Whether you are looking to celebrate traditional Irish dance and music, or simply for an excuse to drink Guinness on a regular Tuesday, there’s plenty of ways to celebrate St Patrick’s Day in Hackney. Here are our top picks.
15 hours of festivities at Mascara Bar, Stoke Newington
A lively Irish pub in Stokey, Mascara Bar has put together a busy St Paddy’s itinerary. They’re planning to start celebrating early on Tuesday at 11am – with complimentary boiled bacon and cabbage as a pick-me-up at lunch – followed by DJ sets until the early hours. There’s also live music from Scantily Trad and St Patrick’s Troops. Oh, and Guinness is £4 a pint before 6pm.
Family ceilidh at Round Chapel, Lower Clapton
Hackney-based folk band Cut A Shine will take to the stage at the Round Chapel on 14 March, followed by their family-friendly ceilidh “celebrating Irish culture, music and dance”. The band will teach the essential dance moves, so all levels are welcome. And don’t worry – the Guinness and whisky will provide some liquid courage for the ceilidh.
Pints at the Pub on the Park, London Fields
Located on the edge of London Fields and an easy walk from Hackney Central, Pub on the Park is the ideal spot for a more relaxed pint this St Paddy’s Day. The team behind Bodean’s, Pitboss, has a kitchen residency here and serves up classic smokehouse flavours and American BBQ – the perfect accompaniment to a crisp, cold pint.
Breakfast at The Crown, Hackney Central
If starting early is more your style, The Crown will be serving up a ‘proper’ Irish breakfast with stew and homemade soda bread to keep you fuelled for a day of festivities. Music starts from 3pm, with Irish dancers taking to the floor at 6pm. They say “it is the kind of day where strangers become friends and no one leaves early”, so if loud and lively is your thing, The Crown is your best bet. A pint will only set you back £5.90 – which by London standards, is definitely worth celebrating.
And if you’re looking simply for a taste of Ireland, here are our top picks for Hackney’s best Irish pubs:
- The Auld Shilleagh, Stoke Newington
- The Fox, Dalston
- Moylett’s, Lower Clapton (Brand new!)
- Howl at the Moon, Hoxton
- Molly Bloom’s, Dalston
And for the cheapest pints of Guinness to really put you in the spirit, Oslo Hackney is offering £5 pints all day to celebrate, and Mascara Bar’s is £4 a pint until 6pm on the 17th.
Jake is a student journalist studying for an MA at City St George's.
