Food and drink heroes from across the whole of Greater Manchester are nominated
Manchester Food and Drink Festival has announced the shortlists for its 2022 Awards. There are a whopping 113 nominees shortlisted across 16 award categories, including the brand new "Great Service" award.
Manchester's hospitality scene is phenomenal and the industry is absolutely central to our vision of creating thriving cities
2022’s shortlist really does show what an exemplary region Greater Manchester is for food and drink. Always a calendar highlight, the awards are back and bigger than ever for Manchester Food and Drink Festival’s 25th Anniversary in 2022.
This year, the winners will be decided by both the public and a judging panel of Manchester hospitality experts. For the public awards, the city’s food and drinks fans can vote for their hospitality heroes via the MFDF website.
Some of the categories will be decided entirely by public vote this year, with some made up from the public votes alongside a mystery shopping visit from one of the judging panel. The Independent Drinks Producer of the Year and the Independent Food Producer of the Year Awards will also be judged by a panel taste test.
Read on for the shortlist in full and click the name of the nominees for interviews, reviews, guides and other in depth information on all of them from team Confidentials.
The shortlist for the Manchester food and drink awards 2022 in full:
Plant-based offering of the year
The Walled Garden, Alness Road, Whalley Range
Sanskruti, 93-95 Mauldeth Road, Manchester M14 6SR
Ruyi, 101 Manchester Road, Chorlton-cum-Hardy, Manchester, M21 9GA
Otto Vegan Empire, 26A Bramhall Lane South, Bramhall, Stockport, SK7 1AF
Wholesome Junkies, Unit 4 Mirabel Street, Manchester, M3 1PJ
Four Side Pizza, 559 Wilbraham Road, Chorlton-cum-Hardy, Manchester, M21 0AE
Herbivorous, Unit 7, Hatch, 103 Oxford Road, M1 7ED
Independent drinks producer of the year
Cloudwater, 7-8 Piccadilly Trading Estate, Manchester, M1 2NP
Hip Pop, Manor House Farm, Station Road, Dunham Massey, Altrincham, WA14 5SG
Steep Soda, 73 Temperance Street, Manchester, M12 6HU
Track, Unit 18 Piccadilly Trading Estate, Manchester, M1 2NP
Stockport Gin, 19B St Peters Gate, Stockport, SK1 1EB
Bundobust Brewery, St James’ Building, 61-69 Oxford Street, Manchester M1 6EQ
Foodie neighbourhood of the year
Coffee shop of the year
Grapefruit, 2 School Road, Sale, M33 7XY
Station South, 975-977 Stockport Road, M19 3NP
Café Sanjuan, 27 St Petersgate, Manchester, SK1 1EB
Pollen, Cotton Field Wharf, 8 New Union Street, Manchester, M4 6FQ
Factory Coffee, 38 King street West, Manchester, M3 2WZ
Grind and Tamp, 45 Bridge Street, Ramsbottom, Bury, BL0 9AD
Just Between Friends, 56 Tib Street, Manchester, M4 1LG
Food trader of the year
House of Habesha, Stretford Foodhall, Chester Road, M32 9BD
Little Sri Lankan, Reddish, Stockport
Burgerism, 18 West Ashton Street, Salford, M50 2XS
New Wave Ramen, Mackie Mayor, 1 Eagle Street, Manchester, M4 5BU
Lovingly Artisan, Altrincham Market, Greenwood Street, Altrincham, WA14 1PF
Mira, Ancoats General Store, 57 Great Ancoats Street, Manchester, M4 5AB
Picos Tacos, Mackie Mayor, 1 Eagle Street, Manchester, M4 5BU
Affordable eats venue of the year
Auntie Ji’s, 987 Stockport Road, Manchester, M19 2SY
Banh Mi Co Ba, 87 Oxford Street, Manchester, M1 6EG
Café Sanjuan, 27 St Petersgate, Manchester, SK1 1EB
Levenshulme Bakery, 842 Stockport Road, Levenshulme, Manchester, M19 3AW
Go Falafel, 3 Newton Street, Manchester, M1 1HW
Mama Flo's, 314 Buxton Road, Stockport, SK2 7DD
Salt and Pepper MCR, Black Dog Ballroom, 52 Church Street, Manchester M4 1PW
Independent food producer of the year
Dormouse Chocolates, Unit O, Deansgate Mews, Manchester M3 4EN
Great North Pie Co, Market House, Altrincham, WA15 1SA
Holy Grain, 253 Deansgate Great Northern Mews, Manchester M3 4EN
La Chouquette, 812a Wilmslow Rd, Didsbury, Manchester M20 6UH
Long Bois, 40 Forest Range, Manchester M19 2HP
Yellowhammer, 15 Lower Hillgate, Stockport SK1 1JQ
Pop-up or project of the year
Bungalow at Kampus, Aytoun Street, Manchester M1 3GL
Eat Well Spring Festival, Platt Fields Market Garden, Platt Fields Park, Fallowfield, Manchester, M14 6LT
Plattfields Market Garden, Platt Fields Park, Fallowfield, Manchester, M14 6LT
Sao Paolo by Caroline Martins, 51 Blossom Street, Ancoats, Manchester, M4 6BF
Pub or beer bar of the year
Track Taproom, Unit 18 Piccadilly Trading Estate, Manchester, M1 2NP
Nordie, 044 Stockport Rd, Manchester M19 3WX
Heaton Hops, 7 School Lane, Stockport, SK4 5DE
House of Hops, 1 Pendlebury Road, Swinton, Manchester, M27 4AG
Kings Arms, 11 Bloom Street, Salford, M3 6AN
Station Hop, 815 Levenshulme Road, Manchester, M19 3BS
Bridge Beers, 55 Melbourne Street, Staylbridge, SK15 2JJ
Bar of the year
10 Tib Lane, 10 Tib Ln, Manchester, M2 4JB
Speak in Code, 7 Jackson's Row, Manchester, M2 5ND
Flawd, 9 Keepers Quay, Manchester, M4 6GL
Schofield's, 3 Little Quay Street Sunlight House, Manchester, M3 3JZ
Blinker, 64-72 Spring Gardens, Manchester, M2 2BQ
Ramona, 40 Swan Street, Manchester, M4 5JG
Henry C, 107 Manchester Road, Chorlton-cum-Hardy, Manchester, M21 9GA
Neighbourhood venue of the year
Osma, 132 Bury New Rd, Prestwich, Manchester, M25 0AA
The Perfect Match, 103 Cross St, Sale, M33 7JN
Bar San Juan, 56 Beech Rd, Chorlton-cum-Hardy, Manchester, M21 9EG
Baratxuri, 1 Smithy St, Ramsbottom, Bury, BL0 9AT
Easy Fish, 117 Heaton Moor Rd, Heaton Moor, SK4 4HY
Ornella’s Kitchen, 10 Manchester Rd, Denton, Manchester, M34 3LE
Nila's Burmese Kitchen, 386 Third Ave, Trafford Park, Stretford, Manchester, M17 1JE
Chef of the year
Caroline Martins, Sao Paulo Project, Blossom Street Social, 51 Blossom St, Ancoats, Manchester M4 6AJ
Eddie Shepherd, The Walled Garden, Whalley Range
Joseph Otway, Flawd, 9 Keepers Quay, Manchester, M4 6GL
Sam Buckley, Where the Light Gets In, 7 Rostron Brow, Stockport SK1 1JY
Patrick Withington, Erst, 9 Murray St, Ancoats, Manchester M4 6HS
Adam Reid, The French, The Midland Hotel, 16 Peter St, Manchester M60 2DS
Julian Pizer, Another Hand, Unit F, 253 Deansgate, Manchester M3 4EN
Restaurant of the year
10 Tib Lane, 10 Tib Lane, Manchester, M2 4JB
Erst, Erst, 9 Murray St, Ancoats, Manchester M4 6HS
The Sparrows, 16 Red Bank, Cheetham Hill, Manchester M4 4HF
Another Hand, Another Hand, Unit F, 253 Deansgate, Manchester M3 4EN
Mana, 42 Blossom St, Ancoats, Manchester M4 6BF
Where the Light Gets In, 7 Rostron Brow, Stockport SK1 1JY
The Firehouse, 40 Swan St, Manchester M4 5JG
Newcomer of the year
Establishments that opened for the first time between June 2021 – May 2022
10 Tib Lane, 10 Tib Ln, Manchester, M2 4JB
Another Hand, Unit F, 253 Deansgate, Manchester, M3 4EN
The Alan, 18 Princess St, Manchester, M1 4LG
Flawd, 9 Keepers Quay, Manchester, M4 6GL
Yellowhammer, 15 Lower Hillgate, Stockport, SK1 1JQ
The Black Friar, 41-43 Blackfriars Rd, Manchester, M3 7DB
Bundobust Brewery, St James’ Building, 61-69 Oxford Street, Manchester M1 6EQ
Food and drink retailer of the year
Wandering Palate, 191 Monton Rd, Eccles, Manchester, M30 9PN
Coopers Let's Fress Deli, 70 Bury Old Road, Whitefield, Prestwich, M45 6TL
Chorlton Cheesemongers, 486 Wilbraham Rd, Chorlton-cum-Hardy, Manchester, M21 9AS
Hello Oriental, Unit 3B South Pavilion 2 Symphony Park, Manchester, M1 7FS
Ad Hoc, 28 Edge St, Manchester, M4 1HN
Le Social, Container 147, Pollard Yard, 15 Pollard St E, Manchester M40 7SL
Out of the Blue, 484 Wilbraham Rd, Chorlton-cum-Hardy, Manchester, M21 9AS
Great service award
Flawd, 9 Keepers Quay, Manchester, M4 6GL
Hawksmoor, 184-186, Deansgate, Manchester, M3 3WB
10 Tib Lane, 10 Tib Ln, Manchester, M2 4JB
Bull & Bear, 4 Norfolk St, Manchester, M2 1DW
Dishoom, 32 Bridge St, Manchester, M3 3BT
Schofield's, 3 Little Quay Street Sunlight House, Manchester, M3 3JZ
Speak in Code, 7 Jackson's Row, Manchester, M2 5ND
All the shortlists have been compiled by the MFDF judging panel, consisting of the region's leading food and drink critics, writers and experts. Businesses were able to self-nominate for their chance to gain a spot on the shortlist and the categories have been carefully considered by the judging panel who all have an absolute passion for Manchester food and drink.
Voting is now open and the winners will be announced at the MFDF Gala Dinner and Awards (sponsored by Bruntwood) at Escape to Freight Island on 26 September. If it's anything like last year's, we're going to pre-book a week off work afterwards to recover.
Alexa Stratton-Powell, Director of MFDF said:
“This is an incredible list of brilliant businesses that we are proud to celebrate. As we look forward to our 25th year it’s all about the talent that has shaped this last quarter century and made the city’s food scene the world-class destination that it is today. Please get involved, vote for your favourites and visit the amazing venues on the shortlist for yourselves!”
Charlotte Wild, Head of Retail & Leisure at Bruntwood commented:
“We’re proud to become headline sponsor for these important awards. Manchester's hospitality scene is phenomenal and the industry is absolutely central to our vision of creating thriving cities. We're excited to celebrate 25 years of the Manchester Food and Drink Festival this Autumn, alongside all the talented nominees and winners at the Awards on 26 September. Congratulations to all those shortlisted!”
Team Confidentials is pleased to see such a varied and interesting shortlist this year. Make sure you vote for your favourites and we'll look forward to celebrating with the winners in September.
Well done to all those nominated.
Read next: Booze with views: the best Manchester roof terraces
Read again: MFDF announces £25 menus, fire pit and New Century Hall wine fest
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