25 September 2023

Honouring the region’s outstanding hospitality talent, the shortlisted nominees for the 2023 Manchester Food and Drink Festival Awards have been announced. There are 114 venues, traders, places and people nominated across 18 categories celebrating another phenomenal year for Greater Manchester’s hospitality industry.

The nominees are…

Plant Based Offering of the Year 

Bundobust
Lily’s Indian Vegetarian Cuisine
Bahn Ví
The Walled Gardens
Maray
Speak in Code
Flawd Wine
The Mekong Cat

Takeaway of the Year

Fat Pat’s
Ad Maoira
Unagi Street Food & Sushi
Ciaooo Garlic Bread
Wright’s Fish and Chips
Maida Grill House
Al Madina
Burgerism

Independent Drink Producer of the Year

Sureshot Brewing
Stockport Gin
Cloudwater Brew Co
Tarsier Spirit
Pod Pea Vodka
Manchester Union Brewery
Squawk Brewing Co
Track

Independent Food Producer of the Year

Pollen
Great North Pie Co
La Chouquette
Gooey
Yellowhammer
The Manchester Smoke House
The Flat Baker
Companio Bakery

Foodie Neighbourhood of the Year

Levenshulme
Stockport
Altrincham
Urmston
Prestwich
Monton
Sale
Stretford

Coffee Shop of the Year

Grapefruit Coffee 
Cafe Sanjuan
Another Heart to Feed
Idle Hands Coffee
Bold Street Coffee
Smoak
Ancoats Coffee Co
Siop Shop

Food Trader of the Year

Baratxuri
Chaat Cart
Triple B
Tawny Stores
Little Sri Lanken
Pico’s Taco’s
Oh Mei Dumplings
Fat Pat’s

Affordable Eats Venue of the Year

Nila’s Burmese Kitchen
Great North Pie Co
Cafe Sanjuan
Noodle Alley
Tokyo Ramen
Lily’s Deli
House of Habesha
Ornella’s Kitchen

Food and Drink Retailer of the Year

Ad Hoc Wines
Out of the Blue Fishmongers
Littlewoods Butcher
Wandering Palate
New Market Dairy
Petit Paris Deli
Cork of the North
La Chouquette

Pop Up or Project of the year

Our Place
Platt Fields Market Garden
Tawny Stores
SAMPA
Little Sri Lankan
Suppher
Fare Share
Micky’s

Pub or Beer Bar of the Year

The Marble Arch
Track Brewery Taproom
The City Arms
Runaway Brewery Taproom
Fox & Pine
Reddish Ale
Station Hop
Heaton Hops

Bar of the Year 

The Jane Eyre
Blinker
Red Light
Sterling Bar
Hawksmoor
Schofield’s Bar
10 Tib Lane
Flawd Wine

Neighbourhood Venue of the Year

Restaurant Örme
Stretford Canteen
OSMA
Ornella’s Kitchen
The Oystercatcher
Yellowhammer
Fold Bistro & Bottle Shop
The Jane Eyre

Great Service Award

Hawksmoor
Higher Ground
Schofield’s Bar
Where The Light Gets In
Climat
Wood Manchester
Sterling Bar
Tast Catala

Newcomer of the year

Climat
Higher Ground
Restaurant Örme
Fold Bistro & Bottle Shop
The Jane Eyre
Madre
New Century Kitchen
Stretford Canteen

Chef of the Year

Joseph Otway (Higher Ground)
Danielle Heron (OSMA)
Luke Richardson (Climat)
Julian Pizer (Another hand)
Shaun Moffat (The Edinburgh Castle Pub)
Patrick Withington (Erst)
Seri Nam (Flawd Wine)
Mike Shaw (MUSU)

Restaurant of the Year

Higher Ground
Climat
Another Hand
10 Tib Lane
OSMA
Erst
The Spärrows
mana

The Howard and Ruth Award for Outstanding Achievement (TBA)

Recognising people who have contributed something outstanding to the hospitality industry in Greater Manchester.

The shortlisted nominees have been compiled by the expert MFDF judging panel – that’s made up of the region’s leading food and drink critics, writers, and experts - taking into account award submissions from the hospitality industry.

A mystery shopping period will now commence alongside the public vote. During this period judges will visit nominated venues for a mystery dining visit, as they score venues based on their experiences. 

The mystery shopping and public voting period will end on 20 November 2023 when the polls will be counted and combined with the judges’ scores, and the winner of each category will be chosen. 

The MFDF 23 Award Winners will be announced at the MFDF Gala Dinner & Awards on 29 January 2024 at New Century. Tickets can be purchased by emailing [email protected]