Wet and windy conditions said to be due to the El Niño phenomenon were never going to keep people away from one of Bolton's most eagerly anticipated events.
Returning for its 21st year, Bolton Food & Drink Festival once again took over the town centre for the August Bank Holiday weekend, drawing large crowds to Victoria Square and the surrounding streets for four days of food, entertainment and merriment.
GM Business Growth Hub proudly sponsored the launch event of the Bolton Food and Drink Festival's opening day on Friday, 28th August 2026, with colleagues attending to connect with businesses, partners and stakeholders from across the borough. A lucky few were also in attendance at the glamorous 5 course Gala dinner, including dishes by celebrity chefs James Martin and Michael Caines.
Gastronomic visitors turned out in force, creating a vibrant atmosphere and reinforcing the festival's status as one of the UK's most significant food and drink events.
From gourmet pizzas, burgers and artisan bakes to globally inspired street food, craft beverages and local favourites, the ultimate food-lovers weekend showcased culinary talent and entrepreneurial spirit across four days of feasting, entertainment and family fun. With between 180 and 200 traders on site each day, thousands of visitors enjoyed hundreds of food and drink stalls, live music, street performances and cookery demonstrations
While the festival provided a memorable Bank Holiday weekend for residents and visitors alike, its impact extends far beyond the event itself.
The festival also contributes to the wider visitor economy by attracting people to Bolton and supporting the surrounding hospitality businesses. By bringing together food, culture, entertainment and community activity, it plays an important role in maintaining a buzzing town centre.
“It means a lot to our businesses because if we look at our last food and drink festival, we had 500,000 visitors to the food and drink festival and that generated in terms of the spend nearly 10 million pounds, that was money that people spend in Bolton. And it's our local businesses that are benefiting from that, so absolutely it's the key. Plus, it puts Bolton on the scene, and ultimately, it benefits businesses.”
Councillor Akhtar Zaman, Leader of Bolton Council
More than a party - the festival is a platform for business
The scale of the event demonstrates the important role food and drink festivals can play in supporting local economies. Visitor spending helps generate revenue for businesses across the borough, while the festival itself helps position Bolton as a destination for tourism, hospitality and leisure.
For independent traders, restaurants, cafés and food producers, the festival provides an opportunity to reach new audiences, build brand awareness, and engage directly with potential customers. For many businesses, the event serves as both a trading opportunity and a showcase for the quality and diversity of Bolton's food and drink offer.
“We're a new business and worked hard towards making Bolton food and drink successful for us. We prepared hard to provide quality food and not sell out which really took it out of us! We absolutely loved every second and it impacted the bottom line in a positive way. The overall experience was not like any other festival and it'll now feature at the top of our events that we want to attend in the future.”
Caroline Jones, Founder, Phat Mac
“We've got so many amazing little cafes and restaurants across the whole of our borough and then this is the chance to show off…Over 21 years it's developed into the officially the biggest food festival in the UK and importantly it is free, with events for children and adults and it’s just a wonderful atmosphere”
Sue Johnson, Chief Executive, Bolton Council
Sector insights and a big impact for the region's visitor economy
With such a well-run and well-attended event, it is no surprise that the festival is loved by locals and visitors alike and brought a real party atmosphere over the Bank Holiday weekend in Bolton.
However, over two decades the Bolton Food & Drink Festival has become much more than a popular Bank Holiday event. It is a major factor promoting Bolton as both a cultural hub and a platform for independent local businesses, facilitating growth, protecting jobs and creating opportunities for a thriving local food and drink scene.
Research and analysis published by GC Insights in an impact assessment calculated that in 2025 the four-day Bolton Food and Drink festival, had a multi-million-pound return; £7.6 million in direct gross value added (GVA). Bolton council said that last year they spent around £700,000 on the event to lead to the above benefits. The data reflects the growing role that cultural events and visitor experiences play in reimagining high streets beyond traditional retail areas. Helping to boost footfall, support local enterprise and strengthen economic resilience in town centres.
“We are proud sponsors of Bolton Food and Drink Festival. Year after year, it continues to show how celebrating the food and drink sector alongside culture and entertainment can maintain a vibrant town centre that benefits local businesses and the community. By increasing footfall and showcasing independent traders, the festival has played a major role developing the visitor economy. GM Business Growth Hub and our partners in the wider support ecosystem are committed to helping businesses seize these opportunities, build new connections and realise their fullest potential.”
Mark Nelson, Stakeholder Account Manager, GM Business Growth Hub
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Find out more about the Greater Manchester Food and Drink Network and discover how GM Business Growth Hub can support your business.
GM Business Growth Hub is one of the partners for the Bolton Food and Drink Festival 2026.
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