A flavour of Scotland is set to be served up this month at some of Shepherd Neame’s pubs in the South East.
A traditional toast to iconic Scots poet Robert Burns will be performed at The Vine in Tenterden High Street on Friday, January 27, courtesy of the site’s Scottish General Manager, Fraser Johnston.
Proud Scot Fraser, who grew up a stone’s throw from the poet’s birthplace in South Ayrshire, will be donning his family tartan for the occasion.
Guests for the evening at the independent family brewer’s hostelry, will be welcomed to the High Street inn by a traditional piper, before being seated for the highlight of the evening – Address to a Haggis, read by Fraser, before the haggis, which will be carried by his 10-year-old son.
Fraser said: “I grew up two minutes away from where Robert Burns was born so I grew up with the whole thing – it is a passion of mine. When I was at school, I took part in many poetry competitions reading his poems, which is in ‘Old Scots’.
“It is something I care about; I just love doing it. And I will be wearing a kilt – I pride myself on the family Johnston tartan – if I could, I would wear a kilt all the time!”
Customers at The Vine have been treated to Fraser’s dulcet tones for Burns Night celebrations on a number of previous occasions, and also guests at The George Hotel in Cranbrook, when he was General Manager there.
The food for the evening – held two nights after Burns Night, which is on Wednesday, January 25 – will feature a themed Burns Night menu, created by Shepherd Neame’s Food Development Team.
It will start with a traditional Scottish soup, Cullen Skink, which is a light dish of flaked smoked haddock, and steamed potato, topped with freshly sliced chives and served with warmed, sourdough bread.
This will be followed by Haggis, Neeps and Tatties, with a whisky and mustard cream and crispy pancetta. For the main course, guests will be served Seared Venison Steak, with fondant potato, wilted spinach and seared woodland mushrooms, and a rich cranberry and red wine jus.
For pudding, there will be Scottish Cranachan, consisting of a whipped whisky and oat cream, fresh raspberry compote and crumbled Scottish shortbread.
The evening will be topped off with another Scots treat – a free, wee dram of Glenfiddich 12 Year Old whisky.
Development Chef Gareth Finney said: “With this exciting Burns Night themed menu we hope to give people a flavour of this very traditional of Scots evenings. “
The evening on Friday, January 27, from 7pm, is not the only chance to sample the special menu. It can also be booked on Thursday, January 26 between noon and 2pm, when there will also be a tutored tasting of Glenfiddich at 1.45pm, and at The Sun Inn in Faversham on Thursday, January 26 between 6pm and 8pm, when a tutored tasting will be at 7.45pm.
The Burns Night menu, which costs £37.95 for four courses, will also be available at some selected sites across the Shepherd Neame estate. A vegetarian option can be prepared if requested at the time of booking.
To book for the themed dinners at The Vine Inn in High Street, Tenterden, call 01580 762718 or visit https://www.vineinntenterden.co.uk/ and to book for The Sun Inn in West Street, Faversham, call 01795 535098 or visit https://www.sunfaversham.co.uk/. To find out if the menu is available at your local Shepherd Neame site, contact the pub direct.
ENDS
Editor’s Note
Pictures from the event at The Vine, Tenterden will be available after the event.
For review requests for one of the Burns Night events, or for further information, please contact Communications Executive Angela Cole on 01795 542142 or email acole@shepherdneame.co.uk or visit www.shepherdneame.co.uk
About Shepherd Neame
Shepherd Neame has been based in the market town of Faversham, Kent for over 300 years. Perhaps best known for great British classic ales such as Spitfire Amber, which carries the Royal Warrant, its diverse portfolio includes Five Grain Lager, Bear Island East Coast Pale Ale and Bear Island Triple Hopped Lager, and the Whitstable Bay Collection. It also brews international lagers under licence including Samuel Adams Boston Lager and premium Thai lager Singha. The independent family business boasts an award-winning visitor centre and more than 300 pubs and hotels throughout London and the South East, from the historic heart of the City to the Kent coastline.
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Press release from Shepherd Neame.
For review requests for one of the Burns Night events, or for further information, please contact Communications Executive Angela Cole on 01795 542142 or email acole@shepherdneame.co.uk or visit www.shepherdneame.co.uk.