The Manchester Food and Drink Festival (MFDF) Awards are back, with 17 categories announced and Greater Manchester’s hospitality businesses invited to put themselves forward.
The annual awards celebrate the people, places and businesses shaping the region’s food and drink scene, with nominations reviewed by the MFDF judging panel, made up of leading local food and drink critics, writers and industry experts.
This year also marks the start of a major new five-year partnership between MFDF and Therme Manchester, with the landmark wellbeing resort becoming headline sponsor of the awards.
Businesses can enter by completing the registration and entry form, which will then be reviewed by the judging panel.
The 17 Manchester Food and Drink Festival Award categories are:
- Affordable Eats Venue of the Year sponsored by Therme
- Takeaway of the Year
- Cafe or Coffee Shop of the Year
- Wine Offering of the Year
- Food Trader of the Year
- Foodie Neighbourhood of the Year
- Independent Drink Producer of the Year
- Independent Food Producer of the Year
- Neighbourhood Venue of the Year
- Pub or Beer Bar of the Year
- Great Service Award
- Low or No Offering of the Year
- Bar of the Year
- Newcomer of the Year
- Chef Of The Year
- Restaurant of the Year
- The Community Food and Drink Project of the Year
Businesses across Greater Manchester are being encouraged to shout about what they bring to the region’s hospitality scene, with self-nominations open across the categories.
The shortlists will be revealed in September, when public voting will also open on the MFDF website. Public votes will be combined with scores from a mystery shopping period, with judges making anonymous visits to nominated venues in selected categories.
The winners will be announced at the MFDF Awards on Monday 25 January 2027.
Returning for 2026 is The Community Food and Drink Project of the Year, sponsored by Therme, which celebrates the people and projects making a genuine difference through food and drink.
The award is open to projects and initiatives across Greater Manchester that demonstrate social impact, innovation and long-term, sustainable benefits for local communities. That could include tackling food poverty, improving access to healthy food, championing sustainability or bringing communities together through food and drink.
The winner will receive a £1,000 grant from Therme to support its work, alongside the co-creation of a £2,000 ‘legacy’ project and mentorship from the Therme Manchester team.
Last year’s winners, MUD, have already worked with Therme to create The Manchester Pea, a digital and print publication exploring the lost history of growing food in Manchester.
Nominations for the Community Food and Drink Project of the Year can be submitted via the Google Form here.
Alexa Stratton-Powell, Awards Director of MFDF Awards, commented: “We’re thrilled that Therme Manchester has chosen to partner with us for the next five years. It’s a huge vote of confidence in the awards and in the strength, resilience and creativity of Greater Manchester’s outstanding hospitality industry.
“The awards shine a spotlight on the incredible businesses and individuals who make our region one of the UK’s most exciting food and drink destinations. We would love to hear from hospitality businesses from across Greater Manchester who would like to put themselves forward for this year’s awards so that we can discover even more great venues and showcase as many businesses as possible to the judging panel. The winners will be revealed at the awards ceremony in January 2027.”
Ben Dutson, Director of Culinary Experiences at Therme Manchester, added: “Greater Manchester has an extraordinary food and hospitality culture, and Therme Manchester will become part of that story. This five-year partnership is much more than sponsorship of an awards ceremony – it represents a long-term commitment to celebrating the talent, creativity and entrepreneurial spirit that make the region’s food and drink sector so special.
“Food and culinary experience will be a fundamental element of Therme Manchester, so building relationships with the region’s food, producers, businesses and communities is incredibly important to us. We want to champion the best of Greater Manchester, support new ideas and talent, and use our partnership with MFDF to create a positive legacy that extends well beyond the Awards themselves.”
Featured image: Carl Sukonik