A brand-new food hall offering a range of cuisines from across the world has just opened inside Bolton Market.
Fresh off-the-back of the town being named Greater Manchester’s new ‘Town of Culture’, Bolton is already proving why 2024 is its year, as the latest development in the wider £5.9 million transformation of its town centre-based Market is now complete, and officially opened its doors to the eagerly-awaiting public last Friday (7 June).
Bolton is already known as one of our region’s foodie capitals, largely thanks to the annual – and very popular – Bolton Food and Drink Festival, which will be making a 2024 return this August bank holiday weekend, but now the opening of the new food hall cements the town as champions of food all year round.
Visitors to Bolton Market’s new food hall will be able to tuck into a wide range of cuisines from all across the globe.
Japanese, Caribbean, Indian, Italian, are just some of the tasty cuisines food traders will be serving up inside the Market food hall, as well as gourmet burgers, healthy chicken, sandwiches, freshly-cooked kebab dishes, sweet drinks and desserts, and so much more.
There’ll be a variety of options available for lunchtimes, after-work treats, and weekend dining too.
Aside from the foodie offering, there’s also a new gin bar from The Bolton Gin Company, named Chill, and the new venue is also home to several sports screens set to show all the action from the upcoming UEFA EURO 2024 football championship.
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Then, as a way of making the venue a nighttime destination too, Bolton Market will be extending its operating hours and the food hall will stay open later on Fridays and Saturdays, with local musicians and acoustic acts invited along to entertain diners.
Both indoor and outdoor seating is available at the new food hall – with room for 200 people to sit indoors, and a further 160 seats on offer outside.
A new food hall with a gin bar, sports screens, and more has opened inside Bolton Market / Credit: Bolton Market
Jon Dyson, who is the Director of Place at Bolton Council, said he’s excited for the new food hall to offer “even more variety” to the town.
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He continued: “After more than 70 food and drink traders toured the premises and expressed interest, the final selection was based on individual business cases and how we could provide a variety of options for customers.
“With Bolton being a popular place to work and study, this new venue will offer more dining choices for lunchtime breaks, as well as being a great addition to the town’s weekend hospitality scene, offering live music, entertainment, and sports on screens.”
Bolton Market Food Hall is now open from Tuesday and Thursday from 11am-5pm, Friday and Saturday from 11am-9:30pm, Sunday from 12pm-6pm, and closed on Mondays and Wednesdays.
Featured Image – Paul Heyes (via Bolton Council)
Bolton
24-hour ‘night bus’ pilot to begin across Greater Manchester later this year
Emily Sergeant
A long-awaited ‘night bus’ pilot is to get underway across Greater Manchester in just over a month’s time.
As the Bee Network – which is Greater Manchester’s newly-launched integrated transport network – looks to provide much-needed further support to the region’s night time economy and all of those who work within it, Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) has confirmed that a 24-hour transport pilot will kick off from the start of September.
Night buses will first run on the V1 and the 36 to help connect Manchester with Leigh and Bolton, via Salford, as these were the first areas to be taken over by the Bee Network.
A 24-hour transport pilot will begin in parts of Greater Manchester from September 1.
Night buses will run on the V1 and the 36, connecting Manchester with Leigh and Bolton via Salford – areas which were among the first to be taken over by the #BeeNetwork.
According to TfGM, the trial will see services run at least every hour.
As Greater Manchester continues to “go for growth”, these new bus services will work to provide 24-hour connectivity for around 135,000 people living within 400m – or about five minute walk – from the V1 and 36.
The V1 and 36 have been chosen, not just because they provide bus services to the first Bee Network areas, but also due to their proximity to key night time economy employment sites – such has hotels, bars and clubs, hospitals, and distribution centres.
They also serve areas with high numbers of people who are less likely to own a car and therefore more likely to use public transport.
A 24-hour ‘night bus’ pilot is to begin across Greater Manchester later this year / Credit: TfGM
Andy Burnham says he is “really excited” for the 24-hour night bus trial launch.
“Better transport at night is something I know people have been crying out for,” the Mayor of Greater Manchester said in a statement ahead of the launch later this year.
“The Bee Network allows us to develop the services that best serve people and businesses across our city region. Transport should never be a barrier to opportunity, and this is a step towards improving things for people who work or want to work in our hospitals, care homes, clubs, bars, distribution centres, or theatres.”
The night buses will also use the same capped bus fares that were first introduced in 2022 to provide “a simplified ticket offer” that is consistent with services across the region.
Featured Image – TfGM
Bolton
Bolton-born luxury streetwear brand Represent to open first permanent Manchester store
Emily Sergeant
One of Greater Manchester’s biggest fashion success stories is set to open its first permanent store in the city centre.
Founded back in 2011 by Bolton-born brothers, George and Mike Heaton, Represent has gone from strength to strength, and has become, far and away, one of the UK’s best-loved luxury fashion labels over the past decade or so – proving itself to be a proper local success story for the Greater Manchester region.
Represent has collaborated with numerous big-name celebrities since its launch, including Justin Bieber, the Kardashians, and even Manchester’s very-own Liam Gallagher.
The brand already has a bespoke store over in West Hollywood, and a recently-announced planned space in London’s swanky Soho area, as well as having created several pop-ups in both London and Manchester at the likes of Selfridges, Flannels, and Harrods.
Luxury streetwear brand Represent is opening its first permanent Manchester store / Credit: Represent Clo (via Facebook)
But now, to build on its success even further, the rapidly-growing company has announced that it’ll be opening its first permanent retail store outside of the capital later this year.
And naturally, it’s chosen Manchester as the lucky location.
The city centre‘s major shopping centre, Manchester Arndale, says it’s “delighted” to reveal that it has agreed a 10-year lease deal with the label to open a brand-new 5,419 sq ft store on New Cathedral Street – which is a street already home to other leading luxury retailers like Harvey Nichols, Hugo Boss, Ralph Lauren, and Michael Kors.
Inspired by retro Mancunian designs, Represent’s popular ranges of t-shirts, hoodies, and trainers are regularly showcased at top fashion destinations worldwide.
The Bolton-born brand is taking up a unit on New Cathedral Street in the city centre / Credit: Represent Clo (via Facebook)
The brand says its new Manchester store will aim to provide a “bespoke luxury shopping experience”, where customers can book an appointment with an advisor who’ll be able to offer recommendations tailored to their needs.
“We are very excited to open our first UK retail store in Manchester, our hometown and base,” admitted George Heaton, who is the co-founder and current Creative Director of Represent.
“The Represent Manchester location marks an important and iconic milestone for the brand.
“We’ve been on the lookout for the perfect location and managed to come upon this great store in a prestigious part of the city amongst other luxury brands. The space reflects what Represent looks and feels, through the tones, palette it carries, and the textures used throughout the materials used to craft the interior and exterior.”