Bolton Food and Drink Festival itinerary - what’s on each day, which chefs are appearing & ticket information

Foodies from across the North West are gearing up to enjoy the region’s largest food and drink festival again.

The Bolton Food and Drink festival had to move online in 2020 due to Covid restrictions.

Now it’s back ‘in person’ and gearing up for a weekend of fun over Friday 27 August to Monday 31 August.

Here is a day by day guide to the main events, including top chef appearances, over 30 free food demos and live music.

CHEF-LED EVENTS

Bolton Market Chef Demo - line up

Friday 27th

10.30am Nick Cullen, Nick’s Restaurant

Nick has a 20-year reputation from his Nick’s Restaurant, bringing culinary flair and metropolitan flavour to a small corner of Bolton.

11.30am Alain Job, Nkono

Local chef Alain runs the popular Nkono food stall at Bolton Market. He won the Guardian/O2 Innovative Catering Business award.

12.30pm Gareth Mason

Gareth is group executive chef of the Retreat Restaurant Group and likes to make simple food well!

1.30pm Jon Jones 

A chef and pastry chef for 22 years, Jon now owns and runs The Grumpy Baker, making everything from celebration cakes to flavoured breads and afternoon tea boxes.

2.30pm Robert Owen Brown

Robert’s career began at Manchester’s famous Midland Hotel. He creates dishes from imaginative use of the finest local produce and is a familiar voice from Jay Rayner’s Radio 4’s Kitchen Cabinet show.

Saturday 28th

10.00am Sushma Solanki

The owner of Sushma’s Snacks runs cookery classes and works as a private chef, catering for events, wedding parties, funerals, outdoor events and artisan markets.

11.00am Alain Job, Nkono

Local chef Alain runs the popular Nkono food stall at Bolton Market. He won the Guardian/O2 Innovative Catering Business award.

12noon Gareth Mason

Gareth is group executive chef of the Retreat Restaurant Group and likes to make simple food well!

1.00pm David Smart

Managing director of family run, established craft bakers, Greenhalgh’s, David is a fantastic baker in his own right.

2.00pm Maria Grieco                                                                                                                     

Dinner at Maria’s began after Maria started hosting supper clubs in 2012 to fundraise for local charities. She also works as a private chef with regular pop ups with Cuckoo Gin.

3.00pm Jon Jones

A chef and pastry chef for 22 years, Jon now owns and runs The Grumpy Baker, making everything from celebration cakes to flavoured breads and afternoon tea boxes.

Chef Zone (former Zara Unit), Market Place Shopping Centre – line up

Friday 27^th

11am Launch event with special Guest: Anjali Pathak

Anjali is a respected chef, food writer and cookery teacher who learned Indian cookery from a young age. Anjali, of the family behind Indian cuisine brand Patak’s, has published cookbook Secrets From My Indian Family and has been shortlisted for awards for her work with Indian food and international flavours.

12.30pm Rob Owen Brown

Rob’s career began at Manchester’s famous Midland Hotel. He creates dishes from imaginative use of the finest local produce and is a familiar voice from Jay Rayner’s Radio 4’s Kitchen Cabinet show.

1.30pm Tom Taylor

Tom is the force behind the Cherry Tree Bar and Restaurant in Blackrod, voted winner of the best restaurant in Bolton in 2020. The family-owned restaurant and bar serves classic British cooking using fresh Lancashire produce.

2.30pm Anjali Pathak

Anjali is a respected chef, food writer and cookery teacher who learned Indian cookery from a young age. Anjali, of the family behind Indian cuisine brand Patak’s, has published cookbook Secrets From My Indian Family and has been shortlisted for awards for her work with Indian food and international flavours.

3.30pm Gareth Mason

Gareth is group executive chef of the Retreat Restaurant Group and likes to make simple food well!

4.30pm Sushma Solanki

The owner of Sushma’s Snacks runs cookery classes and works as a private chef, catering for events, wedding parties, funerals, outdoor events and artisan markets.

Saturday 28th

10.30am Maria Greico

Dinner at Maria’s began after Maria started hosting supper clubs in 2012 to fundraise for local charities. She also works as a private chef with regular pop ups with Cuckoo Gin.

11.30am Nigel Haworth

Nigel plans to re-open The Three Fishes in Mitton in October ‘21 after a major refurb. The Michelin-star chef was born in Whalley, Lancashire, where his food roots remain. His culinary journey covers London, Scotland and Switzerland, before returning home as Head Chef at then Northcote Manor in 1984, where in 1995, he celebrated being Egon Ronay Chef of The Year and his first Michelin star in 1996, which he still retains.

12.30pm Marc Molé

Marc Molé was born and raised in Paris and trained and worked in Washington D.C. He is head chef and owner of Bistro Marc at Winter’s, a family-run French bistro in Stockport’s Grade II listed building, Winter’s, opening in autumn 2021.

1.30pm Doug Crampton

Head chef at James Martin Manchester, Doug Crampton started his career in Leeds’ 3 AA Rosette Anthony’s Restaurant. He came over to Manchester235 casino to head up the launch of James Martin Manchester.

2.30pm Nigel Haworth

Nigel plans to re-open The Three Fishes in Mitton in October after a major refurb. The Michelin-star chef was born in Whalley, Lancashire, where his food roots remain. His culinary journey covers London, Scotland and Switzerland, before returning home as Head Chef at then Northcote Manor in 1984, where in 1995, he celebrated being Egon Ronay Chef of The Year and his first Michelin star in 1996, which he still retains.

3.30pm David Smart

Managing Director of family run, established craft bakers, Greenhalgh’s, David is a fantastic baker in his own right.

4.30pm Makbul Patel

Self-taught Bolton born baker Mak appeared on series 11 of TV’s Great British Bake Off 2020. The accountant, from Sharples, began cooking at home to support his mother. He is also a beekeeper and produces his own honey, which he uses in his bakes.

Sunday 29th

10.30am Kishan Kant, Sai Spice

Award winning chef, including Singapore Chef of the Year, Kishnan has three decades’ experience of cooking great food. He worked at Spice Valley before opening his first restaurant Sai Spice in Farnworth.

11.30am Special guest: Jean-Christophe Novelli

Award winning Chef Jean-Christophe has a passion for food and wealth of culinary knowledge.

12.30pm Marc Molé

Marc Molé was born and raised in Paris and trained and worked in Washington D.C. He is head chef and owner of Bistro Marc at Winter’s, a family-run French bistro in Stockport’s Grade II listed building, Winter’s, opening in autumn 2021.

1pm An Audience with Jean-Christophe Novelli

Three courses (including meat and fish): Starter, Main and Dessert – please advise dietary requirements when booking (vegetarian and vegan substitute courses available).

• Ticket event, suitable for those over 12 years old
• Price: £25 per head.

1.30pm Andrew George

Andrew George works as a chef, food scientist and catering lecturer and his business Icky Sticky Cakes prides itself on making delicious gluten-free friand cakes.

2.30pm Gareth Mason

Gareth is group executive chef of the Retreat Restaurant Group and likes to make simple food well!

Monday 30th

10.30am Scott Bannon

Bury born and bred, self-taught chef Scott has worked in pub and restaurants around Lancashire in 35 years. Scott owns and is chef at the Boars Head country pub in Hoghton.

11.30am Simon Wood, Wood Restaurant

2015 MasterChef Champion Simon wowed judges with his classic flavour combinations, and now runs successful restaurant Wood Manchester.

12.30pm Doug Crampton

Head chef at James Martin Manchester, Doug started his career in Leeds’ 3 AA Rosette Anthony’s Restaurant. He came over to Manchester235 casino to head up the launch of James Martin Manchester.

1.30pm Andrew Nutter

A former Manchester Chef of the Year, Andrew opened Nutters near Rochdale, at the age of 21, and has recently opened The Bird at Birtle, Heywood.

2.30pm Simon Wood

Former MasterChef Champion Simon wowed judges with his classic flavour combinations, and now runs successful restaurant Wood Manchester.

3.30pm Scott Bannon

Bury born and bred, self-taught chef Scott has worked in pub and restaurants around Lancashire in 35 years. Scott owns and is chef at the Boars Head country pub in Hoghton.

4.30pm Sushma Solanki

The owner of Sushma’s Snacks runs cookery classes and works as a private chef, catering for events, wedding parties, funerals, outdoor events and artisan markets.

INTERACTIVE FOOD EVENTS

Saturday 28 August - Beer and Cheese Tasting

A pairing of Craft Beer with Chorlton Cheesemongers cheeses

An exciting new addition this year is the beer and cheese pairing sessions with a local brewery in collaboration with Chorlton Cheesemongers.

30 people per session will be able to hear the experts talk through five freshly brewed craft beers, all beautifully paired with five distinct and different cheeses.

You’ll learn how beer and cheese is made, the stories behind each taste and why they’ve been paired.

The event includes:

• Guided pairing from two experts
• Cheese - 5 portions
• Beer - 5 1/3rds
• Plus supporting nibbles

Ticketed event, over 18s only.

Price: £15.

2 sessions: 12.30pm and 3pm - 30 places per session.

Monday 30 August - Microgreens Masterclass

Join Paul De Cosat Greaves from Koppert Cress, the leading provider of micro-greens to chefs across the world who will explain how micro-greens are shaping the culinary future.

This is the event for serious foodies. Ticketed event, includes tastings.

Price: £5

2 sessions: 11.30am–1.00pm and 1.30pm – 3.00pm.

All Weekend: Foraging! In Queens Park

Take a break from the fast-paced world we live in and connect with nature in this unique, informative special event with Colin Unsworth, Forager from New Forest Horizons.

Price: £10 per person.

Sessions:

• Friday August 28: 10am-12noon
• Saturday August 29: 10.30am-12.30pm & 2.30pm-4.30pm
• Sunday August 30: 10.30am-12.30pm & 2.30pm-4.30pm
• Monday August 31: 10am-12noon

LIVE MUSIC

The main Festival Music stage is on Le Mans Crescent, and Victoria Square will host the acoustic stage.

Plenty of seating and refreshments will be available in both bar areas. Here are the headliners:

Friday 27^th

9pm: The Jade Assembly – charismatic Britpop guitar band from Bolton, influenced by the Who, the Stones and Oasis.

Saturday 28^th

9pm : The Lancashire Hotpots – much-loved comedy folk band from St. Helens, a fixture on the festival circuit with their classics such as ‘EBay Eck’ and ‘Chippy Tea’.

Sunday 29^th

9pm: The Lottery Winners – there’s a real buzz about this four-piece Indie band from Leigh whose music, they say, is influenced by the sunshine that shines only from Lancashire and who have a new album Something to Leave the House For.

Monday 30^th

5pm - Jeremiah Ferrari - alternative reggae band with powerful punk and indie influences, they will be closing the festival in fine style.

• For full details on admissions, tickets, location and more, see the festival website by clicking here.