The best restaurants, bars and hospitality businesses in Greater Manchester have been revealed at the Manchester Food and Drink Festival Awards. In total, 17 winners were crowned from across the region, with awards dished out for best restaurant, best bar and best foodie neighbourhood.
The glamorous event took place at the Ticket Hall at Escape to Freight Island in the city centre Monday evening, following the official launch of the city wide celebration of food and drink over at Cathedral Gardens on Thursday (September 22). This year, the festival, which was created to celebrate Manchester homegrown hospitality talent, celebrates its 25th anniversary.
The shortlists were drawn up by a panel of judges made up of critics and writers, before voting took place on the MFDF website, where public votes were combined with those of the judges on certain categories. Award categories include the coveted Restaurant of the Year, Newcomer of the Year, Pub or Beer Bar of the Year and Foodie Neighbourhood of the Year.
Read more: The ten best things to check out at this year’s Manchester Food and Drink Festival
Despite the autumnal weather, this year's event, which runs until October 2, has already attracted plenty of people to the festival hub. As well as the customary street food village, featuring the likes of Mi & Pho, House of Habesha and Hip Hop Chip Shop, this year's festival bar has been taken over by local brewers Joseph Holt, who have created a special 25th anniversary brew for the festival's milestone birthday.
New for this year is the festival firepit, which will see some of the region's best loved chefs, including Caroline Martins, founder of Sao Paolo Project, taking to the stoves. Elsewhere, the event's artisan food and drink market has also returned, showcasing a plethora of homegrown talent with everything from artisan spirits to handmade biscuits and sweets.
Commenting on the awards, MFDF's Director Alexa Stratton-Powell said: "T he strength of this year’s awards are testament to the hard work and dedication of all the nominees. As ever, the awards put the spotlight on the incredible talent and resilience of our brilliant hospitality industry.
"Despite hugely challenging times for the industry, we’ve celebrated 112 fantastic Greater Manchester businesses this evening as the reputation of the sector continues to go from strength to strength. We’d like to thank the judges, everyone who voted and the nominated businesses who took part in this year’s awards, as well as our hosts at Escape to Freight Island for a wonderful night of celebrations.”
The full list of winners is below. Did your favourite pick up a prize? Let us know in the comments below.
Manchester Food and Drink Festival 2022 winners in full
Restaurant of the year - Sponsored by Stephenson’s
WINNER
Where the Light Gets In - 7 Rostron Brow, Stockport SK1 1JY
THE SHORTLIST
10 Tib Lane
Erst
The Sparrows
Another Hand
Mana
Where the Light Gets In
The Firehouse
Newcomer of the Year - Sponsored by Bruntwood
WINNER
Another Hand - Unit F, 253 Deansgate, Manchester, M3 4EN
THE SHORTLIST
The Alan
The Black Friar
Bundobust
Flawd
Yellowhammer
10 Tib Lane
Bar of the Year - Sponsored by Mr Yum
WINNER
Speak in Code - Jackson's Row, Manchester, M2 5ND
SHORTLIST
Blinker Bar
Flawd
Henry C
Ramona
Schofield’s Bar
10 Tib Lane
Chef of the Year - Sponsored by Boutinot Wines
WINNER
Eddie Shepherd - The Walled Gardens, Whalley Range
THE SHORTLIST
Caroline Martins - Sao Paulo Project
Joseph Otway - Flawd
Sam Buckley - Where the Light Gets In
Patrick Withington - Erst
Adam Reid - The French, The Midland Hotel
Julian Pizer - Another Hand
Pub or Beer Bar of the Year
WINNER
The Kings Arms - 11 Bloom Street, Salford, M3 6AN
THE SHORTLIST
Bridge Beers, Staylbridge
Heaton Hops
House of Hops
Nordie
Track Taproom
Station Hop
Food and Drink Retailer of the Year
WINNER
Chorlton Cheesemongers - 486 Wilbraham Rd, Chorlton-cum-Hardy, Manchester, M21 9AS
THE SHORTLIST
Ad Hoc
Hello Oriental
Coopers Lets Fress Deli
Le Social
Out of the Blue
Wandering Palate
Independent Food Producer of the Year
WINNER
Dormouse Chocolates - Unit O, Deansgate Mews, Manchester M3 4EN
SHORTLIST
Great North Pie Co
Holy Grain
La Chouquette
Long Boi’s Bakehouse
Polyspore
Yellowhammer
Coffee Shop of the Year
WINNER
Pollen - Cotton Field Wharf, 8 New Union Street, Manchester, M4 6FQ
THE SHORTLIST
Cafe Sanjuan
Factory Coffee
Grind and Tamp
Grapefruit
Just Between Friends
Station South
Food Trader of the Year
WINNER
Burgerism - 18 West Ashton Street, Salford, M50 2XS
THE SHORTLIST
House of Habesha
The Little Sri Lankan
Lovingly Artisan
Mira
New Wave Ramen
Pico’s Tacos
Plant-based offering of the Year
WINNER
Wholesome Junkies - Unit 4 Mirabel Street, Manchester, M3 1PJ
THE SHORTLIST
Four Side Pizza
Herbivorous
Otto Vegan Empire
Ruyi Chorlton
Sanskruti
The Walled Gardens
Affordable Eats Venue of the Year
WINNER
Salt & Pepper - MCR Black Dog Ballroom, 52 Church Street, Manchester M4 1PW
THE SHORTLIST
Aunty Ji’s
Bahn Mi Co Ba
Cafe Sanjuan
Levenshulme Bakery
Go Falafel
Mama Flo’s
Foodie Neighbourhood of the Year
WINNER
Ancoats
THE SHORTLIST
Chapel Street, Salford
Monton
Prestwich
Ramsbottom
Sale
Stockport
Pop Up Project of the Year
WINNER
Stockport Foodie Friday
THE SHORTLIST
Platt Fields Market Garden
Sao Paulo
Suppher
Eat Well Spring Festival
Bungalow at Kampus
Heart and Parcel
Independent Drinks Producer of the Year
WINNER
Hip Pop - Manor House Farm, Station Road, Dunham Massey, Altrincham, WA14 5SG
THE SHORTLIST
Bundobust Brewery
Cloudwater
Into the Gathering Dusk
Stockport Gin
Steep Soda
Track Brewing
Neighbourhood Venue of the Year
WINNER
Bar San Juan - 56 Beech Rd, Chorlton-cum-Hardy, Manchester, M21 9EG
THE SHORTLIST
Baratuxi Bar
The Easy Fish Co.
Nila's Burmese Kitchen
Ornella's Kitchen
Osma
The Perfect Match
Great Service Award of the Year - Sponsored by Manchester Evening News
WINNER
Dishoom
THE SHORTLIST
Bull & Bear
Hawksmoor
Flawd
Schofield’s Bar
Speak in Code
10 Tib Lane
The Howard and Ruth Outstanding Achievement Award
WINNER
John and Rosemary Barratt, Stockport Foodie Friday
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