The Manchester Food and Drink Festival Awards (MFDF) are an annual staple in the gastronomic calendar, highlighting the best food and drink establishments across Greater Manchester. This year’s shortlist has now been revealed, and the categories are jam packed with the region’s stand out food and drink business and individuals who have brought so much to the industry during the past 12 months.
The Awards are the most prestigious in the North West and celebrate the region’s outstanding hospitality talent, with winners to be revealed at the MFDF Gala Dinner at New Century on 29 January 2024.
There are 114 exceptional venues, traders, places and people nominated across 18 categories celebrating another phenomenal year for Greater Manchester’s hospitality industry as the sector continues to go from strength to strength.
The shortlisted nominations have been compiled by the MFDF Judging Panel, taking into account award submissions from the hospitality industry. The panel is made up of the region’s leading food and drink critics, writers, and experts. The awards are now open to public vote on the MFDF website.
A mystery shopping period will now commence alongside the public vote. During this period judges will visit nominated venues for a mystery dining visit, and will score venues based on their experiences.
The mystery shopping and public voting period will end on 20 November 2023 when the polls will be counted and combined with the judges’ scores, and the winner of each category will be chosen.
The MFDF 23 Award Winners will be announced at the MFDF Gala Dinner and Awards on 29 January 2024 and tickets can be purchased by emailing isabella@foodanddrinkfestival.
Check out all of the shortlisted venues for the Manchester Food & Drink Festival Awards.
1. Plant Based Offering of the Year
Bundobust
Lily’s Indian Vegetarian Cuisine
The Walled Gardens (Whalley Range)
Maray
Speak in Code
The Mekong Cat (Stockport)
2. Takeaway of the Year
Ad Maoira
Unagi Street Food & Sushi
Wright’s Fish and Chips
Maida Grill House (Salford)
Al Madina
Burgerism (Salford)
3. Independent Drink Producer of the Year
Sureshot Brewing
Stockport Gin
Cloudwater Brew Co
Tarsier Spirit (Stockport)
Pod Pea Vodka (Irlam)
Manchester Union Brewery
Squawk Brewing Co
Track
4. Independent Food Producer of the Year
La Chouquette (Didsbury)
Yellowhammer (Stockport)
The Manchester Smoke House
The Flat Baker
Companio Bakery
5. Foodie Neighbourhood of the Year
Urmston
Monton
Sale
Stretford
6. Coffee Shop of the Year
Grapefruit Coffee (Sale)
Cafe Sanjuan (Stockport)
Idle Hands Coffee
Smoak (Chorlton)
Ancoats Coffee Co
Siop Shop
7. Food Trader of the Year
Baratxuri (Exhibition)
Chaat Cart (Society)
Triple B (Prestwich)
Tawny Stores (Yellowhammer)
Little Sri Lanken (Reddish)
Pico’s Taco’s (Mackie Mayor)
Oh Mei Dumplings
Fat Pat’s
8. Affordable Eats Venue of the Year
Nila’s Burmese Kitchen (Trafford Park)
Great North Pie Co
Cafe Sanjuan (Stockport)
Noodle Alley
Tokyo Ramen
House of Habesha (MediaCity)
Ornella’s Kitchen (Denton)
9. Food and Drink Retailer of the Year
Ad Hoc Wines
Out of the Blue Fishmongers (Chorlton)
Littlewoods Butcher (Heaton Chapel)
Wandering Palate (Eccles)
New Market Dairy (Altrincham)
Petit Paris Deli
Cork of the North (Stockport)
La Chouquette
10. Pop Up or Project of the Year
Our Place
Platt Fields Market Garden
Tawny Stores (Yellowhammer)
SAMPA (Blossom Street Social)
Little Sri Lankan (Reddish)
Suppher
Fare Share (Openshaw)
Micky’s (PLY)
11. Pub or Beer Bar of the Year
The Marble Arch
Track Brewery Taproom
The City Arms
Runaway Brewery Taproom (Stockport)
Fox & Pine (Oldham)
Reddish Ale
Station Hop (Levenshulme)
Heaton Hops (Stockport)
12. Bar of the Year
The Jane Eyre
Blinker
Sterling Bar
Schofield’s Bar
10 Tib Lane
Flawd Wine
13. Neighbourhood Venue of the Year
Restaurant Örme (Urmston)
Stretford Canteen
OSMA (Prestwich)
Ornella’s Kitchen (Denton)
The Oystercatcher (Chorlton)
Yellowhammer (Stockport)
Fold Bistro & Bottle Shop (Marple Bridge)
The Jane Eyre (Chorlton)
14. Great Service Award
Hawksmoor
Schofield’s Bar
Where The Light Gets In (Stockport)
Sterling Bar
Tast Catala
15. Newcomer of the Year
Climat
Higher Ground
Restaurant Örme (Urmston)
Fold Bistro & Bottle Shop (Marple Bridge)
The Jane Eyre (Chorlton)
Madre
New Century Kitchen
Stretford Canteen
16. Chef of the Year
Joseph Otway (Higher Ground)
Danielle Heron (OSMA)
Luke Richardson (Climat)
Julian Pizer (Another hand)
Shaun Moffat (The Edinburgh Castle Pub)
Patrick Withington (Erst)
Seri Nam (Flawd Wine)
Mike Shaw (MUSU)
17. Restaurant of the Year
Higher Ground
Climat
Another Hand
10 Tib Lane
OSMA (Prestwich)
Erst
mana
18. The Howard and Ruth Award for Outstanding Achievement
Recognising people who have contributed something outstanding to the hospitality industry in Greater Manchester.
Voting for the Manchester Food and Drink Awards closes on 20 November 2023 – available here.