Bolton FM is a new growing radio station for the town we love to serve. Our unique selling point (USP) is that we are based in Bolton and are run by volunteers and staff who have lived in the town all their lives. Because we are new we need to grow our news brand. It is the stations aim to be a respected and reliable source for everything that's happening in Bolton.

But what's our history?

Well, back in 1997 Bolton was to have its first commercial radio station. A group of radio enthusiasts led by Dorothy Martland, Roy Worthington and Derek Knowles got together a team, and planned to bid for the licence.

They got the advice of Councillor Frank White who brought together BIG community backing by getting the likes of Bolton Wanderers, Bury FC & The Manchester Evening News on board.

Over two years building up to the licence being announced, and under the radio station name of Variety FM, they provided Bolton with a number of professionally run restricted service licence (RSL).

In 1999 came the news that Variety Gold had not got the licence and it had been given to Tower FM - a bury group.

The disappointment was immense but one thing that had emerged during all this was that radio training is a tremendous tool in raising self confidence and self-esteem. So DBBC a radio training charity was born.

A few years later it was announced that Bolton was to get a truly local radio station, with a community licence being advertised. The team knew this was their chance to truly make a difference in Bolton, and succeed in the dream of providing Bolton with a radio station that serves its community. And here we are!

Click on the following links to download our OFCOM reports:

2010 OFCOM Report

2011 OFCOM Report

2012 OFCOM Report

Full competition terms and conditions can be found here.