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Manchester Food & Drink Festival Awards Shortlist Announced

Manchester Food & Drink Festival Awards Shortlist Announced

Well the wait is finally over! The 2015 Manchester Food and Drink Festival award shortlist has been announced. We've worked tirelessly with our judges to sift through nominations and have wined and dined our way to the final 6 in each category. Our selection represents the amazing variety and outstanding talent on the Manchester food scene. 

Take a peak below to see the best food and drink establishments in the city this year....


Restaurant of the Year sponsored by
Caterer.com

Aiming to recognise the best dining establishments in Manchester in 2015. This category refers to venues visited primarily for a full dining experience featuring table service, alcohol license etc.

Volta - 167 Burton Road, West Didsbury, Manchester, M20 2LN

The French - The Midland Hotel, Peter Street, Manchester, M60 2DS

Hawksmoor - 186 Deansgate, Manchester M3 3WB

Iberica - 14-15 The Avenue Spinningfields, Manchester M3 3HF

Hearth of the Ram - 13 Peel Brow, Ramsbottom, Bury BL0 0AA

Mughli - 30 Wilmslow Road, Manchester, Lancashire M14 5TQ

LAST YEAR'S WINNER:  Manchester House


Newcomer of the Year sponsored by
Manchester Evening News
Recognising the best new food and drink operations to open in Greater Manchester since the last awards decision period (July 2014).

Hawksmoor - 186 Deansgate, Manchester M3 3WB

Iberica - 14-15 The Avenue Spinningfields, Manchester M3 3HF

Salut Wines - 11 Cooper Street, Manchester M2 2FW

Brassica - 27 Shaw Road, Heaton Moor, Manchester SK4 4AG

Lupo Caffè Italiano - 142 Chapel Street, Salford M3 6AF

Tariff & Dale - 2 Tariff Street, Manchester

LAST YEAR'S WINNER: Manchester House


Chef of the Year sponsored by
Mint Staffing Solutions

Aiming to recognise the most talented and outstanding work of chefs cooking in Greater Manchester kitchens - his or her skill, menu, commitment and contribution to the dining scene.

Aiden Byrne, Manchester House, Spinningfields, Manchester.

Abdulla Naseem, Hearth of the Ram, Ramsbottom.

David Leong, Yuzu, China Town, Manchester.

Alex Shaw, Volta, Didsbury.

Mike Jennings, Grenache, Walkden.

David Gale, The Lawn Club, Spinniningfields, Manchester.

LAST YEAR'S WINNER: Adam Reid, The French, The Midland Hotel, Manchester.


Pub of the Year sponsored by Fever-Tree

Identifying the finest pubs in the region, focusing on quality and range of ales/beers and atmosphere

Bakers Vaults - Market Place, Stockport SK1 1ES

The Baum - 33-37 Toad Lane, Rochdale, Lancashire OL12 0NU

Wigan Central Bar - 1 Queen Street, Arch No. 1, Wigan WN3 4DY

The Marble Arch - 73 Rochdale Road, Manchester M4 4HY

The Harewood Arms - 2 Market St, Broadbottom, Hyde, Cheshire SK14 6AX

The Clarence, 2 Silver Street, Bury BL9 0EX

LAST YEAR'S WINNER: The Dockyard, MediaCityUK


Food Pub of the Year 

Acknowledging our region's 'gastro pubs' - a chance for pubs to be recognized for what they're doing in the kitchen, as a pub dining experience. 

The Marble Arch  - 73 Rochdale Road, Manchester M4 4HY

The Clarence    - 2 Silver Street, Bury BL9 0EX

The Parlour    - 60 Beech Road, Manchester M21 9EG

Sam's Chop House - Back Pool Fold, Manchester M2 1HN

Shoulder of Mutton - Holcombe Village, Bury, Lancashire, BL8 4LZ

The Angel, 6 Angel Street, Manchester, M4 4BQ

LAST YEAR'S WINNER: Eagle and Child Ramsbottom


Bar of the Year sponsored by
I Love Manchester
Recognising the best drinking venues in the region that aren't considered 'pubs'.

Volta - 167 Burton Road, West Didsbury, Manchester, M20 2LN

Hawksmoor - 186 Deansgate, Manchester M3 3WB

Wine & Wallop - 97 Lapwing Lane, Manchester M20 6UR

Salut Wines - 11 Cooper Street, Manchester M2 2FW

Cane & Grain - 49 -51 Thomas Street, Manchester M4 1NA

Ply - 26 Lever Street, Manchester M1 1DW

LAST YEAR'S WINNER:  Manchester House


Coffee Bar or Tea Shop of the Year sponsored by
Taste of Manchester
Recognising the best coffee bars and teashops in the region.

Pot Kettle Black - 14, Barton Arcade, Deansgate, Manchester M3 2BW

Grindsmith - 231 - 233 Deansgate, Manchester M3 4EN

North Tea Power - 36 Tib Street, Manchester M4 1LA

Lupo Caffè Italiano - 142 Chapel Street, Salford M3 6AF

Fig & Sparrow - 20 Oldham Street, Manchester M1 1JA

Tea Hive - 53 Manchester Rd, Chorlton Cum Hardy M21 9PW

 LAST YEAR'S WINNER: Richmond Tea Rooms, Manchester


Cheap Eats of the Year 
Recognising the best venues that are visited for a high value, casual eating

experience. Judges looking for venues that can offer a good meal for under a tenner!

Crazy Pedro's - 55-57 Bridge Street, Manchester M3 3BQ

Siam Smiles - 48A George Street, City Centre, Manchester M1 4HF

Filthy Cow - 10 Tib Lane, Manchester M2 4JB

Lily's - 75-83 Oldham Road, Ashton-under-Lyne OL6 7DF

Jasmine - 569 Barlow Moor Road, Manchester M21 8AE

Luck, Lust, Liquor & Burn - 100-102 High Street, Manchester M4 1HP

LAST YEAR'S WINNER:  Viet Shack, Manchester Arndale


Best Food and Drink Pop Up Event, Club or Project of the Year sponsored by
Deliveroo

Designed to recognise the ever more pioneering food and drink one off projects, events, activities and pop ups happening in the region. The criteria for this category are fairly broad and the judges will consider special events, markets, pop up bars or restaurants, and dining clubs. Votes for this award can be cast on the Festival website and the Festival will announce a winner at the Gala Dinner.

Shebeen

Levenshulme Market

Blackjack Brewtap

Altrincham Market

Moss Cider Project

Real Junk Food Project Manchester 

Last year's winner:  B.Eat Street Manchester


Best Food and Drink Retailer of the Year sponsored by Marston's

This year the Best Food and Drink Retailer category will be searching the whole region for the best purveyors of food and drink 'to go' and be involving the general public in the process from the off - no shortlist will be announced by the judges. The Festival is asking the people of Greater Manchester once again to provide this shortlist and winner, and help us uncover the best food and drink retailer in the region. Votes can be cast on the Festival website and the winner will be announced at the MFDF Gala Dinner and Awards on 21st September. 

LAST YEAR'S WINNER:  Epicerie Ludo, Chorlton


Best Street Food of the Year.

The Festival will recognise one of the street food legends that are gracing our kerbs with an ever-increasing plethora of gastro goods. To be eligible for this category, businesses must own an authority registered street food operation that has been trading for at least 6 months at the time of entry. A judging event for this award will take place at the Festival Hub during MFDF 2015. Businesses don't have to be trading at the Festival Hub to be eligible, but they will need to be able to bring a signature dish to the Square for the judges to taste. MFDF's Best Street Food Winner will be named at the tasting and presented with their award at the MFDF Gala Dinner and Awards.  The deadline for this category will be open right up until the start of the Festival and has a separate application form. Businesses must email [email protected] to register. More details to be announced.


The Howard and Ruth Award for Outstanding Achievement

Recognising a person or business who has contributed something outstanding to the food and drink industry in Greater Manchester over the last 16 years. There will be no shortlist for this category and businesses or individuals may not nominate themselves, but are welcome to nominate their peers.  For this category suggestions can be emailed [email protected]

LAST YEAR'S WINNER:  Tim Bacon, Living Ventures


The Core Judging Panel

This year's judging panel comprises food experts from across the region and includes...

Paul Ogden, Manchester Evening News
Dianne Bourne, Manchester Evening News
Neil Sowerby, Taste of Manchester
Ruth Allan, Manchester Wire
Thom Hetherington, Holden Media
Simon Binns, Eat Drink Manchester
Emma Sturgess, Freelance Writer
Andy Cronshaw, Manchester Evening News


Posted on 11 June 2015