Garden Show Ireland set to deliver top line up in NI Food & Drink
Allianz Garden Show Ireland has built a solid reputation for itself as the premier gardening event in Northern Ireland, with thousands travelling to the historic Antrim Castle Gardens every year to attend. This year the event takes place from 5 to 7 May and has a packed programme of flowers, food and fun.
It is not just the stunning venue that draws in the crowds, the show is considered by gardening experts to be a must-see event and with household names like BBC’s Joe Swift leading the line-up, it is easy to see why. Joe, who anchors the BBC’s coverage for the Chelsea Flower Show every year, will be giving talks on Friday 5 May.
There will be over 20 garden visuals for visitors to enjoy, including the show-stopping feature garden which draws inspiration from C.S. Lewis and is created by gold medal-winning architect and landscape designer James Purdy. The Growers Pavilion will house specialist nurseries, with thousands of plants available to purchase from the expert growers who will be on hand for advice along with the opportunity to win a 3D landscape design package by Acheson Glover.
Food continues to be an important part of the show with daily cookery demonstrations from resident chef Paula McIntyre, who will be joined on Saturday 6 May by Big Allotment Challenge judge, Thane Prince.
The Food NI Pavilion will be jam-packed with appetising treats to take home from craft beers to dry-cured bacon, not forgetting good old soda bread baked on site by the Krazi Baker. 
Visitors to the pavilion will be able to sample and purchase sweet treats from the likes of Granny Shaw’s Fudge and Tasty Wee Numbers and savoury bites from Erin Grove Preserves and Tom & Ollie. Don’t forget to quench your thirst with a stop at one of the local drink producers exhibiting at the show such as Long Meadow Cider and award-winning Ruby Blue Vodka, ‘Gold’ winner of the Global Vodka Masters 2015.
After walking around the pavilion, visitors to the show will be able to step outside and dine alfresco in the Click Energy Relax & Recharge Area, where you will continue to be spoilt for choice with the award-winning Broughgammon Farm serving up their famous goat burgers, alongside Born and Raised Waffles creating their delicious handcrafted Liege waffles.
The show programme is packed with musical performances from Sestina, Martello Jazz Band, the Brass Band from the City of Belfast School of Music and the Sing for Life community choir all performing at various stages of the three-day event – offering perfect backdrop music whilst exploring the gardens and enjoying some local award-winning produce.
To see the full Allianz Garden Show Ireland line up and to buy tickets visit www.gardenshowireland.com
For more information on Northern Ireland’s local food and drink producers visit Food NI – Producers.
