If you are looking for a tasty way to spend the day with friends, then McComb’s Coach Travel’s new tour ‘Grub Crawl’ is the answer. The Grub Crawl visits several local foodie delights including Abernethy Butter in Dromore (read our interview with the guys here), The Poacher’s Pocket in Lisbane, Kilmegan Cider in Dundrum, the Echlinville Distillery in Newtownards and the Mourne Seafood Bar in Dundrum (read our review here).
The foodie tour has two different itineraries that visits some of the country’s most innovative food and drink producers and is sure to put a big smile on the faces of good food and drink lovers. Caroline McComb, Director of McComb’s Coach Travel, explained that “We have been so excited about unveiling our newest tours as the calibre of the brands and people involved is of such a high quality. There are two tours to choose from, depending on what your tastes are, that include visits to Abernethy Butter, The Poacher’s Pocket, Mourne Seafood Bar, Echlinville Distillery and Kilmegan Cider.”
The transport for the tour will be a luxurious McComb’s coach so it is only fitting that the food is top quality as well, continued Caroline. “Our Grub Crawl really is a day out for those who like to experience Northern Ireland food, drink and hospitality at its best. So leave the car behind and allow our driver to transport you from one amazing experience to the next without having to worry about what you’re drinking, finding a parking space or paying for taxis – just indulge and enjoy yourself!”
The Friday and Saturday Grub Crawls both depart from Glengall Street in Belfast which is also the last stop. Caroline said: “The Friday Grub Crawl gets off to a great start with a visit to Abernethy Butter where guests will see a demonstration of how they create butter from scratch and afterwards enjoy lashings of amazing Abernethy Butter on some delicious home-made soda bread with a cup of tea. Next stop is the village of Lisbane, to locally owned restaurant The Poachers Pocket where everyone will raise a glass of Craft Beer before tucking into a delicious tasting platter starter, followed by a choice of four main courses and if you have any room left, there will be locally produced cheeses with crackers and chutney to finish.
“Next stop on the Friday Grub Crawl is the newly constructed, Echlinville Distillery in Kircubbin, where Dunville Whiskey and Jawbox Gin are produced. This will be a gin-lovers paradise as the head distiller leads you on a tour of the distillery before sampling some of Echlinville Distillery’s famous products. The tour will then travel back to Belfast city centre.”
The Saturday Grub Crawl also begins at Abernethy Butter before moving on to the fishing village of Dundrum, explained Caroline. “In Dundrum we will visit Kilmegan Cider and see first-hand how this Great Taste Award Winning local cider is brewed,” said Caroline. “We will then get the opportunity to taste the subtle differences between their Real Cider, Irish Farmhouse Cider and much loved Elderflower Cider. The final stop of the day will be at Mourne Seafood Bar where guests will tuck into a two course lunch of tasting platters, and a choice of no less than five main courses (including seafood, vegetarian, and non-fish options) as the head chef talks about his passion for food.”
The Grub Crawl tours begin on April 22nd 2016 and will run alternately on Fridays and Saturdays. There is a special introductory offer of £65 per person. For further information and to book visit McComb’s website, www.mccombscoaches.com or call them on 028 9086 6162. You can also find them on their Twitter and Facebook pages.
Welcome to Pikalily, an award-winning food, travel and lifestyle blog. We are Nial and Helen, a happily married couple from Northern Ireland, who share a passion for food and travel among many things. We became parents to our beautiful boy Lewis in 2017. Follow our adventures through the blog.
