London transformed into a vibrant hub of Scottish celebration on Saturday, January 25, 2026, as communities across the capital gathered to honour Burns Night with traditional festivities. The city resonated with the distinctive skirl of bagpipes, while venues were awash with the bright neon orange of Irn Bru and the colourful patterns of tartan attire.
A Night of Traditional Scottish Revelry
Throughout London, enthusiastic participants broke into energetic ceilidh dances, creating a lively and social atmosphere in numerous venues. The classic Burns Night supper was enthusiastically consumed, with generous portions of haggis accompanied by neeps and tatties, all washed down with traditional Scottish whisky. This annual celebration of Scottish poet Robert Burns brought together both Scots living in London and those simply eager to partake in the cultural festivities.
Inside the Porchester Hall Celebration
Photographer Chris Bethell documented the festivities at the Porchester Hall near The Royal Oak, capturing the essence of the evening's celebrations. 'The Porchester Hall, a beautiful building near The Royal Oak, looked hugely grand as I walked in with my pal Tim,' Bethell recounted. 'We were there first and grabbed a table near the front, watching people pour in covered in tartan, as we waited for a polite time to go get a plate of haggis with potatoes, carrots and swede. It was delicious.'
The atmosphere quickly became convivial as tables filled with celebrants. 'We came back and our table had filled up with people quickly, we got chatting with them all,' Bethell noted. 'Then the music kicked off with everyone taking to the dance floor, the band taught everyone how to perform each ceilidh before getting into it.'
The Heart of the Celebration
The photographer described the unique energy of the event: 'The atmosphere was great, so social and fun. Being on the dance floor was like being in a very well organised moshpit.' A highlight of the evening came with the traditional 'piping of the haggis' ceremony. 'Halfway through the "piping of the haggis" happened, where a bagpiper and two others brought out a huge haggis,' Bethell observed, capturing one of Burns Night's most iconic moments.
This celebration at Porchester Hall represented just one of many Burns Night events across London, each contributing to a citywide expression of Scottish culture and community spirit. The photographs from the evening showcase not just the traditional elements of the celebration, but the genuine joy and camaraderie that characterised London's 2026 Burns Night observances.
