The Core of the Celebration: Armagh Food and Cider Weekend Returns This September
Armagh’s signature celebration of food, flavour and the world-famous PGI-status Bramley Apple returns this September, as Food and Cider Weekend takes place from Thursday 3 to Sunday 6 September. Across four flavour-filled days, the Orchard County will host immersive dining experiences, orchard tours, artisan markets and a collection of unique, high-end curated experiences, from fire-cooked feasts and terrace dining to cocktail masterclasses and elegant afternoon teas, designed to appeal to food lovers, couples and families alike.
Home to generations of growers, cider makers, chefs and artisan producers, Armagh has long been recognised for its exceptional local food culture and internationally acclaimed craft cider industry. At the centre of that story is the PGI-protected Armagh Bramley Apple – grown across more than 4,000 acres of orchards and renowned for its distinctive sharp flavour, firm texture and outstanding quality. This year’s programme will celebrate that rich orchard heritage through more than forty bespoke events inspired by the region’s most iconic ingredient.
Among this year’s highlights is the return of the Woodland Supper on Friday 4 and Saturday 5 September, hosted by the Chapman Family of On the Hoof, where guests will enjoy a four-course feast cooked over applewood on the edge of Gosford Forest Park. On Sunday 6 September, food enthusiasts can take part in the premium Cooking with Fire experience, a hands-on masterclass in open-fire cooking, culminating in a shared BBQ feast.
Long Meadow Cider, one of the region’s long-established family-run orchards and cider producers, will host a series of orchard experiences throughout the weekend including Cocktails & Canvas on Thursday 3 September, Orchard Hooley on Friday 4 September, and an Apple Picking Tour & Harvest Lunch on Sunday 6 September, offering visitors a unique insight into life at the heart of a working Armagh orchard. Armagh Cider Company will also host an immersive Murder Mystery – Cider & Screams on Friday 4 September, where guests will become detectives for the evening while enjoying some of the region’s finest cider and a three-course meal from Hidden Gem.
Lord Mayor of Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough, Councillor Mary O’Dowd said: “Armagh Food and Cider Weekend is a celebration of everything that makes this region so special – our people, our produce, our hospitality and our proud orchard heritage. The Bramley apple has shaped the identity of this place for generations and remains at the heart of our food and drink story today.
“This annual festival gives visitors a unique opportunity to experience the incredible quality and creativity that exists across our borough, from our artisan producers and family orchards to our talented chefs, cider makers and hospitality businesses. We are proud to welcome visitors from near and far to experience the warmth, flavour and atmosphere of this Food Heartland.”
Further highlights include events at Crannagael House – home to descendants of the family responsible for planting the first Bramley apple seedling in County Armagh – which will once again provide the backdrop for several unique experiences, including Flash Fiction at Crannagael House on Thursday 3 September and Plot to Plate Dinner, French Style on Saturday 5 September, where seasonal local produce will be paired with exceptional French wines.
Chef Mervyn Steenson of Groucho’s Restaurant, who will host Wine V Cider, a 5 Course Small Plate Tasting Menu paired with wine and cider said: “Armagh Food and Cider Weekend is a real celebration of the connection between our orchards, producers and hospitality industry. Cooking in Armagh means working with ingredients that come with genuine provenance – apples grown a mile down the road, vegetables pulled from local soil, cider pressed by families who’ve been perfecting their craft for generations. The weekend shines a spotlight on the creativity, collaboration and quality that make the Food Heartland such a special place to cook and dine.”
The weekend will also feature a lively programme of demonstrations, tastings and markets, including the Artisan Street Market in Armagh City Centre by day and Cider in the City at Shambles Yard by night, alongside Sundown Market at Solitude Park in Banbridge on Saturday 5 September. Visitors can also enjoy a range of masterclasses throughout the weekend exploring everything from cocktail making and cider tasting to nutritious cooking using local produce.
Armagh’s cider producers – many of them multi-generation family businesses – play a central role in the weekend’s programme.
Catherine McKeever of Long Meadow Cider, hosting events including Cocktails & Canvas, the Orchard Hooley and the Apple Picking Tour & Harvest Lunch, said: “This weekend is a highlight of our year. It’s a chance to open our orchards, share our story and let visitors experience the craft behind every bottle. Our family has been growing apples for decades, and events like these help people connect with the land, the process and the passion that go into making Armagh cider. There’s nothing quite like seeing people enjoy our products in the very place they’re grown.”
Family-friendly events also form an important part of this year’s programme, with highlights including Snack Attack Kids Cooking Workshops at Armagh Planetarium and the popular Pawtastic Brunch at the Old Game Keeper’s House both taking place on Saturday 5 September, welcoming visitors and their four-legged companions for a relaxed brunch experience beside Gosford Forest Park.
Nestled in the heart of the Orchard County, the festival venues are ideally located just 45 minutes from Belfast and 90 minutes from Dublin, making them easily accessible for visitors from across the island and the perfect destination for a weekend getaway. To make attending even easier, free transport will be available from key local hubs, bringing audiences directly to selected events.
For more information about the wide range of events taking place at the Armagh Food and Cider Weekend please see visitarmagh.com/foodandcider
