WHAT a great event this year’s Bolton Food and Drink Festival has been!

It seemed to have more stalls and foodie areas than ever, attract more people than usual, and promote better spirits (of the non-alcoholic variety) everywhere.

It’s obviously a huge event to plan and organise but it’s worth every moment because it not only promotes the town to visitors, but it reminds all of us who live here that we do actually have a town centre that can be buzzing and fun.

The key post-Festival is to keep the love for it going and keep Boltonians visiting to try to get it back once more to a thriving central retail hub.