The 2025 Manchester Food and Drink Festival Awards shortlist has been announced, and Therme Manchester, the UK’s first urban wellbeing resort under construction in TraffordCity, has been confirmed as the headline sponsor.
The winners will be revealed at the MFDF Awards Dinner at New Century Hall on Monday, January 26 and the region’s food and drink fans are invited to vote for the winners now via the MFDF website.
These are the most prestigious and longest standing awards in the North West and celebrate the region’s exceptional hospitality industry, with 128 nominees this year across 16 categories.
This year Therme Manchester is headline sponsor – a transformational large-scale wellbeing destination (imaged above) which will feature pools, saunas, waterslides, and wellbeing therapies set to complete construction in late 2028 and welcome 1.7 million guests in its first year. It promises a groundbreaking approach to nutrition, hydration, food sustainability and support for local producers,
MFDF Awards Director Alexa Stratton-Powell told me: “As we welcome Therme Manchester as a partner it’s an opportunity to celebrate the next chapter for our world-class city region and champion the talent and communities that make it extra special. This year’s list of nominees is a phenomenal example of this innovation with talent from all quarters of Greater Manchester to celebrate -from takeaways in Trafford to Michelin star meals in Ancoats.”
It does look an exceptional list. Here it is in full:
AFFORDABLE EATS VENUE OF THE YEAR (sponsored by Therme)
Noodle Alley
56A Faulkner Street, Manchester, M1 4FH
Pho Cue
52A Faulkner Street, Manchester, M1 4FH
Cafe Sanjuan
27 St Petersgate, Manchester, SK1 1EB
Hong Thai
140 Oldham Road, Ancoats, Manchester, M4 6BG
Seoul Kimchi
275 Upper Brooke Street, Manchester, M13 0HR
Double Zero
368 Barlow Moor Road, Chorlton-cum-Hardy, M21 8AZ
Wow Báhn Mì
132 Oldham Road, Ancoats, Manchester M4 6BG
Rabbie’s Thai
Civic Centre, Wythenshawe Manchester, M22 5RQ
Last year’s winner: Nell’s Pizza, Manchester
TAKEAWAY OF THE YEAR
Ceresis
166, Northenden Road, Manchester, Sale, M33 3HE
Ad Maiora
84 Tib Street, Manchester M4 1LG
Home Chinese
16 Chorlton Street, Manchester M1 3HW
Viet Deli
22 Blackfriars Street, Manchester, M3 5BQ
Pancho’s Burritos
Arndale Food Market, 49 High Street, Manchester, M4 3AH
Rack
Arndale Food Market, 49 High Street, Manchester, M4 3AH
Mughli Charcoal Pit
30 Wilmslow Road, Manchester, M14 5TQ
This & That
3 Soap Street, Manchester M4 1EW
Last year’s winner: Fat Pat’s, Manchester
CAFE OR COFFEE SHOP OF THE YEAR (new for 2025)
Cafe Sanjuan
27 St Petersgate, Manchester, SK1 1EB
Oscillate Coffee
52 Flixton Road, Urmston, M41 5AB
Federal Cafe Bar
194 Deansgate, Manchester, M3 3ND
Just Between Friends Coffee
56 Tib Street, Manchester, M4 1LG
Sipp Coffee
105 Beech Road, Chorlton-cum-Hardy, M21 9EQ
à bloc
38 Stamford Park Road, Altrincham, WA15 9EW
The Old Fire Station Bakery
47 Albion Place, Crescent, Salford M5 4NL
Something More Productive
9 Egerton Crescent, Withington, M20 4PN
WINE OFFERING OF THE YEAR (new for 2025)
Ad Hoc
28 Edge Street, Manchester, M4 1HN
Higher Ground
Faulkner House, New York Street, Manchester M1 4DY
The Beeswing
KAMPUS, 24a Minshull Street, Manchester, M1 3EF
Salut Wines
11 Cooper Street, Manchester, M2 2FW
Reserve Wines
1 Eagle Street, Manchester, M4 5BU
Flawd Wine
9 Keepers Quay, Manchester, M4 6GL
Where the Light Gets In
7 Rostron Brow, Stockport, SK1 1JY
Kerb
49 Henry Street, Manchester, M4 5DH
FOOD TRADER OF THE YEAR
The Little Sri Lankan
House of Habesha
Kargo MKT, Salford M50 3AG
Baity
Kargo MKT, Salford M50 3AG
Rita’s Reign
Piccadilly Street Food Market, Piccadilly, Manchester, M1 1LY
Rack
Arndale Food Market, 49 High Street, Manchester, M4 3AH
Taiko Ramen
1 Eagle Street, Manchester, M4 5BU
Thatziki
Kargo MKT, Salford M50 3AG
Little Scarfs
17A Lower Hillgate, Stockport, SK1 1JQ
Last year’s winner: Honest Crust, Manchester
FOODIE NEIGHBOURHOOD OF THE YEAR
Stockport
Urmston
Levenshulme
Chorlton
Monton
Salford
Altrincham
Sale
Last year’s winner: Prestwich
INDEPENDENT DRINK PRODUCER OF THE YEAR
Balance Brewing & Blending
Unit 10, Sheffield Street, Manchester, M1 2DN
Pod Pea Vodka
Ten Locks, Fairhill Road, Irlam, Manchester, M44 6BD
Stiff Tea Brewing Company
3 Hoyle Street, Manchester, M12 6HG
Sureshot Brewing
5 Sheffield Street, Manchester, M1 2DN
Runaway Brewery
9-11 Astley Street, Stockport, SK4 1AW
Track Brewing Co
Unit 18, Piccadilly Trading Estate, Manchester, M1 2NP
Seven Bro7hers
Unit 63, Waybridge Enterprise Centre, Daniel Adamson Road, Salford, Greater Manchester, M50 1DS
Weekend Project Brewing Co
Hulme Lane, Lower Peover, Knutsford, WA16 9QH
Last year’s winner: Cloudwater BrewCo, Manchester
INDEPENDENT FOOD PRODUCER OF THE YEAR
Long Boi’s Bakehouse
40 Forest Range, Manchester, M19 2HP
Holy Grain Sourdough
253 Deansgate, Great Northern Mews, Manchester M3 4EN
Littlewoods Butchers
5 School Lane, Heaton Chapel, Stockport, SK4 5DE
Lily’s Vegetarian Indian Cuisine
85 Oldham Road, Ashton-under-Lyne, OL6 7DF
Wong Wong Bakery
32 Princess Street, Manchester M1 4LB
Pollen Bakery
Cotton Field Wharf,, Manchester M4 6FQ
Half Dozen Other
Unit 17 Redbank, Cheetham Hill, Manchester, M4 4HF
Mayya Bakery
32-34, Duncan Street, Salford, M5 3SQ
Last year’s winner: Great North Pie Co, Wilmslow
NEIGHBOURHOOD VENUE OF THE YEAR
Fold Bistro & Bottle Shop
7 Town Street, Marple Bridge, SK6 5AA
Stretford Canteen
118 Chester Road, Stretford M32 9BH
The Pearl
425 Bury New Road, Prestwich, M25 1AF
Lupo
Mountheath Trading Estate, Unit 65 Ardent Way, Manchester, M25 9WE
Cantaloupe
71 Great Underbank, Stockport, SK1 1PE
Tawny Stores
1 Upper Hibbert Lane, Marple, SK6 7JQ
The Perfect Match
103 Cross Street, Sale, M33 7JN
Gladstone Barber and Bistro
Unit 3 Pattern House, Castle Street, Stalybridge, SK15 1NX
Last year’s winner: Bar San Juan, Chorlton-cum-Hardy
PUB OR BEER BAR OF THE YEAR
Victoria Tap
Victoria Station Approach, Manchester, M3 1WY
Runaway Brewery
9-11 Astley Street, Stockport, SK4 1AW
City Arms
46-48, Kennedy Street, Manchester M2 4BQ
The Marble Arch Inn
73 Rochdale Road, Manchester, M4 4HY
The Magnet Freehouse
51 Wellington Road North, Stockport SK4 1HJ
Café Beermoth
Brown Street, Manchester, M2 1DA
North Westward Ho
19 Chapel Walks, Manchester, M2 1HN
Track Taproom
Unit 18, Piccadilly Trading Estate, Manchester, M1 2NP
Last year’s winner: Mulligans, Manchester
GREAT SERVICE AWARD
Tast Catala
20-22 King Street, Manchester, M2 6AG
Atomeca
1B, Deansgate Square, Owen Street, Manchester, M15 4YB
Higher Ground
Faulkner House, New York Street, Manchester M1 4DY
Adam Reid at The French
16 Peter Street, Manchester M60 2DS
Maray
14 Brazennose Street, Manchester, M2 6LW
Federal Cafe Bar
194 Deansgate, Manchester, M3 3ND
Blacklock Manchester
37 Peter Street, Manchester M2 5GB
Kallos Cafe & Wine Bar
3 Bankside Boulevard, Salford, M3 7HD
Last. year’s winner: Schofield’s Bar, Manchester
LOW OR NO OFFERING OF THE YEAR (new for 2025)
Nell’s Pizza
22 Minshull Street, Kampus, Manchester M1 3EF
Cloudwater Brew Co
7-8 Piccadilly Trading Estate, Manchester, M1 2NP
Dishoom
32 Bridge Street, Manchester, M3 3BT
Red Light
4-2 Little David Street, Manchester, M1 3GL
Blinker Bar
64 -72 Spring Gardens, Manchester, M2 2BQ
Hinterland
16-20 Turner Street, Manchester, M4 1DZ
Lina Stores
17 Quay Street, Manchester, M3 3HN
Speak in Code
7 Jackson’s Row, Manchester, M2 5ND
BAR OF THE YEAR
Stray
1 Eagle Street, Manchester, M4 5BU
Schofield’s Bar
Sunlight House, 3 Little Quay Street, Manchester, M3 3JZ
Red Light
4-2 Little David Street, Manchester, M1 3GL
Speak in Code
7 Jackson’s Row, Manchester, M2 5ND
Pray Tell
Unit 6 Stanley Square, Sale, M33 7XZ
Renae
45-47 Thomas Street, Manchester, M4 1NA
Libero
2A Kings Court, Railway Street, Altrincham, WA14 2RE
Flawd Wine
9 Keepers Quay, Manchester, M4 6GL
Last year’s winner: Hawksmoor, Manchester
NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR
Cantaloupe
71 Great Underbank, Stockport, SK1 1PE
Bangkok Diners Club
17 Blossom Street, Ancoats, M4 5BR
Stow
62 Bridge Street, Manchester, M3 3BW
Kallos Cafe & Wine Bar
3 Bankside Boulevard, Salford, M3 7HD
Café Continental
5 Melbourne Street, Stalybridge, SK15 2JE
Winsome
74 Princess Street, Manchester, M1 6JD
Royal Nawaab Pyramid
The Pyramid Kings Valley, Stockport, SK4 2JU
Kung Fu Noodle
48A George Street, Manchester, M1 4HF
Last year’s winner: Skof, Manchester
CHEF OF THE YEAR
Rosie Maguire (Higher Ground)
Shaun Moffat (Winsome)
Adam Reid (Adam Reid at The French)
Matt Bennett (The Pearl)
Mary-Ellen McTague (Pip)
Patrick Withington (Erst)
Jamie Pickles (Stow)
Jack Fields (Restaurant Orme)
Last Year’s winner: Tom Barnes (Skof)
RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR
mana
42 Blossom Street, Ancoats, Manchester, M4 6BF
Skof
3 Federation Street, Manchester, M4 4BF
Adam Reid At The French
16 Peter Street, Manchester M60 2DS
Winsome
74 Princess Street, Manchester, M1 6JD
Higher Ground
Faulkner House, New York Street, Manchester M1 4DY
Stow
62 Bridge Street, Manchester, M3 3BW
Erst
9 Murray Street, Ancoats, Manchester, M4 6HS
Cantaloupe
71 Great Underbank, Stockport, SK1 1PE
Last year’s winner: Where The Light Gets In, Stockport
HOW TO GET INVOLVED
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 where 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 12, 2026 when the polls will be counted and combined with the judges’ scores and the winner of each category will be chosen.
The MFDF 25 Award Winners will be announced at the MFDF Awards Dinner on Monday 26th January and tickets can be purchased by emailing isabella@foodanddrinkfestival.com.