BOLTON Food and Drink Festival will make a "spectacular return" this summer, thanks to the enthusiastic backing of local sponsors.

Businesses of all shapes and sizes have signed up to sponsor the 16th annual festival as Bolton prepares to host the North West’s biggest food and drink extravaganza.

Alongside festival partners Aldi, their support will help bring food, live music and a festival atmosphere back into Bolton town centre this August Bank Holiday Weekend.

This year’s supporters include Warburtons, the Market Place Shopping Centre and Bolton Wanderers FC.

Last year’s Covid restrictions meant that the 2020 Bolton Food and Drink Festival was an online-only event.

This year’s festival will also look a little different with additional precautions in place so everyone can feel safe and confident to attend.

Many festival favourites will return this year to serve up some of the best food and drink from the North West and beyond.

Some of the region’s best cooks will share their secrets during free cookery demonstrations.

Outdoor bars, live music and street entertainment will create the familiar Bolton Food and Drink Festival atmosphere which always brings in visitors from across the region.

Families will be able to enjoy a wide range of activities and relax in the new picnic zone in Queens Park.

Bolton Council’s Cabinet Member with responsibility for markets, Cllr Hilary Fairclough, said: "We are hugely grateful to all our sponsors whose backing will help make this year’s Bolton Food and Drink Festival a memorable weekend for everyone.

“As we gradually and cautiously open up in Step 4 of the government’s roadmap, we want to bring more people back into Bolton and create a vibrant town centre.

“Festivals like this are a key part of doing that and it is great to have so many businesses back an event that will give a real boost to the local economy.”

The festival is designed to be Covid-secure with a thorough risk assessment in place and some changes to the usual programme in order to keep everyone safe.

Stalls and performance areas will be spaced out to help social distancing and the ticketed celebrity chef events in the main marquee will make a return next year.

Other sponsors include Carrs Pasties, digital infrastructure firm City Fibre and facilities management experts Robertson FM.

Also on board are local institutions the University of Bolton and Bolton at Home, together with Greater Manchester Combined Authority and Bolton Council’s Community Champions Programme.