The Manchester Food and Drink Festival Awards, which honour regional hospitality’s most talented individuals, will be back at a new venue on Monday 29 January 2024.
Taking over New Century for the evening, the 2023 Awards will recognise businesses in 18 categories, which this year include a new Takeaway of the Year category.
The full list of categories are below and the self nomination process is now open. Full details of each award can be found on the website alongside how businesses can put themselves forward for nomination.
· Affordable Eats Venue of The Year
· Takeaway of the Year
· Bar of the Year
· Chef of the Year
· Coffee Shop of the Year
· Food And Drink Retailer 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
· Newcomer of the Year
· Plant based offering of the Year
· Pop up or Project of the Year
· Pub or Beer Bar of the Year
· Great Service Award
· Restaurant of the Year
· The Howard and Ruth Award for Outstanding Achievement
The award nomination and judging period has been running since July 2022 (when last year’s nominees were announced) and will end on 6 September 2023 when the self-nomination period closes. Self-nominations are welcome from businesses that were operating in Greater Manchester during this period.
Businesses who would like to put themselves forward for an award can download a form HERE - or email [email protected]. All applications will be reviewed by the MFDF judging panel and the final awards shortlists will be announced on 11 September.
As always, the Manchester Food and Drink Awards intend to highlight as many noteworthy food and drink businesses and talented hospitality professionals as possible.
The shortlist will be decided by a judging panel of Manchester hospitality experts and then put to a public vote. Judges will also visit each restaurant as a ‘mystery shopper’.
The judging period will take place from the 11 September (when the shortlist is announced) until 20 November 2023 when the voting and mystery shopping period closes.
Alexa Stratton Powell, Director of MFDF Awards commented: “We are pleased to announce that the awards will be taking place at a new time of year. This decision was made after careful consideration around best timing for the hospitality sector. Separating the Awards from the Festival event itself also allows us to focus on each in greater depth.
“We’re really looking forward to this year’s process and ceremony after another amazing year for Manchester’s hospitality scene. We’re excited to be staging the event at New Century which we know will be an incredible new space to deliver these important awards.''