After a prolonged hiatus due to Covid-19, the Bolton Food & Drink Festival was back at full-strength over the August Bank Holiday weekend, and all evidence would suggest that it will re-establish its trajectory of growth in popularity and size each, as was happening pre-pandemic. Crowds thronged Victoria Square and surrounding thoroughfares every day, in response to the festival’s slogan – “Let’s Get Together”. This years’ main sponsors were Bolton Wanderers FC, Peel L&P, Stateside Foods, Vertu Motors and Warburtons.
The festival was opened on Friday by Michael Caines, ahead of a Gala Dinner. After that, cookery demonstrations by celebrity chefs were a central part of the event calendar, as always, and on Saturday Si King was the special guest, sadly without fellow Hairy Biker Dave Myers, who is unwell. Si was ably assisted during his demos by television presenter Jenny Powell. On Sunday the effervescent Ainsley Harriot prepared Caribbean fare and on Monday James Martin was back for his 12th visit to the Bolton Food and Drink Festival.
Amongst the special events this year was an Afternoon Tea with Emmerdale star Lisa Riley and a Gin Masterclass by James Martin Gin. A number of local and regional chefs also performed cookery demonstrations.
Food and drink stalls and bars were spread right across the town centre, representing a huge range of national and cultural cuisines and, together with a variety of arts & crafts stalls, there were over 180 in total. While food and drink were the central themes of the event, there was also much in the way of entertainment for the crowds, with more than 60 free music performances over the weekend, on two stages set up in Le Mans Crescent and Victoria Square. Children too were well catered for with a range of street entertainment and games and an Ancient World themed marquee.
Bolton Wanderers’ own Lofty the Lion was present over the weekend, at one point being spotted at the wheel of a brand-new Jaguar F-Type P450 sports car, outside the Albert Halls. Fortunately he didn’t get to start the engine….
The Bolton Food and Drink Festival is our town’s flagship event, and star guest James Martin is undoubtedly right in describing it as the biggest and best in this country – and perhaps in Europe. Our wonderful, friendly town is also becoming notable for a number of other great cultural, sporting and social events – about which more in another article soon….
Article by Pete Thompson.