Bolton Food and Drink Festival 2023 a hit with visitors

The first day of Bolton Food and Drink Festival, which returned today, Friday, welcomed scores of foodies eager to sample a wide array of sweet treats and savoury snacks on offer.

The festival, which has been a fixture in the town for almost two decades, will see around 180 stall holders serve up culinary delights alongside an exciting line-up of cooking demos with celebrity chefs including Gok Wan and James Martin.

The food and drink festival was a hit with residents as it kicked off this Friday (Image: Henry Lisowski)

The event comes amid a difficult few years for the town following the Covid-19 pandemic which saw important businesses shut, including department stores Debenhams and Marks & Spencer which closed down its Deansgate store in April after more than 100 years.

However, both stall holders and visitors agree the event brought much needed life to the town centre.

The Brandwood family, Luca, 7, Stacey, 41 and Andy, 42, said it was great to see people smiling and having fun. (Image: Newsquest)

The Brandwood family, from Bolton, said the festival was “absolutely brilliant” and were pleased to see so many people coming to the town centre.

Andy Brandwood, 42, said: “It would be great if it was on twice a month, even if it was just a small one.

“You look around the town [usually] and there’s nothing here.”

“It gets people away from Middlebrook.”

Stacey Brandwood, 41, added: “It’s lovely to see everyone smiling and having fun.”

Farooq Mahzar, Nahida Aziz and their daughter, Kiswah Mahzar (Image: Newsqufest)

The Mahzar/Aziz family, from Oldham, agreed and said the festival encouraged people to get out and about and socialise with each rather than staying at home.

Farooq Mahzar, 40, said: “I’m really happy as the town is always dead.

“They should do [the festival] more often.”

He said the cost of business rates and rents have driven business out of the town, and the council should do more to lower the cost of setting up a business there.

Stephanie John of family run bakery the Cornish Bakery, based in Morecombe (Image: Newsquest)

Stephanie John, who helps run family pie shop, The Cornish Bakery, says her stall has appeared at the festival more than seven years in a row and has always seen good business.

However, she worries the closure of Marks & Spencer, the town’s major department store, could mean sales take a hit this year.

Some colourful characters at the food and drink festival (Image: Henry Lisowski)

She said: “We’ve been coming here for about seven years, and we sell out every year.

“I’m a bit concerned that M&S is no longer there because we get a lot of trade because of M&S.”

The festival takes place across the bank holiday weekend with events on from 10am to 10pm.