The shortlisted nominees for the 2024 Manchester Food and Drink Festival Awards have been announced. 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 Hall on Monday, January 27, 2025.
There are 136 exceptional venues, traders, places and people nominated across 17 categories celebrating a resurgent year for Greater Manchester’s hospitality industry. This year’s roll call takes in the whole breadth of talent flourishing in our region – from talented takeaways and superb street food vendors to Michelin-star dining and some of the newest and most exciting additions to the scene.
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.
As well as the public vote, a mystery shopping period will now commence when judges will visit nominated venues in some categories or an anonymous dining visit, and will score venues based on their experiences.
The mystery shopping and public voting period will end at midnight on January 10 when the polls will be counted and combined with the judges’ scores, and the winner of each category will be chosen.
The MFDF 24 Award Winners will be announced at the MFDF Awards Dinner on Monday, January 27 and tickets can be purchased by emailing isabella@foodanddrinkfestival.com
And the nominations are…
AFFORDABLE EATS VENUE OF THE YEAR
Café San Juan
27 St Petersgate, Stockport SK1 1EB
Nell’s Pizza
22 Minshull Street, Kampus M1 3EF
Wow Banh Mi
132 Oldham Road, Ancoats M4 6BG
Hong Thai
140 Oldham Road, Ancoats M4 6BG
Salt & Pepper
60-62 High Street, Manchester M4 1EA
Nila’s Burmese Kitchen
386 Third Avenue, Trafford Park, Stretford M17 1JE
Mia’s Arepas
11 Baring Street, Manchester M1 2PZ
Sips & Dips
994 Stockport Road, Manchester M19 3WN
Last year’s winner: Ornella’s Kitchen Denton.
TAKEAWAY OF THE YEAR
Chips @ No. 8
8 Clifton Road, Prestwich M25 3HQ
Ad Maoira
23 Radium Street, Ancoats M4 6AY
Maida Grill House
38 Liverpool Street, Salford M5 4LT
Lucky Mama’s
565 Barlow Moor Road, Chorlton M21 8AE
Codi’s Kitchen
391 Bury New Rd, Prestwich M25 1AW
Fat Pat’s
88 Portland St, Manchester M1 4GX
Mrs A’s Kitchen
30 Church Street, Eccles M30 0DF
One Sushi
St James’s Building, 75 Oxford Road, Manchester, M1 6EG
Last year’s winner: Burgerism
COFFEE SHOP OF THE YEAR
Grind & Tamp
45 Bridge Street, Ramsbottom BL0 9AD
Fort Coffee
255 Deansgate, Manchester M3 4EN
Allpress Espresso
3, Redfern Building, Dantzic Street, Manchester M4 4AH
California Coffee & Wine
3 Oxford Road, Altrincham WA14 2DY
Another Heart to Feed
10 Hilton Street, Manchester M1 1JF
Bold Street Coffee
53 Cross Street, Manchester M2 4JN
ManCoCo
85 Hewitt Street, Manchester M15 4GB
Oscillate Coffee
52 Flixton Road, Urmston M41 5AB
Last year’s winner: Grapefruit Coffee, Sale
FOOD AND DRINK RETAILER OF THE YEAR
Wandering Palate
191 Monton Road, Eccles M30 9PN
Petit Paris Deli
10 King Street, Manchester M2 6AG
Out of the Blue
484 Wilbraham Road, Chorlton M21 9AS
Chorlton Cheesemongers
486 Wilbraham Road, Chorlton Manchester M21 9AS
Littlewoods Butchers
5 School Lane, Heaton Chapel SK4 5DE
Ancoats Deli
6 Murray Street, Ancoats M4 6HS
Lily’s Deli
102 Manchester Road, Chorlton M21 9SZ
Oseyo
Unit 90, Halle Mall, Manchester Arndale M4 2HU
Last year’s winner: Cork of the North, Heaton Moor
FOOD TRADER OF THE YEAR
House of Habesha
Kargo MKT, Salford M50 3AG
The Little Sri Lankan
Cardinal Rule
10 Tariff St, Manchester M1 2FF
Ad Maoira
23 Radium Street, Ancoats M4 6AY
Jaan By Another Hand
St George’s House, 56 Peter St, Manchester M2 3NQ
Baity
Kargo MKT, Salford M50 3AG
House of Bun
11 Blackburn Street, Radcliffe M26 1PN
Honest Crust
1 Eagle Street, Manchester M4 5BU
Last year’s winner: Fat Pat’s, Manchester
FOODIE NEIGHBOURHOOD OF THE YEAR
Monton
Prestwich
Salford
Urmston
Levenshulme
Altrincham
Denton
Sale
Last year’s winner: Stockport.
INDEPENDENT DRINKS PRODUCER OF THE YEAR
Cloudwater Brew Co
7-8 Piccadilly Trading Estate, Manchester M1 2NP
Pomona Island Brew Co
33 Waybridge Enterprise Centre, Daniel Adamson Road, Salford M50 1DS
Sureshot Brewing
5 Sheffield Street, Manchester M1 2DN
The Salford Rum Company
33 Viaduct Street, Salford M3 7WX
Steep Soda Co
Pod Pea Vodka
Ten Locks, Fairhill Road, Irlam M44 6BD
Hip Pop
Unit 98, North Western Street, Manchester M12 6JL
Balance Brewing & Blending
Unit 10, Sheffield Street, Manchester M1 2DN
Last year’s winner: Track Brewing Co, Manchester
INDEPENDENT FOOD PRODUCER OF THE YEAR
Companio Bakery
Unit 6 Flint Glass Wharf, 35 Radium Street, Ancoats, Manchester M4 6AD
H.M.Pasties
Unit 11-12, Pennant Industrial, Oldham OL1 3NP
La Chouquette
812a Wilmslow Road, Didsbury M20 6UH
Great North Pie Co
Unit 2a, Deanway, Manchester Road, Wilmslow SK9 2HW
The Flat Baker
23 Radium Street, Ancoats M4 6AY
Long Boi’s Bakehouse
40 Forest Range, Manchester M19 2HP
Yellowhammer
15 Lower Hillgate, Stockport SK1 1JQ
Half Dozen Other
Unit 17 Redbank, Cheetham Hill M4 4HF
Last year’s winner: Pollen Bakery, Manchester
NEIGHBOURHOOD VENUE OF THE YEAR
Cibus Pizza
847-849 Stockport Road, Manchester M19 3PW
Ornella’s Kitchen
10 Manchester Road, Denton M34 3LE
Fold Bistro & Bottle Shop
7 Town Street, Marple Bridge, Stockport SK6 5AA
The Pearl
425 Bury New Road, Prestwich M25 1AF
Restaurant Örme
218 Church Road, Urmston M41 9DX
Tawny Stores
1 Upper Hibbert Lane, Hawk Green, Marple SK6 7JQ
Vero Moderno
Unit 4, Vimto Gardens, Chapel Street, Salford nM3 5JF
Bar San Juan
56 Beech Road, Chorlton M21 9EG
Last year’s winner: Stretford Canteen
PLANT-BASED OFFERING OF THE YEAR
Maray
14 Brazennose St, Manchester M2 6LW
Lily’s Indian Vegetarian Cuisine
85 Oldham Road, Ashton-under-Lyne OL6 7DF
Wholesome Junkies
Hinterland Bar, 16-20 Turner St, Manchester M4 1DZ
Allotment Vegan Eatery
1 – 3 Cathedral Gates, Manchester M3 1SW
Walled Gardens
Whalley Range, Manchester
Little Aladdin
72 High Street, Manchester M4 1ES
Herbivorous
445 Wilmslow Road, Withington M20 4AN
Sanskruti
93-95 Mauldeth Road, Manchester, M14 6SR
Last year’s winner: Bundobust
POP-UP OR PROJECT OF THE YEAR
Bungalow at Kampus
Aytoun Street, Manchester M1 3GL
Tartuffe
Side Street Studio Kitchen, ABC Buildings Corner of Quay Street and, Lower Byrom St, Manchester M3 4AE
Midori Didsbury at Wine & Wallop
97 Lapwing Lane, Didsbury M20 6UR
The Landing
Merseyway Shopping Centre Car Park, Stockport SK1 1HG
Love From
Aytoun Street, Manchester M1 3GL
Root to Flower
Sampa
24 Dale Street, Manchester M1 1FY
Manchester Wine Tour
Last year’s winner: Platt Fields Market Garden
PUB OR BEER BAR OF THE YEAR
Heaton Hops
7 School Lane, Heaton Chapel SK4 5DE
Port Street Beer House
39-41 Port Street, Manchester M1 2EQ
North Westward Ho
Pall Mall, 19 Chapel Walks, Manchester, M2 1HN
Mulligans of Manchester
12 Southgate, Manchester, M3 2RB
The City Arms
46-48, Kennedy Street, Manchester M2 4BQ
The Britons Protection
50 Great Bridgewater Street, Manchester, M1 5LE
The Old Abbey Taphouse
Guildhall Close, Manchester Science Park, Hulme M15 6SY
Café Beermoth
Brown Street, Manchester M2 1DA
Last year’s winner: Marble Arch, Manchester
GREAT SERVICE AWARD
Flawd Wine
9 Keepers Quay, Manchester M4 6GL
The Pearl
425, Bury New Road, Prestwich M25 1AF
Higher Ground
Faulkner House, New York Street, Manchester M1 4DY
Skof
3 Federation Street, Manchester M4 4BF
10 Tib Lane
10 Tib Lane, Manchester M2 4JB
Schofield’s Bar
Sunlight House, 3 Little Quay Street, Manchester M3 3JZ
Adam Reid At The French
16 Peter Street, Manchester M60 2DS
Ornella’s Kitchen
10 Manchester Road, Denton, Manchester M34 3LE
Last year’s winner: Hawksmoor, Manchester
BAR OF THE YEAR
Red Light
4-2 Little David Street, Manchester M1 3GL
Flawd Wine
9 Keepers Quay, Manchester M4 6GL
Speak in Code
7 Jackson’s Row, Manchester M2 5ND
Project Halcyon
Unit 2, Bonded Warehouse, St Johns, Manchester M3 3GS
Hawksmoor
184 – 186 Deansgate, Manchester M3 3WB
10 Tib Lane
10 Tib Lane, Manchester M2 4JB
Stray
1 Eagle Street, Manchester M4 5BU
Sterling Bar
4 Norfolk Street, Manchester M2 1DW
Last year’s winner: Schofield’s Bar, Manchester
NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR
The Pearl
425, Bury New Road, Prestwich, Manchester M25 1AF
Skof
3 Federation Street, Manchester M4 4BF
Medlock Canteen
5 Owen Street, Deansgate Square, Manchester M15 4YB
Onda Pasta Bar
Circle Square, Oxford Road, Manchester M1 7FS
Tawny Stores
1 Upper Hibbert Lane, Hawk Green, Marple SK6 7JQ
Caravan
6 Goods Yards Street, St Johns, Manchester M3 3BG
Hakkapo
13 Jack Rosenthal Street, Manchester M15 4FN
Flat Iron
200 Deansgate, Manchester M3 3NN
Last year’s winner: Higher Ground, Manchester
CHEF OF THE YEAR
Iain Thomas (The Pearl)
Joe Otway (Higher Ground)
Tom Barnes (Skof)
Sam Grainger (Medlock Canteen)
Patrick Withington (Erst)
Danielle Heron (OSMA)
Sam Buckley (Where the Light Gets In)
Julian Pizer (Another Hand)
Last year’s winner: Shaun Moffat (Edinburgh Castle)
RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR
Skof
3 Federation Street, Manchester, M4 4BF
Higher Ground
Faulkner House, New York Street, Manchester M1 4DY
Another Hand
253 Deansgate, Manchester, M3 4EN
Where the Light Gets In
7 Rostron Brow, Stockport, SK1 1JY
The Pearl
425, Bury New Road, Prestwich M25 1AF
Restaurant Örme
218 Church Road, Urmston M41 9DX
mana
42 Blossom Street, Ancoats M4 6BF
Adam Reid At The French
16 Peter Street, Manchester M60 2DS
Last year’s winner: Shaun Moffat (Edinburgh Castle)