Instagram Facebook Tiktok X-twitter Linkedin Youtube

We had an amazing day at Balmoral Show 2022

Balmoral Show 2022

Final day of Balmoral Show 2022 is Saturday 14th May – you can still get tickets tickets here

Here’s a quick video to give you a feel for the day.

We spent a fantastic day at The Balmoral Show, which has returned to its traditional spring dates.

Visitors can expect the usual mix of agricultural competitions and shows, machinery exhibits, local food, shopping outlets and family entertainment.

We loved catching up with some familiar faces, and making lots of new friends in the Food NI pavilion which is always a terrific location to meet local food producers, sample their products and to see food demonstrations, and it was great to find out more about the companies associated with Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon council. 

It’s a fabulous day out for the whole family. 

Map

Timetables

Available to read on the The Balmoral 2022 website – link here

Food NI Pavilion

The FoodNI Pavilion returns to the 153rd Balmoral Show and this year it is set to wow crowds with over 100 local food and drink companies and three Theatre Kitchens.

Organised by food and drink membership organisation Food NI, and supported by the Northern Ireland Regional Food Programme, and Tourism NI, the FoodNI Pavilion will tantalise your taste buds, with delicious and original food and drink on offer – from award-winning cheese to mouth-watering brownies! The Pavilion includes a number of new and innovative businesses that started during the pandemic with emerging trends in sustainability, health and food tourism.

This year, Food NI welcomes a host of excellent local companies including NI favourite’s Glastry Farm Ice Cream, Moy Park, Whites and Thompsons Tea. Hinch Distillery, Betty’s Ice Cream, Craig Foods,  Hotties Chocolate, Lough Neagh Fishermen’s Cooperative Society and Island Dairies are also some new names attending NI’s largest agri-food event.

Throughout Show days there will be three Theatre Kitchens cooking up a storm. The Tesco Theatre Kitchen will focus on cooking on a budget using local ingredients, the Tourism NI Kitchen will showcase some of Northern Ireland’s top food and drink experiences, and the Moy Park Kitchen will focus on all that is chicken.

One of the growing areas of the NI Food Pavilion is the engagement of councils with local food and drink. This year, 5 regions are represented by their councils, Antrim and Newtownabbey, Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon (Food Heartland), Mid and East Antrim Food Network, Taste Ards and North Down, and Savour Visit Mourne. They are melting pots of ideas and talented food innovators.

Food NI’s Chief Executive Michele Shirlow, commented, “There’ll be a tremendous atmosphere in the pavilion once again. The pavilion is a must visit experience to find out what is happening in the world of food and drink and to see our talented food and drink industry show off the latest innovations. Make sure to visit the Balmoral Park from 11th – 14th May where the sold-out pavilion is set to host the biggest celebration of the outstanding tastes and rich flavours from local artisan companies across the province.’’

Food NI

Getting to the show

FREE SHUTTLE BUS
A free shuttle bus service will operate from Lisburn Train Station – operating approximately every 5 – 10 minutes at peak times and approximately 15 – 20 minutes off peak. This shuttle services will operate between 09:00 and 18:20 except Thursday and Friday when the shuttle will operate from Balmoral Park to Lisburn Train Station until 20:20 (Thursday) and 19:20 (Friday). The estimated journey time approximately 20 – 30 minutes.

  • Wednesday 11th May- show closing time 18:00, last shuttle: 18:20
  • Thursday 12th May- show closing time 20:00, last shuttle 20:20
  • Friday 13th May- show closing time 19:00, last shuttle 19:20
  • Saturday 14th May- show closing time 18:00, last shuttle 18:20

Due to anticipated heavy congestion around the site, passengers are advised to allow 30 – 45 minutes transfer time for returning from the show (Balmoral Park) to make onward bus and train connections. Particularly if travelling on Enterprise services or North West services.

COACH TRAVEL
Goldliner coaches to the Balmoral Show will be available from Foyle Street, Strabane and Enniskillen bus centres. Customers can buy coach travel tickets online at www.translink.co.uk/events. Online sales will close 3pm day before the departure.

To find out more or to plan your journey, visit www.translink.co.uk/balmoralshow


RAIL INFORMATION
Enterprise services will make an additional stop at Lisburn Train Station during the 11th – 14th May 2022:

To find out more or to plan your journey, visit www.translink.co.uk/balmoralshow

Car

LocationRoute
From WestTake the M1 to junction 8 and follow the directional signage.
From North WestTake the M1 to junction 8 and follow the directional signage.
From LisburnTake the Moira Road out of Lisburn and follow directional signage.
From BelfastTravel South on the M1, coming off at Sprucefield and follow directional signage to Balmoral Park.
From North EastTravel South on the M1, coming off at Sprucefield and follow directional signage to Balmoral Park.
From SouthTravel up the A1 dual carriageway and follow directional signage.

Download the App

Download the Balmoral Show App ahead of the Balmoral Show in partnership with Ulster Bank.

The app is a handy pocket tool to help guide you on your visit around the Show featuring trade stands and key attractions. To stop you missing out on the action, it also features the Show timetable of events across the action packed four days.

Users will also be able to live stream action from the Main Arena and Sheep Shearing Fold as well as highlights from the Cattle Rings and Horse Rings.

The app is now available for download on Apple Store and Google Play. Simply search for “Balmoral Show” and download!

Recent Posts

Action Cancer PAINT THE TOWN PINK

PAINT THE TOWN PINK!

Stormont sets the stage for an unforgettable night of music and song to launch Action Cancer campaign The fundraising campaign will officially launch this year

Read More »
LIDL NI

Lidl NI launches ​over ​30 ​new ​local ​artisan ​products

Lidl NI launches ​over ​30 ​new ​local ​artisan ​products ​as ​Kickstart ​range ​returns ​to ​stores Fibre-Up ​canned ​drinks,  ​Nugelato ​Ice-Cream ​and ​Jawbox ​Gin ​amongst ​new ​products ​available ​on ​shelves ​in ​Lidl ​stores ​across ​Northern ​Ireland ​from ​September ​10th The ​very ​best ​of ​locally-made ​artisanal ​produce ​has ​been ​handpicked ​by ​Lidl ​NI ​to ​feature ​in ​the ​retailer’s ​Kickstart ​Supplier ​Development ​Programme.  Promising ​shoppers ​a ​real ​taste ​of ​home, ​the ​Kickstart ​class ​of ​2026, ​which ​includes ​30 ​new ​products ​from ​more ​than ​16 ​local ​producers ​hits ​the ​shelves ​of ​Lidl ​stores ​throughout ​the ​region ​from ​Thursday ​10 ​September. This ​year’s ​line-up ​includes ​fourth-generation ​Co ​Armagh ​apple ​growers ​McAlister’s ​Apples, ​which ​has ​expanded ​into ​canned ​still ​and ​sparkling ​premium ​pressed ​apple ​juice ​with ​Juist; ​Nugelato, ​whose ​family ​ice ​cream ​roots ​in ​Newcastle ​date ​back ​almost ​100 ​years; ​Belfast-based ​Fibre ​Up, ​a ​sparkling ​drink ​that ​offers ​50% ​of ​your ​daily ​fibre ​intake ​and ​made ​with ​natural ​ingredients; ​Derry-based ​Whoosh, ​which ​grew ​from ​Thai ​and ​Vietnamese ​catering ​into ​a ​range ​of ​gluten ​free ​rice ​noodle ​pots; ​Jawbox ​Gin, ​a ​Co ​Down ​spirits ​brand ​inspired ​by ​Belfast’s ​industrial ​character ​and ​distilled ​on ​a ​300-acre ​estate; ​and ​Kennedy ​Bacon ​from ​Co ​Tyrone, ​bringing ​Smashed ​Bacon ​Grills ​Burgers ​to ​shoppers.  Since ​launching ​in ​2018, ​Lidl ​Northern ​Ireland’s ​Kickstart ​Supplier ​Development ​programme, ​supported ​by ​Northern ​Ireland ​Food & Drink ​Association ​(NIFDA), ​has ​invested ​more ​than ​£4 ​million ​in ​the ​initiative, ​supporting ​more ​than ​60 ​Northern ​Irish ​agri-food ​businesses ​and ​showcased ​more ​than ​80 ​home-grown products ​to ​half ​a ​million ​weekly ​customers ​across ​the ​region.  Many ​previous ​participants ​have ​gone ​on ​to ​secure ​full ​permanent ​listings ​in ​Lidl ​Northern ​Ireland, ​including Holmes ​Bakery in ​Portadown, ​which ​continues ​to ​supply ​Lidl ​Northern ​Ireland ​stores ​with ​their ​range ​of ​traybakes; ​caramel ​fingers, ​sweet ​mince ​slices ​and ​fifteens. Kickstart ​also ​continues ​to ​open ​doors ​internationally, ​with ​many ​alumni ​going ​on ​to ​export ​their ​products ​through ​Lidl’s ​extensive ​global ​network ​across ​Europe, ​the ​UK ​and ​the ​USA, ​including Hellbent, ​the ​South ​African-inspired ​food ​brand ​co-founded ​by ​Ulster ​rugby ​players ​Louis ​Ludik ​and ​Schalk ​van ​der ​Merwe, ​expanding ​into ​800 ​Lidl ​stores ​across ​the ​UK ​and ​Ireland.  Beyond ​in-store ​exposure, ​the ​Kickstart ​suppliers ​have ​benefited ​from ​a ​six-month ​development ​programme ​delivered ​by ​industry ​experts ​which ​covers ​key ​disciplines ​such ​as ​quality ​control, ​supply ​chain ​management, ​branding ​and ​distribution, ​ensuring ​their ​products ​are ​retail ​ready ​in ​time ​to ​hit ​the ​shelves. The ​Kickstart ​Class ​of ​2026 ​reflects ​the ​pace, ​creativity ​and ​commercial ​drive ​across ​Northern ​Ireland’s ​food ​and ​drink ​sector. ​From ​functional ​drinks ​and ​premium ​coffee ​to ​chilled ​desserts, ​meat ​products, ​sauces ​and ​ready-to-cook ​meal ​solutions, ​the ​2026 ​cohort ​brings ​together ​products ​designed ​for ​today’s ​shopper: ​convenient, ​local ​and ​full ​of ​flavour. Speaking ​ahead ​of ​the ​range ​landing ​in ​Lidl ​stores Kevin ​Duffy, ​Chief ​Commercial ​Officer ​at ​Lidl ​Ireland & Northern ​Ireland, ​said: “Since ​launching ​in ​2018, ​Kickstart ​continues ​to ​showcase ​the ​quality ​coming ​out ​of ​the ​local ​agri-food ​sector ​in ​Northern ​Ireland. ​Our ​customers ​have ​a ​huge ​appetite ​for ​locally ​made ​produce, ​and ​this ​programme ​allows ​us ​to ​bring ​the ​very ​best ​in ​the ​region ​directly ​to ​our ​shelves. For ​Our ​Kickstart ​suppliers, ​this ​is ​a ​very ​exciting ​time. ​Each ​of ​them ​have ​spent ​the ​last ​six-months ​working ​closely ​with ​our ​in-house ​team ​to ​get ​their ​products ​retail-ready ​and ​they ​now ​get ​to ​see ​them ​placed ​on ​the ​shelves ​in ​all ​Lidl ​stores ​across ​the ​region.  With ​more ​than ​30 ​new ​Northern ​Irish ​products ​in ​stores ​from ​Thursday ​10th ​September, ​we ​would ​encourage ​all ​customers ​to ​visit ​stores ​and ​support ​your ​local ​producers.” Michael ​Bell ​OBE, ​Executive ​Director ​at ​NIFDA, ​said: “NIFDA ​has ​been ​a ​proud ​supporter ​of ​Lidl’s ​Kickstart ​Supplier ​Development ​Programme ​for ​many ​years ​as ​it ​gives ​small ​businesses ​unmatched ​access ​to ​expert ​retail ​guidance, ​direct ​customer ​exposure ​and ​the ​chance ​to ​see ​their ​products ​on ​the ​shelves ​of ​Lidl’s ​44 ​stores ​in ​the ​region. “This ​year’s ​cohort ​showcases ​the ​very ​best ​of ​Northern ​Ireland’s ​agri-food ​and ​drink ​sector ​and ​we ​look ​forward ​to ​seeing ​them ​in-store ​from ​10th ​September.” The ​Kickstart ​programme ​remains ​a ​key ​part ​of ​Lidl ​Northern ​Ireland’s ​commitment ​to ​local ​sourcing, ​quality ​Northern ​Irish ​products ​and ​the ​long-term ​success ​of ​the ​agri-food ​industry. The ​Lidl ​Kickstart ​Class ​of ​2026 ​will ​be ​available ​in ​all ​44 ​Lidl ​stores ​across ​the ​island ​of ​Ireland ​from ​Thursday ​10 ​September, ​for ​a ​two-week ​promotional ​period, ​while ​stocks ​last. For ​more ​information ​on ​the ​Kickstart ​Supplier ​Development ​Programme, ​visit: LIDL WEBSITE

Read More »