A chance to recognise and celebrate our wonderful hospitality industry in their toughest year

We were pleased to report recently that Manchester Food & Drink Festival will be going ahead this autumn. The 23rd annual citywide festival will take place from 24th September to 5th October 2020 and will be the first major festival to take place in the city centre since the COVID-19 crisis began.

The Festival Hub will be in Cathedral Gardens, with a new layout and various systems designed to ensure reasonable social distancing measures (read more here). There’ll also be the usual packed programme of events in partnership with the city’s restaurants, bars, cafes and chefs with a special focus on celebrating Manchester’s diverse and resilient hospitality industry, which has certainly had a challenging year.

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

But what about the much anticipated Manchester Food and Drink Awards, which usually round off the annual festival with a hospitality filled gala dinner? These awards usually mark the culmination of months of mystery dining visits and meetings by members of the MFDF judging panel, which includes a number of the region's leading food and drink experts, food writers and hospitality consultants. 

Obviously they haven’t been able to visit restaurants in person for a significant chunk of the year, but this doesn’t mean that the awards shouldn’t go ahead in some form.

2019 10 07 Mfdf 2019 Phil Jones
Phil Jones, the festival's founding director at last year's gala dinner

The MFDF organisers and judges felt strongly that there needed to be some way to recognise and celebrate the amazing creativity, energy, innovation and adaptability shown by Greater Manchester restaurants, chefs and hospitality teams despite the restrictions forced upon them back in March when lockdown forced all restaurants to close.

The nominations for the 23rd Manchester Food and Drink Festival Awards have been announced today. 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.

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. 

Mfdf Gala
Last year's gala dinner was held at Gorton Monastery. This year, the event will be live streamed

There will be no mystery shopping by the judges this year, as voting will be carried out entirely by the public via the MFDF website and the brand new MFDF app (which will be downloadable from early September).  

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 wider public will be able to watch at the same time. More details on this to be announced soon. 

Commentating on the awards, Manchester Food & Drink Festival founding director Phil Jones 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.”


And the nominations are...

Andrew Nutter

BEST ONLINE ‘AT HOME’ FOOD AND DRINK CONTENT SPONSORED BY MODA ANGEL GARDENS 

Recognising the best online food and drink content shared during lockdown by Manchester’s chefs, producers and industry experts. 

Andrew Nutter (pictured) – For his online cookery videos broadcast via social media

https://twitter.com/nutsfood?lang=en

Cork of the North- For their live wine tasting masterclasses broadcast via social media

https://www.corkofthenorth.co.uk/wine-tasting-events/

Higher Ground - For their live cook-alongs broadcast via social media

https://instagram.com/highergroundmcr

Manchester Gin - For their live gin masterclasses  broadcast via social media 

https://manchestergin.co.uk

Rachel Stockley from Baratxuri - For her online cookery videos broadcast via social media

https://twitter.com/rachelmstockley

Sienna & Maurizio Cecco from Salvi’s – For their live cook-alongs and online cookery videos all broadcast via social media 

https://www.facebook.com/salvismcr/

Simon Wood - For his online cookery videos broadcast via social media

https://www.facebook.com/SimonWoodMasterChefUK/

Six By Nico - For their Now Cooking series broadcast via social media

https://m.facebook.com/SixbyNicoManchester

2020 06 22 Rudys Packaged

THE BEST RESTAURANT TAKEAWAY ADAPTATION SPONSORED BY JUST EAT 

Recognising restaurants who have adapted their business model, menus and offering to provide a takeaway/delivery service during lockdown. 

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 (pictured above)

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

2020 07 06 Hawksmoor At Home Kit

BEST DIY DELIVERY FOOD OFFERING SPONSORED BY ROOMZZZ APARTHOTELS 

Recognising the restaurants, chefs and businesses who have created ‘do it yourself’ recipe delivery meal kits for people to create their own restaurant quality meals/dishes at home. 

Adam Reid - Great British Menu Box (read our review here)

https://adam-reid.co.uk/shop/  

Baratxuri - Menu Delivery Boxes 

https://www.baratxuri.co.uk

1 Smithy St, Ramsbottom, Bury BL0 9AT

DD’s Burgers @ The Koffee Pot - The Lockdown DIY Burger Kit (read our review here)

https://www.thekoffeepot.co.uk/lockdown-kits/the-lockdown-diy-burger-kit

84- 86 Oldham Street, Northern Quarter, Manchester M4 1LE

Elite Bistros at Home

https://www.elitebistros.com/product-category/elite-at-home/

Hawksmoor at Home (read our review here)

https://thehawksmoor.com/product/hawksmoor-at-home/

184, 186 Deansgate, Manchester M33WB

Northern Soul - Grill it Yourself Kit

https://www.northernsoulmcr.com/order-now/

Unit 10-11 Church Street, Manchester M4 1PN

Wood at Home (read our review here)

https://woodrestaurantgroup.com/manchester

WOOD Manchester, Jack Rosenthal St, Manchester M15 4RA

Yao Yao Noodles - Ramen Kit Delivery 

https://yaoyaonoodles.co.uk

18 Red Bank, Manchester M4 4HF

2020 04 02 Noones

BEST FOOD AND DRINK BOX DELIVERY  

Recognising the best food and drink delivery boxes created to serve the community with fine food and drink during lockdown. 

Grandad Sausages - “The Sausage Hotline”-  Delivering BBQ Kits and Breakfast Packs

https://www.grandadssausages.co.uk

Great North Pie Co - Pie Box Delivery 

https://greatnorthpie.co

Dearway Trading Estate, Wilmslow Road, Handforth, Wilmslow SK9 3HW

Lupo Caffe Italiano - Italian Treats and Veg Boxes 

https://www.lupocaffe.co.uk

Boat Shed, 2.05, 16 Exchange Quay, Salford M5 3EQ

R Noone and Son- Fruit and Veg boxes 

http://www.rnooneandson.co.uk

R Noone & Son, Units 2,3 & 4 Southside, Bredbury Park Way, Stockport SK6 2SP

Reserve Wines - Wine Box Deliveries

https://www.reservewines.co.uk  

176 Burton Road, Manchester M20 1LH

ShinDigger Brewing Co - Beer Delivery Boxes In Under 3 Hours 

https://www.shindiggerbrewing.co

Unit 11, Springfield Lane Industrial Estate, Salford M3 7JQ

The Crafty Cheese Man - Cheese Board Delivery Boxes

https://www.facebook.com/thecraftycheeseman/

Zouk -  BBQ Boxes

https://zoukteabar.co.uk

Unit 5, Chester Street, Manchester M15QS

Cloudwater Brews7483Dd

BEST INNOVATION 

Recognising the most impressive business innovations by food and drink operators during the COVID-19 crisis. 

Grub-E-Mart  - hosting street vendors online for orders and collections

50 Red Bank, Cheetham Hill, Manchester M4 4HF

Levenshulme Market - providing a platform for traders to go online as well as local charities

Stockport Road, Manchester M19 3PW

Andrew Nutter - Nutter’s Cheese and Wine Boutique

Nutters Restaurant, Edenfield Road, Rochdale OL12 7TT

Cloudwater - supporting other breweries through the crisis, letting them use their webshop and supporting Higher Ground with deliveries

7-8 Piccadilly trading Estate, Manchester M1 2NP

Didsbury Gin - being the first gin company to move production to hand sanitiser 

Conavon Court, 12 Blackfriars Street, Salford, M3 5BQ

Manchester Union Lager - growler collection and refills

96 N Western Street, Manchester M12 6JL

House of Hops - investing in canning production to enable them to order, pour, seal and deliver beer on the same day

1 Pendlebury Road, Swinton, Manchester M27 4AG

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

Chester Road, Stretford, Manchester M32 9BD

2019 11 07 Edinburgh Castle Sign

NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR 

Recognising the best new food and drink operations to open in Greater Manchester since the last awards decision period. 

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

https://www.highergroundmcr.co

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

Wholesome Junkies

BEST ONLINE VEGGIE/VEGAN OFFERING

This award recognises the restaurants and food businesses that have provided innovative and exciting menu options for vegetarian and vegan diners via takeaway/delivery services during lockdown. 

Wholesome Junkies

http://www.wholesomejunkies.com

Blue Caribou Canteen 

https://www.thebluecariboucanteen.co.uk

Yao Yao Noodles

https://yaoyaonoodles.co.uk

Vaso Indian Kitchen

https://www.facebook.com/vasokitchenmcr/

The Walled Gardens by Eddie Shepherd (read our review)

http://www.veggiechef.co.uk/?LMCL=Uh91Ib

Herbivorous

https://www.herbivorous.co.uk

The Ottomen

https://www.theottomen.com

Pasta Factory

http://www.pastafactory.co.uk/menu/

20190425 Four Sisters 13 867X289

ARTISAN DRINKS PRODUCER OF THE YEAR  

This award recognises the plethora of fabulous local drinks produce, from gins and ciders to ales and meads, produced in Greater Manchester. 

Didsbury Gin

https://www.didsburygin.com

Four Sisters

https://sis4ersdistillery.com

Manchester Gin 

https://manchestergin.co.uk

Diablesse Rum

https://diablesserum.co.uk

Manchester Union Lager

https://manchesterunionbrewery...

Cloudwater Brewing

https://cloudwaterbrew.co

ShinDigger Brewing Co

https://www.shindiggerbrewing.co

Track Brew Co

https://trackbrewing.co

Pkb Coffee 13217127 577717412421079 7651857061217125680 O

TAKEAWAY COFFEE EXPERIENCE OF THE YEAR 

This category recognises quality coffee takeaways during the COVID-19 crisis. *This category is an adaptation of The Coffee Shop of the Year award and only recognises those businesses that were able to stay open via takeaway. 

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

2019 12 10 Abeja At Hatch Bar

STREET FOOD TRADER OF THE YEAR  

Awarding one of the Greater Manchester-based street food legends who have adapted their services to provide takeaways and deliveries during lockdown. 

The Ottomen (read our review here)

https://www.theottomen.com

Oh Mei Dumpling

https://www.facebook.com/ohmeidumpling/

Ginger’s Comfort Emporium

https://www.gingerscomfortemporium.com

Nasi Lemak

https://www.facebook.com/NasiLemakMcr/

Herbivorous

https://www.herbivorous.co.uk

Abeja Tapas Bar (pictured)

http://abejatapasbar.com

I Knead Pizza

https://www.facebook.com/ikneadpizzamcr/

Jerk Shack

https://www.facebook.com/jerkshacknq/

2020 05 14 Eat Well Mcr Rachel Stockley

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. 

This has been opened up for public nominations. Let them know about your local ‘lockdown’ hero' at www.foodanddrinkfestival.com. It can be anyone you think deserves recognition. 


The closing date for votes is midnight on the 26th September and the winners will then be announced at the virtual awards ceremony on 5th October.