Irish people: we’re everywhere! And the 17th of March marks our global celebration of the patron saint who rid the motherland of snakes. St Patrick’s Day falls on a Friday this year, which means there’s no excuse not to have a Guinness or five and make a weekend of it. If you haven’t sorted your plans yet, we’ve rounded up the places to don your greenest attire and raise a Baby Guinness to the Irish.
From whiskey cocktails, free-flowing Guinness, and trad music sessions at an Irish pub, to something more refined, here are the St Patrick’s Day events in London to book for 2023 and celebrate with your Irish pals.
St. Patrick’s Day Party at 100 Wardour Street
100 Wardour Street will be celebrating St. patrick’s Day with a Friday night party, cocktails and entertainment to honour the patron saint.
Embrace the Emerald Isle as you head through the neon lit pathway downstairs to the club restaurant which will be transformed into a sea of green. While drinks are flowing, you’ll be treated to an evening of themed performers, a live band and DJs spinning tracks into the early hours. Tickets are priced at £20pp, including entry and a complimentary ‘Forever Green’ cocktail, made up of Ciroc vodka, melon, lychee, lemon and sugar.
WHERE: 100 WARDOUR ST, LONDON W1F 0TL
WEBSITE: WWW.100WARDOURST.COM
An Irish Soiree at The Bloomsbury Club
Partnering with celebrated Irish whiskey brand Jameson, The Bloomsbury Club Bar will be offering an exclusive selection of cocktails for St. Patrick’s Day, crafted by the team’s talented set of mixologists. Guests can sip on classic Irish tipples with a twist whilst enjoying traditional bands and live music in a weeklong celebration.
Creative concoctions include a Guinness Old Fashioned, Anam Cara and Cold Brew Irish Coffee. Meanwhile, music acts The Curfew Live, Jamie Roche & Friends and Fionn Ó hAlmhain will play intimate sets every night until late.
WHERE: 16-22 GREAT RUSSELL ST, LONDON WC1B 3NN
WEBSITE: WWW.THEBLOOMSBURYCLUB.COM/ST-PATRICKS-DAY/
Céilí at The London Irish Centre
Whilst every day is a celebration of the Irish at The London Irish Centre, they’re celebrating the big day with a St Patrick’s night Céilí, hosted by Irish comedian Alison Spittle. Beginners are welcome as céilí dance instructor Louise O’Connor will be on hand to show you all the steps, accompanied by live band Celtic Dance Party. Afterwards, DJ Jim D0noghue O’Martin from RTE will take to the decks for a DJ set until midnight.
The next day, the whole family are invited down to celebrate at a special family Céilí, open to all ages. Little ones will dance, can learn the story of St Patrick, and follow a snake-themed treasure hunt through the building.
WHERE: 50-52 CAMDEN SQUARE, LONDON NW1 9XB
WEBSITE: WWW.LONDONIRISHCENTRE.ORG
The Big St Patricks Day Friday Celebration at Q Shoreditch
On Friday 17th of March Conor McGregor will be taking over Q-Shoreditch with his famous Dublin based bar ‘The Black Forge Inn’, hosting a long weekend of extravagant themed events each night for the launch of his new beer brand ‘Forged Irish Stout’ and his new Proper Whiskey Irish Apple.
Expect incredible live shows, immersive acts, traditional Irish dancers, a U2 tribute, cocktails and raffle prizes, with DJs and an afterparty to see you into the early hours.
WHERE: 55-61 TABERNACLE ST, LONDON EC2A 4AA
WEBSITE: WWW.Q-SHOREDITCH.COM
The Great Irish Tour at The Coral Room
Launching just in time for St. Patrick’s Day, The Coral Room Bar at The Bloomsbury is celebrating Irish heritage through its latest menu, The Great Irish Tour. The carefully crafted menu is the creation of General Manager, Giovanni Spezziga and transports guests to the land of Saints, Scholars and Irish history.
The fourteen cocktails on the menu pay homage to fourteen of Ireland’s most storied counties – from the hoppy malts of Dublin to the floral botanicals of Wicklow. You’ll discover pours that will ‘whisky’ you away to an island of beauty and history – from the ‘Tribes’ (Ballyhoo Irish Whiskey, Bee pollen, Boatyard Old Tom Gin, Irish Malt Soda) to a flavourful and flowery “Botanica’ (Monkey 47 Gin, Chinotto Nero, Lychee & Goji Tea Soda, Meadowsweet Tincture).
Even the menu itself is as Irish as could be – with illustrations provided by Steve McCarthy, a Dublin-born art maker, and complemented by poetry and prose from Irish-born poets and authors like Seamus Heaney and James Joyce. Sláinte!
WHERE: 16-22 GREAT RUSSELL ST, LONDON WC1B 3NN
WEBSITE: WWW.THECORALROOM.CO.UK
Bottomless Guinness at Smith’s Bar & Grill
Looking for a place to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with as much Guinness as you can handle? Smith’s recently launched bottomless drinks available every Friday and Saturday 5pm to 8pm where you’ll enjoy an hour of bottomless drinks, including draught beer, house spirits and mixer and wine. But for one day only this St. Patrick’s Day, they’ll be offering bottomless Guinness too!
Get ready for a boozy one, and don’t forget to wear your green.
WHERE: 25 SHELDON SQUARE, LONDON W2 6EP
WEBSITE: WWW.SMITHSBARANDGRILL.CO.UK
St. Patrick’s Day Concert with London Chamber Orchestra at 116 Pall Mall
Get your dancing shoes ready and prepare to be serenaded by world-class Irish music this Paddy’s Day in the beautiful surroundings of 116 Pall Mall. Irish singer and violinist Úna Palliser will be taking to the stage to perform everything from Irish jigs to ballads, followed by a three-course Irish feast.
Expect the likes of Whiskey-cured smoked salmon with beetroot, apple and soda bread croutons; classic Irish banger sausages with colcannon, heritage carrots, peas and Guinness-infused onion gravy; and a dessert of Dark chocolate tart with salted caramel and Irish stout ice cream.
WHERE: 116 PALL MALL, ST. JAMES’S, LONDON SW1Y 5ED
WEBSITE: WWW.116PALLMALL.COM
Irish Dining at Corrigan’s Mayfair
Richard Corrigan is famous for throwing a proper hooley, and this year at Corrigan’s is no different.
From a seat at Dickie’s Bar to sip on the rarest Whiskeys, or a table to enjoy some exquisite produce grown at the Corrigan’s gardens in Co. Cavan, this is a way to experience Paddy’s Day in the finest way possible.
WHERE: 28 UPPER GROSVENOR ST, LONDON W1K 7EH
WEBSITE: WWW.CORRIGANSMAYFAIR.CO.UK
Six Nations Luncheon at Bentley’s Oyster Bar & Grill
One of London’s premier Irish dining experiences, Bentley’s Oyster Bar and Grill is the place to spend a refined St Patrick’s Day. They’ll have a host of Irish specials on the menu, straight from Richard Corrigan’s family recipes, alongside plenty of perfectly poured Guinness, rare Irish whiskeys and live Irish Trad music throughout the week.
The Sunday after sees a new tradition for Bentley’s – a live screening of the Six Nations. The ground floor of Bentley’s will be taken over by screens displaying all the action, alongside a set menu of the finest Irish fare, Guinness, and live folk music into the evening.
WHERE: 11-15 SWALLOW ST, LONDON W1B 4DG
WEBSITE: WWW.BENTLEYS.ORG
The Piano Works
The Piano Works is going all out to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day this year, painting the town green, orange and gold. Expect buzzing live music, glitter artists and drinks specials, where dressing up in your brightest greens is actively encouraged. The early birds who don their best ensemble will be given gold coins to exchange for a Baby Guiness on the house. There’ll also be a special St. Patrick’s Day cocktail on offer, the Slane La Vie, a mix of Slane whiskey, chambord, lemon juice, grenadine and egg white.
There’ll be a resident fiddler alongside the band, so get ready to request all your favourite irish tunes, from The Pogues and The Cranberries, to U2 and B*Witched.
WHERE: FARRINGDON / WEST END
WEBSITE: WWW.PIANOWORKS.BAR
St. Patrick’s Day at The Sun Tavern
With London’s largest selection of Irish whiskey and the world’s largest collection of Poitín, St Patrick’s Day at The Sun Tavern has become legendary. The day will kick off with a Cèilidh band in the afternoon, followed by free oysters and Dublin’s finest Post-Punk quintet, The Murder Capital, on the decks until the early hours.
They’ve also teamed up with Jameson Irish Whiskey to bring an exclusive cocktail list for the evening. Get down early – it’s going to be a popular one.
WHERE: 441 BETHNAL GRN RD, LONDON E2 0AN
WEBSITE: WWW.THESUNTAVERN.CO.UK
St Patrick’s Week Jameson Irish Whiskey Dinner at The George
To celebrate St Patrick’s Day, The George are teaming up with Jameson Irish Whiskey on March 15th for an intimate three-course Irish dinner with dishes created by Executive Chef Alex Harper, cocktails by Bar Manager Colin Maher, and a selection of rare and special whiskeys from Middleton distillery.
Held in the elegant Private Dining Room, the evening will be hosted by Jameson’s UK Brand Ambassador, Janice Snowden. You’ll get to celebrate the incredible spirits of Ireland, learn more about Irish Whiskey, and enjoy the very best of Irish food and drinks, ahead of St Patrick’s weekend. Tickets include three courses, two cocktails, and whiskey tastings.
WHERE: THE GEORGE, 55 GREAT PORTLAND ST, LONDON W1W 7LQ
WEBSITE: WWW.THEGEORGE.LONDON
By The Handbook