IT’s a bit like the first cuckoo of spring. The annual announcement of the Manchester Food and Drink Festival dates is a harbinger of one of the city’s great enduring treats. Lip-smacking indeed. This year’s citywide event, 10 action packed days of food, drink and fun centred on Albert Square, will run from Thursday, September 27 to Monday, October 8 ,and the climactic Manchester Food and Drink Awards Gala Dinner.
Organisers are busy cooking up this year's programme and are inviting the public to share their ideas for events they would like to see.
Festival director Alexa Stratton Powell said: “Ours has always been a festival for the people. With that in mind we’d love to hear from the food lovers of Manchester on what they’d like to see in the festival as we enter our next decade.
"We have always listened to our fans and followers and paid careful attention to the city’s ever-changing food trends. Now we’re taking that a step further as we plan our most innovative festival yet and consider lots of fresh ideas.
"Who better to be part of this brainstorming session than those who attend it year on year as customers? Food lovers of Manchester – we want to hear from YOU!”
The first events on this year's programme will begin to be announced from March onwards. Last year's highlights included a series of banquets inside Manchester's Mayfield Depot and live cookery demos from names including Aiden Byrne, Wahaca's Thomasina Miers and Deliciously Ella's Ella Mills (pictured above with ToM’s own Matty White).
Festival founder Phil Jones said: “In the setting of one of the most exciting cities in the world, we intend to explore brand new ideas for the festival once again and promise some exciting times for our 21st birthday!”
Anyone with suggestions for this year's festival can email [email protected] or tweet @mfdf18 .