The Manchester Food and Drink Festival has today announced the shortlists for its MFDF Awards with a record 113 nominees shortlisted over 15 award categories.

After an extraordinary 18 months for the city’s hospitality industry, the list is a showcase of Manchester’s wonderful, quality, resilient dining scene. With more award nominees than ever before, the intention is to use the Festival platform to highlight as many excellent food and drink businesses and talented hospitality professionals as possible.

Once again the winners will be decided entirely by the public.  With an industry battling the effects of the pandemic, the pingdemic, staff shortages, supply issue and more, the Festival team have paused the ‘mystery shopping’ element of the process  for this year and are handing over to the city’s restaurant-loving public who can vote for their hospitality heroes via the MFDF website or app. The app can be downloaded on the App Store here and Google Play here.

Manchester Food and Drink Festival Awards

The Awards, which will be presented in partnership with Festival headline sponsors Just Eat, will remain the culmination of the Manchester Food and Drink Festival and will take place, for the first time, at the Ticket Hall at Freight Island on 27th September.  The event will be a huge celebration of the innovation, hard work, resilience, altruism and successes that have taken place since the last awards, particularly in light of the vast challenges that the industry has faced. Tickets are on sale here.

The shortlists have been compiled by the MFDF judging panel, made up of the region's leading food and drink critics, writers and experts. Reflecting a turbulent and unpredictable time for the industry, the categories have been carefully considered and created with an absolute passion for the city’s industry at their heart.

The closing date for votes is 11.59pm on Monday 20th September.

Commenting on the awards, Festival Director Alexa Stratton-Powell, said: “This Festival was set up to celebrate the city’s food and drink scene, particularly to support and champion local and independent businesses and talented individuals across the entire hospitality industry. Now, that manifesto is more crucial than ever as we find ourselves in uncharted territory and  the most challenging of times. The Festival is about supporting the recovery of our industry - and we’re proud to use that platform to shout about these incredible businesses who have not only survived but thrived. Please do get involved and vote for your favourite places via the MFDF app and use the Festival as an excuse to visit and try these places for yourself.”

The 2021 Manchester Food and Drink Awards Nominations:

Restaurant Of The Year:

Adam Reid at The French, 16 Peter St, Manchester M60 2DS

Baratxuri,  1 Smithy St, Ramsbottom, Bury BL0 9AT
Erst, 9 Murray St, Ancoats, Manchester M4 6HS

Hawksmoor, 184, 186 Deansgate, Manchester M3 3WB

Mana, 42 Blossom St, Ancoats, Manchester M4 6BF

Sparrows, 16 Red Bank, Cheetham Hill, Manchester M4 4HF

Street Urchin, 72 Great Ancoats St, Manchester M4 5BG

Where The Light Gets In, 7 Rostron Brow, Stockport SK1 1JY

Newcomer of the Year sponsored by Manchester Evening News

District, 60 Oldham St, Manchester M4 1LE

Open Kitchen MCR, People's History Museum, Left Bank, Manchester M3 3ER

Osma, 132 Bury New Rd, Prestwich, Manchester M25 0AA

Pho Cue, 52a Faulkner St, Manchester M1 4FH

Ramona, 40 Swan St, Manchester M4 5JG

Schofield’s bar, 3 Little Quay Street Sunlight House, Manchester M3 3JZ

Society, Basement, 100 Barbirolli Square, Manchester M2 3BD

The Moor, 27 Shaw Rd, Stockport SK4 4A

Bar of the Year

Albert’s Schloss, 27 Peter St, Manchester M2 5QR

Henry C, 107 Manchester Rd, Chorlton-cum-Hardy, Manchester M21 9GA

Kiosk, Lapwing Ln, West Didsbury, Manchester M20 6UT

Schofield’s bar, 3 Little Quay Street Sunlight House, Manchester M3 3JZ

Speak in Code, 7 Jackson's Row, Manchester M2 5ND

The Blues Kitchen, 13 Quay St, Manchester M3 3HN

The Jane Eyre, Ancoats, 14 Hood St, Ancoats, Manchester M4 6WX

Three Little Words, 12-13 Watson St, Manchester M3 4LP

Chef of the Year

Adam Reid (The French), 16 Peter St, Manchester M60 2DS

Eddie Shepherd (The Walled Garden), The Pavilion, Byrom St, Manchester M3 3HG

Mary-Ellen McTague (The Creameries), 406 Wilbraham Rd, Manchester M21 0SD

Patrick Withington (Erst), 9 Murray St, Ancoats, Manchester M4 6HS

Rachel Stockley (Baratxuri), 1 Smithy St, Ramsbottom, Bury BL0 9AT

Sam Buckley (WTLGI), 7 Rostron Brow, Stockport SK1 1JY

Simon Martin (Mana), 42 Blossom St, Ancoats, Manchester M4 6BF

Terry Huang (Umezushi Omkase), Unit 4 Mirabel St, Manchester M3 1PJ

Pub or Beer Bar of the Year

Beatnikz Republic, 35 Dale St, Manchester M1 2HF

Cob and Coal, Tommyfield Market Hall, Albion St, Oldham OL1 3BG

Edinburgh Castle, 17-19 Blossom St, Ancoats, Manchester M4 5AW

Heaton Hops, 7 School Ln, Stockport SK4 5DE

Nordie, 1044 Stockport Rd, Manchester M19 3WX

Reasons To Be Cheerful, 228 Fog Ln, Manchester M20 6EL

Society, Basement, 100 Barbirolli Square, Manchester M2 3BD

Stalybridge Buffet Bar, Platform 4, Stalybridge Railway Station, Rassbottom St, Stalybridge SK15 1RF

Artisan Food Producer of the Year

Bread Flower: www.breadflower.co.uk

Companio Bakery, 35 Radium St, Ancoats, Manchester M4 6AD

Gooey, Ducie Street Warehouse, Manchester M1 2TP

Holy Grain Sourdough, 253 Deansgate Great Northern Mews, Manchester M3 4EN

Just Natas, Manchester Arndale, Manchester M4 3AD

Lily’s Deli, 102 Manchester Rd, Chorlton-cum-Hardy, Manchester M21 9SZ

Manchester Smokehouse, 18 Lloyd St, Manchester M2 5WA

Pollen Bakery, Cotton Field Wharf, 8 New Union St, Manchester M4 6FQ

Pop Up/Project of the Year

Eat Well MCR: https://www.eatwellmcr.org/

Escape to Freight Island, 11 Baring St, Manchester M1 2PZ

Grub, 50 Red Bank, Cheetham Hill, Manchester M4 4HF

Homeground, Medlock St, Manchester M15 4AA

Kampus Summer Guest Events, Aytoun St, Manchester M1 3DA

Platt Fields Market, Platt Fields Market Garden Platt Fields Park, Fallowfield, Manchester M14 6LT

One Central, Charis House, 1 Central Way, Altrincham WA14 1SB

MIF Festival Kitchen Takeovers https://mif.co.uk/

Neighbourhood Venue of the Year sponsored by Roomzzz Aparthotels

Bar San Juan, 56 Beech Rd, Chorlton-cum-Hardy, Manchester M21 9EG

Levanter, 10 Square St, Ramsbottom, Bury BL0 9BE

Erst, 9 Murray St, Ancoats, Manchester M4 6HS

Fisherman’s table, 103 Church Ln, Marple, Stockport SK6 7AR

Lily’s, 85 Oldham Rd, Ashton-under-Lyne OL6 7DF

Porta, Salford, 216 Chapel St, Salford M3 6BY

Oystercatcher, 123 Manchester Rd, Chorlton-cum-Hardy, Manchester M21 9PG

Stretford Foodhall, 123 Manchester Rd, Chorlton-cum-Hardy, Manchester M21 9PG

Food Trader of the Year

Abeja, Oxford Rd, Manchester M1 7ED

Archchi’s, https://www.archchis.com/

Gooey, Ducie Street Warehouse, Manchester M1 2TP

Honest Crust, https://www.honestcrustsourdoughpizza.com

Maison Breizh, https://www.maisonbreizh.co.uk

Pico’s Tapas, https://www.instagram.com/eatpicos/?hl=en

Tender Cow, https://www.tendercow.uk

Wholesome Junkies, 49 High St, Manchester M4 3AH

Affordable Eats of the Year sponsored by Just Eat

Abeja, Oxford Rd, Manchester M1 7ED

Chapati Café, 496B Wilbraham Rd, Chorlton-cum-Hardy, Manchester M21 9AS

Ca Phe Viet, 80-86 Oldham Rd, Ancoats, Greater, Manchester M4 5EB

Little Yeti, 495 Barlow Moor Rd, Chorlton-cum-Hardy, Manchester M21 8AG

Lily’s, 85 Oldham Rd, Ashton-under-Lyne OL6 7DF

Mi and Pho, 384 Palatine Rd, Northenden, Wythenshawe, Manchester M22 4F

Platt Fields Market Garden, Platt Fields Park, Fallowfield, Manchester M14 6LT

Rudy’s Pizza, 9 Cotton St, Ancoats, Manchester M4 5BF / Petersfield House, Peter St, Manchester M2 5QJ

Coffee Shop of the Year

Another Heart to Feed, Northern Quarter, 10 Hilton St, Manchester M1 1JF

Ancoat’s Coffee, 9, Royal Mill, 17 Redhill St, Ancoats, Manchester M4 5BA

Ezra & Gil, 20 Hilton St, Manchester M1 1FR

Federal, Northern Quarter, 9 Nicholas Croft, Manchester M4 1EY

Grindsmith, 62 Bridge St, Manchester M3 3BW

Grapefruit, 2 School Rd, Sale M33 7XY

Just Between Friends, 56 Tib St, Manchester M4 1LG

Pollen Bakery, Cotton Field Wharf, 8 New Union St, Manchester M4 6FQ

Foodie Neighbourhood of the Year

Altrincham

Heaton Moor

Prestwich

Ramsbottom

Sale

Stockport

Stretford

Urmston

Vegetarian/Vegan Offering of the Year

Bundobust, 61 Piccadilly, Manchester M1 2AG

Eddie Shephard (Walled Garden), 17 Alness Rd, Whalley Range, Manchester M16 8SP

Four Side Pizza, 16-20 Turner St, Manchester M4 1BB

Herbivorous, Unit 16, Hatch, 103 Oxford Rd, Manchester M1 7ED

Lily’s, 85 Oldham Rd, Ashton-under-Lyne OL6 7DF

Sanskruti, 93-95 Mauldeth Rd, Manchester M14 6SR

Wholesome Junkies, 49 High St, Manchester M4 3AH

Vertigo, Unit 9, 11 Jack Rosenthal St, Manchester M15 4RA / Unit 2, Bridge House, Salford M50 2BH / 18 Cross St, Manchester M2 7AE

Independent Drinks Producer of the Year

Bundobust, 61 Piccadilly, Manchester M1 2AG

Cloudwater Brewery, Units 12—13, Piccadilly Trading Estate, Manchester M1 2NP

Diablesse, 396 Wilmslow Road, Manchester, M20 3B

Hip Pop (Formerly Booch & Brew), Manor House Farm, Station Rd, Dunham Massey, Altrincham WA14 5SG

Manchester Gin, 10-15 Watson St, Manchester M3 4LP

Northern Monk, 10 Tariff St, Manchester M1 2FF

Pomona Island Beer Brew Co Ltd, Daniel Adamson Rd, Salford M50

Steep Soda Co, 73 Temperance St, Manchester M12 6HU

Food and Drink Retailer of the Year

Ancoats General Store, 57 Great Ancoats Street, Manchester M4 5AB

The Butcher’s Quarter, 66 Tib St, Manchester M4 1LG

Bernie’s Grocery Store, 3 Hawthorn Grove, Heaton Moor, Stockport SK4 4HZ

Grape to Grain, 1 Church Ln, Prestwich, Manchester M25 1AN

Isca Wines, 825 Stockport Rd, Levenshulme, Manchester M19 3PN

Out of the Blue, 484 Wilbraham Rd, Chorlton-cum-Hardy, Manchester M21 9AS

Unicorn Grocery, 89 Albany Rd, Chorlton-cum-Hardy, Manchester M21 0BN

Wandering Palate, 191 Monton Rd, Eccles, Manchester M30 9PN