“The UK’s biggest food festival” is returning to Greater Manchester for 2024

Bolton Food and Drink Festival is always a great Bank Holiday Weekend. Despite dreadful weather at times, there’s nothing unlucky about it.

People flock in to sample food and drink from more than 200 traders, watch top chefs in action, take part in a gin festival, and enjoy live music and entertainment over the four days.

Oh, and to eat their body weight in Carrs pasties, something of a Bolton rite of passage since the family-run bakery was founded in 1938.

After over half a million people descended on Bolton Food and Drink Festival last year, it’s back again, bigger and better than ever.

Having quickly established itself as one of the UK’s biggest and best food festivals – and made the Bolton News being crowned as Greater Manchester’s most-loved live event at the I Love Manchester Awards – it is set to be a huge August bank holiday weekend.

Bolton Food & Drink Festival 2024

The event will be split between ticketed events at the spectacular Albert Halls, like chef demos, while the town centre will be awash with more than 150 incredible market stalls offering delicious cuisine from around the world.

There will also be a superb selection of art, crafts and gifts.

So who’s on the bill this year? Two celebrity chefs that need no introduction.

James Martin

James Martin has been a nearly permanent fixture at the Bolton Food & Drink Festival, where he’s set to entertain for the 14th time this year.

“This is the biggest and best food festival in the UK,” James says. “It’s a great event. Ten years ago it didn’t look anything like what it is now. It has morphed into a giant of a food festival – it’s got better every year and it’s one of the few festivals I do.”

He’s back again to share some of his top kitchen tips – that you can experience first-hand at his great restaurant in Manchester City Centre which was nominated for an I Love MCR Award last year.

He’s made no secret of his passion for the festival, previously describing it as ‘The biggest and best food and drink festival in the country’, that he has seen morph ‘into something spectacular’.

The superstar TV Chef made a dashing impact with his television debut in November ‘96 and has rarely been off-screen since.

He was a regular chef on Ready Steady Cook (BBC2), and in 2006 reached the semi-finals of Strictly Come Dancing (BBC1).

He went on to present BBC1’s hit series Saturday Kitchen for 10 years, and has presented many series for UKTV and BBC, including: Operation Hospital Food, Operation Meet the Street, The Box, and Home Comforts, as well as being a judge on Junior Bake Off.

Following the 11 am demo he will be doing a book signing, so don’t forget to bring a pen!

Ainsley Harriot

Ainsley, regarded as one of the finest chefs in the UK and a national treasure, will be making his fourth appearance at the festival.

Over the years, the celebrity chef has created a variety of memorable moments for festival goers, including his hit sensation, the ‘Coconut and Mango’ song.

Ainsley will be making his return to the festival’s kitchen on Saturday 24th August for two scintillating cooking demonstrations at 11 am and 1 pm and will be then hosting a special Rum Fiesta event at 3.30 pm.

Guests at this year’s demos will get to feast on a delicious Caribbean-inspired dish whilst they watch Ainsley at work.

Brunch will be tasty buttermilk pancakes with rum-infused maple syrup alongside a banana, hazelnut and honey smoothie.

At lunchtime, guests will be treated to a twist on a local delicacy with a Carrs Pasties Jamaican jerk chicken pasty barm.

At the afternoon Rum Fiesta, where fans have the chance to explore the world of rum tasting, guests will enjoy a delightful rum cake with crème fraiche.

What else is happening?

It’s not all celebrity chefs – there are plenty of other fun events to get stuck into.

You can catch Sheer Luck Holmes – The Case of the Floating Fiancée, described as a laugh-out-loud murder mystery dinner show on Sat 24th of August at the Albert Halls, Bolton.

Fancy something a bit more calamitous? Direct from London’s Theatreland via a stint at the Sydney Opera House, Faulty Towers The Dining Experience is coming to Albert Halls, Bolton on Sunday 25th of August.

You can check out our interviews with the cast when it came to Manchester.

With the fun beginning on Friday 23rd August, you’ll have plenty on your plate all weekend.

Enjoy free regional chef demonstrations, activities for the kids, live music and bars, artisan stalls and street entertainment too.

Watson’s School competition

Watson, a Salford-based contractor, is set to make a significant impact at this year’s Bolton Food and Drink Festival with an innovative school competition promoting sustainability and community engagement. As the headline sponsor of the festival, Watson has invited local primary schools to participate in a unique challenge that combines environmental awareness with creativity.

In efforts to give back to the community, Watson has launched its very own School Sustainability Competition where local primary schools have been invited to build a model house out of sustainable food and drink packaging. The eco-friendly designs will be displayed at the Watson stand during the Bolton Food and Drink Festival.

Pupils aged four to eleven have been encouraged to use their imagination to create sustainable models in seven local primary schools. Mytham Primary School, Bolton Parish C of E, St Teresa’s, Pikes Lane, Devonshire Road, Moorgate, and Haslam Park are participating in this exciting initiative. The competition has sparked engaging discussions about sustainability in classrooms, becoming a valuable hands-on learning experience for students across these schools.

Festival attendees will have the opportunity to vote for their favourite design at the festival, created by Bolton’s youngest residents, with the winning school receiving a substantial £5,000 towards their School Improvement Plan (SIP).

Watson invites festival attendees to visit their interactive stand on Victoria Square throughout the weekend. The stand will feature family-friendly activities in collaboration with local businesses and suppliers, reflecting the company’s ongoing commitment to enhancing life across Bolton.

Rob Watson, director at Watson, said: “Our School Sustainability Competition, along with our presence at the festival, underscores our key values of community engagement and sustainable development. We are looking forward to showcasing the talent from local primary schools and awarding the winning school with funds towards their School Improvement Plan.”

Chief Executive of Bolton Council, Sue Johnson

Speaking about the festival, Chief Executive of Bolton Council, Sue Johnson said: “We’re ecstatic to add Ainsley Harriott to the lineup for this year’s festival as it further enhances the offer across the weekend.

“The festival is for everyone, and we work tirelessly each year to ensure we’re providing the best possible event for residents and visitors alike.

“By doing so, we help bring people together from diverse backgrounds, driving the visitor economy in Bolton and getting the town centre bursting with life.”

Who has performed previously at The Bolton Food & Drink Festival?

To mention some of the previous top chefs who have been to the festival reads like a who’s-who of culinary celebrities.

The festival, has seen appearances big names including Nadiya Hussain, James Martin, Ainsley Harriott, the Hairy Bikers, Gregg Wallace, Andrew Nutter, Simon Wood, Michelin-starred Michael Caines and Aiden Byrne.

“Bolton has a lovely atmosphere, very different from anything else I’ve done,” said Nadiya Hussain in 2018.

Tribute to Bolton Food & Drink Festival stalwart, Dave Myers

The event organisers have put up a touching tribute to Hairy Biker Dave Myers on their website, who has been a fixture at the event since way back in 2009. He will be sorely missed this year.

The tribute reads: “Rest in peace Dave Myers, one half of the Hairy Bikers The Hairy Bikers have been a fixture at the Bolton Food and Drink Festival Family since 2009.

“Dave will be fondly remembered for entertaining the thousands of visitors who saw him over the years.

“Dave will be greatly missed by his many fans and we will be paying tribute to him in August.’

Bolton Food and Drink Festival

You can get tickets to the Bolton Food & Drink Festival by clicking here