Bolton Food Festival 2023: James Martin back for 14th year

The cook and television presenter returned this year for the festival’s 18th birthday, delivering three cooking demos on Bank Holiday Monday to eager crowds.

The events rounded off four days of festivities which saw visitors from Bolton and beyond flock to the town centre to sample the array of culinary delights on offer.

James Martin wowed crowds at a cookery demo at the festival (Image: Newsquest)

The festival has garnered high praise from punters, many of whom called for the event to be staged more often thanks to the boost it's given to the town.

Looking back on more than a decade of food festivals in Bolton, James, owner of restaurant James Martin Manchester said it is a “privilege” to have been asked back again this year.

He said: “I joined maybe four years in, I didn’t realise what it would turn into. It was a little marquee and a handful of stalls, but the response was amazing and very, very quickly it's morphed into what it’s become so it’s been a privilege to be asked back.

“I’ve seen festivals come and go but what seems to be the underlying thing about successful ones is that everyone has the same goal, it’s that passion and that drive.”

The Saturday Morning with James Martin host said the appeal of the festival, which welcomed almost half a million people last year, was the variety of events and entertainment on offer beyond the regular stall-holder offerings

James Martin says it is a privilege to asked back to the festival this year (Image: Newsquest)

“People just think about a food festival, this is so much more,” he said.

“In Bolton, what makes this unique is that people come here specifically, and because it’s got such a big reputation around the UK it draws people in and people are intrigued by that.

“It just shows you the popularity of this neck of the woods as well."

James said not only does he relish the chance to share his culinary skills with attendees at the cooking demos, which take place at the Albert Halls, he also enjoys a wander around the stalls.

“You can come here for the entire day and just walk around and I think that’s what draws people to keep coming back.

"I think the difference is with this, the council is as passionate about it as everybody else and I think that’s the key, without that, it just wouldn’t work.”