Ah St Patrick’s Day, our favourite celebration of the year. The Irish export is celebrated around the world as both an appreciation of the vibrant culture of Ireland, and an excuse to get knees up and boozy with the country’s other infamous exports, namely, Guinness and whisky. But things aren’t all shamrocks and ‘kiss me I’m Irish’ ties (although we have been known to don both on the 17th). Around London, some of our favourite venues are pulling out all the stops to have you celebrating St Patty’s in style. Whether it's special menus packed full of Irish produce, or live bands that’ll get the céilí going, there is no shortage of lively events to get involved in.
From Irish coffees at The George Public House, to oysters at Bentley’s, we’ve got you covered with our pick of the best spots to celebrate St Patrick’s Day in London this year.
Daffodil Mulligan and Gibney’s
70-74 City Road, EC1Y 2BJ
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While technically two separate venues, with Gibney’s sitting as a secret, speakeasy-style bar below the sprawl of Daffodil Mulligan, St Patrick’s Day will see these two spots fling open their doors for revellers. Downstairs in the bar they’ll be showing the Six Nations on the screens, while diners upstairs will be serenaded by a selection of folk, fiddle and trad artists. The party will continue in the bar long after the restaurant closes, with live music, Guinness – maybe even some pints of Beamish – and good spirits aplenty.
Bentley’s
11-15 Swallow Street, W1B 4DG
While the restaurant isn’t hosting a party per se, if you want to celebrate all things Irish (in particular, the waters around it), then Bentley’s is your place. Kick things off with a selection of Irish oysters – and a glass of fizz or a black velvet – before making your way through the incredible selection of Irish produce across the menu. Patron Richard Corrigan’s hospitality is infectious, and you’re sure to leave full of joy – if that isn’t the point of a good St Patrick’s Day, then we don’t know what is.
Homeboy
Various locations
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The team at Homeboy’s tagline is ‘Modern Irish Hospitality’ and they live up to it every day of the year – but ramp things up ten fold on St Patrick’s Day weekend. Their parties are infamous – with a special, whisky-packed cocktail menu, live music, free-flowing Irish coffees and more Guinness than you can shake a stick at, it’s safe to say attendees are in for a good time. With festivities going on at both locations from Thursday, nab a table soon to ensure you’re a part of the fun.
The George
55 Great Portland Street, W1W 7LQ
Pouring the Irish Coffee at The George pub
The final touch: a dusting of nutmeg
St Patrick’s is a weekend-long affair at The George Public House in Fitzrovia. Friday will see a live band, oysters and drinks for a guaranteed good time. Saturday will have all that plus the Six Nations final games on the big screens all day. Head in on Sunday for a chicken fillet roll to cure any lingering hangovers, and then get ready to do it all again on Monday – the bar are giving away 100 free Irish coffees between 5.00pm and 6.30pm.
Auld Shillelagh
105 Stoke Newington Church Street, N16 0UD
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Ask any hardy Londoner where the best Guinness is in the city and they’ll likely have an emphatic answer – for many, it will be Stoke Newington’s Auld Shillelagh. The quality of their pints has become infamous with purists, with thirsty revellers flocking there any night of the week to get their fix of the black gold. St Patrick’s Day is due to be no different, with live music, Irish stew and dancing to boot – plus many more festivities across the weekend. We’ll say cheers to that – just don’t forget to split the E first.
The Audley
41-43 Mount Street, W1K 2RX
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The Audley Public House on Mount Street will be keeping the festivities going all day on Saturday 15 March. With live music from 2pm, and traditional Irish dishes like rarebit and stew to line the stomach, plus some of the best Guinness in town, this is set to be a riotous party.
40 FT and Acme Fire Cult
Bootyard, Abbot Street, E8 3DP
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Neighbours Acme Fire Cult and 40FT Brewery are teaming up to host a legendary St Patrick’s Day party in their little corner of Dalston. The evening will feature the brewery's nitro stout, spice bags (an Irish delicacy for the uninitiated), boilermakers and picklebacks made with Jameson Stout Edition, the six nations – of course, trad music and DJs from 7.30pm. Phew. This is a knees up not to be missed.
The Toucan
19 Carlisle Street, W1D 3BY
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Want to get your hands on some of the best Guinness in London to celebrate St Patrick's Day? Head to The Toucan in Soho. What it might lack in size, the pub more than makes up with the quality of its pints. Any given night of the week sees thirsty revellers sprawling out onto Carlisle Street, so we recommend you get in early on the 17th to make the most of it.
