Greater Manchester food and drink festival named as best event of the year at regional awards

Bolton’s Food and Drink festival has been named as the best regional event of the year. The festival received the ‘Most Loved Live Event’ award at the I Love Manchester Awards, beating Manchester Pride and other big Greater Manchester events to the accolade. 

The award category recognises events which show “excellence in events coordination” with an emphasis on “organisation, sustainability and economic prosperity”. Celebrating its 18th birthday, this year’s record-breaking festival attracted 500,000 visitors to Bolton to enjoy 180 artisan stalls, celebrity chef demonstrations and live music.

Bolton Council’s Executive Cabinet Member for Culture, Cllr Nadeem Ayub, said: “I am so proud that Bolton Food and Drink Festival’s 18th birthday has been officially declared Greater Manchester’s best party of the year. I am particularly pleased that this award is partly based on a public vote, showing that our festival is truly a people’s favourite.

“Each of this year’s 500,000 visitors have seen Bolton at its very best and I am sure many will return to enjoy our other events, our leading theatre venues and our wider cultural offer.”

Bolton Council Leader, Cllr Nick Peel, said: “We have beaten some of the biggest events in the UK to win this award, so this marks a major achievement for a festival that has a hard-won reputation as one of the very best. Bolton’s cultural offer is one of our great strengths, and organising successful events like this is a key part of our wider strategy to attract more visitors, bring investment and to regenerate our town centre.”