The Young Gathering
New for April 2026: The Young Gathering will run as two separate Balls, each for different year groups, on consecutive days during the Easter holidays.
Young Gathering Ball (Y11-Y12) on Wed 8 Apr
This is aScottish reeling ball created especially for pupils in Years 11 and 12. An energetic and welcoming evening of proper Scottish dancing to the music of the Frank Reid Band.
Key Details:
Venue: St Columba’s Church, Pont Street, London, SW1.
Who can attend: Pupils in Years 11 and 12 only.
Music: Live music from the Frank Reid Band, with calling by John Carver.
Timing: 7.00pm - 11.00pm.
Dress Code: Highland Dress, Black Tie, long dresses or skirts. Shoes that spin are strongly recommended. No trainers please.
Alcohol Policy: Strictly alcohol-free.
Do I need to know the dances?
No experience is required, but the evening is much more enjoyable if attendees know the basics. We strongly recommend attending the practice session earlier in the day, or watching John’s video tutorials in advance.
Bagpipers
We are always keen to welcome young pipers to take part in the Ball and feature in the pipers’ procession.
If you know of any bagpipers in Years 11 or 12 who may be interested, please ask them to email john@reeling.com
👉 For any future updates on the Young Gathering, please join our Mailing List
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No problem at all – the Young Gathering is open to anyone in Years 11–13, whether or not they have reeled before. The focus is very much on fun and participation.
Once again, there will be a Pre-Ball Practice on the afternoon of the Ball. Any beginners are strongly encouraged to attend, as it will cover the basics and build confidence so the evening itself can be all about dancing rather than learning.
It’s also worth watching John Carver’s short Reeling Essentials video (link here), which gives a quick introduction to the main steps. On the night itself, John will walk through and call every dance, and there will be plenty of friendly dancers around happy to guide newcomers.
Most importantly, if your son/daughter comes with a willingness to join in and have fun, and attends the pre-ball practice if they’re a complete beginner, they will have a fantastic evening! 🕺💃
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A: Absolutely! This is a key tradition of any reeling Ball and the Young Gathering will be no different. We can even send them out to ticket-buyers in advance of the event, if groups would like to fill in their dance cards perhaps during drinks/supper before coming along to the Ball. A helpful guide to filling in dance cards correctly will also be sent with all dance cards, just so guests know what to do!
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A: All ticket buyers will be contacted 3-4 weeks before the Ball and asked where you would like your dance cards to be sent to. We send them via Royal Mail so that your party can fill them in before you arrive at the Ball.
Alternatively, you can choose to collect them on the night at the venue and fill them in at the drinks reception before the first dance.
The choice is yours!
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A: For many guests, this will be their first reeling ball, so we’ll start with simpler reels and build up from there. Expect to dance classics like the Dashing White Sergeant, Eightsome Reel, and Reel of the 51st (likely to be the grand finale). We may also include Hamilton House and Duke of Perth, and for fun, we might even throw in Strip the Willow (although not strictly a reel!). And the 'Young Gathering’ reel is John’s creation, super easy and will be called on the night - nobody has ever found it tricky! Don’t worry - there will be a walkthrough before every dance. Want to brush up ahead of time? Check out John’s reeling tutorials at www.reeling.com/videos
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A: We will have some small snacks going around between dances but we encourage everyone to have a bite to eat with their parties before coming to the venue. This way we can make the most of the time for dancing - this is a Reel Thing event, after all :-)Item description
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A: No. This is a zero alcohol event simply because of the age group of those attending. However, there will be plenty of soft drinks available during the evening, including a flute of sparkling elderflower served to everyone on arrival! 🥂
We will have security guards on site and any guest arriving at the Ball in possession of alcohol or clearly under the influence will be asked to leave immediately
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A: This is simply because we want everyone to attend the Ball as part of a group. That way, guests are less likely to get lost in the crowd or end up without partners for the dances. We will have a number of helpers there on the night to assist with this, but it’s much easier to manage if everyone attends as part of a group. Ideally, each group/party going to the Ball would meet up beforehand for supper/drinks - that will also help to keep everyone involved.
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We understand it can be tricky to organise groups with an even number of boys and girls, but there are good reasons for this.
First, we want to ensure everyone has a partner for every dance, as all reels are partner-based. Having balanced numbers makes this much easier and ensures that everyone has a more enjoyable experience on the dance floor.
We also ask that everyone attend in groups of at least 8 people to enhance the overall experience -especially for this age group. Coming as part of a group means there are familiar faces to share the evening with, which makes filling in dance cards and getting ready for each reel smoother and more comfortable. It can also help reduce any awkwardness, as group members often get to know each other beforehand.
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A: Please note tickets can only be purchased in groups of 8 for this event. However, if you have already purchased 8 tickets and would like to add one or two more to your party, this might be possible if extra tickets are available. Best advice is to email john@reeling.com to enquire.
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We recommend you visit our partners at www.thedresscode.cc for all your son’s DJ needs!
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All guests must present their Ticket Tailor QR code, sent by email at the time of purchase, for admission.
Tickets for the Young Gathering must be purchased by a parent or guardian.
Admission to the ball is conditional on the parent or guardian completing a Google Form, which will be sent following ticket purchase and must be completed in full before the event.
Wristbands will be issued to all guests once admitted.
Security checks will include bag searches for alcohol or prohibited items (including vapes, cigarettes, and illegal substances). Anyone found in possession of such items may be refused entry or asked to leave.
Reel Thing Events Ltd reserves the right to refuse entry.
No alcohol will be served. Guests appearing intoxicated will not be admitted.
There will be no re-entry once guests have left the venue.
Vaping is not permitted.
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Professional security staff will be on duty throughout the evening.
Bag checks and light searches may take place on entry.
Refusal to comply with security checks may result in refusal of entry.
Guests are expected to behave respectfully towards event staff, helpers, and other attendees at all times.
Reel Thing Events Ltd reserves the right to remove any guest whose behaviour compromises the safety or enjoyment of others.
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The event will finish at 11:00 pm.
Parents or guardians must confirm, via the Google Form sent after ticket purchase, how their child will be travelling home.
Attendees may leave the event independently only where this has been explicitly approved in advance by a parent or guardian through the Google Form.
Where collection is required, it must be by a responsible adult whose details have been provided in advance.
Reel Thing Events Ltd is not responsible for attendees once they have left the event premises.
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No refunds unless the event is cancelled by Reel Thing Events Ltd.
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Photos and videos may be taken for sharing with guests after the event or future event promotion.
Attendance implies consent for image use.
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St Columba’s Church, Pont Street, London SW1X 0BD
Nearest Underground stations: Knightsbridge, South Kensington, Sloane Square.
Young Gathering Ball (Year 13) - Thu 9 April
The details below apply to the Y13 Young Gathering only ⬇️
The Grand Hall of London Scottish House - venue for the Y13 Young Gathering
This is a full Scottish reeling ball designed specifically for pupils in Year 13, held in the Grand Hall of London Scottish House. The evening will feature live music from the Frank Reid Band, with calling by John Carver.
This Year 13 ball is a separate and distinctly different event from the Y11 and Y12 Young Gathering, with its own venue, format, and way of running the evening.
The Year 13 Young Gathering has been designed as a special celebration during pupils’ final year at school, bringing together those in Year 13 to enjoy a reeling ball alongside their peers before they move on to the next stage of their lives. By keeping the event exclusively for Year 13, and running it as one shared gathering rather than fixed parties, the evening has a relaxed and inclusive feel, allowing everyone to dance together and enjoy the occasion as a whole year group.
Key Details
Venue: London Scottish House, 95 Horseferry Road, London, SW1P 2DX
Who can attend: Pupils in Year 13 only
Tickets: Must be purchased by a parent or guardian. Tickets cannot be purchased by pupils.
Ticket format: Tickets are sold in pairs to ensure equal numbers of boys and girls. Larger groups may attend together, provided numbers are equal.
Music: Live music from the Frank Reid Band, with calling by John Carver
Timing: 7:00 pm – 11:00 pm
Dress code: Highland Dress, Black Tie, long dresses or skirts. Shoes suitable for dancing and spinning are strongly recommended. No trainers, please.
Dance cards: Issued and completed on the night – these will not be sent out in advance.
Alcohol policy: Strictly alcohol-free
How the Evening Runs
There are no fixed parties at the Year 13 Young Gathering. Tickets are sold in pairs, with no need to organise or be part of a larger group in advance.
Dance cards are issued on arrival and completed on the night. Everyone dances together, forming sets as required by the reels throughout the evening. This format works particularly well for a Year 13 event and creates a sociable, inclusive atmosphere.
Do I Need Experience?
No experience is required, but the evening is much more enjoyable if attendees know the basics. We strongly recommend attending the practice session earlier in the day, or watching John’s video tutorials in advance.
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No problem at all. The event is open to anyone in Year 13, whether or not they have reeled before, and the emphasis is very much on enjoyment and participation.
That said, the evening is far more enjoyable with a little preparation. For this reason, John Carver will be running a beginner practice on the day before the Y13 Ball at St Columba’s Church, Pont Street (this is the venue for the Y11–Y12 Ball, not the Y13 Ball). This session will cover the basics and build confidence so the ball itself can focus on dancing rather than learning.
Attendees can also watch John Carver’s short Reeling Essentials video in advance, which introduces the main steps. On the night, every dance will be walked through and called, and there will be plenty of experienced dancers happy to help.
With a willingness to join in - and ideally attendance at the pre-ball practice if completely new - beginners consistently have a fantastic evening.
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A: For the Year 13 Young Gathering, all attendees are in the same year group, and the event is designed to allow everyone to dance with a wide range of partners throughout the evening.
Tickets are therefore sold in pairs to help maintain an even balance of boys and girls on the dance floor, with each pair intended to be one boy and one girl. There is no limit on the number of tickets that may be purchased, and groups of eight or more are very welcome to attend together.
Unlike a traditional reeling ball, the evening is not organised around fixed groups. Everyone attending will be encouraged to dance with a variety of partners across the room, which is very much in the spirit of the Year 13 Young Gathering.
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A: Absolutely. Dance cards are a key tradition of any reeling ball, and they will be used at the Year 13 Young Gathering.
For this event, dance cards will not be issued in advance and will instead be available to collect on arrival, as there are no pre-arranged parties at the Year 13 Young Gathering.
Tickets are purchased in pairs, and as everyone attending is in the same year group, dancers are free to ask anyone else in the room to partner them for each dance. This allows the evening to remain relaxed and sociable.
As with all reeling balls, dancers are encouraged not to fill their card with the same partner for every dance - mixing partners is an important and enjoyable part of the tradition.
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A: For many guests, this will be their first reeling ball, so we’ll start with simpler reels and build up from there. Expect to dance classics like the Dashing White Sergeant, Eightsome Reel, and Reel of the 51st (likely to be the grand finale). We may also include Hamilton House and Duke of Perth, and for fun, we might even throw in Strip the Willow (although not strictly a reel!). And the 'Young Gathering’ reel is John’s creation, super easy and will be called on the night - nobody has ever found it tricky! Don’t worry - there will be a walkthrough before every dance. Want to brush up ahead of time? Check out John’s reeling tutorials at www.reeling.com/videos
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A: This is important because dance cards are completed between 7:00 pm and 7:30 pm, with the first dance starting promptly at 7:30 pm. Dance cards are not issued in advance for the Year 13 Young Gathering.
Guests who arrive late may miss the opportunity to complete their dance cards before the dancing begins. While we will always do our best to help, arriving on time ensures everyone can enjoy the full experience from the start - including filling in dance cards in a relaxed atmosphere before the evening gets underway.
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A: We will have some small snacks going around between dances but we encourage everyone to have a bite to eat before coming to the venue. This way we can make the most of the time for dancing - this is a Reel Thing event, after all :-)
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A: No. This is a zero alcohol event simply because of the strict rules of the venue. However, there will be plenty of soft drinks available during the evening, including a flute of sparkling elderflower served to everyone on arrival! 🥂
We will have security guards on site and any guest arriving at the Ball in possession of alcohol or clearly under the influence will be asked to leave immediately
-
We recommend you visit our partners at www.thedresscode.cc for all your son’s DJ needs!
-
All guests must present their Ticket Tailor QR code, sent by email at the time of purchase, for admission.
Tickets for the Year 13 Young Gathering must be purchased by a parent or guardian.
Admission to the ball is conditional on the parent or guardian completing a Google Form, which will be sent following ticket purchase and must be completed in full before the event.
Wristbands will be issued to all guests once admitted.
Security checks will include bag searches for alcohol or prohibited items (including vapes, cigarettes, and illegal substances). Anyone found in possession of such items may be refused entry or asked to leave.
Reel Thing Events Ltd reserves the right to refuse entry.
No alcohol will be served. Guests appearing intoxicated will not be admitted.
There will be no re-entry once guests have left the venue.
Vaping is not permitted.
-
Professional security staff will be on duty throughout the evening.
Bag checks and light searches may take place on entry.
Refusal to comply with security checks may result in refusal of entry.
Guests are expected to behave respectfully towards event staff, helpers, and other attendees at all times.
Reel Thing Events Ltd reserves the right to remove any guest whose behaviour compromises the safety or enjoyment of others.
-
The event will finish at 11:00 pm.
Parents or guardians must confirm, via the Google Form sent after ticket purchase, how their child will be travelling home.
Attendees may leave the event independently only where this has been explicitly approved in advance by a parent or guardian through the Google Form.
Where collection is required, it must be by a responsible adult whose details have been provided in advance.
Reel Thing Events Ltd is not responsible for attendees once they have left the event premises.
-
No refunds unless the event is cancelled by Reel Thing Events Ltd.
-
Photos and videos may be taken for sharing with guests after the event or future event promotion.
Attendance implies consent for image use.
-
The Y13 Young Gathering will take place at London Scottish House, 95 Horseferry Road, London SW1P 2DX.
Nearest Underground stations:
Westminster (Circle, District, Jubilee lines)
St James’s Park (Circle, District lines)
Pimlico (Victoria line)
The venue is well served by local bus routes along Horseferry Road and nearby main roads.
Guests are encouraged to allow plenty of time for travel and arrival.