London, January 2009

Boisdale Celebrates Burns' 250th Anniversary in Style

Scotland’s Coming Home to Boisdale in 2009

Inspired by the 250th anniversary of the birth of Scotland's national poet and international cultural icon, Robert Burns, 2009 has been designated by Visit Scotland as Homecoming year (www.homecomingscotland.com).

Homecoming Scotland 2009 aims to engage Scots at home as well as motivate people of Scottish descent and those who simply love Scotland, to take part in an inspirational celebration of Scottish culture, heritage and some of the many great contributions Scotland has given to the world. Homecoming officially gets underway on Burns Night on 25 January and will run through St Andrews Day on 30 November 2009.

Boisdale, London's top Scottish restaurants, is set to play a key part in Homecoming with a serious of events and activities planned throughout 2009 that kick off with the restaurants' traditional Burns celebrations.

Burns' Suppers have been a part of Scottish culture for over 200 years. The ritual having been started by close friends of Robbie Burns a few years after the bard's death in 1796 as a tribute to his memory. The basic format for the evening has remained unchanged since that time and begins when the speaker invites the company to receive the haggis.

For Boisdale, Burns is more than a one night wonder and now spreads over two weeks making it London's, if not the UK's, largest celebration of Burns and his legacy. In 2009 Boisdale's Burns Suppers will last at Boisdale Belgravia from Monday 19 January until Wednesday 28 January and at Bishopsgate from Tuesday 20 January to Friday 23 January and Monday 26 January until Thursday 29 January.

All the ritual and ceremony associated with a Burns Supper will be on offer at both Boisdale restaurants. A piper in full Highland regalia will pipe in the haggis at each participating table* from 7pm until 11pm and the speaker will address the haggis with all the verses of An Ode to Haggis and conduct the ceremony in the traditional manner.

Three set Burns Supper menus featuring Scottish sourced ingredients are available at Boisdale Belgravia and two at Bishopsgate. In keeping with tradition, a noggin of Johnnie Walker whisky will be served with the haggis. The menus, that vary in price from £38.50 per head to £69.00, can be viewed at www.boisdale.co.uk/burns_night.aspx.

At Boisdale of Belgravia a classic jazz band will be performing live jazz from the '20s, '30s and '40s from 10pm until midnight throughout the week.

Johnnie Walker Blue Label Great Scot Award

As part of Homecoming and the 250th Anniversary of Burns' birth, Boisdale is also hosting an invitation only Burns Dinner on Monday 26 January in association with Andrew Neil and The Spectator. During the evening the Johnnie Walker Blue Label Great Scot Award for 2009 will be presented. Peter Lederer, chairman of Visit Scotland, will be in attendance.