An evening of romance, intrigue and fine dining is coming to Armagh’s Archbishop’s Palace, where guests will be invited into a Georgian family celebration that may not go according to plan.
The Georgian Banquet – Match-Making & Matrimonials: A Living History Dining Experience takes place on Friday 27 November 2026, from 7.30pm to 10.30pm, at the Archbishop’s Palace in the Palace Demesne. Tickets cost £95 and are available to book through Visit Armagh.
A theatrical dinner in Georgian society
Guests will attend the event as honoured visitors of Lord and Lady Ogilby, who are hosting a grand dinner at Ogilby Hall to announce their daughter Miss Constance Ogilby’s forthcoming marriage before the Christmas season ends.
Constance is in love with a young military officer and hopes he will formally ask for her hand and receive her father’s blessing. However, secrets, misunderstandings, unexpected arrivals and surprising revelations threaten to disrupt the expected happy ending.
The immersive performance will combine romance, humour, drama and intrigue, with costumed living-history interpreters bringing Georgian customs and social expectations into the evening. The organisers say the experience will explore courtship, marriage and matchmaking in Georgian society, but it will not involve real matchmaking, dating or matrimonial introductions.
Reception, dinner, music and dancing
The evening begins with a drinks reception and canapés, followed by a specially curated three-course dinner, paired wines, live musical entertainment and dancing. Tea or coffee will be served at the end, while each course will have a complementary wine selected to accompany it.
The arrival canapés include St Tola goat’s cheese and onion beignet, braised Irish beef cheek wonton with truffle, and Bushmills whiskey-cured salmon tartlet with kelp verde and spring onion. Freshly baked breads and salted butter will also be provided.
The starter is a heritage tomato tart with St Tola goat’s cheese, Armagh Bramley apple, Lyonnaise onion, basil and black fig jam. The main course features Guinness and treacle-cured Tyrone beef, smoked Jacob’s ladder, roasted parsley purée, pomme Anna potato, truffled Roscoff onion, maitake and sherry jus.
Dessert will be an After Eight-inspired 75% cocoa Atelier chocolate marquise with crème de menthe sorbet and crème anglaise.
Booking and access information
Visitors with dietary or access requirements are asked to mention them during the booking process so they can be accommodated as far as possible. Further assistance is available by emailing [email protected].
General information and the cancellation policy for the Armagh Georgian Festival 2026 are also available through Visit Armagh.
