SOME of the country’s best chefs will share their culinary expertise in a series of free cooking demonstrations at this year’s Bolton Food and Drink Festival.

In a weekend fit for foodies, Great British Bake Off finalist Luis Troyano will join the likes of Michelin-starred chef Russell Brown, celebrity chef Andrew Nutter, former Corrie star Sean Wilson, and Thai restaurateur May Wakefield.

The festival, which is celebrating its 10th birthday this year, takes place from Friday August 28 to Monday August 31.

Free demonstrations will take place throughout the festival in the Lifestyle Hall, at Bolton Market and in a regional chefs’ marquee in Le Mans Crescent. 

The regional chefs’ programme will complement demonstrations by festival headliners Michael Caines, Lisa Faulkner, John Torode and James Martin.

Michelin-starred chef Michael Caines will officially launch the festival in the regional chefs’ marquee on August 28 with a free cookery demonstration at 1pm. 

Lisa, John and James will be doing ticketed cookery shows in the celebrity chefs’ marquee from August 29 to 31.

Some of the highlights of the regional chefs’ programme include Luis Troyano, who was a contestant on the last series of BBC's Great British Bake Off. 

He will be in Bolton Market on August 29 at 11am and in the regional chefs’ marquee at 2pm, where he will be telling crowds what it’s really like in the 'Bake Off' tent and sharing his top tips with budding bakers.

Thai chef and restaurateur May Wakefield learnt to cook as a child in Prachinburi Province, east of Bangkok, watching her mother cook for farm workers and prepare seven-course evening banquets.

She started her first Chilli Banana restaurant in Wilmslow with her husband Steve around 20 years ago. 

She will be cooking dishes from her debut cookbook ‘Chilli Banana’ on August 30 at noon in the marquee and at 3pm in the market.

Russell Brown was chef-owner of Dorset’s only Michelin-starred restaurant Sienna, and he will be cooking in the Le Mans Crescent marquee at 11am and 3pm on August 29.

Flamboyant chef Andrew Nutter is a familiar face at the festival. He will be entertaining the audience on August 31 at 11am and 3pm, and in the Ashburner Street market at 1pm.

Also returning to the festival will be Coronation Street actor turned chef and successful cheese maker, Sean Wilson. Sean will be sharing his expertise with festival-goers at Bolton Market on August 29 at 1pm and on August 31 at 3pm.

Other regional chefs appearing - 

Tom Gardner, executive head chef at Worsley Marriot hotel 

Jon Jones, from The Farmers Arms in Bolton 

Michael Harrison, from Chef To Go 

Anthony Prince, chef lecturer at Blackburn College and Lancaster University

Kate Robinson, 2015 Northcote Scholarship Student 

Jackie Kearney, MasterChef finalist 

Alain Job, Bolton Market stall holder 

Andrew Parker, from George’s Worsley

 Dragons’ Dan success story, Philip Perera and Omar Farag from PHOM Tea

Industry development chef Chris Yates

Nick Cullen, from Nick’s restaurant

2015 MasterChef champion Simon Wood.

Leader of Bolton Council Cllr Cliff Morris said: “The free demonstrations provide a perfect opportunity for people to learn some fantastic cooking tips which they can try at home, and to meet the chefs from their favourite restaurants."

For full details, visit boltonfoodanddrinkfestival.com