Burns Night Bagpiper in Bristol & Bath | Piping in the Haggis
Make Your Burns Night Celebration Authentic and Unforgettable
Planning a Burns Night supper in Bristol, Bath, or anywhere across the South West?
A professional bagpiper is the single most important element of a traditional Burns Night celebration — and I'd be delighted to be part of yours. I'm Stuart Gormley, a professional Highland bagpiper based in Bristol with over 20 years of experience. Burns Night is one of my favourite events of the year, and I bring the full traditional ceremony, authentic music, and genuine expertise to every Burns Night supper I
What Is Burns Night?
Burns Night — also known as Burns Supper or Burns Day — is celebrated on 25th January every year. It honours Robert Burns, the national poet of Scotland, and is one of the most beloved cultural celebrations in the Scottish calendar. Originally a Scottish tradition, Burns Night is now celebrated across the UK and around the world. It's a celebration of Scottish poetry, music, food, and culture — and it always centres on one thing: a proper Burns Night supper with all the traditional ceremonies. Burns Night celebrations are popular across Bristol, Bath, and the wider South West, hosted by Scottish societies, hotels, restaurants, corporate organisations, and private individuals alike.
What Does a Burns Night Bagpiper Actually Do?
This is where experience really matters. Burns Night has a very specific running order and set of traditions. Get them right, and your Burns Night supper feels authentic, impressive, and genuinely special. Get them wrong, and it falls flat. Here's exactly what I do at a Burns Night celebration:
1. Guest Arrival Piping I play as guests arrive and are seated, setting the tone for the evening and creating immediate atmosphere. Traditional Scottish tunes fill the room and let everyone know that something properly celebratory is about to happen.
2. Piping in the Haggis This is the highlight of the evening — and the moment most people are waiting for. The tradition works like this: the haggis is carried from the kitchen by a member of staff or a designated guest. I pipe it in — walking ahead of or alongside the haggis, playing a traditional march, leading it to the head table with full ceremony. It's dramatic, it's theatrical, and it gets every guest in the room paying attention. This is the moment that makes a Burns Night supper feel real.
3. The Address to the Haggis Once the haggis has been piped in and placed at the table, someone delivers the Address to the Haggis — Robert Burns' famous poem. I accompany this with appropriate music, and at the designated moment, the haggis is cut open with a ceremonial sgian dubh (Scottish dagger). I can advise on the exact timing and cues to make this run smoothly.
4. The Toast to Robert Burns A toast is raised to Robert Burns himself. I play an appropriate tune to accompany this moment — usually something deeply tied to Burns and Scottish tradition.
5. The Toast to the Lassie and the Lad Burns Night tradition includes a lighthearted toast celebrating the relationship between men and women — drawn from Burns' poetry. I accompany this with music to match the tone. ### 6. Interval and Entertainment Between courses or during the meal, I can provide background music and entertainment — keeping the atmosphere lively and the evening flowing.
7. Farewell Piping I can pipe guests out at the end of the evening, bringing the celebration to a fitting, traditional close.
**All Burns Night packages include:** - Professional performance in full Highland dress - Pre-event consultation on running order and timing - Advice on Burns Night ceremony and protocol - Coordination with your venue and event organiser - Travel included within 20 miles of Bristol and Bath
Thank you!
