Castlerock Grazing Experience: Artisan Cheese, Chocolate & Wine at Bertha's Bar

On the windswept curve of the Causeway Coast sits Castlerock, a compact seaside village in Northern Ireland whose evenings now hum with a new kind of local pride: A Taste of Castlerock Grazing Experience. Hosted in Bertha's Bar in the heart of Castlerock, this two-hour collaborative supper brings three artisans—The Giggling Goose Bakery, Braemar Farm, and The Chocolate Manor—together with expert pairings from Fairley’s Wines to map the flavors of this coastline. The event opens at The Bistro at the Courthouse, 75 Main St, Bushmills BT57 8QD, where guests assemble before the short transfer or walk into Castlerock. Once seated in Bertha’s Bar, expect a succession of styled grazing boards that read like a topographic map of local produce: flaky artisan loaves and signature bakes from The Giggling Goose; regional charcuterie and seasonal crudités; creamy, grass-to-glass ice creams from Braemar Farm; and inventive desserts from The Chocolate Manor. Fairley’s Wines narrates each course with a three- or four-pour flight tuned to contrast or amplify salt, fat and sweetness. What makes this night special is its sense of place. The producers are members of the Taste Causeway network, an active local collective that links food to the landscape—think cool Atlantic breezes shaping dairy pasture and mineral-rich soils feeding grain for baking. The grazing format encourages conversation and communal seating, so you might find yourself sharing stories with locals and fellow travelers as plates circulate. Practical notes: seating is unreserved; the menu is set and cannot be adapted; the event is 18+. Accessibility info is limited; check with the host before booking. For visitors staying nearby, Castlerock’s long beach and sweeping coastal views make for a bracing walk before dinner. This is not fine-dining silence—it's convivial, loud, and generous, designed to showcase producers rather than bespoke substitutions. For food-focused travelers, the Grazing Experience offers a rapid, reliable immersion into one small coastal food scene: a sampler that translates terroir into texture, spice and chill. It also functions as a social hub—Bertha’s Bar becomes a tasting room for the Causeway Coast food community and a place where makers meet tasters. If you want to come away with a list of local shops to visit, new favorite cheeses, and an evening that tastes like place, this is the event to book. Bookings move fast once announced, so plan ahead. Wear a warm layer—the Atlantic breeze reaches inside even in summer—and bring a camera for close-ups of dairy texture, charcuterie marbling, and plated desserts. If driving, allow time for limited village parking; if using public transport, check timetables. Bring card or cash for retail purchases and linger after service to ask makers about their processes and local sources, and pick up treats to-go afterwards.