The Manchester Food and Drink Festival has revealed the short-lists for the prestigious Manchester Food and Drink Festival Awards.
The awards are probably the most sought-after and prestigious in the North West, and celebrate the innovative and high quality restaurants, bars and individuals who contribute to the hospitality industry in the area.
This year, the 20th anniversary Festival, 20 awards will be presented in 20 different categories. There are three new awards for 2017 – Best Brewery, Best Vegetarian Offering and Best Sustainable Food & Drink Business, all of which have been added to reflect the growth in these areas and how important they are to the city’s food and drink economy and to consumers.
Owned and organized by the Manchester Food and Drink Festival (MFDF) the awards will be held at The Principal Manchester on the 9th October, and are recognised by the industry and consumers alike as setting the standard for the food industry across the country.
The shortlisted venues below have been officially nominated for an award by the MFDF judging panel that comprises the region’s leading food and drink critics and experts.
And the nominations are...
Restaurant of the Year - sponsored by Caterer.com
Adam Reid at The French - Peter Street, Manchester, M60 2DS
The Rabbit in the Moon - Cathedral Gardens, Todd St, City Centre, Manchester M4 3BG
Where The Light Gets In - 7 Rostron Brow, Stockport, SK1 1JY
Umezushi - Unit 4, Mirabel Street, Manchester, M3 1PJ
Bundobust - 61 Piccadilly, Manchester, M1 2AQ
Sugo - 22 Shaws Road, Altrincham, Cheshire, WA14 1QU
Premium and Fine Dining Venue of the Year - sponsored by Bookatable
Adam Reid at The French - Peter Street, Manchester, M60 2DS
The Rabbit in Moon - Cathedral Gardens, Todd St, City Centre, Manchester M4 3BG
Where The Light Gets In - 7 Rostron Brow, Stockport, SK1 1JY
Umezushi - Unit 4, Mirabel Street, Manchester, M3 1PJ
Hawksmoor - 184-186 Deansgate, Manchester M3 3WB
El Gato Negro - 52 King St, Manchester M2 4LY
Casual Restaurant of the Year
Bundobust - 61 Piccadilly, Manchester, M1 2AQ
Rudy’s - 9 Cotton St, Manchester, M4 5BF
Sugo - 22 Shaws Road, Altrincham, Cheshire, WA14 1QU
Baraxturi - 1 Smithy St, Ramsbottom, BL0 9AT
Porta - 50 Greenwood Street, Altrincham, Cheshire, CH1 2HT
Hispi - 1C School Lane, Didsbury, Manchester, M20 6RD
Newcomer of the Year - sponsored by Manchester Evening News
Bundobust - 61 Piccadilly, Manchester, M1 2AQ
Where The Light Gets In - 7 Rostron Brow, Stockport, SK1 1JY
Hispi - 1C School Lane, Didsbury, Manchester, M20 6RD
Refuge - Oxford Street, Manchester, M60 7HA
Porta - 50 Greenwood Street, Altrincham, Cheshire, CH1 2HT
The Rabbit in the Moon - Cathedral Gardens, Todd St, City Centre, Manchester, M4 3BG
Chef of the Year
Adam Reid, The French - Peter Street, Manchester, M60 2DS
Sam Buckley, Where The Light Gets In - 7 Rostron Brow, Stockport, SK1 1JY
Luke Cockerill, The Rabbit in the Moon - Cathedral Gardens, Todd St, City Centre, Manchester, M4 3BG
Matt Nutter, The Allotment Vegan Restaurant - 6 Vernon St, Stockport, SK1 1TY
Richard Sharples, Hispi, 1C School Lane, Didsbury, Manchester, M20 6RD
Aiden Byrne, Manchester House, 18 – 22 Bridge Street, Spiningfields, Manchester, M33BZ
Pub of The Year
Blue Bell - 170 Barlow Road, Manchester Levenshulme, M19 3HF
Mounting Stone - 8, Woodford Road, Bramhall, Stockport, SK7 2JJ
Samuel Oldknow - 22 Market Street Marple, SK6 7AD
The Magnet – 51 Wellington Road, Stockport, SK4 1HJ
Marble Arch - 73 Rochdale Rd, Manchester, M4 4HY
The Parlour - 60 Beech Road, Chorlton-cum-Hardy, Manchester, M21 9EG
Food Pub of the Year - sponsored by R Noone and Sons
White Hart - 51 Stockport Road, Lydgate, Oldham, OL4 4JJ
Bird at Birtle - 239 Bury And Rochdale Old Rd, Birtle, OL10 4BQ
Marble Arch - 73 Rochdale Rd, Manchester, M4 4HY
Hearth of the Ram – Ramsbottom - 13 Peel Brow, Ramsbottom, Bury, Lancashire, BLO OAA
Odd Fellows –- Moor End Road, Mellor, Cheshire, SK6 5PT
Clarence –2 Silver Street, Bury, BL9 0EX
Bar of the Year - sponsored by Fever Tree
Refuge - Oxford Street, Manchester, M60 7HA
Cottonopolis - 16 Newton Street, Manchester, M1 2AE
Science and Industry - 49 -51 Thomas Street, Manchester, M4 1NA
Common - 39-41 Edge St. Northern Quarter, Manchester, M41HW
Henry C’s - 107 Manchester Road, Chorlton, Manchester, M21 9GA
Salut - 11 Cooper St, Manchester, M2 2FW
Craft Ale Bar of the Year
Café Beermoth - Brown Street, Manchester, M21DA - 70 Tib Street, Manchester, M4 1LG
Pilcrow - Sadlery's Yard, Hanover Street, M60 0AB
Cloudwater Barrel Store - Arch 13, Sheffield Street, Manchester, M1 2ND
Bock Biere Café - 10 Tib Ln, Manchester, M2 4JB
Port Street Beer House - 39-41 Port St, Manchester, M1 2EQ
Bundobust - 61 Piccadilly, Manchester, M1 2AQ
Best Out of Town Venue of the Year
Hispi - 1C School Lane, Didsbury, Manchester, M20 6RD
Where The Light Gets In - 7 Rostron Brow, Stockport, SK1 1JY
The Allotment Vegan Restaurant - 6 Vernon Street, Stockport, SK1 1TY
Sugo - 22 Shaws Road, Altrincham, Cheshire, WA14 1QU
Porta - 50 Greenwood Street, Altrincham, Cheshire, CH1 2HT
Baraxturi - 1 Smithy St, Ramsbottom, BL0 9AT
Coffee Shop/Tea Shop Of The Year
Another Heart to Feed - 77-79 Chapel Street, Manchester, M3 5BZ
Ancoats Coffee - Unit 9, Royal Mills, 17 Redhill Street, Ancoats, M4 5BA
Trove - 1032 Stockport Road, Levenshulme, Manchester, M19 3WX
Idle Hands - 32-34 Dale Street, Northern Quarter, Manchester, M1 1FY
Lupo Caffe Italiano - 6af, 142 Chapel St, Salford, M3 6AF
Takk - 6 Tariff St, Manchester, M1 2FF
Affordable Eats Venue of the Year – sponsored by Just Eat
Lupo Caffe Italiano - 142 Chapel Street, Salford, M3 6AF
Bundobust - 61 Piccadilly, Manchester, M1 2AQ
Rudys - 9 Cotton St, Manchester, M4 5BF
Pasta Factory - 77 Shudehill, Manchester, M4 4AN
Seoul Kimchi - 275 Upper Brook Street, Manchester, M13 0HR
Fusion Lab - Manchester Arndale Market, M4 3AH
Best Food and Drink Retailer of the Year
Pollen - 2 Sheffield Street, Manchester, M1 2ND
Reserve - 176 Burton Road, West Didsbury, Manchester, M20 1LH
Lunya - Barton Arcade, Deansgate, Manchester, M3 2BB
Easy Fish Co - 117 Heaton Moor Road, Stockport, SK4 4HY
Ancoats General Store - 57 Great Ancoats Street, Manchester, M4 5AB
Epicerie Ludo - 46 Beech Road, Manchester, M21 9EG
Best Vegetarian Offering of the Year
Bundobust - 61 Piccadilly, Manchester, M1 2AQ
The Allotment Vegan Restaurant - 6 Vernon Street, Stockport, SK1 1TY
Vrev - 20-26 Edge St, Manchester, M4 1HN
Indian Tiffin Room - First Street, 4RL, 1 First St, Manchester, M15
Manchester House - 18-22 Bridge St, Manchester, M3 3BZ
Sanskruti - 95 Mauldeth Rd, Manchester, M14 6SR
Manchester Brewery of The Year
Cloudwater - Units 7-8, Piccadilly Trading Estate, Manchester, M1 2NP
Blackjack - 36 Gould Street, Green Quarter, Manchester, M4 4RN
Runaway - Unit 4 Millgate, Dantzic Street, Manchester, M4 4JW
Chorlton Brewing Company- 69 North Western Street, Manchester, M12
Marble - 41 Williamson St, Manchester M4 4JS
Track - 5 Sheffield Street, Manchester, M1 2ND
Best Pop Up, Event or Project of the Year
GRUB - www.grubmcr.com
Not Just Soup - www.notjustsoupkitchen.co.uk
Real Junk Food - www.realjunkfoodmanchester.co.uk
Scrancoats - www.ancoatsgs.co.uk
Indie Man Beer Con - www.indymanbeercon.co.uk
Makers Market - www.themakersmarket.co.uk
Front of House Team of the Year sponsored by The Springboard Charity
Hawksmoor - 184-186 Deansgate, Manchester, M3 3WB
Umezushi - Unit 4, Mirabel Street, Manchester, M3 1PJ
Piccolino - Clarence Street, Manchester, M2 4DW
Alberts Schloss - 27 Peter Street, Manchester, M2 5QR
Tattu - Gartside Street, 3 Hardman Square, Spinningfields, Manchester, M3 3EB
Iberica - 14-15 The Avenue, Spinningfields, Manchester, M3 3HF
Best Street Food Award
Hip Hop Chip Shop - www.thehiphopchipshop.com
Holy Crab - www.twitter.com/HolyCrab_UK
Otto Men - www.twitter.com/the_ottomen
Dim Sum Su - www.dimsumsu.com
Blue Caribou - www.bluecariboucanteen.com
Oh My Glaze - www.ohmyglaze.co.uk
Best Sustainable Food & Drink Business
Recognising commitment to environmental and ethical practices within Greater Manchester’s food and drink industry. Food and drink businesses are asked to put themselves forward for this award via submission of a sustainability template form. To nominate your restaurant for this award, please email George@foodanddrinkfestival.com
The Howard and Ruth Award for Outstanding Achievement sponsored by The Principal Manchester
Recognising someone who contributed something outstanding to the food and drink industry in Greater Manchester over the last 20 Festivals. Anyone with suggestions for this category should email alexa@foodanddrinkfestival.com.
The award nominations will be posted on the MFDF website http://foodanddrinkfestival.com/awards from 15th June, and the public will then vote for their favourites.
The winners will be decided by a combination of the public vote and scores obtained by mystery shop visits from the judging panel.
