Launching BelFeast – a three day foodie festival celebrating the best of local food, drink, hospitality and culture on Friday March 23- Sunday March 25 are (l-r) Susan Picken, Cathedral Quarter Trust; Gareth Neill, Destination CQ BID; Lord Mayor, Nuala McAllister; Saoirse Wolsey, Beannchor Group; and Christine Cousins, Food NI. Thousands of visitors and residents are expected to enjoy BelFeast and more information and a downloadable programme is available from www.belfastcity.gov.uk/BelFeast Tickets may be purchased from individual venues.

BelFeast - a new three-day food and drink festival taking place during the weekend of 23-25 March is promising a ‘taste’ of Belfast that will have visitors and residents asking for more.

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, will be topped off with a sprinkling of entertainment from the local arts and cultural scene. Entertainment will include local musicians performing at the festival stage, live street theatre featuring both local and international artists, plus a selection of performances from local community groups, choirs, musical ensembles and more.

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’

Thousands of people are expected in the city centre to enjoy the foodie festival and more information on the festival programme is available at www.belfastcity.gov.uk/BelFeast where a downloadable programme is available. Tickets are purchased directly from venues