Michelin-starred chefs Michael Caines and Jean-Christophe Novelli unite for Bolton Food and Drink Festival

By Dean Wilkins

Five celebrity chefs are cooking up excitement ahead of this year’s Bolton Food and Drink Festival as Michelin-starred Jean-Christophe Novelli joins the line-up.

Mary Berry, the Queen of Baking, was revealed by council chiefs at the launch in Harvey Nichols yesterday.

Paul Hollywood, of The Great British Bake Off, James Martin, of Ready Steady Cook, and double-Michellin-starred Michael Caines will join Berry and Novelli.

Caines said: "I had a fantastic time when I came last year and I am so pleased to be asked back to open the festival. I really believe that food festivals are hugely important and Bolton’s is one of the best I’ve been to.”

Organised by Bolton Council, and sponsored by Bolton College and Bluemantle, the festival has grown year-on-year with an estimated 94,000 people visiting last year.

The festival will take place from August 24 to August 27. Mr Caines will open the festival using local and regional produce as his theme.

Also topping the bill for the town’s seventh festival is Michelin-starred French chef Jean-Christophe Novelli. He added: “I’m really looking forward to coming and cooking at the festival having heard such good things about it.”

Deputy Leader of Bolton Council, Councillor Linda Thomas, said: “This year we have expanded our fantastic line-up of celebrity chefs to make it even more diverse, and to attract even more people to the event.

“To have Mary, the undisputed queen of baking, at the festival with fellow baking expert, Paul, is a real coup for Bolton. Each year we work hard to make the festival bigger and better so it continues to be regarded as one of the best in the country.

"The festival attracts thousands of visitors from across the country, providing a welcome tourism boost for our businesses.”

A speciality market, in Victoria Square and surrounding streets, with local, regional, and specialist traders, will also attract visitors with a range of food, drink and craft products.

Tickets for the demonstrations will go on sale in June.

For further information visit www.boltonfoodanddrinkfestival.com or follow @boltoncouncil on Twitter.