The people have chosen their hospitality heroes
The victors of Manchester Food and Drink Awards 2021 were been announced in a flamboyant ceremony at Escape To Freight Island on Monday 27 September.
Usually hosted at a more formal, black-tie style location (like Gorton Monastery in 2019 and Manchester Hall and The Midland before that), the awards this year were no less grand.
MFDF shows it is moving with the times by embracing the pop in, pop up, pop art culture of post-lockdown Manchester life at one of Manchester’s most exciting and innovative hospitality openings of the past 24 months.
The people of Manchester then voted in their droves for a record 113 nominees shortlisted over 15 award categories
In 2020, the awards were a much more muted affair, with a simple online ceremony.
This year they are back with a passion for bigging up an industry that has really felt the squeeze during the pandemic.
Another point of difference this year is that every vote was a people’s vote. This element of the voting system usually makes up only a small proportion of the decision while a crack team of mystery diners from Manchester Food and Drink alumni normally visit each contender and then argue out the final decision between them.
The shortlists were compiled by the MFDF judging panel, made up of the region's leading food and drink critics, writers and experts. The categories were carefully considered and created to reflect an innovative, diverse and inspiring food and drink industry.
The people of Manchester then voted in their droves for a record 113 nominees shortlisted over 15 award categories in the 2021 awards and one special award was given out too.
The awards were presented by Matty White and Anna Jameson with a number of guest presenters including Victoria Ekanoye, Sarah Jane Dunn and Mike Joyce.
Highlights of the night included Rachel Stockley's speech as she won the Best Chef award. Baratxuri's finest dedicated her award to women working in the industry and beyond, saying: “This award is for women. And the only reason I wanted to win this award is for women”
“Women are still getting bullied in the workplace every single day and if you do not look after each other in the workplace it will continue.”
Read on for all the winners:
Restaurant Of The Year nominees
Adam Reid at The French 16 Peter St, Manchester M60 2DS
Baratxuri 1 Smithy St, Ramsbottom, Bury BL0 9AT
Erst 9 Murray St, Ancoats, Manchester M4 6HS
Hawksmoor 184, 186 Deansgate, Manchester M3 3WB
Mana 42 Blossom St, Ancoats, Manchester M4 6BF
Sparrows 16 Red Bank, Cheetham Hill, Manchester M4 4HF
Street Urchin 72 Great Ancoats St, Manchester M4 5BG
Where The Light Gets In 7 Rostron Brow, Stockport SK1 1JY
The winner: Baratxuri
Newcomer of the Year nominees sponsored by the MEN
District 60 Oldham St, Manchester M4 1LE
Open Kitchen MCR People's History Museum, Left Bank, Manchester M3 3ER
Osma 132 Bury New Rd, Prestwich, Manchester M25 0AA
Pho Cue 52a Faulkner St, Manchester M1 4FH
Ramona 40 Swan St, Manchester M4 5JG
Schofield’s Bar 3 Little Quay Street Sunlight House, Manchester M3 3JZ
Society Basement, 100 Barbirolli Square, Manchester M2 3BD
The Moor 27 Shaw Rd, Stockport SK4 4A
The winner: Ramona
Bar of the Year nominees
Albert’s Schloss 27 Peter St, Manchester M2 5QR
Henry C 107 Manchester Rd, Chorlton-cum-Hardy, Manchester M21 9GA
Kiosk Lapwing Ln, West Didsbury, Manchester M20 6UT
Schofield’s Bar 3 Little Quay Street Sunlight House, Manchester M3 3JZ
Speak in Code 7 Jackson's Row, Manchester M2 5ND
The Blues Kitchen 13 Quay St, Manchester M3 3HN
The Jane Eyre Ancoats, 14 Hood St, Ancoats, Manchester M4 6WX
Three Little Words 12-13 Watson St, Manchester M3 4LP
The winner: Albert’s Schloss
Chef of the Year nominees
Adam Reid (The French), 16 Peter St, Manchester M60 2DS
Eddie Shepherd (The Walled Garden), 17 Alness Rd, Whalley Range, Manchester M16 8SP
Mary-Ellen McTague (The Creameries), 406 Wilbraham Rd, Manchester M21 0SD
Patrick Withington (Erst), 9 Murray St, Ancoats, Manchester M4 6HS
Rachel Stockley (Baratxuri), 1 Smithy St, Ramsbottom, Bury BL0 9AT
Sam Buckley (WTLGI), 7 Rostron Brow, Stockport SK1 1JY
Simon Martin (Mana), 42 Blossom St, Ancoats, Manchester M4 6BF
Terry Huang (Umezushi Omakase), Unit 4 Mirabel St, Manchester M3 1PJ
The winner: Rachel Stockley, Baraxturi
Pub or Beer Bar of the Year nominees
Beatnikz Republic, 35 Dale St, Manchester M1 2HF
Cob and Coal Tommyfield Market Hall, Albion St, Oldham OL1 3BG
Edinburgh Castle 17-19 Blossom St, Ancoats, Manchester M4 5AW
Heaton Hops 7 School Ln, Stockport SK4 5DE
Nordie 1044 Stockport Rd, Manchester M19 3WX
Reasons To Be Cheerful 228 Fog Ln, Manchester M20 6EL
Society Basement, 100 Barbirolli Square, Manchester M2 3BD
Stalybridge Buffet Bar Platform 4, Stalybridge Railway Station, Rassbottom St, Stalybridge SK15 1RF
The winner: Edinburgh Castle
Artisan Food Producer of the Year nominees
Companio Bakery 35 Radium St, Ancoats, Manchester M4 6AD
Gooey Ducie Street Warehouse, Manchester M1 2TP
Holy Grain Sourdough 253 Deansgate Great Northern Mews, Manchester M3 4EN
Just Natas Manchester Arndale, Manchester M4 3AD
Lily’s Deli 102 Manchester Rd, Chorlton-cum-Hardy, Manchester M21 9SZ
Pollen Bakery Cotton Field Wharf, 8 New Union St, Manchester M4 6FQ
The winners: Pollen Bakery
Pop Up/Project of the Year nominees
Escape to Freight Island, 11 Baring St, Manchester M1 2PZ
Grub 50 Red Bank, Cheetham Hill, Manchester M4 4HF
Homeground Medlock St, Manchester M15 4AA
Kampus Summer Guest Events Aytoun St, Manchester M1 3DA
Platt Fields Market Platt Fields Market Garden Platt Fields Park, Fallowfield, Manchester M14 6LT
One Central Charis House, 1 Central Way, Altrincham WA14 1SB
MIF Festival Kitchen Takeovers
The winner: Escape to Freight Island
Neighbourhood Venue of the Year nominees sponsored by Roomzzz Aparthotels
Bar San Juan 56 Beech Rd, Chorlton-cum-Hardy, Manchester M21 9EG
Levanter 10 Square St, Ramsbottom, Bury BL0 9BE
Erst 9 Murray St, Ancoats, Manchester M4 6HS
Fisherman’s Table 103 Church Ln, Marple, Stockport SK6 7AR
Lily’s 85 Oldham Rd, Ashton-under-Lyne OL6 7DF
Porta, Salford, 216 Chapel St, Salford M3 6BY
Oystercatcher 123 Manchester Rd, Chorlton-cum-Hardy, Manchester M21 9PG
Stretford Foodhall 123 Manchester Rd, Chorlton-cum-Hardy, Manchester M21 9PG
The winner: Lily's
Food Trader of the Year nominees
Abeja Oxford Rd, Manchester M1 7ED
Gooey Ducie Street Warehouse, Manchester M1 2TP
Wholesome Junkies 49 High St, Manchester M4 3AH
The winner: Wholesome Junkies
Affordable Eats of the Year nominees sponsored by Just Eat
Abeja Oxford Rd, Manchester M1 7ED
Chapati Café 496B Wilbraham Rd, Chorlton-cum-Hardy, Manchester M21 9AS
Ca Phe Viet 80-86 Oldham Rd, Ancoats, Greater, Manchester M4 5EB
Little Yeti 495 Barlow Moor Rd, Chorlton-cum-Hardy, Manchester M21 8AG
Lily’s 85 Oldham Rd, Ashton-under-Lyne OL6 7DF
Mi and Pho 384 Palatine Rd, Northenden, Wythenshawe, Manchester M22 4F
Platt Fields Market Garden Platt Fields Park, Fallowfield, Manchester M14 6LT
Rudy’s Pizza 9 Cotton St, Ancoats, Manchester M4 5BF / Petersfield House, Peter St, Manchester M2 5QJ
The winner: Rudy's
Coffee Shop of the Year nominees
Another Heart to Feed Northern Quarter, 10 Hilton St, Manchester M1 1JF
Ancoats Coffee 9 Royal Mill, 17 Redhill St, Ancoats, Manchester M4 5BA
Ezra & Gil 20 Hilton St, Manchester M1 1FR
Federal Northern Quarter, 9 Nicholas Croft, Manchester M4 1EY
Grindsmith 62 Bridge St, Manchester M3 3BW
Grapefruit 2 School Rd, Sale M33 7XY
Just Between Friends 56 Tib St, Manchester M4 1LG
Pollen Bakery Cotton Field Wharf, 8 New Union St, Manchester M4 6FQ
The winner: Federal
Foodie Neighbourhood of the Year nominees
The winner: Altrincham
Vegetarian/Vegan Offering of the Year nominees
Bundobust 61 Piccadilly, Manchester M1 2AG
Eddie Shepherd (Walled Garden), 17 Alness Rd, Whalley Range, Manchester M16 8SP
Four Side Pizza 16-20 Turner St, Manchester M4 1BB
Herbivorous Unit 16, Hatch, 103 Oxford Rd, Manchester M1 7ED
Lily’s 85 Oldham Rd, Ashton-under-Lyne OL6 7DF
Sanskruti 93-95 Mauldeth Rd, Manchester M14 6SR
Wholesome Junkies 49 High St, Manchester M4 3AH
Vertigo Unit 9, 11 Jack Rosenthal St, Manchester M15 4RA / Unit 2, Bridge House, Salford M50 2BH / 18 Cross St, Manchester M2 7AE
The winner: Bundobust
Independent Drinks Producer of the Year nominees
Bundobust 61 Piccadilly, Manchester M1 2AG
Cloudwater Brewery Units 12—13, Piccadilly Trading Estate, Manchester M1 2NP
Diablesse 396 Wilmslow Road, Manchester, M20 3B
Hip Pop (formerly Booch & Brew), Manor House Farm, Station Rd, Dunham Massey, Altrincham WA14 5SG
Manchester Gin 10-15 Watson St, Manchester M3 4LP
Northern Monk 10 Tariff St, Manchester M1 2FF
Pomona Island Beer Brew Co Ltd Daniel Adamson Rd, Salford M50
Steep Soda Co 73 Temperance St, Manchester M12 6HU
The winner: Manchester Gin
Food and Drink Retailer of the Year nominees
Ancoats General Store 57 Great Ancoats Street, Manchester M4 5AB
The Butcher’s Quarter 66 Tib St, Manchester M4 1LG
Bernie’s Grocery Store 3 Hawthorn Grove, Heaton Moor, Stockport SK4 4HZ
Grape to Grain 1 Church Ln, Prestwich, Manchester M25 1AN
Isca Wines 825 Stockport Rd, Levenshulme, Manchester M19 3PN
Out of the Blue 484 Wilbraham Rd, Chorlton-cum-Hardy, Manchester M21 9AS
Unicorn Grocery 89 Albany Rd, Chorlton-cum-Hardy, Manchester M21 0BN
Wandering Palate 191 Monton Rd, Eccles, Manchester M30 9PN
Winner: Ancoats General Store
The special Howard and Ruth award for outstanding achievement this year went to Mital Morar of Store Group.
The awards were presented in partnership with Festival headline sponsors Just Eat, and commemorated a year of strength, endurance, generosity, and success within Manchester’s food and drink industry.
The Awards Ceremony was the closing finale to a record-breaking year for MFDF with 80,000 visitors coming to the Festival Hub at Cathedral Gardens over the 11 days of the Festival.
Alexa Stratton-Powell, Director of Manchester Food and Drink Festival commented:
“We are delighted to announce the winners of this year’s awards. We set out at the Festival many years ago to champion Manchester’s talent and innovation, and to put independent businesses centre stage. Now more than ever that is what we all need to do. It’s been brilliant to bring people together again at the Festival Hub and the awards were a fitting finale - we were able to showcase and celebrate 120 amazing businesses for a celebration that was well and truly well deserved.”
Congratulations to all this year's winners and nominees from all at Confidentials. Manchester's hospitality scene continues to make us very proud.
Read next: Northcote welcomes top Michelin star chefs for Obsession 2022
Read again: Autumn Food & Drink Fair comes to Platt Fields Market Garden
Don't miss out
Get the latest food & drink news and exclusive offers by email.
