The programme
Five acts, in the same order most nights, with the four courses served between them.
The dinner is built around the show rather than around table turnover: the four courses and the show run to one timetable, and dinner is under way before the show starts.
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01 PeatPipes
Pipe Major Andrew Coulter opens the evening, greeting guests on Nicolson Street just before the show opens.
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02 Thistle greenHighland dance
The four dancers and the show's youngest, the wee dancer, perform the Highland Fling and the traditional sword dance between courses.
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03 Saltire blueThe haggis address
The haggis is piped in and Robert Burns' Address to a Haggis is recited before you sample it.
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04 Heather purpleAccordion and song
The accordion player, host and hostess bring music, poetry and stories to the tables as the courses turn over.
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05 OatmealThe finale
The full company returns for a last set before the room empties onto Nicolson Street at the end of the evening.
Your confirmation shows the arrival time at the Royal College of Surgeons on Nicolson Street; dinner is served around the show, which runs for about ninety minutes, and the dress is casual — no kilt required.
The four courses
A four-course Scottish choice menu, with one drink included per person.
The venue, and getting there
The venue
The show is staged at the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh on Nicolson Street, a few minutes' walk from the Royal Mile and South Bridge.
Arrival and timing
Your confirmation shows the arrival time. The whole evening takes about three hours, and the show itself runs for about ninety minutes.
What to wear
The evening is casual. There's no dress code and no need for a kilt or Highland dress unless you own one already.
Booking ahead
The show runs nightly from April to October and, for the rest of the year, subject to demand, so check your date before you commit.
Spirit of Scotland Show vs a ceilidh vs a whisky evening
| Spirit of Scotland Show | A public ceilidh | A whisky tasting evening |
|---|---|---|
| A seated dinner and stage show — pipes, Highland dance and the haggis address | Everyone dances, live band, no seated show or dinner | A guided tasting, seated, with a host talking you through each dram |
| A four-course dinner and one drink, with the whole show included | Usually a bar on a tab; food isn't part of it | A flight of drams and tasting notes, sometimes a light snack |
| About three hours in the evening, with a show of about ninety minutes | Two to four hours, and you can come and go | Around 60 to 90 minutes |
| Pipes, Highland dance, the haggis address and dinner in one evening | Dancing yourself rather than watching | Whisky specifically, not music or dance |
Spirit of Scotland Show questions
Where does the Spirit of Scotland Show take place?
At the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh on Nicolson Street, a few minutes' walk from the Royal Mile.
What time should I arrive?
Your confirmation shows the arrival time for your date. Dinner is served before and around the show, and the whole evening takes about three hours.
What's included in the four courses?
A four-course choice menu, with a choice of dishes at several courses, including vegetarian options, plus one drink per person. The menu changes slightly with the season, so check the show's food page for the current version.
What happens during the haggis ceremony?
The haggis is piped into the room and Robert Burns' Address to a Haggis is recited in full before it's served.
Is there a dress code?
No. The evening is casual — there's no need for black tie or Highland dress.
Is the show suitable for children?
The cast includes a young 'wee dancer' alongside the adult performers, so it plays as a family evening — check with the operator directly if you have a specific age in mind.
What if I have a dietary requirement?
Let them know when you book, ahead of the evening, so the kitchen can adjust your four courses.
Does the show run every night?
It runs nightly from April to October and, for the rest of the year, subject to demand, so check your date before booking.
More Edinburgh experiences
See all Edinburgh experiences ↗Planning a Scottish evening in Edinburgh
- What to expect: pipes, dance, dinner
What happens at the Spirit of Scotland Show, how the pipes and Highland dances work, what to wear, who it suits and where to go.
- The pipes, the accordion and the dances explained
Who's actually on stage — the Pipe Major, the accordion player, and the dances the four dancers perform.
- Dinner show tickets and haggis ceremony
How to book the Spirit of Scotland dinner show online or direct, what the haggis ceremony is, what the menu covers and who should skip it.
- The venue, getting there, and timing
Where the Royal College of Surgeons is, how to get there from the Royal Mile, and what time to arrive.
- Spirit of Scotland Show vs a ceilidh vs a whisky evening
Three different ways to spend a Scottish evening in Edinburgh, and which one actually suits what you want to do.
- Edinburgh evenings beyond the Spirit of Scotland Show
What else fills an evening in Edinburgh, on the nights you're not at Nicolson Street.