About
Part of the Taste Autumn in Ards and North Down Programme | Full programme
Things are hotting up in Bangor Castle Walled Garden on Saturday 14 and Sunday 15 September.
Showcasing many different varieties of chilli plants from around the world, local food producers, an evening BBQ (ticketed), live music and lots of fun!
The chilli plants are all locally grown by Habanero Steve’s, a Northern Irish artisan producer of hot sauce, chilli jam, relish and chutney.
All shapes and sizes will be on display with a wonderful array of colour. See if you can find the hottest chilli, hitting an eye watering 2 million on the Scoville scale.
The Scoville scale is a measurement of pungency (spiciness or "heat") of chili peppers and other substances, recorded in Scoville heat units (SHU).
Saturday 14 September | 12 noon - 4pm
A fun-filled day with lots of added heat! Come along and enjoy food demonstrations with a chilli kick, live music, live dancing, stilt walkers, face painters, balloon modellers, including Alpaca’s from Eastwell Farm, and of course the chilli plant display!
Entertainment
12noon - 4pm
Enjoy live music from:
- St Columbanus College Traditional Group and Irish Dancing from the Reilly School.
- Jackie Rainey - Jackie plays a range of popular music from the 60's to current classics. Jackie spent 6 months touring with Sinead O'Connor playing rhythm guitar and providing backing vocals.
- Boom Strutt Brass Band | An eight piece New Orleans brass band. Guaranteed to get any crowd going, with their own brand of up tempo, energetic New Orleans vibes.
Food Demonstrations
12.40pm – 3.40pm: Come along and hear how some of our local restaurants and producers prepare some spicy menus.
Restaurants and producers taking part are:
12:40pm | South Eastern Regional College | Toasted sourdough smashed avocado soft boiled egg maple chilli bacon with hot honey | Cauliflower wings with siracha butter sauce | Sticky gochujang honey corn ribs
13:20pm | Bangla | Homestyle garlic & chilli chicken curry
14:00pm | Carolyn Stewart | Ice cream dessert with meringue chocolate and raspberry sauce
14:40pm | Pure Thai Sauces | Tom Kha Gai (Thai Coconut Chicken Soup)
15:20pm | Lightfoot Kitchen | Chilli caramel wings with peanut and coriander relish
Producers attending
A small number of vendors will be on site selling their spicy wares. A mix of hot food and cupboard staples.
1. Pep-Up
2. Counter Culture - Saturday only
3. Cacao Patisserie
4. Papas Mineral Company
5. The Griddle by Angus Farm Shop
6. Ballyboley Dexters
7. Hills Mix Tape
8. Jo Jo and the Dough - Sunday only
9. Simply Scampi
10. Indie Fude
11. Habenaro Steves
12. The Local NI
13. Lightfoot Kitchen
14. Pure Thai
15. Totally Hot NI
16. Carlos Capparelli
Chilli Festival Evening BBQ | Saturday 14 September
6pm– 8.30pm (no admission after 7.30pm) | £20pp | Must be pre-booked.
Join us for a BBQ like no other as part of a weekend of activity celebrating all things chilli related at Bangor Castle Walled Garden. Enjoy the very best of local food with friends and family at this open-air dining experience and enjoy live music from Alex Da Costa.
There will be two BBQ options available, a choice of meat cooked by The Griddle by Angus Farm Shop, and a vegetarian option from Nina Cristinacce of Lightfoot Kitchen and Deli.
Soft drinks from Papa’s Minerals Company will be provided.
Please note, an online booking fee applies. To avoid the online fee you can book in person or by phone via our Visitor Information Centres.
Sunday 15 September | 12noon - 4pm
Come along and see the chilli plants in the beautiful setting of the Castle's Walled Garden. Get ready for a family fun afternoon, with stilt walkers, face painters, balloon modellers and live music from Los Dramaticos.
Sustainability
We encourage visitors to travel via public transport or why not walk or cycle. Please bring along your reusable bags to pick up goodies at the event. Please dispose of rubbish in the bins available on-site.
Getting here:
Public Transport | The nearest rail and bus station is Bangor, located in the City Centre, approx. 10-minute walk from the venue up/down an incline. For information on timetables, visit Translink.co.uk
By car | Do you plan to drive to the event? Allow plenty of time for your journey. If you are travelling by car follow directional road signs to Bangor City Centre, and check out what car parking is available in the city (free and charged). A guide to the local car parks.
Event site | Useful information
Recycling | When disposing of rubbish please use the recycling bins on-site. Please note, the usual waste bins on-site will not be in use during the event. Please help us continue our sustainability commitment to zero contamination at events by using the correct bin. There will be team members on hand to provide advice and help you put your rubbish in the correct bin.
First Aid | There will be a First Aid Point beside Coffee Cure in Bangor Castle Walled Garden.
Event staff | There will be staff on hand at the event to help with information and provide assistance at the event, should you need it.
Accessibility | Surfaces and paths are flat, with compact stone paths and paved. Toilets are available on-site at Coffee Cure. Find out more here - Bangor Castle Walled Garden | AccessAble
Dogs | We would advise dog owners this is an extremely busy site with large crowds and loud noises and recommend you do not bring your dog onto the site. If you do plan to attend with your dog, dogs should be kept on a short lead. Owners must clean up after their dogs and dispose of the waste in the appropriate bins. Water bowls will be provided.
Stay sun safe | We’re hoping for sunny weather, so please protect yourself with sun cream, hats and hydrate when at the event.
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This event is being photographed and filmed. Images may be used in Ards and North Down Borough Council promotional materials. If you do not want your image to be used, please inform our event staff.
Please note, details subject to change.
Facilities
Parking & Transport
- On site parking
