Sponsors sign up to deliver virtual Food and Drink Festival

A feast of new sponsors and partners are backing this year’s virtual Bolton Food and Drink Festival.

The nation’s favourite baker, Warburtons, leading independent day school Bolton School, and housing association Bolton at Home are supporting this year’s event, joining Westhoughton pizza makers Stateside Foods and the Greater Manchester Combined Authority.

The festival will take place virtually for the first time in its 15-year history, due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, from August 28 to 31.

Highlights include free cookery demos, music performances, an online market place, family activities plus competitions with top prizes from sponsors and partners.

Festival favourite partners Carrs Pasties, Greenhalghs and Kaykes by Kay Gajra are joined by restauranteurs Wagamama’s, wholesaler Costco and Second City Coffee.

The virtual festival will be hosted on the festival website www.boltonfoodanddrinkfestival.com and social media platforms.

Leader of Bolton Council, Cllr David Greenhalgh, said: “We’re delighted to have so many brilliant businesses backing our festival. August bank holiday just wouldn’t be the same without us doing something – so we’ve pulled together a special virtual edition that everyone can enjoy.”

Executive Director at Warburtons, Brett Warburton, said: “We are a proud Bolton company, and we are pleased to be supporting our town’s much loved Food and Drink Festival.

“We are the biggest baker in the UK so it made perfect sense for us to get involved with an event which is all about food!

“This year will be a different kind of festival for obvious reasons, but we are delighted that people can still join in virtually.”

Jon Lord, Group Chief Executive Officer, Bolton at Home, said: “We love that the festival showcases the town’s vibrancy and the skill of our local producers, growers, bakers, brewers, chefs and home-kitchen cooks. Most importantly, it brings communities together.

“Food and drink unite us and it’s great to see people appreciating the cuisine of different countries and cultures as one. That’s why we’re so proud to support it.

“We hope it also inspires us to shop local, support home-grown businesses and grow some food ourselves where we can.”

Philip Britton, Headmaster of Bolton School Boys’ Division and Sue Hincks, Headmistress of Bolton School Girls’ Division, added: “Now more than ever, it is important that all parts of Bolton life pull together to keep the town vibrant and active. Bolton School is happy to support the Food and Drink Festival, even if this year it has a new look.”

Follow @BoltonFoodandDrinkFestival on Facebook or @boltonfoodfest on Twitter or Instagram for the latest updates, post using #boltonfoodfest #boltonvirtually.