Food & Drink

All the Manchester bars shortlisted in this year’s Manchester Bar Awards

Manchester's pubs, bars and hospitality professionals will be celebrated with an awards ceremony at Bunny Jackson's

Georgina Pellant Georgina Pellant - 6th March 2023

Manchester’s pubs, bars and hospitality professionals will be celebrated in a huge awards ceremony later this month.

Now in its fifth year, the Manchester Bar Awards picks out the very best operators in the city – with 2022’s categories championing the city’s Best Restaurant Bar, Best Speciality Bar, Best New Bar, Best Food Offering, and Bartender of the Year.

Further categories pay homage to professionals within the industry, with awards given to the best bar backs, front of house staff and rising stars.

Run by a group of Manchester bartenders and hospitality professionals, the awards were set up by the admins of a local Facebook group in 2018 to champion local people working in the industry.

First created in 2012 to help fundraise for Movember, today the Facebook group is a decade old and one of the country’s leading hospitality-focused groups – boasting over 17,000 members.

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Image: Climat
Image: Blinker

The shortlist for the 2023 awards has just been revealed, with members of the city’s bar community now being encouraged to vote for their favourites.

In a nod to the quirkiness of the city’s bar scene, this year’s Best Speciality Bar Award names Ancoats wine bar Flawd, The Briton’s Protection (for its epic Jack Daniels collection) and The Whiskey Jar, brewery-owned bar Northern Monk, and Mulligan’s of Deansgate (widely renowned for having the most perfect pint of Guinness in the city.)

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Salt & Pepper, The Sparrows, Kong’s, Climat and Lazy Tony’s Lasagneria are all shortlisted for the Restaurant / Food Concept of the Year category, whilst the Best New Bar award shortlist features Blinker, Sterling, Exhibition, New Century and Project Halcyon.

Elsewhere, rising stars and MVPS have their own categories, whilst an outstanding achievement award highlights those who’ve done good for the community – picking out a key leader of Manchester’s hospitality recruitment scene, alongside others including mental-health focused organisation So Let’s Talk.

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Image: Speak In Code
Image: Schofield’s Bar

This year’s event ceremony will be held on 14 March at First Street dive bar Bunny Jackson’s, an industry favourite amongst many of Manchester’s bartenders, and promises to be a raucous, fun-filled affair.

Speaking on the upcoming awards ceremony, organiser Nate Booker said: “We were amazed and proud at the breadth of people and venues included in this year’s Manchester’s Bars Awards shortlist.

“It truly is the pinnacle of the great talent and ambition we have in the city. We want to thank everyone who voted for helping to build this shortlist and we can’t wait to see the results as we put it forward to our wider community to have their say!

“And we’d like to say a big thank you to all the sponsors that help make the event so vibrant and enjoyable! See you on the 14th at Bunny Jackson’s.”

Voting is open now and will close next Monday 13 March at midnight.

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The full shortlist for this year’s Manchester Bar Awards ceremony:

Bartender of the Year – Sponsored by Angel’s Envy Kentucky Bourbon

  • Jonathan Moncur – Speak in Code
  • Deana Ferguson – Hawksmoor/Redlight
  • Adam Montanaro-Taylor – Project Halcyon
  • Dionysios ‘Dio’ Tzorouchof – Cane & Grain
  • Conor Knowles – Schofield’s

Manchester’s Best Bar Back – Sponsored by Belle de Brillet Liqueur

  • Sid Curry – Sherlock’s
  • Huanxuejiao Xiong – Sterling
  • Craig Dwyer – Junior Jackson’s
  • Eduardo Barbosa – 20 Stories
  • Iglis Zaraj – Tattu

Manchester’s Rising Star – Sponsored by Old J Rum

  • Reah Owen – Project Halcyon
  • Caitlyn Grocott – Blind Tyger
  • Eddie Smyth – Tariff
  • Joe Kereszteny-Lewis – 10 Tib Lane
  • Ben Topham-Taylor – Blind Tyger

Front of House Hero- Sponsored by Cazcabel Tequila

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  • Alex Proudfoot – Wolf at the Door
  • Paola Mariotti – Sterling
  • Hannah Wingfield – Ramona
  • Taylor Martin – Tariff & Dale
  • Oliver Hughes – Ramona

Outstanding Achievement Award! Sponsored by Jägermeister

  • Abi Dunn – 68 People
  • The Schofields – Schofields, Sterling, Stock Market Grill, Atomeca
  • Nathan Larkin – Speak in Code
  • Dan Berger – Blinker Bar
  • Paddy & the Team at So Let’s Talk

Manchester’s Bar of the Year Sponsored by Jameson

Decided by the industry.

Best New Bar Sponsored by Ford’s Gin

  • Blinker
  • Sterling
  • Exhibition
  • New Century
  • Project Halcyon

Speciality Venue of the Year Sponsored by Tipples 

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  • Briton’s Protection – Whisky
  • Flawd, Wine
  • Northern Monk, Beer
  • Mulligan’s – Guiness
  • Whisky Jar – Whisky

Restaurant/Food Concept the Year sponsored by Tito’s Vodka

  • Salt & Pepper
  • Sparrows
  • Kong’s
  • Climat
  • Lazy Tony’s Lasagneria

Further event partners include MONIN (The Official Syrup & Liqueur Partner), The Official Mixer & Softs Partner (Fever Tree), The Official Hooch of the MBAs (Hooch), The Official Media Partner (The Manc), The Official Reception Drink of the MBAs (Buzzball), The Official NOLO Partner (Lyre’s) The Official Hydration Partner (Marlish Water) and The Awards Partner (Urban Bar).

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Feature image – Flawd

Food & Drink

Plans lodged to turn Ducie Street Warehouse into huge food hall

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson Ducie Street Warehouse could be turned into a food hall

Ducie Street Warehouse could be transformed into a massive food hall, with new plans lodged.

The historic warehouse building near Manchester Piccadilly has worn a few hats over the years.

When it first opened, it was a home to Bistrotheque, a London export that bowed out from the beautiful Grade II-listed building after just six months.

Since then, it’s become a bustling all-day space where you can sit with a laptop for hours (and many do), snacking on a simple menu of flatbreads and salads as well as great cocktails.

But now it looks like Ducie Street Warehouse is in store for a major shake-up again, with plans now lodged to transform the space into huge food hall with more than 500 covers.

The planning application comes from the same team behind Edinburgh Street Food up in Scotland, which is packed with street food traders serving a range of cuisines.

If the plans for Manchester Street Food go ahead, the warehouse on Ducie Street will become the home of a 10-kitchen food hall.

It would flip most of the ground floor, including the terrace, while the upstairs continues operating as a hotel.

The plans also show that the existing private dining area will be turned into a casual games room, with the addition of pool tables, arcade machines and foosball tables.

Ducie Street Warehouse could be turned into a food hall
Ducie Street Warehouse could be turned into a food hall
Ducie Street Warehouse could be turned into a food hall. Credit: The Manc Group

Manchester Street Food will join a flurry of food halls across the city, with Mackie Mayor just a short walk away, along with the waterside venue Society, and the newly-opened House of Social.

The plans also mention minor changes to the exterior of the building, illuminating an external lift shaft in a rainbow hue.

Their application states: “The ‘Street Food’ brand works with a range of vibrant and independent street food vendors to provide varied yet complementary choices, whilst showcasing local breweries and distilleries.

“Their operations focus on supporting local businesses and to diverse the food and beverage offer to create a welcoming and accessible food experiences.

“The ’Street Food’ brand was first established in the form of Edinburgh Street Food which opened in 2023, and which welcomes a broad demographic. It is recognised as a cultural and culinary hub whilst contributing positively to the local economy.

“Building on the success of Edinburgh Street Food, the Applicant is keen to expand further and enhance Manchester’s hospitality, gastronomy and evening economy.

“As such, this full planning application has been prepared to enable the operation of Manchester Street Food from a prime city centre location at Ducie Street Warehouse.”

Do you think Manchester has the appetite for yet another street food hall?

Read more

Featured image: The Manc Group

Food & Drink

Northern Quarter favourite The Pen and Pencil announces massive 10th birthday party and huge offers

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson Northern Quarter favourite The Pen and Pencil announces massive 10th birthday party and huge offers

The Pen and Pencil, an absolute staple for brunches and drinks in the Northern Quarter, is celebrating a major milestone this month with a huge party and some unbeatable deals. 

The bar and restaurant will be marking 10 years on Tariff Street in September – and it’s only right that we all pile in to celebrate with them. 

This spot is one of the city’s original bottomless brunch venues and is similarly famed for its happy hour offerings, and opened in 2015 to bring a taste of Manhattan to Manchester. 

Pen and Pencil took its name from the infamous New York City bar that was seen in Mad Men. 

And now as it turns 10 years old, it’ll be throwing one big party on Saturday 27 September, featuring 10 hours of DJs, free pints of Red Stripe at 10pm, and a special bottomless brunch offering. 

Those DJing on the day will include Drag Race UK’s Banksie, as well as Les Croasdaile, Mark Hogg, Danny Ward and A Deeper Groove.

Pen & Pencil has amazing deals for its 10th birthday
Pen & Pencil has amazing deals for its 10th birthday
Pen & Pencil is a Northern Quarter OG
Pen & Pencil is a Northern Quarter OG

The Pen and Pencil 10th birthday party will kick off from 2pm and run until late – but if you can’t make that one, there’ll be celebrations all week (and, indeed, month) long. 

On Tuesday 23 September, you’ll be able to play for double prize money in The Pen and Pencil quiz, as well as enjoying happy hour drinks all night. 

Then on Friday 26 September, it’ll be an all-night happy hour, with free tequila shots at 10pm and music from DJs Nev Johnson and Gareth James from 7pm. 

All September long, there’ll be 50% off food every Monday, two-for-£10 cocktails every Wednesday, £10 burgers every Thursday, happy hour all night on Fridays, 10 dishes for £10 and two bloody Marys for £10 on Sundays, plus DJs on Fridays and Saturdays. 

Northern Quarter favourite The Pen and Pencil announces massive 10th birthday party and huge offers

There’s a new colourful art installation outside the venue inspired by the bar’s New York roots.

Owner Kevin Connor said: “We’re really excited to be celebrating being part of the Manchester community for ten years! 

“New York’s Pen and Pencil was a classic steak and cocktail joint, and we’re proud to have created our very own iconic Northern Quarter hangout. We hope everyone will join us in celebrating ten years on Tariff Street.”

Walk-ins are welcome for The Pen and Pencil 10th birthday party on Saturday 27 September, but booking is encouraged – book your spot HERE. 

Featured image: The Manc Group

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