Shepherd Neame Limited

01/12/2023 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 01/12/2023 06:06

SOAK UP A TRADITIONAL SCOTS BURNS NIGHT CELEBRATION – PLUS A WEE DRAM – WITH SHEPHERD NEAME

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 www.vineinntenterden.co.uk and to book for The Sun Inn in West Street, Faversham, call 01795 535098 or visit www.sunfaversham.co.uk. To find out if the menu is available at your local Shepherd Neame site, contact the pub direct.