Top 3: Burns Night celebrations

One of the few perks of cold January nights; Saturday (25 Jan) sees the annual 18th Century Scottish tradition, Burns Night, return for an evening of traditional food, verse and drink to celebrate the birthday of Scotland’s national poet, Robert Burns. Here are our picks of the best places to join in the celebrations in Manchester…

Wine and Food Matching Evening at The Albert Square Chop House
Scottish fever takes over the Albert Square Chop House’s Memorial Hall suite as it hosts a night of kilts, bagpipes and a good old four-course Scottish supper. Start with Loch Fyne herrings, followed by steamed Haggis served with mashed potatoes and red wine gravy, slow braised Scottish Venison shank, a tasty chocolate and whiskey tart, and coffee and petit fours. A vegetarian alternative is available with curd and beetroot salad, vegetarian Haggis and barley stew and dumplings. The evening will also feature special guest speaker, Karen Fulleton, from Glenmorangie Whisky.
Thu 23 Jan, The Albert Square Chop House, Albert Square, M2 5PF, Tel: 0161 834 1866, 7pm, £45, albertsquarechophouse.com

World Whiskey Tasting Session at Kosmonaut
Focusing on the Scotch element of Burns Night tradition, Kosmonaut will be celebrating the influence of the Scottish drink around the world with a tasting session of some of the world’s superior whiskeys. There will be five different whiskeys to try, all served with canapés complementing the flavours of each drink: Mackmyra Single Malt Whiskey from Sweden, Bain’s Cape Mountain Whiskey from South Africa, Willett Kentucky Bourbon Whiskey from America, Nikka Whisky from Japan and Millstone Dutch Single Malt Whisky from Holland. Price includes whiskey tasting and all canapés.
Sat 25 Jan, Kosmonaut, Tariff St, M1 2FF, 3pm – 5pm, £5, kosmonaut.co

The Burns Supper at Montpellier’s
Montpellier’s is one of the few NQ venues to get in on the action, going the full works of the Burns Night tradition with three selected whiskeys, a piper in full Highland regalia, and readings from Burns’ finest poems. All the while, tuck into a three-course dinner, with a choice of Scottish Oak smoked salmon, square sausage with Cumberland sauce or haggis to start; followed by either angus beef full plate pie, baked smoked haddock or a bigger portion of haggis for mains; and finish with either cranachan or Drambuie and marmalade bread and butter pudding.
Sat 25 Jan, Montpellier’s Café & Bar, 42 Back Turner Street, M4 1FR, Tel: 0161 832 3146, £25, facebook.com