Alternative Burns Night Celebrations

With the festive period officially over and resolutions of dry January fading fast, I am sure many of you are crying out for the next chance to have a bit of a party. Burns Night is a perfect excuse to thoroughly shake off any hints of the January blues. But if soggy haggis and half hearted recitals of Tam o’Shanter down your local community centre don’t sound like your idea of fun, have a look at these alternative toasts to the Bard that Glasgow has to offer.

Oran Mor Byres Road

Oran Mor will be doing what it does best to celebrate Burns Night: traditional with a twist. What could be better than toasting the nation’s son in the Oran Mor? Where Scottish culture pours out of every crevice, the peaty aroma of your favourite dram fills the air, and that memorable hazy, golden glow lights up rosy cheeks… Oh come on! It’s Burns Night! Isn’t a lassie allowed to be romantic? Okay okay, I will leave the poetry to the experts. Scots Makar, Liz Lochhead will be performing, and even if you think poetry is not your thing, this has not to be missed. With fantastic entertainment and surroundings, Burns night at the Oran Mor will have you crooning o’er in auld Scots sonnet.

Arisaig Merchant Square

Now I am Scottish and proud, but I have to admit that the mere thought of haggis turns my stomach. So when I saw the tasty fair that Arisaig are offering for their Burns celebration I was delighted. Yes, there is haggis, neeps and tatties for those who simply cannot break tradition, but for those who are looking for something different there are some fantastic alternatives. After all, who says Burns cannot be celebrated with pollock fillet with a saffron and Pernod mussel sauce? Delicious food isn’t all that Arisaig has to offer for Burns Night, as they promise an evening of celebration, song and banter - and with Joyce Falconer and Bill Barclay hosting, this seems very likely.

Keep the Fire Burning SWG3

I will let you into a little secret here. The place to be on Saturday is offKILTR’s alternative Burns night at SWG3. Hosted by the hilarious and exceptionally talented poet Alan Bissett and featuring music from Hector Bizerk, Twitch and the fantastically named The Bum Clocks, Burns will be celebrated in a truly alternative but fitting way. Haggis is on the menu but is given a Caribbean twist by Red Onion that sounds so delicious that even a haggisophobe such as myself would be tempted. If it is a party you are after then without a doubt this is the Burns celebration for you. Musical delights and specially selected tipple from Brewdog will have you dancing all night and aw that!