Bolton Food and Drink Festival stalls proving popular with crowds

The festival is now into its third day, with stalls filling Bolton town centre despite some less-than-perfect weather over the bank holiday weekend.

Among the traders tempting visitors with something sweet are The Curious Confectioners, who have been selling homemade chunky stuffed cookies and cookie pies.

(Image: Phil Taylor)

Despite the weather, they said they had enjoyed a successful few days.

One of the team members said: “We’ve had a really good couple of days, to be honest.

“We’ve got nothing to compare it to really based on other years because it’s our first year here, but it’s been really good, despite the weather.”

Among the bestsellers have been the Ferrero Rocher cookie pie and Lotus stuffed cookies.

(Image: Phil Taylor)

The Finest Fudge Co has also returned to Bolton for what stallholders Mariah and Kitty said it was their fourth year at the festival.

(Image: Phil Taylor)

The Clitheroe-based business has been selling a wide selection of fudge, with one unexpected flavour proving particularly popular on Friday.

Mariah said: “For us, on Friday, it was actually the Turkish delight in rum and raisin, which is so weird for us.”

Another regular favourite is the Cinderella, a Nutella and white chocolate fudge containing a Kinder Bueno.

Mariah said the weather had not stopped visitors from supporting the stall.

She said: “It’s been good, considering we’ve not been blessed with the best [weather].

“We’ve still had a really lovely time. I think because we’ve done it for a few years now, people know us.”

Asked why they continue to return to Bolton Food and Drink Festival, she added: “It’s local, people have learned our brand and it’s a really nice place to come out.

“The people are really lovely.”

Those after something savoury have also had plenty to choose from, including authentic Italian street food serving freshly made arancini.

(Image: Phil Taylor)

Freshly cooked in front of you, they were a popular choice with queues forming.

Another eye-catching addition to the festival is Dantez Lemonade, which is serving homemade, slightly sparkling artisan lemonade from a converted old milk wagon.

(Image: Phil Taylor)

The idea for the drink came from Danny and Teresa, who also own a churros stand, after experimenting with a lemon dipping sauce for their churros.

The concept eventually developed into a lemonade, which is carbonated and served ice cold using a machine that super-cools the drink.

Paul, who was working on the stall alongside Louise, said trade had been good over the first few days of the festival.

He said: “It’s been good. We launched the brand, Dantez, at Bolton Food Festival last year.”

The lemonade itself has been traded at the festival for four years, with the Dantez brand officially launching in Bolton last year.

Bolton Food and Drink Festival continues throughout the bank holiday weekend, with its final day taking place on Monday, August 31.