Local Food and Drinks Producers Recognised at Taste Ards and North Down Food Heroes Awards

9th March 2026

Local food and drinks producers have been recognised at the fifth annual Taste Ards and North Down Food Heroes Awards, hosted by Ards and North Down Borough Council at Bangor Castle. The event, recognising the local industry’s achievements during 2025, brought together a wide range of producers from across the Borough, along with invited guests, including representation from Food NI.

Photo caption 1: Participants of the Taste Ards and North Down Food Heroes Awards.

Photo caption 2: The Mayor of Ards and North Down, Councillor Gillian McCollum presenting the Local Food Champion Award to Chef Lecturer Brian Magill of South Eastern Regional College.

Photo caption 3: L-R Sir Ian Huddleston, Clandeboye Estate and Mayor of Ards and North Down, Councillor Gillian McCollum presents the Lady Dufferin Award to Sean Kelly of Counter Culture Real Bread.

2025 was the most successful year on record for the Borough’s food and drink sector since the formation of Taste Ards and North Down, with 112 accolades received across regional, national and international awards. Local producers, restaurants and independent food retailers contributed to this strong performance. Ards and North Down currently rank second among Northern Ireland’s local authorities for the number of awards won by its producers, and third for awards secured by hospitality and restaurant businesses.

This year's Taste Ards and North Down Food Heroes Awards celebrated 19 producer winners, two retailers and 10 restaurant winners, who collectively secured 112 awards from some of the most respected national and international competitions.

The evening’s top honours were awarded to Chef Lecturer Brian Magill of South Eastern Regional College, who received the Local Food Champion Award, and Counter Culture Real Bread, which won the prestigious Lady Dufferin Producer of the Year Award, judged by the Clandeboye Estate.

The Mayor of Ards and North Down, Councillor Gillian McCollum, said:

“These awards shine a spotlight on an exceptional year for our food and drink sector. Our Borough is home to an increasingly vibrant and ambitious community of producers who continue to make us incredibly proud. The Taste AND Food Heroes Awards highlight the innovation, determination, and resilience that define our local industry, and I’m delighted to celebrate their achievements.”

Find out more about Food AND Drink in our borough.