Taste AND

Taste AND

Taste Ards and North Down has partnered with Good Food Ireland® to bring you a curated taste of one of Northern Ireland's most vibrant regions.

taste

AND

Whether you’re a curious foodie eager to discover new flavours, a slow traveller seeking meaningful, authentic experiences, or someone who simply appreciates high quality, locally rooted food and drink, Taste Ards and North Down delivers something truly special. This is where the story of Northern Ireland’s food culture comes to life, through the hands of passionate producers, the heritage of coastal communities and the natural beauty that shapes its exceptional ingredients. From shoreline seafood feasts and seasonal festivals to intimate tastings and farm visits, Taste AND invites you to connect with the land, the people and the traditions that make this region unlike anywhere else.

Scenic Splendour

Stunning coastal beauty.

Local Flavours

World-class ingredients.

Friendly Locals

Welcoming community.

What sets it apart

Nestled along the spectacular eastern shoreline of Northern Ireland, Ards and North Down is a region where land meets sea and where food tells a story. Just a short drive from Belfast, this vibrant destination offers visitors an unforgettable journey through taste, tradition and breathtaking natural beauty. Whether you’re meandering along the windswept Ards Peninsula or relaxing by the calm waters of Strangford Lough, every part of this region is deeply rooted in its rich food culture.

What sets Ards and North Down apart from the rest of Northern Ireland is its coastal charm, heritage-rich landscape and exceptional local produce. Here, farming and fishing aren’t just industries, they’re lifelines that have shaped communities for generations. The area is home to some of Northern Ireland’s most celebrated ingredients, including the famous Comber Earlies, Portavogie prawns and Strangford Lough langoustines, all of which feature proudly on local menus and at food festivals throughout the year.

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FESTIVALS & events

Taste AND Festivals are a vibrant celebration of the food, drink and cultural richness of Ards and North Down, Northern Ireland. Hosted under the Taste Ards and North Down (Taste AND) brand, these seasonal festivals bring together local producers, chefs and communities to showcase the best of the region’s culinary heritage in stunning coastal settings.

Meet The Makers

Engage directly with producers, chefs, brewers and fishers.

Taste the Region

Sample everything from fresh langoustines and small-batch gin to rare-breed beef and artisan breads.

Immerse Yourself

Enjoy hands-on experiences, workshops and guided tastings in stunning locations.

TASTE SUMMER

Taste Summer centres around the Comber Earlies Food Festival, honouring the region’s most famous product, Comber Early Potatoes, awarded PGI status by the EU.

Comber Earlies PGI Food and Drink Festival Comber Castle Street Link, Saturday 28th June 11am to 5pm

Guest Chef and TV presenter, Anna Haugh leads demos on the kitchen theatre with local chefs whilst BBC Good Food writer, Lotte Duncan, leads home cooking demos and chats with a range of artisan producers from Taste Ards and North Down. As well as fresh local potatoes from the fields of Comber, there are a range of artisan food and drink producers from across County Down and local band Anna’s Number feature on the music stage.

Tickets on Sale Soon!

Comber Earlies Showcase Dinner No 14 at the Georgian House, Friday 27 June at 7pm.

A showcase set-menu dinner combined with a meet the maker featuring four local producers in the walled garden of No 14.

TASTE SUMMER FESTIVAL

Taste Summer centres around the Comber Earlies Food Festival, honouring the region’s most famous product, Comber Early potatoes, awarded Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) status by the EU. The festival features local food markets, chef demonstrations, street entertainment and tastings, all set in the charming town of Comber. Across the borough, visitors can enjoy farm tours, coastal picnics, seafood experiences and pop-up dining events that celebrate summer’s bounty.

Food & Drink Experiences

Good Food Ireland® has carefully curated food and drink experiences from the region that go far beyond the plate, each thoughtfully designed to connect visitors with the people, places, and stories behind the region’s renowned produce. These immersive experiences celebrate the authenticity, heritage and seasonal richness that define Ards and North Down’s unique food culture.

Taste Autumn

Taste AND proudly presents the 4th Annual Taste Autumn Programme, returning this September with its most exciting line-up to date. Taking place from 5th to 28th September 2025, this month-long series of events celebrates the Borough’s exceptional food and drink scene through a curated mix of three flagship food festivals, immersive culinary experiences and exclusive dining events.

Set against the stunning coastal and countryside backdrop of Ards and North Down, the programme will spotlight the region’s award-winning chefs, artisan producers and locally sourced ingredients. From seafood feasts by the harbour to fiery chilli tastings in historic gardens, each event is designed to honour the Borough’s rich culinary heritage and thriving contemporary food culture.

Tickets on Sale Soon!

A standout event in this year’s calendar is Tide and Turf, a culinary showcase set in Portavogie on 5th and 6th September. The festival opens with a special Demo and Dine session led by renowned celebrity chef Anna Haugh, offering guests an unforgettable evening of flavour, creativity and inspiration.

TASTE Autumn festival & events unveiled

Demo and Dine at the Harbour, Portavogie
Friday 5 September | Portavogie Harbour

Join celebrated chef and TV personality Anna Haugh for an unforgettable evening at Demo and Dine, hosted in the beautifully transformed fish market at Portavogie Harbour. This unique culinary experience, taking place on Friday 5 September, offers guests the chance to enjoy a relaxed, interactive dining event.

In collaboration with students from South Eastern Regional College (SERC), Anna will demonstrate how to prepare the very dishes guests will enjoy that evening. The experience includes welcome drinks and canapés, interactive starters, main course sharing platters and a decadent dessert, all set against the scenic harbour backdrop.

A complimentary return bus service will be available from Bangor, Donaghadee and Ballyhalbert.

Tide and Turf, Portavogie
Saturday 6 September | 12pm – 5pm | Portavogie Harbour

Celebrate the best of land and sea at Tide and Turf, a vibrant free-entry food festival taking place on Saturday 6 September at Portavogie Harbour. From 12pm to 5pm, enjoy a full day of chef-led cookery demonstrations featuring chef Anna Haugh alongside talented local chefs, all showcasing the finest in locally sourced seafood, grass-fed beef and artisan produce.

Bangor Chilli Festival
Saturday 13 & Sunday 14 September | 11am – 5pm | Bangor Walled Garden

Turn up the heat at the Bangor Chilli Festival, a two-day celebration of all things spicy, set in the stunning Bangor Walled Garden on Saturday 13 and Sunday 14 September. Running from 11am to 5pm each day, this mini festival highlights the region’s fiery passion for chillies in food and drink.

Discover an impressive collection of chilli plants from around the world, all locally grown by Habanero Steve’s, a Northern Irish artisan known for his bold hot sauces, chilli jams, relishes and chutneys. With a dazzling display of chilli shapes, sizes and colours, you can even try to spot the hottest chilli, measuring a scorching 2 million on the Scoville scale.

The weekend also features local chilli-based food producers, live music and plenty of family fun, making it a must-visit for spice lovers and curious foodies alike.

Taste at Bangor Castle
Saturday 27 & Sunday 28 September | 11am – 5pm | Bangor Castle, BT20 4BT

Join Taste at Bangor Castle, a two-day celebration of the finest food and drink from Ards and North Down, set within the picturesque grounds of Bangor Castle Park. Taking place on Saturday 27 and Sunday 28 September 2025, this free, family-friendly event brings together the region’s most talented artisan producers for a weekend of flavour, craftsmanship and community spirit.

With over 30 local producers and a wide variety of hot food vendors, visitors can savour the best of local culinary offerings. Enjoy live cookery demonstrations in the Kitchen Theatre, meet local makers in the Meet the Maker Lounge and be inspired by chefs from award-winning restaurants across the borough.

Adding to the vibrant atmosphere, the event will feature live music from local artists and special activities linked to Bangor’s Aspects Festival of Writing, making it a truly immersive cultural and culinary experience.

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Lorem Ipsum is
simply dummy text
of the printing
and typesetting industry
Lorem Ipsum has
been the industry’s
standard dummy text ever
since the 1500s, when an
unknown printer
took a galley
of type and

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Testimonials

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Best Strawberrys

Kearns fruit farm is the BEST I have ever been on.The quality of the berries and service is 10 stars…….

Lucille Bradfield

Best strawberries around

I have to say Kearns strawberries are the best and tastiest strawberries I have ever tasted, such a friendly place

Tom Fitzgerald

Kearns fruit farm

Kearns produce the tastiest fruits and I love their produce. Good value

Aiseling Noone

Kearns fruit farm

Kearns have the tastiest fruit and great value fir a great product

Aiseling Noone

Tastiest Strawberries

Lovely fresh Strawberries so sweet and natural

The Strawberry jam is lovely tastes just like homemade

Sile Whelan

I love fruit especially strawberries and raspberries and kearns ones taste and last the longest

Diffinity worth 5 stars and wish them the very best in good food Ireland deserve to win all the way

Ann marie Sheridan

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