In a new venture for the club, Scottish poet Robbie Burns was celebrated with a dinner in his honour, the dining table was decorated with tartan and all the guests received a corsage.
The guests were piped to the table where a Chatham Artillery punch awaited along with a few litres of Scotch Whisky. After the Selkirk grace a very filling homemade Cock a Leekie soup was presented to the diners, then the highlight of the evening the Haggis was piped in before being addressed and slaughtered. However departing from convention the address was delivered in English and without the familiar Scottish dialect.
Zoltan the chef from The Red Lion served up a culinary delight of Turnips and Potato with the revered Haggis, but this was no ordinary meal, the Turnip was fried like a Rosti with the Haggis sat atop whilst mashed potato was piped over the top, all served in a rich creamy whisky mustard sauce.
Those who still had room tucked in to plum pudding with whisky cream finished off with home made shortbread and coffee.
As the punch was consumed and the whiskey bottles emptied there was time to finish the event with everyone joining hands and singing Auld Lang Syne.
All in all a thoroughly enjoyable evening made special by the skills of the talented chef.
Submitted on 25th January 2015