New Belfast F&B festival to launch this month

BelFeast, a new three-day food and drink festival, is taking place during the weekend of 23-25 March, and is promising a ‘taste’ of Belfast.

The event will boost Belfast’s reputation as a top food and drink destination by showcasing the finest in local produce, the skills of local chefs, and the best of local restaurants, cafes and bars.

The foodie festival, based around the Cathedral Quarter is being complemented by an entertainment programme that includes live music performances, street artists, tours, workshops, and talks as well as an artisan street market and street food village

BelFeast is funded by Belfast City Council and sponsored by Destination CQ BID. It is being delivered by the team behind Culture Night in collaboration with Food NI and supported by local producers and the wider hospitality industry. Tickets for all the events can be purchased from individual venues.

Lord Mayor, Nuala McAllister, said, ‘BelFeast will be a fun experience for everyone, and boost our reputation as a food destination. Lonely Planet 2018 has already named us as one of the best places to visit and a big reason for that is our food culture.

‘BelFeast will shine a spotlight on Northern Ireland’s outstanding food and drinks industry from the farmers and artisan producers who offer a dazzling variety of choice, to the restaurants and chefs who combine local ingredients to create mouth-watering meals and memorable dining experiences,’ said the Lord Mayor.

‘The festival will also celebrate the unique role that food plays in our lives, encouraging people of all ages to get involved and learn more about what they eat and where it comes from,’ added Councillor McAllister.

The festival will bring the streets and spaces of the Cathedral Quarter to life with special events like an artisan food market and street food village. For those interested in learning more about local produce and how to use it, there’ll be tours, talks and workshops, while the BelFeast Food Theatre at Mac will feature demonstrations from some of the finest chefs, food writers and creators in Northern Ireland as well as showcasing some of the emerging stars of the local food industry.

Gareth Neill Destination CQ BID Manager, said, ‘BelFeast promises to be a fresh and exciting addition to Belfast’s rapidly expanding menu of world class fare sure to tempt visitors from near and far to sample a taste of Northern Ireland and the Cathedral Quarter.’

Speaking about the event, Michele Shirlow, Chief Executive of Food NI said: ‘We are delighted that Belfast City Council is holding such a fantastic event that showcases local food and drink. Northern Ireland has a wealth of award winning producers and chefs who are passionate and dedicated to their craft and this event brings some of the best offerings together at one event. This is definitely a date to add to the Food lover’s calendar’