The countdown to the biggest event in the region’s culinary calendar has begun.
Bolton Food and Drink Festival, organised in association with Aldi, is back for its 13th year and is set to be bigger and better than ever.
The four day extravaganza, which this year runs from August 24 to 27, welcomed 267,000 people in 2017 and once again it will be jam-packed with celebrity chefs, special events, live music, street performers, family fun, and a world of cuisine.
Food and drink
Festival goers can browse more than 200 food, drink, arts and crafts stalls. Markets open from 10am to 6pm, in and around Victoria Square, Deansgate, Market Street, and Oxford Street. The Arts Circle and craft traders will be located on Newport Street and teenage market on Hotel Street.
Visitors can sit back and relax with a drink at one of the five bars located around the site. The Festival Bar on Le Mans Crescent and Real Ale Bar on Victoria Square will open 11am to 11pm, close 6pm on Monday.
Aldi’s Top Tipples Bar will offer a range of prosecco, wine and cocktails (open 10am to 9pm, closes at 6pm on Monday). Oxford Street and Corporation Street bars open from 10am to 7pm and close 5pm on Monday.
Music
Music lovers can enjoy some of Bolton’s finest bands and musicians at the Festival Stage on Le Mans Crescent and Real Ale Bar stage on Victoria Square.
The Festival stage will feature a range of musical talent including: indie rock band, Our Fold, Jam tribute band The Jam’d, New Order tribute band True Order and 80s funk band, The Beat Goes Bang.
Live music is on daily from around 11am until late Friday to Sunday, closing at 6pm on Monday.
Chefs and special events
Michelin-starred Michael Caines will launch the festival and showcase his skills at a free cookery demo at 12.30pm on Friday, at Bolton Market.
In the Festival Marquee, on Saturday, Nadiya Hussain will host Saturday Brunch at 10.30am, a live cookery demo at 12.30pm, and Slattery Afternoon Tea from 2.30pm.
Making a debut to the festival line-up this year is the Gin Festival, in the main marquee from 6pm.
TV favourite Ainsley Harriott is back at the festival on Sunday 26th with cooking demonstrations at 10.30am and 3pm, as well as joining the Beer and Pasty tasting with festival partners Carrs at 12.30pm.
Kick back and relax with food, drink and comedy as North West chefs Andrew Nutter and Simon Wood prepare tasty recipes alongside comedian Steve Royle to provide laughs, whilst you build your own burger, at the Sunday Supper Club at 6.30pm.Yorkshireman and festival favourite James Martin will make his 10th appearance on Monday, August 27. James will host three live demonstrations at 11am, 1pm and 3pm.
He will also cut a special cake to celebrate his 10th appearance, made by Bolton baker Kay Gajra. Kay will also help to judge the festival’s first cake-off competition on Monday.
A spectacular cake designed by expert baker, Rose Dummer, to celebrate Bolton Museum’s multi-million Egyptology gallery opening next month, will also be unveiled at the festival.
Family fun
Stone Soup, a children’s theatre show, will be on at the Albert Halls across the weekend (1pm and 3pm on Friday and 11am, 1pm and 3pm Saturday to Monday) providing little ones with a magical experience.
Bolton’s Egypt will come to the Market Place with free activities organised by the council’s library and museums service. Storytelling, arts and crafts are just some of the activities on offer. Open daily 10am to 4pm.
Crompton Kitchen will host free family activities and cookery demos Saturday to Monday, 11am to 3pm.
Leader of Bolton Council, Cllr Linda Thomas, said: “This year’s festival is set to be bigger and better than ever, with a host of chefs, musicians, street performers, music, special events and traders.
“We are delighted that the festival has become so widely recognised for its range and quality. There will be something for everyone.”
Aldi’s Regional Managing Director for Bolton, Ruth Doyle, added: “It’s our fourth year in a row supporting the event and we’re as excited as ever to be part of this celebration of British food culture.
“This year we’ll be showcasing wines from our Exquisite range, inviting festivalgoers on a real ale tasting session and paying tribute to the classic G&T with our award-winning gins.
“We’re looking forward to welcoming the Bolton community at the headline sponsors marquee, where they can join us for some tipples and nibbles.”
Parking and information
Free parking is available at the Octagon, Deane Road, and Topp Way NCP multi-storey car parks on Saturday, Sunday and Monday.
Bolton Food and Drink Festival is free to attend. Tickets for celebrity chef demos, special events and Stone Soup theatre are available from £5 and can be purchased online at www.quaytickets.com. On the day tickets can be purchased from the information point on Victoria Square.
For more information, please visit www.boltonfoodanddrinkfestival.com or follow us on Twitter/Instagram @BoltonFoodFest and on Facebook @BoltonFoodAndDrinkFestival.