By Jonathan Hatchman
The annual celebration of the Patron Saint Patrick of Ireland will take place on Tuesday March 17th, and as expected, it’s not just Dublin and Belfast that will be offering a plethora of celebratory events to mark the affair. Across London, hundreds of pubs, clubs and restaurants will be partaking. But if joining the masses in Leicester Square’s Wetherspoon’s or Yates’, draped in novelty green hats and spilling pints of Guinness all over the place, isn’t for you: we’ve compiled a selection of some of the finest St. Patrick’s Day food and drink related events happening across London.
Water Poet
Spitalfields’ Water Poet is just one of the great pubs in London that will be celebrating. With a “Guinness Island” (a garden bar that exclusively serves Guinness, of course), a selection of Irish Craft Beers, Blarney Stone Cocktails, and as a special St. Patrick’s Day menu on offer. Featuring authentic dishes such as Irish mutton stew with boxty potatoes, Finnan haddock and mussel stew with garlic soda bread, and Baileys cheese cake, to name a few, all served up until 9pm. Three piece band Black Velvet will also be bringing their fiddle along to perform a number of Irish classics.
Mr Fogg’s
Based upon the home of Jules Verne’s Phileas Fogg, following his eighty-day World expedition, Mr Fogg’s in Mayfair will be teaming up with Tullamore Dew Irish Whiskey to throw a St. Patrick’s Day party on Tuesday evening. Set to feature live music from Irish act Band of Fire while serving a selection of Tullamore Dew cocktails such as “Reeling from the Dew Drops” (Tullamore Dew Original, Midori liqueur, lime juice, lavender syrup, kiwi puree, champagne) and “Tullasmore! At Least Guinness An Idea?” (Tullamore Dew 12, peppermint tea, cinnamon syrup, lemon juice, liquorice liqueur, Guinness). Some other Irish delicacies as well as salt beef canapés will also be served throughout the evening.
Dans Le Noir
One of London’s most enthralling dining experiences is on offer at Dans Le Noir. Diners at the Clerkenwell restaurant eat from a surprise menu, shrouded in total darkness while guided and served by a team of blind waiters, and on Tuesday the restaurant will offer a special surprise St. Patrick’s Day menu as well as a vegetarian option. Don’t forget that a dress code of some green is required, in keeping with the Irish tradition.
Bentley’s Oyster Bar & Grill
Acclaimed chef Richard Corrigan’s Bentley’s Oyster Bar & Grill will also be hosting a festive feast with a special set menu on Tuesday. With a special buffet lunch on offer from 12:30pm, serving a range of treats such as Native Galway Oysters, Bentley’s Rooftop Smoked Salmon & Home Baked Soda Bread, Traditional Irish Stew, Bacon & Cabbage, Irish Apple Tart with Jameson Cream, and more, priced at £65 per person.
Shake Shack
Also in celebration of the patron saint of Ireland, American restaurant Shake Shack will be bringing some Irish treats to their only UK branch, in Covent Garden. Set to offer their signature Irish Fries (crinkle cut fries topped with horseradish cream, scallions and crispy smoked bacon), as well as Guinness beer floats. The latter will include hand-spun vanilla frozen custard combined with Guinness stout. Both items are priced at £5 and are available from the restaurant until Monday 22nd March.
Drink, Shop & Do
If something completely different is what you’re after, why not head along to Drink, Shop & Do – in King’s Cross – for their evening of “Leprechaun Lego and Irishishy Goodness”? The permanent pop-up café will be providing the chance to have some fun with some good old-fashioned Lego building, from 7pm, which you can enjoy with a slice of Guinness cake washed down with an O’Hara’s IPA for just £6.
Also in King’s Cross, the Great Northern Hotel Bar, situated within St. Pancras Station, will be celebrating by putting on a whole week of Guinness and oysters. With a special offer that includes12 Colchester Rock oysters and a pint of Guinness all for £18, which will go on until Sunday March 22nd.
If all else fails, why not just head along to one of London’s premiere Irish pubs such as Auld Shillelagh in Stoke Newington, Tufnell Park’s Boston Arms, Fleet Street’s Tipperary, or The Blythe Hill Tavern in Catford, where a decent night out is as good as guaranteed.