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food-drink · Saturday 15 August 2026 · Various 
Donaghadee Ulster Fry World Championships
At Donaghadee Community Centre · Donaghadee, Co. Down
At Donaghadee Community Centre · Donaghadee, Co. Down
The Ulster Fry World Championships brings some of the sharpest kitchen talent in the nine counties of Ulster to the Co. Down coast every August, and the 2026 grand final is shaping up to be the best yet. Chefs from cafés, restaurants, hotels and B&Bs go head to head cooking the definitive Ulster fry - bacon, sausages, eggs, soda bread, and potato farls - live in front of a crowd, with every plate judged on taste, presentation, and how well it showcases local produce. It is a genuinely entertaining afternoon for anyone who loves good food, competitive cooking, or simply the spectacle of serious chefs under pressure. Families are welcome and admission is free.
The competition format is straightforward: finalists prepare their fry on the spot before the audience, then the plates go to the judges. Celebrity chef Jenny Bristow hosts proceedings, moving among the competitors and drawing out their thinking on ingredients and technique. Previous winners have included The Stormy Cup (2025, based right here in Donaghadee), Hillsborough Castle Café (2024), and McKee’s Country Store and Restaurant, which took the inaugural title. The emphasis on locally sourced ingredients is a thread running through every winning plate - a good reminder of how strong the Northern Irish food scene is when it puts its best foot forward. The event is part of the Donaghadee Summer Festival, so the town has extra energy around it; expect stalls, atmosphere, and a good crowd.
Donaghadee sits on the North Down coast about 15 miles east of Belfast. By car, take the A2 Bangor road out of Belfast and follow signs for Donaghadee from Bangor town - the journey from Belfast is typically around 30 minutes. There is street parking in the town and a car park near the harbour; it can fill quickly on summer Saturdays, so arriving early is sensible. There is no direct train to Donaghadee, but Bangor railway station (on the Belfast - Bangor line) is roughly seven miles away, and a taxi or local bus can cover the gap. Translink’s Metro and Ulsterbus services also run into the Ards peninsula from Belfast.
The town is a pleasant place to spend a Saturday - the harbour and its distinctive lighthouse are a short walk from the Community Centre, and the seafront has a handful of good spots for coffee or a pint after the competition. There is more to see in Donaghadee and across Co. Down.
Heading to Donaghadee Community Centre in Donaghadee? Down has plenty more to see. Read the Donaghadee area guide, find what else is on, and explore the towns and villages nearby.