Tide and Turf Portavogie

Running as part of Ards and North Down Borough Council's Taste Autumn programme of events, Thursday 5 - Sunday 15 September 2024, this free to attend family event showcases the food produced around the harbour and surrounding farmland with a focus on seafood and beef and features celebrity chefs Rachel Allen and James Tanner.

Your foodie dreams will come true as you savour the seasonal tide and turf produce.

Find out more about the full Taste Autumn Ards and North Down programme.

Festival Kitchen

Rachel Allen | A bestselling cookery writer, TV chef and celebrated teacher at the world-famous Ballymaloe Cookery School in County Cork, Ireland.

She is a popular figure in the culinary world, with an international audience for her bestselling cookery books and food writing, her live demonstrations, and her much-loved television programmes. Rachel was co-host of Good Food Channel’s Market Kitchen, has appeared on BBC’s Saturday Kitchen, and currently co-hosts The Restaurant alongside Marco Pierre White for RTE as well as writing a weekly food column for the Sunday Independent. Read more about Rachel.

James Tanner | A chef, author and TV personality.

Known for featuring on many TV cookery shows including Ready Steady Cook, Saturday Morning with James Martin and was the resident chef on ITV’s Lorraine. James is passionate about using local, seasonable and sustainable produce of excellent quality, and was involved in the first Red Tractor Week, supporting farmers, processors, retailers and distributors who work together to maintain and raise production standards. James is a regular at food festivals up and down the country, and he and his brother Chris opened their first restaurant in 1999, Tanners Restaurant in Plymouth, and have since went on to co-own a number of award-winning restaurants.

Recipe inspiration

Food demonstrations and unique foodie experiences make up the programme and we want to inspire you with some dishes you can try for yourself at home, which have kindly been provided by our local chefs, producers and SERC lecturers, and may feature at some of the events -Taste Autumn Recipes 

Family Fun

In addition to the food element there are a range of free children’s activities including pedal boats, sand crafts and Punch and Judy shows.

What a catch! - Find the fish hidden around the venue and claim your goodie bag from the Ards and North Down Borough Council Visitor Information Centre caravan.

Music Stage

Grab a deckchair and enjoy live music, quench your thirst at the pop-up bar and pick up a snack from one of the many artisan food stalls.

Anna's Number - From busking on the streets to Belfast, to selling out capacity crowds at the Limelight, the Black Box and the Mandella Hall, Anna's Number are a funky fresh band who inject fun and class into all they do.

Having built their reputation as one of Ireland's top entertainment acts, the pandemic forced Anna's Number back to their humble busking roots. Now, these five formidable musicians are back bigger and better than ever, with a full-production live show.

Bringing the 'showband' into the Instagram generation, Anna's Number are renowned for their expansive, inventive setlist - from 60s rock 'n' roll and 70s funk/soul classics, to noughties Clubland bangers and viral TikTok hits.

Expect the usual favourites, new revamps, epic mash-ups, and a few surprise guests along the way...

With Anna's Number you just don't get their chemistry, you get the whole periodic table!

This event has received funding from DAERA’s Northern Ireland Regional Food Programme.

*Tide and Turf Portavogie is a free to attend event. Charges may apply to some event activities and purchases at the event. 

Sustainability

They encourage visitors to travel via public transport and buses provided. There are fresh water stations on site, so bring along your refillable bottles and reusable bags to pick up goodies at the event. Please dispose of rubbish in the recycling stations provided. Read more about Sustainability.

Make a break of it

Stay a while and take a break on our shores. Relax in the beauty of this place, offering everything from 5 star luxury to cosy guest houses or unique self-catering options, maybe camping and caravanning is more your thing, let them help you plan your perfect getaway.

Find out more in the Plan Your Trip section of their website.

For more inspiration and tips on how to make the most of your trip sign up to the Visit Ards and North Down newsletter.

Please note:

Online booking fees apply where relevant. None when booking in person or by phone via their Visitor Information Centres.

[Details subject to change. This event is being photographed/filmed. Images may be used in Ards and North Down Borough Council promotional material. If you do not want your image to be used, please inform our event staff].