Hogmanay Dinner at George IV

George IV Bar is doing a Hogmanay dinner on Thursday 31 December, and it's not your usual quiet New Year's Eve affair. They're framing it as an 'utterly uncouth' celebration, built on laughter, music and plenty of drink rather than velvet ropes or quiet toasts. It's a pub knees-up in the proper sense: you start with a glass of bubbly before settling in, with house bands keeping the tunes rolling alongside cocktails and pints. The night carries on well past the meal, with live music from 10:30 pm until 12:30 am to bring in the bells.

There are two sittings to choose from, so you can pick the one that fits your night. The early sitting runs 5:30–7:30 pm, and the late one is 8:00–10:00 pm. Both are part of the same evening, which opens at 5:00 pm with doors from 4:45 pm, so you've got plenty of time to get settled before your slot. If you're bringing the family, under-18s are welcome as long as they're with a parent or legal guardian. And if your plans change, you can get a refund up to seven days before the event.

On the food side, it's a three-course set menu for £45 per person, or £65 if you want a drinks pairing for each course. The venue is George IV Bar, 54 George IV Bridge, Edinburgh, EH1 1EJ. Between the two sittings and the live music that takes you right through to the countdown, it's a long evening, so you might as well start early.