Best Places To Celebrate St Patrick’s Day In London

You don’t need to go to Dublin for what will, no doubt, become a weekend-long celebration for some: St Patrick’s Day in London is the home-away-from-home for Irish imports. This Friday the craic kicks off to honour this date as the passing of Ireland’s patron saint, ol’ Pádraig. Naturally, this means singing, dancing, and inordinate amounts of booze. And no one knows a good party like the Irish. So festoon your flanks with shamrock green garb and get ready for a great night at these St. Patrick’s Day-in-London must-dos.

The craic: Irish chefs Robin William Gill (The Diary) & Patrick Powell (Chiltern Fire House) will be wizarding up some super-delicious Irish fare, while Dave Mulligan of Bán Poitín will be sharing his deadly Poitín if you dare try it in between stouts. The afternoon’s soundtrack will be provided by DJ Arveene Juthan for you to bust out your newly-learned Ceili dance moves taught by Hugh Cooney.

The deets: Free, but first come, first served; Saturday 18 March, 12pm-11pm, 40FT Brewery, Abbot Street Car Park, London, E8 3DL

The craic: Move your movie night to Below Boondocks, where on St. Patrick’s Day they’ll be screening the gritty Gangs of New York starring Leonardo di Caprio, Cameron Diaz. If you’ve not yet seen it, the film’s about the Irish immigration experience just FYI, which you can enjoy while munching on Boondocks’ signature Cajun popcorn, chilli-cheese hot dogs, and mac & cheese. Ideal.

The deets: Tickets cost £15; Screening held Friday 17 March, Below Boondocks, 205 City Road, London, EC1V 1JN

The craic: Go spirit tasting with one of Ireland’s best alcohol exports, Teeling Small Batch Irish Whiskey. In this nightcap session you’ll learn about Irish whiskey in general while sampling different varieties (research, obvs), and make your own cocktails. Included in the masterclass is two cocktails, Irish whiskey tastings, and access to a specially curated Teeling Irish Whiskey menu.

The deets: £25; Friday 17 March, 8-9:30pm, London Cocktail Club, 4 Great Portland St, London W1W 8QJ

The craic: Just because it’s St. Paddy’s, that doesn’t mean it has to be messy. Head to this seriously slick Soho bar for an elevated Irish coffee – one of the best in London. Sip on its devilishly smooth Irish whiskey-based goodness as you soak in the sophisticated yet unpretentious surrounding.

The deets: Free entry; Bar Swift, 12 Old Compton Street, London, W1D 4TQ