Taste Autumn in Ards and North Down Serves Up a Month of Flavours with Anna Haugh Headlining a Delicious Day Out at Tide and Turf Portavogie

Food lovers are in for a treat this September as Taste Autumn in Ards and North Down returns from 5-28 September 2025 with a mouth-watering line-up of free and ticketed events celebrating the best of local food and drink. Across the Borough, visitors can enjoy everything from intimate chef-led dining experiences, unique afternoon teas, food tours and bustling food festivals to artisan markets, cookery demos, and family fun days - all set against the stunning backdrop of our towns, villages, and coastline.

Seafood and fabulous flavours return to the beautiful harbour village of Portavogie on Saturday 6 September for the ever-popular Tide and Turf Food Festival - a free family day out showcasing the very best of local produce from land and sea.

From 12 noon to 5pm, celebrity chef Anna Haugh will headline the demo kitchen, sharing her culinary expertise and mouth-watering recipes using locally landed seafood, grass-fed beef, and fresh seasonal produce.

Eat, drink, and relax.
Sample mouth-watering treats from artisan food stalls, enjoy a refreshing drink from the pop-up bar, and unwind with live music from Cool Hand String Band and The Broken String Band.

Fun for all the family.
Children can enjoy a wide range of free activities including the Exploris touch tank, nautical pitch and putt, an urban beach, paint your own ceramic maritime decorations and much more! The ever-popular fishy treasure hunt will see young explorers searching the event site to win a goodie bag from the Visitor Information Centre caravan.

Getting here is easy - and free.
Pre-bookable event shuttle buses will run from Bangor, Newtownards, and Portaferry directly to the festival site. Routes include:

• Bangor service - stops at Donaghadee, Millisle, Ballywalter, and Ballyhalbert.
• Newtownards service - stops at Greyabbey and Kircubbin.
• Portaferry service - stop at Cloughey.

Travelling by public transport helps reduce congestion and keep the Peninsula beautiful for everyone.

The Mayor of Ards and North Down, Councillor Gillian McCollum, said:

"The Tide and Turf Food Festival is a highlight of the Borough's foodie calendar, and with free shuttle buses, there's no better time to leave the car at home and enjoy a fantastic day out in Portavogie."

Taste Autumn in Ards and North Down

With a mouthwatering programme of events running from 5 to 28 September, this festival is an opportunity to enjoy unique events celebrating the very best of local seasonal food and drink.

Highlights

• Demo and Dine with Anna Haugh - Fri 5 Sept
  A special evening dining experience with Anna creating a menu from the finest local produce. (Ticketed - pre-booking essential)

• Chilli Festival, Walled Garden, Castle Park Bangor - Sat 13 and Sun 14 Sept
  A fiery feast of chilli-inspired dishes, cookery demos, eating challenges, live music, and family fun.

• Taste AND at Bangor Castle - Sat 27-Sun 28 Sept
  A showcase of artisan producers, tastings, and chef demos in the beautiful castle grounds.

Tide and Turf Portavogie and Taste Ards and North Down at Bangor Castle received funding from DAERA's Northern Ireland REgional Food Programme.

For the full programme, shuttle bus bookings, and ticketed event information, visit www.ardsandnorthdown.com/tasteautumn

Photo caption: The Mayor of Ards and North Down, Councillor Gillian McCollum, pictured outside Bangor Castle ahead of the series of Taste Autumn (5-28 September) foodie events that take place across the Borough.