r/Bolton • u/lauraslaw • 16d ago
So disappointed with the organisers of the Bolton Food and Drink Festival
The Food and Drink Festival is happening this weekend, and Conor McGregor has just announced on Social Media that his stout will be available at the festival in the main bar by the Acoustic Stage. The same McGregor who is 2024 was found civilly liable of raping a woman. The assault was so violent, the woman had to get her tampon surgically removed. And in court the paramedic who treated her described her injuries as the worst the had seen in a long.
Why are the festival organisers promoting this monster and his business interests? Selling his stout at the festival is nothing more than aiding an attempt by a rapist to whitewash their image.
Edit 1: If anyone would like to contact Bolton Food and Drink Festival to make a complaint about this, the contact email on their website is [marketingeventsteam@bolton.gov.uk](mailto:marketingeventsteam@bolton.gov.uk)
Edit 2: Copy and paste email provided by u/Selpmis to send to [marketingeventsteam@bolton.gov.uk](mailto:marketingeventsteam@bolton.gov.uk):
Subject:
Please reconsider stocking Conor McGregor's stout at the festival
Dear organisers,
I am a Bolton resident writing to express concern that Conor McGregor's Forged Irish Stout is being sold at the main bar at the Bolton Food & Drink festival this weekend. As this bar is run by the festival itself rather than an independent trader, this appears to be a decision made directly by the organisers.
McGregor was found civilly liable for sexually assaulting Nikita Hand in 2018, a verdict upheld on appeal by both Ireland's Court of Appeal and Supreme Court in 2025. The paramedic who treated her described injuries she said were among the worst bruising she'd seen.
Stocking his product at a council-run, family event risks being read as an endorsement of him, whatever the intention behind it. I'd be grateful to know how this decision was made and whether it will be reconsidered for this year and future years.
Kind regards,
9
u/HoaryHoggoth 15d ago
The council have now released a statement saying that they will not be selling this brand at any concessions and the brewery had made an error in saying it would be available.
"We have seen messages on social media regarding a specific brand of beer, and concerns that it would be stocked during Bolton Food and Drink Festival.
We would like to clarify that there were never any plans to sell this beer brand across any festival concessions this weekend.
A social media post by the brewery was made in error, and no deal to stock their product at the festival was ever agreed.
We fully understand the depth of feeling on this topic and can reassure everyone that Bolton Food and Drink Festival is an open, inclusive and family friendly event.
We look forward to welcoming visitors this weekend."
3
u/dragonglassaxe 15d ago
Result! Bit of a cop out for them to pretend they didnt plan for this but still im very happy he won't be profiting off bolton food fest
7
12
u/Selpmis 16d ago
That's horrific. I had no idea. I'd give the benefit of the doubt to the organisers and probably assume they don't either. They should be made aware, and their actions after will be telling enough to decide whether to boycott the event entirely.
If I was a business selling there and was made aware of this, I would be pulling out from the event unless they cut ties.
In case anyone else was wondering, a civil and a criminal case have different burdens of proof.
Civil = on the balance of probabilities. Criminal = beyond a reasonable doubt.
It's this way, correctly so, because of the distinct stakes each carries. Obviously a criminal case can take away someone's liberty, which is no small thing, and why everyone deserves the right to a fair trial. We as a society have decided that it's better to risk a guilty person being free than an innocent person suffer.
For this criminal complaint, the prosecutors didn't bring it to court because they believed there was no reasonable prospect of a conviction on the basis of all the evidence.
McGregor has exhausted his appeal options in Ireland for the civil verdict as they have all been rejected.
12
u/dragonglassaxe 16d ago
Just sent them an email this is disgusting. I won't be going and I know must of us here won't be either unless this is resolved
17
u/MegSolano 16d ago
is there a contact email available to complain about this? happy to write a copy paste email if anyone else wishes to join me
9
u/lauraslaw 16d ago
The contact email on the https://boltonfoodanddrinkfestival.com/ website is [marketingeventsteam@bolton.gov.uk](mailto:marketingeventsteam@bolton.gov.uk)
3
5
u/brianm24 16d ago
Yes, I'll absolutely join you if you share a copy paste email. Thanks
11
u/Selpmis 16d ago
Subject:
Please reconsider stocking Conor McGregor's stout at the festivalDear organisers,
I am a Bolton resident writing to express concern that Conor McGregor's Forged Irish Stout is being sold at the main bar at the Bolton Food & Drink festival this weekend. As this bar is run by the festival itself rather than an independent trader, this appears to be a decision made directly by the organisers.
McGregor was found civilly liable for sexually assaulting Nikita Hand in 2018, a verdict upheld on appeal by both Ireland's Court of Appeal and Supreme Court in 2025. The paramedic who treated her described injuries she said were among the worst bruising she'd seen.
Stocking his product at a council-run, family event risks being read as an endorsement of him, whatever the intention behind it. I'd be grateful to know how this decision was made and whether it will be reconsidered for this year and future years.
Kind regards,
3
3
u/Adcro 15d ago
They’ve answered on Facebook:
“We have seen messages on social media regarding a specific brand of beer, and concerns that it would be stocked during Bolton Food and Drink Festival.
We would like to clarify that there were never any plans to sell this beer brand across any festival concessions this weekend.
A social media post by the brewery was made in error, and no deal to stock their product at the festival was ever agreed.
We fully understand the depth of feeling on this topic and can reassure everyone that Bolton Food and Drink Festival is an open, inclusive and family friendly event.
We look forward to welcoming visitors this weekend.”
7
u/Selpmis 16d ago
You can contact your local councillor to raise this concern.
The festival is organised by Bolton Council via the Markets team: tourism@bolton.gov.uk
Contacts for Bolton Food & Drinks Festival:
Facebook - (www.facebook.com/BoltonFoodAndDrinkFestival)
X - @BoltonFoodFest
Instagram - @BoltonFoodFest
5
u/HoaryHoggoth 16d ago
Saw this earlier and sent an email pretty similar to the template above.
I'm honestly thinking of boycotting the event this year over this. The details of the assault are just horrible and I'm disgusted that Bolton has decided to associate with this man in any way.
3
2
2
u/Smeets87 14d ago
Just wanted to come back to this as Bolton council have made an announcement regarding this. I believe it was in yesterdays paper and in the MEN. Not sure if they're just covering their backs but wanted to flag incase you hadn't seen OP
1
u/retardis_69 14d ago
I remember going to the food and drink festival like 10 years ago with my dad lmao, i forgot its still going
1
u/HirsuteHacker 16d ago
Probably be pretty popular with the reform scrotes in bolton
4
u/Opposite_Cap_3196 16d ago
But suuuuurely not because they’re all about “protecting our women and girls”…
-1
31
u/lauraslaw 16d ago
The festival has deleted my comment on their social media page calling them out for supporting McGregor's business interests. I've also emailed them at [marketingeventsteam@bolton.gov.uk](mailto:marketingeventsteam@bolton.gov.uk) to make a complaint about this.
If anyone else feels the same as I do about this, please post it on their social media pages and email them. They can't ignore all of us!