Hospitality talent from across Greater Manchester came together at New Century on Monday (26th January), for the return of the prestigious Manchester Food and Drink Festival (MFDF) Awards sponsored by Therme Manchester. The event saw 18 winners announced from food and drink establishments across the region. With 130 outstanding venues, traders, places and people nominated, the categories recognise both the businesses and talented individuals who have shaped the city’s culinary scene over the past 12 months.
The MFDF Awards shine a spotlight on Manchester’s dynamic hospitality scene — a vital part of the city’s identity and global reputation. Judged by a panel of respected food and drink experts, writers and critics, the 18 award categories showcase the scale, quality and diversity of the region’s food and drink landscape, from Michelin-starred restaurants to affordable favourites and exciting new openings.This year, the MFDF awards are sponsoredby Therme Manchester - a transformational large-scale wellbeing destination which will feature pools, saunas, waterslides, and wellbeing therapies set to complete construction in late 2028. As part of the partnership this year’s awards saw the first, “Community Food and Drink Project of the Year” created. This new category recognises and celebrates the outstanding food and drink initiatives making a real difference in Greater Manchester, with nominations received from a range of brilliant organisations and the winner receiving a £1000 funding boost from Therme as well as a further £2000 to kick off a joint legacy project.
Shortlisted venues were put to the public vote via the MFDF website where thousands of food and drink fans voted for their favourite winner. Scores from a mystery shopping visit, carried out by members of the judging panel, were also combined with the public vote for some of the awards to determine the winners.Alexa Stratton-Powell, Awards Director of Manchester Food and Drink Festival Awards commented:
“We’re incredibly proud to announce this year’s winners, who together represent the excellence, creativity and resilience of Greater Manchester’s hospitality sector. At a time when the industry continues to face tough head winds, it’s more important than ever to recognise and celebrate the people and venues doing exceptional work every day.
“We’re hugely grateful to Therme for their support of the awards, and for backing a sector that plays such a vital role in the life of the city. Manchester continues to lead the way as one of the world’s most exciting food destinations, and we hope this year’s winners and nominees inspire food lovers to go out and support the brilliant venues right on their doorstep.”
So, without further ado, let's get into it...
Affordable Eats Venue of the Year
WINNER: DOUBLE ZERO
Shortlisted venues:
Noodle Alley
56A Faulkner Street, Manchester, M1 4FH
Pho Cue
52A Faulkner Street, Manchester, M1 4FH
Cafe Sanjuan
27 St Petersgate, Manchester, SK1 1EB
Hong Thai
140 Oldham Road, Ancoats, Manchester, M4 6BG
Seoul Kimchi
275 Upper Brooke Street, Manchester, M13 0HR
Wow Báhn Mì
132 Oldham Road, Ancoats, Manchester, M4 6BG
Rabbie’s Thai
Civic Centre, Wythenshawe, Manchester, M22 5RQ
Takeaway of the Year
WINNER: THIS & THAT
Shortlisted venues:
Ceresis
166 Northenden Road, Sale, Manchester, M33 3HE
Ad Maiora
84 Tib Street, Manchester, M4 1LG
Home Chinese
16 Chorlton Street, Manchester, M1 3HW
Viet Deli
22 Blackfriars Street, Manchester, M3 5BQ
Pancho’s Burritos
Arndale Food Market, 49 High Street, Manchester, M4 3AH
Rack
Arndale Food Market, 49 High Street, Manchester, M4 3AH
Mughli Charcoal Pit
30 Wilmslow Road, Manchester, M14 5TQ
Café or Coffee Shop of the Year
WINNER: SOMETHING MORE PRODUCTIVE
Shortlisted venues:
Cafe Sanjuan
27 St Petersgate, Manchester, SK1 1EB
Oscillate Coffee
52 Flixton Road, Urmston, Manchester, M41 5AB
Federal Cafe Bar
194 Deansgate, Manchester, M3 3ND
Just Between Friends Coffee
56 Tib Street, Manchester, M4 1LG
Sipp Coffee
105 Beech Road, Chorlton-cum-Hardy, Manchester, M21 9EQ
à bloc
38 Stamford Park Road, Altrincham, WA15 9EW
The Old Fire Station Bakery
47 Albion Place, Crescent, Salford, M5 4NL
Wine Offering of the Year (new for 2025)
WINNER: FLAWD WINE
Ad Hoc
28 Edge Street, Manchester, M4 1HN
Higher Ground
Faulkner House, New York Street, Manchester, M1 4DY
The Beeswing
KAMPUS, 24a Minshull Street, Manchester, M1 3EF
Salut Wines
11 Cooper Street, Manchester, M2 2FW
Reserve Wines
1 Eagle Street, Manchester, M4 5BU
Where the Light Gets In
7 Rostron Brow, Stockport, SK1 1JY
Kerb
49 Henry Street, Manchester, M4 5DH
Food Trader of the Year
WINNER: RACK
Shortlisted venues:
The Little Sri Lankan
House of Habesha
Kargo MKT, Salford, M50 3AG
Baity
Kargo MKT, Salford, M50 3AG
Rita’s Reign
Piccadilly Street Food Market, Manchester, M1 1LY
Taiko Ramen
1 Eagle Street, Manchester, M4 5BU
Thatziki
Kargo MKT, Salford, M50 3AG
Little Scarfs
17A Lower Hillgate, Stockport, SK1 1JQ
Foodie Neighbourhood of the Year
WINNER: STOCKPORT
Shortlisted neighbourhoods:
Urmston
Levenshulme
Chorlton
Monton
Salford
Altrincham
Sale
Independent Drink Producer of the Year
WINNER: TRACK BREWING CO
Shortlisted venues:
Balance Brewing & Blending
Unit 10, Sheffield Street, Manchester, M1 2DN
Pod Pea Vodka
Ten Locks, Fairhill Road, Irlam, Manchester, M44 6BD
Stiff Tea Brewing Company
3 Hoyle Street, Manchester, M12 6HG
Sureshot Brewing
5 Sheffield Street, Manchester, M1 2DN
Runaway Brewery
9–11 Astley Street, Stockport, SK4 1AW
Seven Bro7hers
Unit 63, Waybridge Enterprise Centre, Salford, M50 1DS
Weekend Project Brewing Co
Hulme Lane, Lower Peover, Knutsford, WA16 9QH
Independent Food Producer of the Year
WINNER: POLLEN BAKERY
Shortlisted venues:
Long Boi’s Bakehouse
40 Forest Range, Manchester, M19 2HP
Holy Grain Sourdough
253 Deansgate Great Northern Mews, Manchester, M3 4EN
Littlewoods Butchers
5 School Lane, Heaton Chapel, Stockport, SK4 5DE
Lily’s Vegetarian Indian Cuisine
85 Oldham Road, Ashton-under-Lyne, OL6 7DF
Wong Wong Bakery
32 Princess Street, Manchester, M1 4LB
Half Dozen Other
Unit 17 Redbank, Cheetham Hill, Manchester, M4 4HF
Mayya Bakery
32–34 Duncan Street, Salford, M5 3SQ
Neighbourhood Venue of the Year
WINNER: STRETFORD CANTEEN
Shortlisted venues:
Fold Bistro & Bottle Shop
7 Town Street, Marple Bridge, Stockport, SK6 5AA
The Pearl
425 Bury New Road, Prestwich, Manchester, M25 1AF
Lupo
Unit 65 Ardent Way, Mountheath Trading Estate, Manchester, M25 9WE
Cantaloupe
71 Great Underbank, Stockport, SK1 1PE
Tawny Stores
1 Upper Hibbert Lane, Marple, Stockport, SK6 7JQ
The Perfect Match
103 Cross Street, Sale, M33 7JN
Gladstone Barber and Bistro
Unit 3 Pattern House, Castle Street, Stalybridge, SK15 1NX
Pub or Beer Bar of the Year
WINNER: THE MARBLE ARCH INN
Shortlisted venues:
Victoria Tap
Victoria Station Approach, Manchester, M3 1WY
Runaway Brewery
9–11 Astley Street, Stockport, SK4 1AW
City Arms
46–48 Kennedy Street, Manchester, M2 4BQ
The Magnet Freehouse
51 Wellington Road North, Stockport, SK4 1HJ
Café Beermoth
Brown Street, Manchester, M2 1DA
North Westward Ho
19 Chapel Walks, Manchester, M2 1HN
Track Taproom
Unit 18, Piccadilly Trading Estate, Manchester, M1 2NP
Great Service Award
WINNER: MARAY
Shortlisted venues:
Tast Catala
20–22 King Street, Manchester, M2 6AG
Atomeca
1B Deansgate Square, Owen Street, Manchester, M15 4YB
Higher Ground
Faulkner House, New York Street, Manchester, M1 4DY
Adam Reid at The French
16 Peter Street, Manchester, M60 2DS
Federal Cafe Bar
194 Deansgate, Manchester, M3 3ND
Blacklock Manchester
37 Peter Street, Manchester, M2 5GB
Kallos Cafe & Wine Bar
3 Bankside Boulevard, Salford, M3 7HD
Low or No Offering of the Year (new for 2025)
WINNER: NELL’S PIZZA
Shortlisted venues:
Cloudwater Brew Co
7–8 Piccadilly Trading Estate, Manchester, M1 2NP
Dishoom
32 Bridge Street, Manchester, M3 3BT
Red Light
4–2 Little David Street, Manchester, M1 3GL
Blinker Bar
64–72 Spring Gardens, Manchester, M2 2BQ
Hinterland
16–20 Turner Street, Manchester, M4 1DZ
Lina Stores
17 Quay Street, Manchester, M3 3HN
Speak in Code
7 Jackson’s Row, Manchester, M2 5ND
Bar of the Year
WINNER: SPEAK IN CODE
Shortlisted venues:
Stray
1 Eagle Street, Manchester, M4 5BU
Schofield’s Bar
Sunlight House, 3 Little Quay Street, Manchester, M3 3JZ
Red Light
4-2 Little David St, Manchester M1 3GL
Pray Tell Renae Libero Flawd Wine Community Food and Drink Project of the Year (New for 2025) WINNER: Platt Fields Market Garden Newcomer of the Year WINNER: Stow Cantaloupe Bangkok Diners Club Kallos Cafe & Wine Bar Café Continental Winsome Royal Nawaab Pyramid Kung Fu Noodle Chef of the Year WINNER: Matt Bennett (The Pearl) Rosie Maguire (Higher Ground) Restaurant of the Year WINNER: Skof mana Adam Reid at The French Winsome Higher Ground Stow Erst Cantaloupe The Howard and Ruth Award for Outstanding Achievement WINNER: Rustica
Unit 6 Stanley Square, Sale, M33 7XZ
45–47 Thomas Street, Manchester, M4 1NA
2A Kings Court, Railway Street, Altrincham, WA14 2RE
9 Keepers Quay, Manchester, M4 6GL
62 Bridge Street, Manchester, M3 3BW
71 Great Underbank, Stockport, SK1 1PE
17 Blossom Street, Ancoats, Manchester, M4 5BR
3 Bankside Boulevard, Salford, M3 7HD
5 Melbourne Street, Stalybridge, SK15 2JE
74 Princess Street, Manchester, M1 6JD
The Pyramid, Kings Valley, Stockport, SK4 2JU
48A George Street, Manchester, M1 4HF
Shaun Moffat (Winsome)
Adam Reid (Adam Reid at The French)
Mary-Ellen McTague (Pip)
Patrick Withington (Erst)
Jamie Pickles (Stow)
Jack Fields (Restaurant Orme)
3 Federation Street, Manchester, M4 4BF
42 Blossom Street, Ancoats, Manchester, M4 6BF
16 Peter Street, Manchester, M60 2DS
74 Princess Street, Manchester, M1 6JD
Faulkner House, New York Street, Manchester, M1 4DY
62 Bridge Street, Manchester, M3 3BW
9 Murray Street, Ancoats, Manchester, M4 6HS
71 Great Underbank, Stockport, SK1 1PE