Manchester Food and Drink Festival 2019 – Who made the shortlist?

The nominations for the 2019 Manchester Food and Drink Festival (MFDF) Awards have been revealed. The winners of the prestigious awards will be announced at this year’s MFDF Gala Dinner and Awards, which take place at Gorton Monastery on Monday 7th October 2019, as the culmination of the Manchester Food and Drink Festival. 

This year the quality of the nominations is exceptional, and I wish everyone the best of luck

As ever, the awards will celebrate the creativity, success and innovation within the region’s hospitality industry, demonstrating the breadth of talent in Greater Manchester and just how important the sector is to the local economy.  

Two new awards have been introduced this year: Artisan Drinks Producer and Vegan Offering of the Year. Artisan Drinks Producer recognises the explosion of innovative and exciting independent drinks producers starting up right here in the region. Vegan Offering of the Year has replaced MFDF’s previous Vegetarian Award. This revised category reflects Manchester’s commitment and dynamism in the plant-based eating scene. 

The shortlist has been decided by the MFDF judging panel, which includes a number of the region's leading food and drink experts, food writers and hospitality consultants. The nominations for each category are posted on the MFDF website where the public can vote for their favourite.  These votes will then be combined with scores from those gathered from the judging panel, obtained via mystery shop visits. 

The closing date for public votes is midnight on the 26th September and the winners will then be announced in October at the Gala Dinner and Awards. 

Phil Jones, the festival's founding director, said: “There’s so much going on all the time in Greater Manchester’s food and drink sector that these award categories are constantly evolving and it’s exciting to be able to add new ones to reflect the diversity and progress in the city.  This year the quality of the nominations is exceptional, and I wish everyone the best of luck. We know that those who work in the hospitality industry put their heart and soul into their businesses and these awards are devoted to celebrating that commitment, talent and ultimately the success it brings to our region.” 

And the nominations are...

Vegan Offering of the Year sponsored by R Noone & Son

Amma’s Canteen

285 Barlow Moor Rd, Manchester M21 7GH

Bundobust

61 Piccadilly, Manchester M1 2AG

Dishoom

32 Bridge St, Manchester M3 3BT

Evelyn’s Café Bar

4 Tib St, Manchester M4 1NB

Foodwell

Suite 2, Ground Floor, One New Bailey, Stanley St, Salford M3 5JL           

Plant Powered Sundays at GRUB

Mayfield Gatehouse, Baring St, M1 2AD

Last year’s winner (of Vegetarian Offering of the Year) – Lily’s

Foodie Event or Project of the Year 

Auction Against Hunger

Upper Campfield Market Hall, Barton Street, Manchester M3 4NN 

GRUB

Mayfield Depot, Baring St, Manchester, M1 2PZ

Indy Man Beer Con

Victoria Baths Hathersage Road, Chorlton-on-Medlock, Manchester, M13 0FE

Festa Italiana

Cathedral Gardens, Manchester 

Stockport Foodie Friday

Stockport Market Place, Stockport

SURPLUS! @ Beer Nouveau

75 N Western Street, Manchester, M12 6DY

Last year’s winner – Hatch

Food and Drink Retailer of the Year 

Lunya

Barton Arcade, Deansgate, Manchester M3 2BB

HM Pasties

395 Manchester Rd, Droylsden, Manchester M43 6QF

Out of the Blue

484 Wilbraham Rd, Manchester M21 9AS

Taste IT

69 Blackfriars Rd, Salford M3 7DB 

Unicorn Grocery

89 Albany Road, Chorlton, M21 0BN 

Wong Wong Bakery & Café, Ground Floor,32 Princess Street,Manchester,M1 4LB

Last year’s winner – Pollen Bakery

Artisan Drinks Producer of the Year

Beatnikz Republic Brewing Co

15 Red Bank, Manchester M4 4HF

Diablesse Rum

Farman & Son, LTD, 8 Cranbourne Road, Chorlton, Manchester, M21 8AP

Manchester Gin 

78 Temperance St, Manchester M12 6HU78B Temperance Street, Manchester, M12 6HU

Manchester Union Brewery Limited

96D North Western Street, Ardwick, Manchester, M12 6JL

Steep Soda

73 Temperance St, Manchester M12 6HU

Track Brewing Co

Unit 5 Sheffield St, Manchester M1 2ND

Affordable Eats Venue of the Year 

Bundobust

61 Piccadilly, Manchester M1 2AG

Lily’s Indian Vegetarian Cuisine

85 Oldham Road, Ashton Under Lyne, OL6 7DY

Rudy’s Pizza

9 Cotton Street, Ancoats, M4 5BF / Petersfield House, Manchester, M2 5QJ

Siop Shop

53 Tib St, Manchester M4 1LS

The Spärrows

Unit 3 Mirabel Street, Manchester, M3 1PJ

YES

38 Charles St, Manchester M1 7DB

Last year’s winner – Mi and Pho

Coffee Shop of the Year sponsored by Gorton Monastery 

Ezra and Gil 

20 Hilton St, Manchester M1 1FR

Federal Café Bar

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

Idle Hands

35 Dale St, Manchester M1 2HF

Pollen Bakery

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

Siop Shop

53 Tib St, Manchester M4 1LS

Trove

5 Murray Street, Ancoats, Manchester, M4 6HS

Last year’s winner –Pot Kettle Black

Front of House Team of the Year sponsored by Boutinot Wines

Adam Reid at The French

16 Peter St, Manchester M60 2DS

Dishoom

32 Bridge St, Manchester M3 3BT

erst.

9 Murray St, Manchester M4 5BN

Hawksmoor

184-186 Deansgate, Manchester M3 3WB

Mana

42 Blossom St, Manchester M4 6BF

Tast 

20-22 King St, Manchester

Last year’s winner – 20 Stories

Neighbourhood Restaurant of the Year 

Baratxuri

1 Smithy St, Ramsbottom, Bury BL0 9AT

Lily’s Indian Vegetarian Cuisine

85 Oldham Road, Ashton Under Lyne, OL6 7DY

Porta Tapas

216 Chapel Street, Salford, Manchester, M3 6BY 

The Creameries

406 Wilbraham Rd, Manchester M21 0SD

The Fisherman’s Table

103 Church Ln, Marple, Stockport SK6 7AR

The Oystercatcher

123 Manchester Rd, Manchester M21 9PG

Last year’s winner –Where The Light Gets In

Bar of the Year sponsored by J.J Whitley 

Cocktail Beer Ramen + Bun

101-103 Oldham St, Manchester M4 1LW

Hawksmoor

184-186 Deansgate, Manchester M3 3WB

Henry C

107 Manchester Rd, Manchester M21 9GA

Speak In Code

Jackson's Row, Manchester M2 5ND

The Jane Eyre

14 Hood St, Manchester M4 6WX

YES

38 Charles St, Manchester M1 7DB

Last year’s winner – Science and Industry

Pub/Craft Ale Bar of the Year sponsored by Camden Town Brewery 

Bunbury’s

393 Chorley Old Rd, Bolton BL1 6AH

Cask

Cottonfield Wharf , 2 New Union St , New Islington Marina , Ancoats, M46FQ

Reasons To Be Cheerful Café and Real Ale Bar

228 Fog Lane, Manchester, United Kingdom 

Sandbar

120 Grosvenor St, Manchester M1 7H

The Flying Horse Hotel

37 Packer St, Rochdale OL16 1NJ

The Magnet

51 Wellington Rd N, Stockport SK4 1HJ

Last year’s winner –Port Street Beer House

Chef of the Year sponsored by Stephensons 

Sam Buckley

Where The Lights Get In, 7 Rostron Brow, Stockport SK1 1JY

Aiden Byrne

Restaurant MCR, 18 – 22 Bridge Street, Spinningfields, Manchester 

Simon Martin

Mana, 42 Blossom St, Manchester M4 6BF

Adam Reid

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

Omar Rodriguez Marrero

Umezushi 4, Mirabel St, Manchester M3 1PJ

Miquel Villacrosa 

Tast Catala 20-22 King St, Manchester M2 6AG

Last year’s winner – Rachel Stockley 

Newcomer of the Year sponsored by Manchester Evening News 

Dishoom

32 Bridge St, Manchester M3 3BT

erst.

9 Murray St, Manchester M4 5BN

Kala Bistro

55 King St, Manchester M2 4LQ

Mana

42 Blossom St, Manchester M4 6BF

Tast

20-22 King St, Manchester M2 6AG

The Fisherman’s Table

103 Church Ln, Marple, Stockport SK6 7AR

Last year’s winner –The Creameries

Casual Restaurant of the Year 

Bundobust

61 Piccadilly, Manchester M1 2AG

Canto

Cutting Room Square, Blossom St, Manchester M4 5DH

Cocktail Beer Ramen + Bun

101-103 Oldham St, Manchester M4 1LW

Dishoom

32 Bridge St, Manchester M3 3BT

Rudy’s Pizza

Petersfield House, Manchester, M2 5QJ

Sugo Pasta Kitchen

Blossom St, Manchester M4 6BA

Last year’s winner – Levanter Fine Foods

Premium and Fine Dining Restaurant of the Year sponsored by Bookatable 

Hawksmoor

184-186 Deansgate, Manchester M3 3WB

Mana

42 Blossom St, Manchester M4 6BF

Restaurant MCR

18-22 Bridge Street, Spinningfields, Manchester

Tast 

20-22 King St, Manchester M2 6AG

Umezushi

4, Mirabel St, Manchester M3 1PJ

Where The Light Gets In

7 Rostron Brow, Stockport SK1 1JY

Last year’s winner – Adam Reid at The French

Restaurant of the Year Sponsored by Caterer.com

The winner of Restaurant of the Year will be chosen from the Casual Restaurant and Premium and Fine Dining Restaurant shortlists. The nominee that scores the highest via mystery shopping and public vote will be crowned the overall Restaurant of the Year. 

Last year’s winner - Adam Reid at The French 

Sustainability Award sponsored by The Sustainable Restaurant Association

MFDF are looking for those venues that pride themselves on making good food for people and the planet, to enter for this award fill out the short questionnaire here

Last year’s winner – The Creameries 

Street Food Award of the Year 

Awarding one of the Greater Manchester-based street food legends that are gracing our kerbs with an ever-increasing plethora of gastro goods. There is no shortlist for this, MFDF is handing this over to the public! Please vote via the MFDF website. 

Last year’s winner – Oh Mei Dumpling 

Howard and Ruth Award for Outstanding Achievement

Recognising someone who contributed something outstanding to the food and drink industry in Greater Manchester, nominations via the MFDF website. 

Last year’s winner – Jeremy Roberts, Living Ventures  

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