The Poacher’s Pocket Renovation Serves up a New Experience

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£200,000 investment by Balloo Inns transforms award-winning gastro-pub

 4th June 2018: Award-winning County Down gastro-pub favourite, The Poacher’s Pocket, has undergone a £200,000 renovation. The cosy new front bar extension in Lisbane near Comber will offer regular patrons and culture enthusiasts a traditional country-chic pub experience.

Opening up new offerings for Poacher’s Pocket visitors, the six-figure investment provides an extended space for the traditional front pub, seamlessly flowing from the dining restaurant.

The newly extended Poacher’s Pocket is at the heart of the community, welcoming locals and visitors alike for an authentic pub experience.  Already well known for a firm focus on local products, the bar offers hand-picked homegrown ales, artisan gins and a range of specialised whiskeys.

Live music will be a strong feature with mid-week open traditional sessions and regular weekend appearances from well-known singer songwriters, Ken Haddock and Matt McGinn. The snug booths, a traditional dark wood bar, antique brass furnishings and an inset wood burning stove also makes the relaxed setting ideal for private events.

The Poacher’s Pocket opened in 2013 and since then has won an array of accolades, including recently being crowned the Best Gastro-Pub in County Down at the Irish Restaurant Awards for the fourth consecutive year. The venue was also awarded the 2018 title of Best Wine Experience, to add to its ever-growing list.

In keeping with the stand-out style of the Balloo Inns Group which includes Balloo House in Killinchy and The Parsons Nose in Hillsborough, the latest investment showcases the group’s continued commitment to honing its craft and renowned hospitality offering.

Ronan Sweeney, Balloo Inns Managing Director and owner of The Poacher’s Pocket, said: “We are really proud of the latest works at Poacher’s Pocket.  The redevelopment enables more customers to enjoy a good night out, with space to continue their evening and to socialise. The combination of great food with entertainment such as live music sessions or the popular pub quiz, means we can create truly memorable experiences. Our happy customers are our main benchmark, but the national award success is also appreciated and is down to the dedication of our 120-strong team in the Balloo Inns Group.”

The redevelopment builds on The Poacher’s Pocket distinctive character, with York stone floor and dark wood paneling. It includes artwork from esteemed local artist Kathryn Callaghan, with the renovation design led by local commercial interior architect, Paul Haffey, providing acclaimed design solutions in the hospitality industry.

The Poacher’s Pocket continues to work particularly closely with talented Northern Ireland suppliers, with local flavours incorporated into its award-winning menu.  It also stocks local produce on the shelves of the adjoining artisan food and wine shop, The Poacher’s Pantry. The gourmet shop offers Poacher’s own soups, sauces and baked goods from the kitchen as well as products from award-winning Hannan Meats, JN Wines and local brewers and distillers.

Food is served daily at The Poacher’s Pocket from noon to 9.00pm (9.30pm at weekends), with The Pantry open from 9am.  For more information and to make a booking, call 028 9754 1589.

Copeland Spirits in deal with Aldi Ireland

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Food NI member Copeland Spirits in Northern Ireland has become the first local gin brand to be listed with German discounter, Aldi. The brand’s ‘Rhuberry’ flavoured gin is currently listed in the supermarket chain’s stores in Ireland.

Copeland Spirits, based at Saintfield in county Down, was established in 2016, following a successful crowdfunding campaign by founder Gareth Irvine.

The range now boasts two permanent lines, ‘Rhuberry’, which will be carried by Aldi Ireland and ‘Raspberry and Mint’. Both flavours feature herbs and fruits grown in Northern Ireland, championing the produce and skill of local farmers.

The ‘Rhuberry’ flavour is a collaboration with Finlay’s Farm Balloo and showcases the quality of rhubarb and blackberry, both grown locally and carefully selected. With a 37.8% ABV, this gin defies the perception of flavoured gins in that it has all of the flavour of a liqueur, yet offers all of the artisan quality of a premium gin.

Commenting on the new listing with Aldi Ireland, founder of Copeland Spirits, Gareth Irvine said: “Our range aims to provide the consumer with gins that excite but it’s us who are the most-excited at the minute. To be listed in Aldi Ireland, after such a short time in business is both a testament to our unique offering and the quality of NI produce.

“It’s incredible to represent the local gin scene across Aldi Ireland’s stores and share a taste of Northern Ireland with consumers. Our gin is more than just a gin, it’s a bottling of Northern Ireland’s great outdoors and a celebration of our local produce and skilful farmers.

“Copeland Spirits began as a crowdfunding campaign and now we’re a local a crowd favourite. It’s both rewarding and motivating to experience the level of support we have from the Northern Ireland consumer and we look forward to continuing to surprise and excite with further new listings, new flavours and more.”

Claridge’s deal for Northern Ireland’s Abernethy Butter

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Food NI member Abernethy Butter, a multi-award-winning producer of handcrafted butter, is now supplying the five-star Claridge’s Hotel in London.

Based at Dromara in rural county Down, Abernethy has won business with the prestigious hotel in London’s Mayfair for its creamy handmade butter crafted from fresh cream sourced from a local grass-fed dairy herd.

Established by husband and wife team Will and Allison Abernethy in 2005, the small company is now among Northern Ireland’s most successful artisan producers.

Abernethy is also helping to drive interest in real butter in Britain, the company’s primary market outside Northern Ireland and one in which it is now experiencing significant growth.

Allison Abernethy, commenting on the company’s latest success in Britain, says: “We were delighted to receive the order for our original butter from such a prestigious and globally respected hospitality business as Claridge’s Hotel in London. It was a marvellous boost.

“Winning business from Claridge’s, one of the world’s best hotels, is hugely important for us in Britain. It moves our business to another level in a market in which we’ve also been honoured by endorsements from leading chefs such as Heston Blumenthal and Marcus Wareing,” adds Mrs Abernethy.

Abernethy Butter products, which now include smoked butter and dulse (Irish seaweed) and sea salt butter have also been praised by broadcasters Nigella Lawson and James Martin.

Will Abernethy, a former farmer, makes and rolls the fresh butter by hand. The products have won a series of Great Taste Awards for quality, outstanding taste and provenance.

Claridge’s, an art deco icon and a byword for timeless elegance, has been at the heart of hospitality excellence in London since the 1850s.

Favoured by royals, Claridge’s has almost 200 classy rooms and features the Michelin star Fera restaurant run by Simon Rogan.

New flavours and fresh look from Clandeboye Yoghurt

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Food NI Clandeboye Yoghurt, Northern Ireland’s only yoghurt producer, has won business from two leading retailers for three new luxury flavours which are feature a refreshed brand.

The new range from Clandeboye, which is based near Bangor in county Down, has recently been listed by Tesco and Spar in Northern Ireland and joins an established and successful portfolio of Greek style and other yoghurts.

The latest listings for Clandeboye come just a few weeks after the launch of the yoghurts by what has become one of Northern Ireland’s most successful dairy businesses.

The small company has won a string of UK Great Taste and Blas na hEireann, Irish National Food Awards for its established range of premium yoghurts and was last week named Agri-Food Business of the Year in the annual Small Business Awards 2018 organised by Business Eye magazine and the First Trust Bank.

The new Greek style yoghurt flavours are: Raspberry and White Chocolate, Mandarin and Lime, and Mango and Nectarine. They are available in 150g pots (RRP 79p).

The new luxury-style branding features a D&A logo that reflects the crucial role of the Marchioness of Dufferin and Ava in the formation of the business on her extensive estate as a farm diversification project in 2007.

Bryan Boggs, general manager of Clandeboye Yoghurt, commenting of the new products and identity, says: “We’ve been looking at some additional favours over the past few months in what continues to be a very dynamic and competitive dairy category. We also decided to take the opportunity to review our overall branding and to see how best to refresh it.

“The fresh branding, initially for the three new yoghurts, reflects our longstanding focus on premium products offering outstanding taste, consistent quality, heritage and provenance,” he adds.

The yoghurts are hand blended using fresh milk sourced exclusively from the estate’s own pedigree and award-winning dairy herd. An authentic Greek straining technique using cheesecloth is then used to produce the deliciously creamy yoghurts.

The company, which now includes German discounter Aldi in the Republic of Ireland among its customers, produces a full range of natural, Greek style, flavoured and layered whole milk yoghurts for both the retail and food service markets.

World Gin Day – Celebrate at the Home of Shortcross Gin

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Celebrate World Gin Day at the home of Shortcross Gin………Cocktails on arrival, Tour/Taste & Masterclass with Live Music on the terrace.

We will take you on a journey through our small but perfectly crafted distillery, learning how we distill our wonderful Shortcross Gin. Then bask in a botanical journey and enjoy a tutored tasting experience engaging all your senses before you master the art of creating the perfect Shortcross Gin and Tonic.

Each guest will receive a Shortcross branded glass and a £5.00 voucher towards an onsite bottle purchase.

A full bar service will be in operation, where you can enjoy our Shortcross Cocktails and Shorttails…..

We look forward to welcoming you all to Rademon Estate Distillery.

Fiona & David

For all other enquiries –

Tel – 028 44 830 001

To book a ticket click here

Comber Farmers’ Market Welcomes the First Comber Earlies

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On Thursday 7 June Comber Farmers’ Market will see the very first Comber Earlies arrive, as an important time of the agricultural year begins for the town named ‘The Home of Great Taste’.

With their own unique flavour, Comber Earlies have achieved PGI status which recognises the Comber spud alongside some of Europe’s most iconic regional food brands, such as Feta Cheese, Champagne and the Cornish Pasty.

Horner’s Farm Shop will have the first of its crop ready to try and buy, joined by Chef Dave Smyth from McBrides on the Square who will be serving samples of the nutty little potato to visitors.

Other traders at the market will have the very finest array of meat and fish, fruit and vegetables, jams and chutneys, home baked goods and breads, cheeses, speciality teas, sauces and syrups, seasonal plants, chocolate, free range eggs, granola, iced coffee, Mediterranean tapas, raw Jersey milk and more – all produced in Northern Ireland.

Chair of the Comber Farmers’ Market committee run by the Comber Regeneration and Community Partnership, Alderman Deborah Girvan, is delighted the Comber Earlies will be ready in time for the award winning market:

“I know it has been a difficult winter for our potato farmers with late frost preventing them from planting and indeed keeping them awake at night.  It is fantastic therefore that some will be available for Comber Farmers’ Market on the 7 June.  Then of course the whole town looks forward to the Comber Earlies Food Festival later in the month, when all the producers can come together to celebrate this humble and tasty little spud.”

Comber Farmers’ Market is held on the first Thursday of every month in the car park at St Marys Church in Comber Square from 9am to 1.00pm.  Car parking can be found at Parkway on Killinchy Street or in 1st Comber Presbyterian car park on High Street.

For further information on the popular market go to www.combermarket.co.uk or find Comber Farmers’ Market on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.