The Giant Table: Bushmills festival returns with a whole new flavour

Sunday 27 September 2026

Bushmills will become a giant showcase for food, drink, music and local creativity next weekend as one of the Causeway Coast’s best-known festivals returns with a new identity and an expanded programme.

The former Bushmills Salmon & Whiskey Festival is entering a new chapter as The Giant Table, running from Friday 2 to Sunday 4 October and bringing chefs, producers, makers, musicians and visitors together across the village.

While salmon and whiskey helped establish the original event, organisers say the broader festival will now celebrate the full range of food, drink and culture found across the Causeway Coast and Glens.

Three days of food and experiences

The weekend begins on Friday with food tastings at Bushmills Visitor Information Centre and guided walking tours with Anthony MacNaghten, before a series of evening dining experiences.

Among the highlights will be a special Supper Club at Tartine at Distillers Arms, where chef Gary Stewart will collaborate with chef Rob Curley of the Slemish Market Supper Club for a menu showcasing local produce.

Saturday and Sunday will bring the main festival programme onto the streets and into venues around Bushmills, with cookery demonstrations, artisan markets, live music and opportunities to meet local producers.

Bored of Lunch among cookery line-up

Among those taking part in cookery demonstrations will be Nathan Anthony, the bestselling author and creator of Bored of Lunch, alongside Darragh Milligan of Belfast Undercover Chef, Ian Orr of Bushmills Townhouse and Stephen Jeffers of Forestside Cookery School.

Demonstrations will be staged at the Main Street Cookery Theatre and The Courthouse Cookery Theatre, while The Courthouse itself will become one of the festival’s main hubs, spread across three floors with food demonstrations, live music and creative showcases.

Meet the Maker sessions at Bushmills Visitor Information Centre will give visitors another opportunity to meet some of the producers, growers, distillers and artisans behind food and drink from the area.

Music throughout Bushmills

The food programme will be accompanied by live entertainment across several venues, with Chloe Mac, Eoghan Quigg, Half Cut and Sarah Carson among the performers announced.

The Causeway Shantymen, stilt walkers and singing chefs will also provide roaming entertainment around the village, alongside a mix of traditional and contemporary performers.

A dedicated drinks hub on Main Street will showcase beverages from across Northern Ireland on Sunday, while younger festival-goers will be able to try their hand at pancake making.

Giant Bake Off open to everyone

Home bakers will also get their chance to shine in The Giant Bake Off, which is open to all ages and abilities and welcomes everything from breads and cakes to jams, traybakes and scones.

Entries should be brought to Dunluce Parish Church Hall on Saturday 3 October between 10.30am and 12 noon. Chef Gary Stewart will lead the judging alongside special guest Lyla Doey, who appeared on Junior Bake Off, with the prize-giving beginning at 2pm.

New Wellness Hub in Portballintrae

One of the biggest additions to this year’s programme will take the festival beyond Bushmills, with a new Wellness Hub operating in nearby Portballintrae on Saturday.

Activities include yoga sessions, kayaking, sauna and cold-plunge experiences, while the wider bookable programme also includes foraging, ring fort walks, holistic healing and experiences at Bushmills Distillery.

Mayor of Causeway Coast and Glens, Councillor Dawn Huggins, said:

“This exciting new identity celebrates the unique character, creativity and culinary heritage of our Borough, bringing people together around one giant table.

“While the name may be new, it is rooted in everything that has made this event so special over the years – a strong sense of community, a warm welcome, and a celebration of the people, producers and businesses of Bushmills and the wider Causeway Coast and Glens area.

“Since it began, the festival has continued to grow and evolve.

“What started as a community celebration of two products so closely associated with this area has developed into a much broader showcase of our food and drink, alongside craft, creativity and hospitality.”

Booking activities and finding the full programme

A number of experiences require advance booking, including the Tartine Supper Club, Niche Coastal Sauna sessions, Wellness Farmer yoga sessions and Bushmills Distillery experiences. Far & Wild kayaking, foraging and ring fort walks are booked through Bushmills Visitor Information Centre.

For those activities, the Visitor Information Centre can be contacted at visitor.information@causewaycoastandglens.gov.uk or on 028 2073 0390.

The official festival page also carries the complete Friday and Saturday programme, Sunday programme, Giant Bake Off entry form and booking information for individual experiences.

Full details: https://www.visitcausewaycoastandglens.com/whats-on/bushmills-salmon-and-whiskey-festival

With its expanded programme, The Giant Table marks a significant evolution for an established Bushmills event — retaining its connection to the village’s food and whiskey heritage while opening the table to a much wider celebration of the people, produce and experiences of the Causeway Coast and Glens.