Mana brings home more awards for Manchester

Confidentials 27 October 2021

Simon Martin's Manchester restaurant is officially one of the top dining destinations in the UK

It might seem like restaurant awards come along like buses nowadays. It feels like just yesterday we were celebrating the success of the north in the National Restaurant Awards and the effects of the Manchester Food and Drink Awards are still being felt in our office, but the prestigious AA Rosettes were announced yesterday in an online ceremony.

We can’t say we were surprised to learn that Manchester’s own Michelin starred restaurant has been handed one of the most prestigious awards in the UK to add to its groaning awards shelf.

2019 10 04 Mana Simon Martin — **Chef-owner of mana, Simon Martin is known for his attention to detail**

More triumph for the north of England

Simon Martin’s mana has been awarded four AA Rosettes making it one of the top dining destinations in the country. Only three restaurants in the UK were given the honour of Four Rosette status this year, with Confidentials favourite Forest Side in Grasmere and Tuddenham Mill in Newmarket, Suffolk scooping the other two.

Tommy Banks’ York-based restaurant Roots was amongst the recipients of three AA Rosettes, with the only other winners in the north of England being Pentonbridge Inn, Cumbria and The Bow Room restaurant at Grays Court, York.

Tommy Banks In The Kitchen At Roots — **Tommy Banks' Roots in York has been awarded 3 AA Rosettes this year**

Rosettes awarded for gastronomic excellence

2021 marks the 65th year of the awards and the second that the ceremony has been held online following a turbulent couple of years for the hospitality industry.

Simon Numphud, managing director at AA Media, said: "As the hospitality sector reopens after a challenging year, it is an honour to be able to recognise those restaurants achieving the highest levels of gastronomic excellence. All 2021 rosette winners deserve to be celebrated, with each one demonstrating the exceptional culinary standards being offered to diners across the country.”

A Dish With Fresh Flowers From A Tasting Menu At Mana — **Many of the ingredients at mana are foraged by the chefs themselves**

Several of the North’s restaurants received Three Rosettes in 2020 including Where The Light Gets In, Stockport, owned by chef Sam Buckley for its "exciting food with daily evolving menu around own farm produce"; The Old Stamp House, Ambleside, Cumbria and The Barn at Moor Hall Ormskirk.

Mana has held its Michelin star since 2019, and was the first Manchester restaurant to be awarded in the honour in over 40 years. The restaurant has become known for being an "ultra-modern, city centre beacon of culinary excellence" and has paved the way for a number of other outstanding restaurants in Manchester city centre and beyond.

Congratulations to all those awarded from everyone at Confidentials.