Bolton Beer Festival returns to town for 29th year

The festival is  now in its 29th year.

Having started in a small marquee in the beer garden of the Howcroft Inn on Pool Street, the festival has grown over the years and is now staged  in the Premier Suite at Bolton Wanderers' stadium.

The festival began in 1994 due to founder Clive Nightingale wanting to raise money for Bolton Lads and Girls Club.

Tonight  (Thursday, October 12) was a special evening for sponsors.

Organiser Gerry Burke said: "We got here Monday morning and it was an empty room, and what you see here is nearly 200 cask ales on a 130-foot long bar. 

Gerry Burke, who has been involved in the festival for decades (Image: Newsquest)

"We will have live music on Friday and Saturday. We have a Carrs Pasties stall, also a curry stall. All the cask ales from different breweries, a variety of imported lagers, cider from Devon and Cornwall and a wine and spirits bar.

"Last year was our biggest year, we made £80k - at the first event, we made £1100. It has just got bigger and bigger as the years have gone on.

"I feel everybody who has worked on it has achieved something. We couldn't do it without our volunteers or sponsors."

Many Bolton-based businesses are sponsoring the festival, including business advisory company Hilton Smythe.

Victoria Hozaifeh and Harriet Green of Bolton Lads and Girls Club, either side of Belinda Daniels of Hilton Smythe (Image: Newsquest)

Belinda Daniels, business development manager at Hilton Smythe, said: "We have been patrons for about nine years.

"I am a mentor personally as well with a young person and it is great, I can see what they do in the community and what they do in children's lives, and I have seen that first hand.

"We are really proud to be sponsors and we support them throughout the year when we can."

Daniel Hayes, who has volunteered at the festival for eight years, said: "My mate said to me 'you should come down' and that it's a good night, but I didn't know what it was all about.

"But I know that all the money raised is going to a good cause. 

"It is a community thing, everyone getting involved, everyone looking after each other.

"From 7pm, 8pm, you can't move. But if you don't come then you are missing out on the experience. If you have never been to a beer festival, you haven't lived."

Victoria Hozaifeh, philanthropy manager at Bolton Lads and Girls Club, said: "All the funds go to make it possible to support the children and young people, specifically those who are vulnerable, in the area. 

Daniel Hayes, a volunteer at the festival (Image: Newsquest)

"The festival is a complete Bolton institution, people come from far and wide, Greater Manchester, Lancashire, for this, and the sponsors make that possible. 

"It is one of the biggest fundraisers and is crucial for the charity." 

The festival will take place on Friday and Saturday. Tickets are available here: https://www.beer-festival.co.uk/tickets/

For more information on the work Bolton Lads and Girls Club do or on the festival visit their website.