106 or email emily@weston-park.com
For more information, click here
Windsor Castle Inn, Lye, Stourbridge - Burns Night Whisky Tasting - Thursday, January 25
This celebration will be set upstairs at the Midland brewery, pub and restaurant.
It will include a whisky tasting evening, with six different spirits, hosted by Nickolls and Perks.
Haggis, neeps and tatties will also be on offer.
Tickets cost £30 each. The venue says booking is essential.
Event begins at 7pm.
To book, call 01384 897809.
For more information, click here
The Premier Suite, Cannock - Burns Night Dinner and Highland Party - Saturday, January 27
This annual event will see the town centre venue host what they say is the ‘Midland’s biggest Burns Night celebration’.
Haggis, neeps and tatties will be served, with ‘An Address To The Haggis’, a ‘Toast To The Lassies’ and a ‘Reply To The Laddies’.
Entertainment will include Scottish pipers, The Stirling Highland Dancers, traditional Scottish duo GetIn2Scotland performing live and The Tale Of Scotland show by Glasgow’s Per4formance. Party band Splash will also perform a Scottish Legends Show.
Dress code is smart casual, with kilts and tartans welcome.
Tickets cost £29.95, which includes meal and entertainment.
Celebrations begin at 7pm.
To book, call 01543 572092.
For more information, click here
Bridgnorth Rugby Club - Burns Night Supper - Friday, January 26
This Bridge Street club will host a Burns Night event this month.
The rugby club event will see the Scottish poet celebrated with poetry, music and singing.
Kilts and tartans are welcome.
There will also be haggis on offer.
The venue urges guests to book early to avoid disappointment. Tickets may be bought from behind the bar or by calling Ian George on 07970 019306 or Adj MacKay on 07967 472107.
Tickets cost £15.
Event begins at 7.30pm.
For more information, click here
The Haughmond, Upton Magna, Shrewsbury - Seven-course dinner and entertainment - Friday, January 26
Indulge in a seven-course meal at this extravagant Burns Night celebration.
Each course of the traditional supper will be accompanied by a nip of whisky.
There will also be entertainment at the modern coaching inn’s event, with music from Ceilidh band Melomanics.
Tickets cost £50 per head, including whisky, food and entertainment.
For more information, or to book, call the venue on 01743 709918.
Dogs Trust Shrewsbury - Ceilidh Burns Night - Saturday, January 23
Help the Trust raise pounds for their hounds in this Scottish-themed event to mark Burns Day.
There will be a licensed bar at the celebration, with a ‘light Burns supper’, consisting of haggis, neeps and tatties and a complementary ‘wee dram’.
Piper Chris Crouch will perform on the evening and Tern Valley Tinkers will also provide live music.
Doors open at 7.30pm, with dancing set to begin at 8pm.
Tickets cost £15 per person, which includes the meal and entertainment.
For tickets, call 01952 770225.
For more information, click here
Calderfields Golf Club, Aldridge Road, Walsall - Burns Night Dinner - Friday, January 19
Hosted by Rotary Club of Walsall, this event includes entertainment, music and dinner.
Food will consist of a three-course dinner, with a ‘piped-in haggis’ and a ‘wee dram’.
Live entertainment will come from award-winning singer Chris King.
Dress code is black tie, lounge suits, kilts and cocktail dresses.
Organisers urge guests to book in advance.
Tickets cost £25 each.
Event opens at 6.45pm for a 7pm sit down.
For tickets, visit walsallevents.org.uk or email walsallrotarysecretary@gmail.com
All proceeds go to Walsall-based charities.
For more information, click here
The Wroxeter Hotel, Wroxeter, Shropshire - Burns Night Supper and Dance - Friday, January 26
This Shropshire village hotel will host an evening event in celebration of Robert Burns this month.
Hosted by Rotary Club of Telford Centre, the event will include a traditional supper.
It will celebrate ‘all things Burns’, say organisers, with prose, poetry, music and dancing.
Tickets cost £25.
Event runs from 6.30pm till 10.30pm.
To book tickets, call 01952 240598 or email secretary@telfordcentrerotary.org
For more information, click here
The Boathouse at Chirk, Chirk Marina, Wrexham - Burns Night celebration - Friday, January 26
This Welsh restaurant will pay homage to Robert Burns will a Burns Night celebration filled with food and entertainment.
The haggis will be ‘piped’ in by Izzy MacLachlin, who will ‘help show proper respect to the baird’s sultry highland tomes’.
Food at the event will be a four-course dinner, including game soup; haggis, neeps and tatties; shortbread panna cotta and Scottish cheeses. Vegan and vegetarian options are also available by prior request.
The meal will also include ‘a wee dram’.
Tickets, including the four-course dinner, cost £23.95.
The event will run from 7.30pm till 10.30pm.
For tickets, call the venue on 01691 772493.
For more information, click here
The Duke William, Stourbridge - Society Burns Night - Friday, January 26
This Coventry Street Craddock’s Brewery pub will host celebrations to mark Burns Day this month.
The event will see six whiskies served, with all the spirits selected to reflect the occasion. Which whiskies have been chosen will be kept secret until the corks are popped.
Haggis, neeps and tatties will also be on offer, with the haggis made by the award-winning Hornig Family.
Music and entertainment will be provided by Tim Hain of the Lagavulins.
The event will run from 7.30pm till 11pm.
For more information, call the pub on 01384 440202.
Ramada Plaza Wrexham - Rotary Burns Night - Saturday, January 27
Hosted by Rotary Club of Wrexham, this event will celebrate the life and poetry of the Scottish baird.
The four-star hotel’s celebration will include a traditional three-course meal complete with haggis, neeps and tatties.
There will also be live music from a local folk band, as well as a parade featuring a Scottish piper.
Tickets cost £25 per person.
The event will run from 7pm till 11pm.
For tickets, email club secretary Liz Clifford at lizcliffrtry@yahoo.com.
For more information, click here
Gunmakers Arms, Bath Street, Birmingham - Tipping Tales - Thursday, January 25
Enjoy a range of Scottish literature with a pint at this city centre pub.
A range of craft beers will be on offer, as well as the normal tipples.
The event will see short stories and poetry read by local writers, many of whom hail from Scotland.
‘Laugh with Andrew Sparke, thrill at Pat Spence's tense tale, and chill as Martin Tracey unveils the undead’, says the venue.
There will also be a book launch on the night, with David Wake reading from his new political thriller with a Scottish edge, Crossing The Bridge.
Event runs from 7pm till 9pm.
For more information, click here
Moor Hall, Sutton Coldfield, Birmingham - Burns Night Celebration - Saturday, January 20
The evening’s festivities will include a traditional pipe to ‘escort’ the haggis and a four-course dinner.
There will also be dancing to an authentic ceilidh band.
The price of £39.50 per person includes dinner and entertainment.
For those who wish to stay, £145 for two people includes the evening’s celebration, plus overnight accomodation with a full English breakfast the following morning.
Full pre-payment of the tickets is required at the time of booking.
Dress code is lounge suits or kilts.
Over 16s only.
To book, call 0121 334 2313 or click here
Hogarths, Solihull, Birmingham - Burns Night Dinner and Dance - Saturday, January 27
This event will see guests indulge in a four-course meal and enjoy live music and dancing till the wee hours.
The menu will include cullen skink; haggis, neeps and tatties; roast sirloin of beef and roasted potatoes in a red wine sauce; and vanilla panna cotta with raspberry compote and Scottish shortbread. Diners will also be offered a dram of whisky alongside the meal.
Entertainment will include bagpipes, a Ceilidh band and dancing.
Dress code is black tie or lounge suits.
Event starts at 7pm, for a 7.30pm sit down. It will finish at 1am.
Tickets cost £39.95 per person for the evening’s festivities.
To book, call 01564 779988 or email reception.solihull@hogarths.co.uk
Sutton Coldfield RFC, Birmingham - Burns Night Supper - Saturday, January 27
The Walmley Road rugby club will host a huge supper to mark the birthday of Robert Burns.
The meal will include cullen skink; haggis, neeps and tatties; Balmoral chicken (chicken breast stuffed with haggis and wrapped in bacon with a mushroom sauce); cranachan (oats, cream, whisky, honey and raspberries); and coffee and shortbread.
Tickets cost £20 each.
Supper will be served in the Gresswold Suite.
Event runs from 7pm till 11pm.
For more information, or to book tickets, click here
Lych Gate Tavern, Wolverhampton - Whisky Supper - Thursday, January 25
A Wolverhampton city centre pub is bringing in a bagpipe player for its Burns Night event.
A whisky supper is being held in the Lych Gate Tavern in Queen Square on January 25 at 8.30pm
There will be a traditional piping in and addressing of the haggis before haggis, neeps and tatties are served.
A competition to win a bottle of whisky for the best reciting of a Robert Burns poem is also being held.
Tickets are £5 from the pub or by calling 01902 399516.
