Moira Speciality Food Fair returns for 2023!

We are delighted that the Moira Speciality Food Fair is returning to Moira Demesne on Saturday 19th August, 10am to 6pm. 

Expect artisan food, coffee, food trucks, art and craft stalls, and a packed line-up of activities including chef demonstrations, live music and fun for the kids!

We hope you can make it to this special event in the Lisburn & Castlereagh calendar. Read on to find out what to expect this year.

Sample incredible food delights in the Speciality Food Hall

Highlighting the best food and drink the region has to offer, this year’s Speciality Food Fair will have even more artisans, producers, makers and bakers packed into our speciality food hall.

Farmers, producers and makers will display an incredible range of local produce for visitors to try and buy. 

As well as meat and fish, you will find Irish cheeses, artisan bread and cakes, cured meats, condiments, chocolates, sweets and pasta. 

Come and discover new flavours and foods to take home with you. 

Don’t miss expert chef demonstrations 

Lacking inspiration about what to cook and need some new recipes? Then set a reminder to pop into our expert chef demonstrations.

The Kitchen Sessions at Moira Speciality Food Fair are always immensely popular and this year we have another great lineup of demonstrations from local chefs.

So what’s on the menu this August?

We have chefs showing you how to make the most of your ingredients at home with no fuss. Whether it is for a mid-week dinner, entertaining or family pizza night, our chefs will be showing you how to create simple meals from exceptional local ingredients. 

Chef, writer and broadcaster, Paula McIntyre MBE will be delighting us with some wonderful seasonal recipes that you'll be able to recreate at home. Paula always puts on a great show so don’t miss this session.

Chef Patron Stevie Higginson of Square Bistro, Lisburn, will be giving a masterclass in Chef skills. Stevie will be showing the audience how to cook picanha steak in the BBQ along with a pepper sauce and chimichurri sauce. His demos have always gone down a treat and there’s plenty of banter with compare, Paula. 

Winner of BBC’s Farm to Feast 2023 series, Ricky Robinson will inspire with easy ways to entertain at home with simple ingredients. Ricky makes scrumptious dishes from comfort food to quick suppers. We are delighted to welcome him to the stage at this year’s Speciality Food Fair. 

Finally, a newcomer to the Moira hospitality scene, Chef Massimo Fierro of Street Pizza also joins the 2023 line-up. Massimo will bring an Italian flavour to proceedings with tips and inspiration on how to get great results on making pizza at home. 

Each one of our chefs will weave in how to be sustainable in your home cooking and feature local ingredients from the Lisburn & Castlereagh area and beyond. 

Kitchen Sessions - Chef Lineup

Please note, this may be subject to change, so do check social media before you visit to check times.

10.30am - 11.00am	Ricky Robinson, BCC Farm to Feast 2023 winner
11.30am - 12.00pm	Forestside Cookery School
12.30pm - 1.15pm	Chef & Writer and Broadcaster, Paula McIntyre
2.00pm - 2.30pm	Chef Stevie Higginson, Square Bistro
3.00pm - 3.30pm	Chef Massimo Fierro, Pizza Street
3.30pm - 4.00pm	Chef & Writer and Broadcaster, Paula McIntyre

Have a drink in the café bar tent

Hilden Brewery will once again host our café bar tent showcasing a wonderful range of their own craft beer.

You can also try Tempted Cider, handcrafted Irish cider and gin from the new Hillsborough-based brand, Horseshoe Gin. 

If whiskey is your drink, then try Hinch Distillery’s award-winning whiskey and their Ninth Wave Gin plus other Northern Irish craft drink selections.

Grab a bite to eat

Outside the speciality food hall, the grounds will be lined with some of Northern Ireland’s top street food trucks with some global cuisines on offer this year. 

There are plenty of seating too for you to enjoy a bite.

Entertain the kids 

Artworks NI will host art and craft activities for the kids with garden games and entertainment from street theatre actors.

There will also be face painting for little ones and balloon modellers making custom designs. 

You can also learn more about beekeeping in our Bee Zone with Master Beekeeper Bob Foy. Chat to Bob and find out how fascinating honey bees are and what goes on in the hive. Bob will also have lots of local honey to buy too.

Family Fun Schedule

10.00am - 4.00pm	Bee Zone with observational beehive
10.00am - 4.00pm	Arts & Crafts with Artworks NI
10,00am - 4.00pm	Percy & Petunia Gnomes - Street Theatre Artists
11.00am - 4.00pm	Face Painting
11.00am - 4.00pm	Balloon Modelling

Expert Talks Zone

Learn new skills and top tips from our group of local experts in the Expert Talks Zone.

10am-11.30pm	Beekeeping  Bob Foy, Master Beekeeper
11.45am-12.15pm	Growing Your Own Food Even in a Small Space  Gavin Saunders, New Leaf Compost
1.00pm - 1.30pm	Skinfood Talk & Demo Mrs R’ganics
2.30pm - 3.00pm	Bee Keeping  Bob Foy, Master Beekeeper
3.15pm – 3.45pm	Growing Your Own Food Even in a Small Space  Gavin Saunders, New Leaf Compost

Check out stalls of local art, crafts, beauty and treats for the dog!

In addition to the food offering there will be a small selection of stalls featuring art, craft and treats for the family dog in our outside areas so make sure to explore. 

Relax and listen to the music

This year we have a fantastic lineup of bands and acoustic musicians playing throughout the day. 

Local acoustic musician and songwriter, Kyle John Suckling will perform as well as the Lisburn Rock Choir, Downshire Brass and Belfast Busking Band. 

Music Schedule

10.00am - 11.00am	Kyle John Suckling
11.00pm - 12.00pm	Rock Choir
12.00pm - 2.00pm	Downshire Brass
2.00pm - 4.00pm	Belfast Busking Band
4.00pm - 6.00pm	Kyle John Suckling

For more information make sure to follow us on social media. 

Key Details

• Saturday 19th August

• 10am-6pm

• Moira Demesne, 110 Main St, Moira, BT67 0DS

• Free Entry & Parking