William Thompson: Touch Grass - Portico of Ards, Portaferry

What to Expect

Comedian William Thompson plays Portico of Ards in Portaferry on Saturday 17 October 2026 with his stand-up show Touch Grass. The set uses dark, punchy humour to examine social media’s real-world impact, questioning whether phenomena such as “trolls, incels, Nazis” that thrive online genuinely affect society offline or stay contained to the screen. The show runs for around two hours and gives the Ards Peninsula a chance to catch the same touring show that has already sold out its Bangor dates at The Court House, without needing to travel across the county.

Good to Know

• Date: Saturday 17 October 2026
• Time: doors and show start at 7:30pm, running to around 9:30pm
• Venue: Portico of Ards, Steel Dickson Avenue, Portaferry, Co. Down BT22 1LE
• Price: not published on the listing; check the Eventbrite page for current ticket pricing
• Booking: via Eventbrite; the listing states there are no refunds once booked
• This is a separate date and venue from Thompson’s sold-out Court House Bangor shows, so tickets here may still be available

Getting There

Portico of Ards sits on Steel Dickson Avenue in Portaferry, at the tip of the Ards Peninsula overlooking Strangford Lough. The village is reachable by road via the A20 from Newtownards, or by the Strangford to Portaferry car ferry across the lough narrows, with parking available in the village.

While You’re in Portaferry

Because Thompson’s two Bangor dates for the same show sold out, this Portaferry date is worth checking first for anyone who missed out at The Court House. The village’s waterfront and shops sit within easy walking distance of the venue, and the Strangford to Portaferry ferry is a scenic way to arrive from the Lecale side of Strangford Lough. There is more to see and do in Portaferry and across Co. Down.