The 21st annual Bolton Food and Drink Festival has once again proved a spectacular success, drawing thousands of visitors to the town centre for four unforgettable days.
Delivered by Bolton Council, the flagship event has grown over more than two decades to become the biggest food and drink festival of its kind in the UK.
Visitors travelled from across the region and beyond to enjoy offerings from more than 200 traders, alongside live music, celebrity chefs and a packed programme of free family-friendly activities.
The festival provid
es a major boost to the local economy, showcasing businesses, attracting tourists and reinforcing Bolton's reputation as a destination for world-class events.
Festival favourite James Martin headlined on the Saturday with three live cookery demonstrations, autograph signings and appearances around the festival site, where he took time to meet traders and visitors alike.
Following his 18th appearance at the festival, James Martin said:
“What a difference 18 years has made, and what a difference 21 years has made as well.
“This is the one that’s in the diary every single year, I love this place.
“What makes this festival special is not only the fact that you’ve got amazing traders and free activities out there - it’s the people, that’s what’s special about Bolton.”
Despite changeable weather over the four days, festival-goers embraced everything on offer, ensuring the atmosphere remained vibrant from start to finish.
Traders also praised the event for its scale, organisation and enthusiastic crowds.
The four-day celebration featured masterclasses from Michelin-starred chef Marco Pierre White, Mowgli Street Food founder Nisha Katona, comedy from Justin Moorhouse and the hugely popular Faulty Towers Dining Experience.
Some of the region's most talented chefs took to the stage in Victoria Square, delivering a weekend of free cookery demonstrations for visitors of all ages.
Free activities in the Festival Garden, the Octagon Theatre and Elizabeth Park offered families a budget-friendly day out during the summer holidays, while a packed programme of live entertainment ensured there was something for everyone.
Across two stages, audiences enjoyed a full weekend of free live music, with chart-toppers Liberty X and The Real Thing joined by an impressive line-up of local talent, keeping crowds entertained well into the evening.
New for this year was the Visit Bolton area where visitors could pick up the latest edition of the Insider’s Handbook, a free, curated tourism guide showcasing the very best of Bolton.
Bolton Council’s Executive Cabinet Member for Culture, Cllr Debbie Newall, said:
“Major events like this are an essential part of the council’s Visitor Economy Strategy which is boosting Bolton businesses and delivering real benefits for our residents.
“Every August Bank Holiday Weekend the festival brings hundreds of thousands of people to Bolton and contributes millions to the local economy.
“But it also serves as an opportunity to show Bolton off to a major audience, and thanks to Visit Bolton’s Insider’s Handbook everyone can easily see everything our borough has to offer visitors all year round.”
Cllr Akhtar Zaman, Leader of Bolton Council, said:
“For more than 20 years, this festival has been one of Bolton’s greatest success stories.
“What began with a small number of gazebos in Victoria Square has evolved into one of the largest and most highly regarded food festivals in the UK.
“From renowned chef demonstrations and artisan markets to live music, family entertainment and street performances, the event continues to grow in both scale and reputation year after year.
“Thank you to all our chefs, performers, traders, council staff, partners and sponsors, including our headline sponsor Peel Land. Without your support this event would not be possible.
“It’s been a fantastic to see people come together and celebrate what Bolton is truly about; community spirit.
“So, thank you to everyone who visited over the weekend and made this 21st year so special”.