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MFDF Awards Shortlist Announced!

MANCHESTER FOOD AND DRINK FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES 2016 AWARDS SHORTLIST

Manchester Food and Drink Festival has announced the shortlists for the most prestigious food and drink awards in the region – the Manchester Food and Drink Festival Awards.

The Manchester Food and Drink Festival Awards are the longest standing, best-regarded awards in the region. They are recognised by the industry and consumers in equal measure and are owned and organised by the Festival.

They create a benchmark for excellence in the hospitality industries throughout Greater Manchester and are all about celebrating the best of our gastronomic offer in the region.

The below establishments have been officially nominated for an MFDF award by the MFDF Judging Panel, which is made up of the region’s leading food and drink critics and experts. Awards nominations will be posted on the MFDF website (www.foodanddrinkfestival.com) where they’ll face the public vote.

The public votes will be combined with scores from the judging panel obtained via mystery shop visits, made between the announcement date and the Gala Dinner on 10th October.

MFDF will be making an exciting announcement regarding this year’s Gala Dinner venue, and how nominees can buy tickets, in a week’s time.

This year, awards will be presented in 17 categories including 5 new awards categories for 2016. These have been chosen to reflect the transformation of Manchester’s dining scene in recent years.   

Phil Jones, Festival Founding Director said:  

“The city’s vast, high-quality and diverse range of excellent dining venues requires a robust set of awards to recognise the breathtaking developments that have taken place in our city over the last few years. With that in mind, we’ve added some new categories to the list.

It’s a fantastic time to award eating and drinking establishments here in Manchester. It’s all of these wonderful, mouth-watering venues that help to make us the world-class city that we are in 2016 – a big cheers to that!”

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And the nominations are...

Restaurant of the Year 2016 sponsored by Caterer.com

Recognising the ‘best of the best’ dining establishments in Greater Manchester in 2016. This category can feature restaurants of any style or price point.

· Hawksmoor, 184-186 Deansgate, Manchester M3 3WB

· El Gato Negro, 52 King St, Manchester M2 4LY

· Evelyn’s, G18 Tib St, Manchester M4 1NB

· Volta, 167 Burton Rd, Manchester M20 2LN

· Sugo, 22 Shaw's Rd, Altrincham WA14 1QU

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

LAST YEAR'S WINNER: THE FRENCH

Premium & Fine Dining Venue of the Year 2016 sponsored by Bookatable

This new award for 2016 aims to recognise the best premium to fine dining establishments across the city.

· Hawksmoor, 184-186 Deansgate, Manchester M3 3WB

· Manchester House, 18-22 Bridge St, Manchester M3 3BZ

· The French by Simon Rogan, The Midland Hotel, Peter St, Manchester M60 2DS

· El Gato Negro, 52 King St, Manchester M2 4LY

· Australasia, 1 The Avenue, Manchester M3 3AP

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

Casual Restaurant of the Year 2016

This new award for 2016 aims to recognize the best informal dining establishments in Manchester..

· Evelyn’s, G18 Tib St, Manchester M4 1NB

· Sugo, 22 Shaw's Rd, Altrincham WA14 1QU

· Indian Tiffin Room, Chapel St, Cheadle, Cheshire SK8 1BR / ‪2 Isabelle Banks Street, First Street, Manchester M15 4RL

· Rudy’s Pizza, 9 Cotton St, Manchester M4 5BF

· Salvi’s, 19 John Dalton St, Manchester M2 6FW / Corn Exchange, Corporation St, Manchester M4 3TR

· Volta, 167 Burton Rd, Manchester M20 2LN

Newcomer of the Year 2016 sponsored by Manchester Evening News

Recognising the best new food and drink operations to open in Greater Manchester since the last awards decision period (12th July 2015).

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

· Rudy’s Pizza, 9 Cotton St, Manchester M4 5BF

· El Gato Negro, 52 King St, Manchester M2 4LY

· Sugo, 22 Shaw's Rd, Altrincham WA14 1QU

· Indian Tiffin Room, 2 Isabelle Banks Street, First Street, Manchester M15 4RL

· Evelyn’s, G18 Tib St, Manchester M4 1NB

LAST YEAR'S WINNER: HAWKSMOOR

Chef of the Year 2016 sponsored by City Card Manchester

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.

· Adam Reid, The French by Simon Rogan. The Midland Hotel, Peter St, Manchester M60 2DS

· Simon Shaw, El Gato Negro. 52 King St, Manchester M2 4LY

· Aiden Byrne, Manchester House. 18-22 Bridge St, Manchester M3 3BZ

· Joe Botham, Levanter. 10 Square St, Ramsbottom, Bury BL0 9BE

· Terry Huang, Umezushi. 4 Mirabel St, Manchester M3 1PJ

· Byron Moses, Evelyn’s. G18 Tib St, Manchester M4 1NB

LAST YEAR'S WINNER: ALEX SHAW, VOLTA

Pub of the Year 2016 sponsored by Marston’s

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

· Smithfield, 37 Swan St, Manchester M4 5JZ

· Magnet, 51 Wellington Rd N, Stockport SK4 1HJ

· Baker’s Vault, Market Pl, Stockport SK1 1ES

· The Eagle, 19 Collier Street, Greengate, Salford M3 7DW

· Dock Yard, B3/4, MediaCityUK, Salford, M50 2EQ

· Crown and Kettle, 2 Oldham Rd, Manchester M4 5FE

LAST YEAR'S WINNER: THE MARBLE ARCH

Food Pub of the Year 2016.

Recognising our region’s ‘gastro pubs’ - a chance for ‘pub restaurants’ to be recognised in their own category.

· White Hart, 51 Stockport Rd, Lydgate, Saddleworth OL4 4JJ

· The Marble Arch, 73 Rochdale Rd, Manchester M4 4HY

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

· Eagle and Child, 3 Whalley Rd, Ramsbottom BL0 0DL

· The Parlour, 60 Beech Rd, Manchester M21 9EG

· Oddfellows, Moor End Rd, Mellor, SK6 5PT

LAST YEAR'S WINNER: THE CLARENCE

Bar of the Year 2016 sponsored by Fever Tree

Recognising the best drinking venues in the region that aren’t considered ‘pubs’

· Albert Schloss, 9 Cotton St, Manchester M4 5BF

· Hawksmoor, 184-186 Deansgate, Manchester M3 3WB

· Cottonopolis, 16 Newton St, Manchester M1 2AE

· Tariff and Dale, 2 Tariff St, Manchester M1 2FN

· Black Cat at El Gato Negro, 52 King St, Manchester M2 4LY

· The First Floor Bar, Cane and Grain. 49 -51 Thomas Street, Manchester M4 1NA

Craft Ale Bar of the Year 2016.

This new award for 2016 will recognise the best purveyors of craft ale across Greater Manchester.

· Café Beermoth, Brown St, Manchester M2 1DA

· Heaton Hops, 7 School Ln, Stockport SK4 5DE

· Beagle, 458 Barlow Moor Rd, Manchester M21 0BQ

· Port Street Beer House, 39-41 Port St, Manchester M1 2EQ

· Font, Chorlton. 115-117 Manchester Rd, Manchester M21 9PG

· Saison, 115-117 Manchester Rd, Manchester M21 9PG

LAST YEAR'S WINNER: PLY

Coffee Bar or Tea Shop of the Year 2016.

Recognising the best coffee bars and teashops in the region.

· Trove, 1032 Stockport Rd, Manchester M19 3WX

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

· Grindsmith, 231-233 Deansgate, Manchester M3 4EN

· Takk, 6 Tariff St, Manchester M1 2FF

· Ezra and Gill, 20 Hilton St, Manchester M1 1FR

· Fig and Sparrow, 20 Oldham St, Manchester M1 1JA

LAST YEAR'S WINNER: LUPO CAFFE ITALIANO

Cheap Eats Venue Of The Year 2016.

Recognising the best venues that are visited for a high value, quick and simple dining experience. This category can include cafes, takeaways and any venue whereby the price point and service style mean that the overall concept is widely considered by customers to be a more of a ‘food on the go’ style of dining and a main meal and drink can be purchased for under £10.

· Viet Shack, Arndale Market, 49 High St, Manchester M4 3AH

· Honest Crust, Altrincham Market, 26 Market St, Altrincham WA14 1SA

· Northern Soul Grilled Cheese, 10 Church St, Manchester M4 1PN

· Chaat Cart, The Kitchens, Leftbank, Irwell St, Manchester M3 3AG

· Siam Smiles, 48A George St, City Centre, Manchester M1 4HF

· Lupo Caffe Italiano, 6af, 142 Chapel St, Salford M3 6AF

LAST YEAR'S WINNER: LILY’S

Neighbourhood Restaurant of the Year 2016.

This new award is set to recognise the superb establishments that are based in the suburbs of Greater Manchester! This can take in anywhere from Didsbury to Wigan!

· Volta, 167 Burton Rd, Manchester M20 2LN

· Sugo, 22 Shaw's Rd, Altrincham WA14 1QU

· Baratxuri, 1 Smithy St, Ramsbottom, Bury BL0 9AT

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

· Brassica, 27 Shaw Rd, Stockport SK4 4AG

· Rose Garden, 218 Burton Rd, Manchester, Lancashire M20 2LW

Front of House Team of the Year 2016.

This new award aims to recognise the most outstanding front of house team in Manchester. The panel were looking for the restaurant that goes that extra mile in terms of service – where customers can rely on an experience that makes them feel special, from greeting to leaving.

· Hawksmoor, 184-186 Deansgate, Manchester M3 3WB

· The French by Simon Rogan, The Midland Hotel, Peter St, Manchester M60 2DS

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

· Manchester House, 18-22 Bridge St, Manchester M3 3BZ

· Fazenda, 1 The Avenue, Manchester M3 3AP

· Asha’s, 47 Peter St, Manchester M2 3NG

Best Food and Drink Retailer 2016.

To reflect the growing number and status of food and drink retailers in Greater Manchester, this year the MFDF panel have shortlisted their own nominees, rather than leave it to the public vote in full as in previous years.

· Lunya, 7 Barton Square, Manchester M3 2BB

· Trove, 1032 Stockport Rd, Manchester M19 3WX

· Out of the Blue, 484 Wilbraham Rd, Manchester, M21 9AS

· Altrincham Market, Greenwood St, Altrincham WA14 1SA

· Reserve Wines, 176 Burton Rd, Manchester M20 1LH

· Salvi’s, Corn Exchange, Corporation St, Manchester M4 3TR

LAST YEAR’S WINNER: A TASTE OF HONEY

Best Food and Drink Pop Up, Event, Club or Project

Designed to recognise the ever more pioneering food and drink one off projects, events, activities and pop ups happening in the region.

· Not Just Soup, http://www.notjustsoupkitchen.co.uk

· Real Junk Food Project, http://realjunkfoodmanchester.co.uk

· Grub, http://www.grubmcr.com