In light of the COVID-19 pandemic and the huge impact it has had upon the hospitality sector, the 2020 awards have been adapted for this year with changes to format, award categories and the MFDF Gala Dinner and Awards ceremony.
The Awards, which will be presented in partnership with Festival headline sponsors, food delivery platform Just Eat, will remain the culmination of the Manchester Food and Drink Festival (taking place from 24th September-5th October). The awards will celebrate the innovation, resilience, altruism and successes that have taken place since the last awards, particularly in light of the vast challenges that the industry has faced due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
A host of new categories have been created especially for this unprecedented year – all designed to recognise the industry’s impressive innovations and adaptations since lockdown and beyond. New awards for 2020 include Best DIY Delivery Food Offering, Best Food and Drink Box Delivery, Best Innovation and Lockdown Heroes.
There will be no mystery shopping by the judges this year, with voting carried out entirely by the public via the MFDF website and the brand new MFDF app (which will be downloadable from early September). The shortlists have been compiled by the MFDF judging panel, made up of the region’s leading food and drink critics, writers and experts.
The awards ceremony itself will be taking place at a venue to be announced and live streamed so that, for the first time, the industry and public alike will be able to watch at the same time. More details on this to be announced soon.
The closing date for votes is midnight on the 26th September and the winners will then be announced in October at the virtual Awards ceremony on 5th October.
Best Online ‘At Home’ Food and Drink Content – sponsored By MODA Angel Gardens
Andrew Nutter – For his online cookery videos broadcast via social media.
Cork of the North – For their live wine tasting masterclasses broadcast via social media
Higher Ground – For their live cook-alongs broadcast via social media.
Manchester Gin – For their live gin masterclasses broadcast via social media.
Rachel Stockley/Baratxuri – For her online cookery videos broadcast via social media.
Sienna & Maurizio Cecco from Salvi’s – For their live cook-alongs and online cookery videos all broadcast via social media
Simon Wood – For his online cookery videos broadcast via social media
Six By Nico – For their Now Cooking series broadcast via social media
The Best Restaurant Takeaway Adaptation – sponsored by Just Eat
Bundobust – 61 Piccadilly, Manchester M1 2AG
Elnecot – Cutting Room Square, 41 Blossom St, Ancoats, Manchester M4 6AJ
Hip Hop Chip Shop – 44 Blossom Street, Ancoats, Manchester M4 6BF
Mughli Charcoal Pit – 30 Wilmslow Road, Rusholme, Manchester M14 5TQ
Rudy’s Pizza – 9 Cotton Street, Ancoats, Manchester M4 5BF
Six by Nico – 60 Spring Gardens, Manchester M2 2BQ
Wolf at The Door – 30 – 32 Thomas Street, Manchester M4 1ER
Yang Sing – 34 Princess Street, Manchester M1 4JY
Best DIY Delivery Food Offering – sponsored by Roomzzz Aparthotels
Adam Reid – Great British Menu Box
Baratxuri – Menu Delivery Boxes
DD’s Burgers @ The Koffee Pot – The Lockdown DIY Burger Kit
Elite Bistros at Home
Hawksmoor at Home
Northern Soul – Grill it Yourself Kit
Wood at Home
Yao Yao Noodles – Ramen Kit Delivery
Best Food and Drink Box Delivery
Grandad’s Sausages – “The Sausage Hotline”- Delivering BBQ Kits and Breakfast Packs
Great North Pie Co – Pie Box Delivery
Lupo Caffe Italiano – Italian Treats and Veg Boxes
R Noone and Son – Fruit and Veg boxes
Reserve Wines – Wine Box Deliveries
ShinDigger Brewing Co – Beer Delivery Boxes In Under 3 Hours
The Crafty Cheese Man – Cheese Board Delivery Boxes
Zouk – BBQ Boxes
Best Innovation
Grub-E-Mart – hosting street vendors online for orders and collections
Levenshulme Market – providing a platform for traders to go online as well as local charities
Andrew Nutter – Nutter’s Cheese and Wine Boutique
Cloudwater – supporting other breweries through the crisis, letting them use their webshop and supporting Higher Ground with deliveries.
Didsbury Gin – being the first gin company to move production to hand sanitiser
Manchester Union Lager – growler collection and refills
House of Hops – Investing in canning production to enable them to order, pour, seal and deliver beer on the same day.
Stretford Foodhall – finding innovative ways to serve the community right the way through lockdown… from street food takeaway to free grocery delivery for the vulnerable.
Newcomer of the Year
The Bull & Bear – 4 Norfolk Street, Manchester M2 1DW
The Edinburgh Castle Pub – Henry Street & Blossom Street, Manchester M4 5AW
Escape to Freight Island – Baring Street, Manchester M1 2PZ
Six By Nico – 60 Spring Gardens, Manchester M2 2BQ
Higher Ground – KAMPUS
Perfect Match – 103 Cross Street, Sale, M33 7JN
Street Urchin – 72 Great Ancoats Street, Manchester M4 5BG
Stretford Food Hall – Chester Road, Stretford, Manchester M32 9BD
Best Online Veggie/Vegan Offering
Wholesome Junkies
Blue Caribou Canteen
Yao Yao Noodles
Vaso Indian Kitchen
The Walled Gardens by Eddie Shepherd
Herbivorous
The Ottomen
Pasta Factory
Artisan Drinks Producer of the Year
Didsbury Gin
Four Sisters
Manchester Gin
Diablesse Rum
Manchester Union Lager
Cloudwater Brewing
ShinDigger Brewing Co
Track Brew Co
Take Away Coffee Experience of the Year
Just Between Friends – 56 Tib Street, Manchester M4 1LG
Federal Cafe Bar – 9 Nicholas Croft, Northern Quarter, Manchester M4 1EY
Foundation Coffee House – Lever Street, Manchester M1 1JB
Ancoats General Store – 57 Great Ancoats Street, Manchester M4 5AB
Grindsmith – Bridge Street, Manchester M3 3BW
Heart & Graft Coffee – Unit 1, 30 Droylsden Road, Holyoak St, Manchester M40 1HB
Another Heart to Feed – 220 Burton Road, Manchester M20 2LW
Manchester Coffee Co – 84 Hewitt St, Manchester M15 4GB
Street Food Trader of the Year
The Ottomen
Oh Mei Dumpling
Ginger’s Comfort Emporium
Nasi Lemak
Herbivorous
Abeja Tapas Bar
I Knead Pizza
Jerk Shack
Howard And Ruth Outstanding Achievement Award
Recognising someone who has contributed something outstanding to the food and drink industry in Greater Manchester.
Lockdown Heroes – sponsored by Manchester Evening News
This award recognises those individuals and businesses who have provided continued support for the wider community, the food and drink industry and Greater Manchester as a whole during the COVID-19 Crisis. They are opening this up for public nominations. Let MFDF know about your local ‘Lockdown’ hero. It can be anyone you think deserves recognition.
Commentating on the awards, Phil Jones, The Manchester Food and Drink Festival Founding Director, said: “This year’s Festival awards are taking place at an extraordinary time – the most difficult period yet for our industry, and against the backdrop of a global crisis. It’s been a very tough year for restaurants, bars, pubs and cafes – but we’ve also seen a huge amount of innovation, creativity and community focused altruism from the hospitality industry.
“While it is not possible to run the awards in the usual way this year, we felt it was more important than ever to recognise and celebrate our hospitality sector. This year’s awards, delivered with the help of our sponsor Just Eat, are designed to celebrate, showcase and support our brilliant dining community in 2020 and beyond.”
