Published: Saturday, 23rd Aug 2025

Visitors to this year’s Bolton Food and Drink Festival will be able to enjoy fabulous food stalls, free family fun, and a pasty with a difference - all thanks to the event’s sponsors and supporters.

Bolton food drink festival sponsors 2025Every August bank holiday weekend, thousands of people flock to Bolton to experience live music, celebrity cooking demonstrations and over 180 market stalls.

The event would not be possible without the many private sector partners and organisations who provide investment through sponsorship.

This year’s official tourism partner is Visit Bolton - aligning with the borough’s bold new Visitor Economy Strategy and the re-launch of the Visit Bolton website. 

Launched in 2024, the strategy sets out the council’s ambition to position the borough as an attractive visitor destination, driving footfall and spend, enhancing the quality of life of our residents and sense of pride in Bolton, and support vitality and growth in our business community.

During the festival’s landmark 20th year, the main sponsors are not only investing in the festival but in Bolton’s future:

Orbit Developments actively support the town’s growth and development and provide exceptional office, industrial, and retail spaces to businesses of all sizes whilst being known for its dedication to quality, sustainability, and creating environments that foster growth and success.

Our valued partners at Watson Homes will be busy at work creating hundreds of new homes and a brand-new hotel at Church Wharf.

Bolton Food and Drink Festival is the jewel in our cultural crown - it simply wouldn’t be possible without the many businesses and groups which support us.

Peel Land are partnering with the council and others to deliver the NorthFold growth location, one of the most exciting investment and development opportunities in the north of England.  They will be at the festival with a welcoming seating area for visitors to relax and take in the atmosphere.

Step Places’ latest project, Moor Lane, has recently welcomed its new residents marking another step in their transformation of the area. As part of their commitment to creating vibrant, people-focused spaces, they have also delivered a stunning new public space in Cheadle Square.  As dedicated place-makers, Step Places are passionate about building homes that people truly love to live in. With a strong focus on sustainability and community, they are proud sponsors of this year’s festival.

Partner sponsors of this year’s event include food manufacturer Stateside Foods, Greater Manchester's Business Support Organisation GM Business Growth Hub, Deansgate Gardens developer Placefirst and Bolton at Home who said: “Food and drink unites us. The festival showcases Bolton’s vibrancy and the talent of our local producers, growers, bakers, brewers, chefs and home cooks. Most of all, it brings people together.”

They are joined by Carrs Pasties, a longstanding festival supporter – who will have a limited-edition festival pasty – the Lamb Hotpot Pasty, leading land and property regenerator of sustainable developments Harworth (also a partner of NorthFold), global commercial real estate agent CBRE, development and procurement specialist Clear Futures, Bolton car dealership Kia, Mercure Bolton Georgian House Hotel, Serco and visual branding specialist Impression.

Market Place, the town’s shopping centre, will be offering all-day visitor parking, an indoor Artisan Craft Fair, outdoor food on the patio, children's rides on Corporation Street.

Bolton Council’s Executive Cabinet Member for Culture, Cllr Nadeem Ayub, said: “Bolton Food and Drink Festival is the jewel in our cultural crown - a vibrant celebration of our town’s creativity, hospitality and community spirit.  It simply wouldn’t be possible without the many businesses and groups which support us.

“Visit Bolton as our official tourism partner in our landmark 20th year not only strengthens the festival’s offer but also supports our wider ambition to put Bolton firmly on the map as a must-visit destination.  

“We look forward to welcoming thousands of visitors to experience everything Bolton has to offer.” 

For more information about this year’s festival, visit boltonfoodanddrinkfestival.com.