The countdown is on to the 2026 MFDF Awards with the release of shortlists for the 17 categories. Time to get voting for your pick from this enviable parade of food heroes – brilliant neighbourhood hotspots, affordable eats, best coffee shops, bars and pubs, groundbreaking producers and, of course, the leading chefs and restaurants across the Greater Manchester region.
Winners will be announced at a Gala Dinner on Monday, January 25 – held for the first time at the spanking new entertainment district, Medlock Square – home to a range of new bars and restaurants, including Zadie’s and Little Beast. The gongs will be handed out at the complex’s purpose-built event space, City Hall.
Continuing their Festival sponsor is another ambitious project Therme Manchester, the landmark wellbeing resort currently under construction at TraffordCity
The shortlist has been selected by the MFDF Awards judging panel, made up of leading food and drink critics, writers and industry experts (including yours truly), following submissions from the hospitality industry and the public across Greater Manchester.
The awards are now open to public vote on the MFDF website. Tickets for the event can also be purchased by contacting the MFDF awards team. Please email isabella@foodanddrinkfestival.com.
As well as the public vote, a mystery shopping period will now commence where judges will visit nominated venues in a number of categories and will score venues based on their experiences. The mystery shopping and public voting period will end at midnight, January 11, 2027 when the polls will be counted and combined with the judges’ scores and the winner of each category will be chosen.
The Community Food and Drink Project of the Year, sponsored by Therme Manchester, is being decided through a separate judging process. The award celebrates initiatives making a positive difference to communities across Greater Manchester, from tackling food poverty and promoting sustainability to improving access to healthy food and bringing communities together.
The Howard and Ruth Award for Outstanding Achievement will also be presented on the night to recognise a key contribution to Greater Manchester’s food and drink industry, with no public shortlist for the category.
MFDF AWARDS 2026 SHORTLISTS
AFFORDABLE EATS VENUE OF THE YEAR sponsored by Therme Manchester
Al Madina 76 Wilmslow Rd, Manchester M14 5AL
Noodle Alley 56A Faulkner Street, Manchester M1 4FH
Sips & Dips 994 Stockport Rd, Manchester M19 3WN
Que Huong Viet 76-78 Oldham Rd, Ancoats M4 5EB
Kabana 52 Back Turner Street, Manchester, M4 1FR
Bahn Mi 782 782 Wilmslow Rd, Didsbury, Manchester M20 2DR
Zaytoni’s 12 Oldham St, Manchester M1 1JQ
Cafe San Juan 27 St Petersgate, Stockport SK1 1EB
Last year’s winner: Double Zero
TAKEAWAY OF THE YEAR
Kool Runnings 118 Chorlton Road, Old Trafford, Stretford M15 4AN
Rita’s Reign Piccadilly, Manchester M1 1LY
Chicken Run 6 Yarburgh St, Whalley Range M16 7FJ
Viet Deli 22 Blackfriars Street, Manchester M3 5BQ
Levenshulme Bakery 842 Stockport Rd, Levenshulme M19 3AW
The Post Box Shawarma 543 Wilbraham Rd, Chorlton-cum-Hardy M21 9PP
Bada Bing 125 Oldham St, Manchester M4 1LN
Patel’s Pies 9 Tatton Rd S, Heaton Moor SK4 4LU
Last year’s winner: This & That
CAFE OR COFFEE SHOP OF THE YEAR
Fort Coffee 255 Deansgate, Manchester M3 4EN
Idle Hands Coffee 35 Dale St, Manchester M1 2HF
Artista Perfetto 130 Oldham Rd, Ancoats M4 6BG
Auntie Lou’s Market Place, Stockport SK1 1ES
Siop Shop 53 Tib St, Manchester M4 1LS
Just Between Friends Coffee 56 Tib Street, Manchester M4 1LG
Convene 17 Lower Hillgate, Stockport SK1 1JQ
Companio Bakery 35 Radium St, Ancoats M4 6AD
Last year’s winner: Something More Productive
WINE OFFERING OF THE YEAR
Kallos 3 Bankside Boulevard, Salford M3 7HD
Ad Hoc 28 Edge Street, Manchester M4 1HN
Cork of the North 13 Northenden Rd, Sale M33 2DH
The Dilly Deli 1 Little Underbank, Stockport SK1 1LA
Reserve Wines 176 Burton Road, West Didsbury M20 1LH
Carrington’s 322 Barlow Moor Rd, Chorlton-cum-Hardy M21 8AY
Portfolio MCR 67-69 Bridge St, Manchester M3 3BQ
Erst 9 Murray Street, Ancoats, Manchester M4 6HS
Last year’s winner: Flawd Wine
FOOD TRADER OF THE YEAR
Buttercup 225 Deansgate, Manchester M3 4EN
Pico’s Tacos Mackie Mayor, 1 Eagle Street, Manchester M4 5BU
Slice Culture Unit 18, Track Brewing Co, Piccadilly Trading Estate, Manchester M1 2NP
More Joy Food Co Exhibition, 56 Peter Street, Manchester M2 3NQ
Baity Kargo MKT, The Quays, Salford M50 3AG
Rizzo’s Sicilian Food 296 Oxford Rd, Manchester M13 9NS
The Thai Food Van
Oh Mei Dumplings
Last year’s winner: Rack
FOODIE NEIGHBOURHOOD OF THE YEAR
Levenshulme
Marple & Marple Bridge
Chorlton
Rusholme
Westhoughton
Altrincham
Last year’s winner: Stockport
INDEPENDENT DRINKS PRODUCER OF THE YEAR
Hip Hop Department Bonded Warehouse, 18 Lower Byrom Street, Manchester, M3 4AP
Balance Brewing & Blending Unit 10, Sheffield Street, Manchester, M1 2DN
Sureshot Brewing 5 Sheffield Street, Manchester, M1 2DN
Runaway Brewery 9-11 Astley Street, Stockport, SK4 1AW
Cloudwater Brew Co Piccadilly Trading Estate, Unit 9, Gidding Rd, Manchester M1 2NP
Pomona Island Brew Co Waybridge Industrial Estate, 33, Daniel Adamson Rd, Salford M50 1DS
Stiff Tea Brewing Company Hoyle St, Manchester M12 6HG
Chu-Lo Beehive Lofts, Jersey Street, Ancoats, Manchester, M4 6JG
Last year’s winner: Track Brewing
INDEPENDENT FOOD PRODUCER OF THE YEAR
Wong Wong Bakery 32 Princess Street, Manchester M1 4LB
Fizzles Pickles + Preserves Unit 109, Pollard Yard, 15 Pollard St E, Manchester M40 7QX
Sticky Fingers 39 Great Underbank, Stockport SK1 1NE
Loafi 10 Square St, RamsbottomBL0 9BE
Patel’s Pies 9 Tatton Rd S, Heaton Moor SK4 4LU
Half Dozen Other Unit 17 Redbank, Cheetham Hill, Manchester M4 4HF
Companio Bakery 35 Radium St, Ancoats, Manchester M4 6AD
La Chouquette 812A Wilmslow Road, Didsbury, Manchester, M20 6UH
Last year’s winner: Pollen Bakery
NEIGHBOURHOOD VENUE OF THE YEAR
The Pearl 425 Bury New Road, Prestwich M25 1AF
Cafe Continental 5 Melbourne St, Stalybridge SK15 2JE
Porta Tapas Bar 41 Lapwing Ln, West Didsbury M20 2NT
Fold Bistro & Bottle Shop 7 Town Street, Marple Bridge SK6 5AA
Sips & Dips 994 Stockport Rd, Manchester M19 3WN
Bar San Juan 56 Beech Rd, Chorlton-cum-Hardy M21 9EG
Ornella’s Kitchen 10 Manchester Rd, Denton, Manchester M34 3LE
The Mekong Cat 47 Lower Hillgate, Stockport SK1 1JQ
Last year’s winner: Stretford Canteen
PUB OR BEER BAR OF THE YEAR
The Angel Pub 6 Angel St, Manchester M4 4BQ
The Balance Taproom 10 Sheffield St, Manchester M1 2ND
The Peveril of the Peak 127 Great Bridgewater St, Manchester M1 5JQ
Victoria Tap Victoria Station Approach, Manchester M3 1WY
Track Brewing Co Taproom Unit 18, Piccadilly Trading Estate, Manchester, M1 2NP
The Magnet Freehouse 51 Wellington Rd N, Stockport SK4 1HJ
The City Arms 46-48 Kennedy St, Manchester M2 4BQ
The Smithfield Market Tavern 37 Swan St, Manchester M4 5JZ
Last year’s winner: The Marble Arch Inn
GREAT SERVICE AWARD
Kallos 3 Bankside Boulevard, Salford M3 7HD
Blacklock Manchester 37 Peter St, Manchester M2 5GB
Stray Mackie Mayor, 1 Eagle Street, Manchester M4 5BU
10 Tib Lane Tib Lane, Manchester, M2 4JB
Speak in Code 7 Jacksons Row, Manchester M2 5ND
Schofields Bar 194 Deansgate, Manchester M3 3ND
Hawksmoor 186 Deansgate, Manchester M3 3WB
Winsome 74 Princess St, Manchester M1 6JD
Last year’s winner: Maray
LOW OR NO OFFERING OF THE YEAR
Hinterland 16-20 Turner St, Manchester, M4 1DZ
Dishoom 32 Bridge Street, Manchester, M3 3BT
Double Down 7 Jacksons Row, Manchester, M2 5ND
Kerb 04 Henry St, Ancoats M4 5DD
North Taproom Circle Square, Manchester M1 7FA
Cloudwater Brew Co Piccadilly Trading Estate, Unit 9, Gidding Rd, Manchester M1 2NP
Lina Stores St Johns Court, 17 Quay St, Manchester M3 3HN
Caravan 6 Goods Yard St, Manchester M3 3BG
Last year’s Winner: Nell’s Pizza
BAR OF THE YEAR
Bar Shrimp 7 New York St, Manchester M1 4JB
Stray Mackie Mayor, 1 Eagle St, Manchester, M4 5BU
Renae 45-47 Thomas St, Manchester M4 1NA
Ōdiobā 26 Lower Hillgate, Stockport SK1 1JE
Bar Posie Unit 1, 17 Marble St, Spring Gardens, Manchester M2 3AW
The Apple Core 26 Middle Hillgate, Stockport SK1 3AY
Double Down 7 Jacksons Row, Manchester, M2 5ND
Bruk 8 Little Underbank, Stockport SK1 1JT
Last year’s Winner: Speak In Code
NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR
Bar Posie Unit 1, 17 Marble St, Spring Gardens, Manchester M2 3AW
Convene 17 Lower Hillgate, Stockport SK1 1JQ
Parosna 43 Barlow Moor Rd, Didsbury M20 6TW
Proloco 74 Great Ancoats St, Manchester M4 5GU
Bar Shrimp 7 New York St, Manchester M1 4JB
Bar Caput 71 Great Underbank, Stockport SK1 1PE
The Dilly Deli 1 Little Underbank, Stockport SK1 1LA
Hatter’s Food and Drinks Hall 16 Market St, Denton, Manchester M34 2XW
Last year’s Winner: Stow
CHEF OF THE YEAR
Jamie Pickles – Stow
Shaun Moffatt – Winsome
Jess Furniss – WTLGI
Gary Weir – Open Fire / Tartuffe
Sian Wilson – Bar Posie
Tom Barnes – Skof
Rosie Maguire – Higher Ground
Brit Wardle – 10 Tib Lane
Last year’s Winner: Matt Bennett (The Pearl)
RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR
Kallos 3 Bankside Boulevard, Salford M3 7HD
Stow 62 Bridge St, Manchester M3 3BW
Higher Ground Faulkner House, New York St, Manchester M1 4DY
Winsome 74 Princess St, Manchester M1 6JD
Erst 9 Murray St, Ancoats M4 6HS
The Pearl 425 Bury New Rd, Prestwich M25 1AF
Adam Reid At The French 16 Peter St, Manchester M60 2DS
The Trof 6-8 Thomas St, NQ M4 1EU
Last year’s Winner: SKOF
