The Manchester Food and Drink Festival Awards (MFDF) took place last night (Monday 26th September) at Escape to Freight Island with 17 award winners announced from food and drink establishments across Greater Manchester. The categories were 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 designed to showcase the amazing talent within the region’s dining community, with the categories carefully considered and created to reflect an innovative, diverse, and inspiring food and drink industry The shortlists were compiled by the MFDF judging panel, made up of the region’s leading food and drink critics, writers and experts.
The shortlisted venues were put to the public vote via the MFDF website where food and drink fans voted for their hospitality heroes. The public votes, for some of the awards, were combined with a mystery shopping visit from members of the judging panel, whilst others were decided entirely by the public vote. The Independent Drinks Producer of the Year and the Independent Food Producer of the Year Awards were judged by a panel taste test during the Manchester Food & Drink Festival opening weekend.
Check out all of the winners and shortlisted venues for the Manchester Food & Drink Festival Awards.
1. Restaurant of the Year, Sponsored by Stephensons
Recognising the ‘best of the best’ dining establishments in Greater Manchester in 2022, this category refers to venues visited primarily for a full dining experience featuring table service and a drink offering.
Winner: Where The Light Gets In, Stockport
Shortlisted venues: 10 Tib Lane, Erst, The Sparrows, Another Hand, Mana, Where the Light Gets In, The Firehouse
2. Newcomer of the Year sponsored by Bruntwood
Recognising the best new food and drink operations to open in Greater Manchester since the last awards decision period.
Winner: Another Hand
Shortlisted venues: Another Hand, The Alan, The Black Friar, Bundobust Oxford Street, Flawd, Yellowhammer, 10 Tib Lane
3. Bar of the Year, Sponsored by Mr Yum
Recognising the best drinking venues in the region that specialise in a “wet-led” offer and aren’t considered ‘pubs’.
Winner: Speak in Code
Shortlisted venues: Blinker Bar, Flawd, Henry C, Ramona, Schofield’s Bar, Speak in Code, 10 Tib Lane
4. Chef of the Year, Sponsored by Boutinot Wines
Winner: Eddie Shepherd at The Walled Gardens, Whalley Range
Shortlisted venues: Caroline Martins at Sao Paulo Project, Blossom Street Social, Eddie Shepherd at The Walled Gardens, Whalley Range, Joseph Otway at Flawd, Sam Buckley at Where The Light Gets In, Patrick Withington at Erst, Adam Reid at The French, Julian Pizer at Another Hand
5. Pub or Beer bar of the Year, Sponsored by Joseph Holt
Recognising the finest pub and beer bars in the region, focusing on quality and range of ales, beers and atmosphere.
Winner: The Kings Arms, Salford
Shortlisted venues: Bridge Beers, Heaton Hops, House of Hops, The Kings Arms, Nordie, Track Taproom, Station Hop
6. Food and Drink Retailer of the Year
The Best Food and Drink Retailer celebrates the best food and drink shopping experiences in the region.
Winner: Chorlton Cheesemongers
Shortlisted venues: Ad Hoc, Chorlton Cheesemongers, Hello Oriental, Coopers Lets Fress Deli, Le Social, Out of the Blue, Wandering Palate
7. Independent Food Producer of the Year
Recognising the best producers of fine food across Greater Manchester. Those independent businesses who are doing exciting things to produce incredible artisan food.
Winner: Dormouse Chocolates
Shortlisted venues: Dormouse Chocolates, Great North Pie Co, Holy Grain, La Chouquette, Long Boi’s Bakehouse, Polyspore, Yellowhammer
8. Coffee Shop of the Year
Recognising the best coffee shops in Greater Manchester.
Winner: Pollen
Shortlisted venues: Cafe Sanjuan, Factory Coffee, Grind and Tamp, Grapefruit, Just Between Friends, Station South, Pollen
9. Food Trader of the Year
Awarding the Greater Manchester-based food heroes that are gracing our food halls, markets and events with an ever increasing range of gastro goods.
Winner: Burgerism, Salford
Shortlisted venues: Burgerism, House of Habesha, The Little Sri Lankan, Lovingly Artisan, Mira, New Wave Ramen, Pico’s Tacos
10. Plant Based Offering of the Year
This award recognises venues that provide innovative and exciting dining options for vegetarian and vegan diners.
Winner: Wholesome Junkies
Shortlisted venues: Four Side Pizza, Herbivorous, Otto Vegan Empire, Ruyi Vegetarian House, Sanskruti, The Walled Gardens, Wholesome Junkies
11. Affordable Eats Venue of the Year
Recognising the best venues that are visited for a high value, quick and simple dining experience.
Winner: Salt & Pepper MCR
Shortlisted venues: Aunty Ji’s, Bahn Mi Co Ba, Cafe Sanjuan, Levenshulme Bakery, Go Falafel, Mama Flo’s, Salt & Pepper MCR
12. Foodie Neighbourhood of the Year
This award was set up in 2021 to celebrate those thriving communities and neighbourhoods in Greater Manchester that continue to build a name for themselves as a ‘go-to’ foodie destination.
Winner: Ancoats
Shortlisted venues: Ancoats, Chapel Street, Salford, Monton, Prestwich, Ramsbottom, Sale, Stockport
13. Pop Up or Project of the Year, Sponsored by ASP Events
Recognising exciting projects and events and showcasing innovation and creativity within the food and beverage sector.
Winner: Stockport Foodie Friday
Shortlisted venues: Platt Fields Market Garden, Sao Paulo, Suppher, Eat Well Spring Festival, Bungalow at Kampus, Heart and Parcel, Stockport Foodie Friday
14. Independent Drinks Producer of the Year
This award recognises the amazing independent drinks producers in Greater Manchester.
Winner: Hip Pop, Dunham Massey
Shortlisted venues: Bundobust Brewery, Cloudwater, Hip Pop, Into the Gathering Dusk, Stockport Gin, Steep Soda, Track Brewing
15. Neighbourhood Venue of the Year, Sponsored by The Manc
This award is set to recognise the superb establishments that are based in the suburbs of Greater Manchester.
Winner: Bar San Juan, Chorlton
Shortlisted venues: Baratxuri, Bar San Juan, The Easy Fish Co., Nila’s Burmese Kitchen, Ornella’s Kitchen, Osma, The Perfect Match
16. Great Service Award, Sponsored by the Manchester Evening News
This award has been created to recognise teams and individuals working front of house across the hospitality sector that go above and beyond to make their customers feel extra special and give them a great service experience.
Winner: Dishoom
Shortlisted venues: Bull & Bear, Dishoom, Hawksmoor, Flawd, Schofield’s Bar, Speak in Code, 10 Tib Lane
17. The Howard and Ruth Award for Outstanding Achievement
Recognising people who have contributed something outstanding to the hospitality industry in Greater Manchester.
Winner: John and Rosemary Barratt, Stockport Foodie Friday
Alexa Stratton-Powell, Director of Manchester Food and Drink Festival, commented at the awards evening: “The strength of this year’s awards are testament to the hard work and dedication of all the nominees. As ever, the awards put the spotlight on the incredible talent and resilience of our brilliant hospitality industry.
“Despite hugely challenging times for the industry, we’ve celebrated 112 fantastic Greater Manchester businesses this evening as the reputation of the sector continues to go from strength to strength. We’d like to thank the judges, everyone who voted and the nominated businesses who took part in this year’s awards, as well as our hosts at Escape to Freight Island for a wonderful night of celebrations.”