Storm Lilian wasn't going to stop Bolton's most loved bank holiday weekend festival, even though it tried with its storms, gusty winds and devastating impact on the Bolton Food and Drink Festival's opening day on Friday, 23rd August 2024. With gusty winds of up to 60mph sweeping across the city centre, the more than 200 stalls ready to serve over 500,000 visitors were hit hard. The event lost its first day as many stalls across the festival site tipped over due to the winds.
However, in true Bolton spirit, everyone pulled together thanks to the hard work of the local community, the setup was reinstated overnight to ensure the re-opening of the event on Saturday with a rainbow of delights.
“Everyone worked flat out to clean up the debris from Storm Lilian and make sure the site was safe to open today. As disappointed as we were to postpone the festival, the storm has shown Bolton’s resilient spirit at its very best.” Cllr Nick Peel, Leader of Bolton Council
And the hard work paid off as thousands of visitors who enjoyed food and drink showed up as the event re-opened under the beautiful sunlight following the storm. When they discovered what had been prepared in stalls for them, they were more than generous in opening their purse in exchange for good foods, from Scotch eggs and Italian pizzas to Spanish Paella and Korean corn dogs.
Beside the wonderful food and drink on offer, there was a distinct carnival atmosphere with street entertainment, live music, dancing the outdoor bars and fun for all the family in Bolton’s new town centre park.
All you need for a great party is great company
Renowned TV chef Ainsley Harriott was delighted to see the excellent turnout at the event. “One of the reasons I come to Bolton again and again is because of the people,” said Ainsley. “I often get asked what I would cook for a dinner party, and the truth is that it doesn’t really matter as long as you have a great company, and that’s what you always get here in Bolton.”
“We have been so fortunate that when we turn on television now, you see so many different types of foods all over the globe. It is very different compared to the past. Normally, when you are growing up, you get comfortable with traditional family dishes. But suddenly, it opened; it’s not just local food, and everybody feels comfortable trying that. And more of this happened, and the interest got bigger and bigger. You can see in the festival that the variety is amazingly endless. Not only are they there, but people actually like to buy and try them. The enhanced acceptance of new and exotic tastes is good for the culinary business.”
Let's give the community something new to taste
Carrs Pasties, a family-run bakery based in Bolton since 1938, has also joined this year’s event with the latest product, Chicken Curry Pastie. Joe Carr, the Director, said, “We set up our stall in the same location and launch a new product every year. Like in the past, business is perfect at the festival, and the new products always sell fast. People like to try something new in the festival. It is always good to join the festival, not only because of the business but also the marketing value.”
“Running a business means always being challenged by the changing environment, and every difficulty is a catalyst for change. For example, we launched our catering service during the time of COVID. It is now one of our pillars for the business. The cost-of-living crisis has affected our retail sales, but our catering business is up. We see that people are trying to save up for their daily expenses and opt for more generous spending in times of celebration. Business must adapt to these changes and be ahead of the game.”
“We have a great relationship with Bolton Council and have been working with the GM Business Growth Hub for many years. The Hub provides various services and training to the business community, and we have team members taking different courses. It’s also convenient that the Hub has a single contact point for the business community here in Bolton to learn about the services that best fit our needs.”
Support for hospitality industry to have a brand-new start
A new programme to bolster Greater Manchester’s hospitality industry has been launched by GM Business Growth Hub to help local businesses. Designed by the Hub’s new Hospitality Support Advisor, industry expert Dan Hope, the programme offers targeted assistance to help food and drink businesses thrive in a competitive market.
The launch comes on the heels of a new report released earlier, revealing that Britain’s hospitality sector had recorded its first quarterly growth in outlets in two years - signalling renewed confidence and opportunity for the industry despite recent challenges.
“Our region has a proud history of exceptional hospitality, and I know firsthand how hard it has been hit by the challenging environment in the past few years,” said Dan. “It might not be easy to build a successful hospitality business, but with the recent signs of growth in our industry, one should never give up hope and keep on investing for a brighter future. With support from the Hub, you will never need to walk alone on your business journey.”
Starting on September 16th, the programme features a mix of online and in-person sessions, all at no cost, tailored to meet the diverse needs of the region’s hospitality businesses – ranging from restaurants, pubs and bars to hotels and food stalls. To register interest, visit:
GM Business Growth Hub is one of the partners for the Bolton Food and Drink Festival 2024.
Get in touch
Take that first step and we’ll support you with whatever you need to succeed.
Sign-up to our newsletter
Insights, news, events and opportunities straight to your inbox.