Eats

Manchester Food and Drink Festival has liquidated after 25 years

Directors said they had 'no other choice' than to liquidate the company.

Georgina Pellant Georgina Pellant - 27th May 2023

Manchester Food and Drink Festival (MFDF) has liquidated after twenty-five years of hosting popular foodie events and awards in the city.

Organisers have revealed they will be taking a year off from running the event after it was confirmed this week that the festival – which has been hosted in Manchester every year since 1998, bar the pandemic – would not take place in 2023.

Directors said that the business has been “impacted by the pandemic, sponsors retreating and cashflow issues” which left them “no other choice” but to liquidate the company.

However, the annual Manchester Food and Drink Awards, which highlight the city’s best bars, restaurants, street food pop-ups, bakers and breweries, are still expected to take place this year.

A statement from the company said: “After 25 years we are pausing the festival this year and we’re taking the opportunity to restructure the trading operations and regroup.

“It has been a tough couple of years for everyone but we are now focusing on plans for the future.”

Festival Director Alexa Stratton-Powell said the team wanted to ‘wanted to take a breather and regroup ahead of bringing the Festival back in 2024.’

“The Awards will continue to celebrate our wonderful hospitality industry, and will be taking place in September as usual. We look forward to seeing everyone next year”, she reassured fans of the festival.

Over the years, MFDF has brought some incredible cheffing talent to the city as well as highlighting brilliant local eateries and producers.

Read more: Where to find the best sandwiches in Manchester city centre and beyond

Last year’s winners included Stockport’s Where The Light Gets In (Restaurant of the Year), Speak In Code (Bar of the Year), Eddie Sheperd at The Walled Gardens (Chef of the Year), Salford’s The Kings Arms (Pub of the Year) and Chorlton Cheesemongers (Food and Drink Retailer of the Year).

Other venues celebrated at the 2022 awards ceremony included Dormouse Chocolates (Independent Food Producer of the Year), Pollen (Coffee Shop of the Year), Bar San Juan (Neighbourhood Venue of the Year) and Salt & Pepper (Affordable Eats Venue of the Year).

Read more: The Manchester Food and Drink Festival award winners 2022

Manchester Food and Drink Festival Limited was formed in 1998 by Phil Jones and Christopher Tomlinson and stands out as one of Manchester’s first urban foodie events.

Over the years, it has become a celebrated part of Manchester’s events calendar drawing in thousands of people from across the north west and further afield.

Featured image – MFDF

Eats

Indian street food spot serving foot-long naan wraps announces closure

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson Rola Wala has announced its closure in Manchester

A lunchtime takeaway spot known for its foot-long naan wraps has announced its closure in Manchester.

Rola Wala, which only opened 18 months ago in the heart of Deansgate, said it’s ‘walking away proud’ from its venture in the city.

Rola Wala is a hugely popular lunch spot in Leeds and chose Manchester for its second location last November.

On the menu are filling rice bowls, curries and wraps, as well as build-your-own naan rolls filled with authentically spiced Indian fillings.

The brand was founded by Mark Wright (no, not that one) as a street food stall in London and quickly expanded.

But its Manchester location is soon to be no more, closing for good at the end of this year.

They wrote: “Manchester, it’s been real. We’re walking away proud — and already working on what’s next.

Rola Wala has announced its closure in Manchester
Rola Wala has announced its closure in Manchester
Rola Wala has announced its closure in Manchester. Credit: The Manc Group

“Something that fits who we are, and where we’re going. Thank you for the love, the queues, and the fire.

“This isn’t goodbye. It’s just the start of something new.”

They added that the Leeds Rola Wala is open and trading as normal.

They finished their statement with: “Manchester – Closing Friday 27th @11pm – See you in store for one last Rola this week xxx”

One person commented on the Rola Wala post on Instagram: “Nooooo. I only got to try recently. Devastated as it was so good.”

Another said: “Always in awe of your dignity, Mark. Wishing you the best for the next steps forward.”

Read more

Featured image: The Manc Group

Eats

Highballer – Stockport’s new bar from the brains behind Cherry Jam

Danny Jones Danny Jones New Highballer bar Stockport opens

Stockport is riding a real wave of excitement right now, and aside from being dubbed ‘the new Berlin’ a couple of years back, it’s also enjoying a big bar boom right now: case and point, Highballer, which has just been opened by the blokes behind a familiar local name.

Given the experience behind this new venture, we have a feeling this one could finally stick for what has proved to be a tricky unit in the past.

Created by Neil Garner – the man behind charming indie bar champions, Cherry Jam – Highballer is another music-forward venue from a team with experience across both industries.

Looking to carry on where Amp, Dr Feelgood and even Remedy Bar left off before them, Highballer is the latest watering hole to appear inside 11 Market Place following a successful pop-up earlier this year.

No, it’s not the ‘Gary the Gorilla’, sorry – but it does give a nice little nod to Almost Famous. (Credit: Highballer)

With Amp closing at the start of the year, Garner saw the opportunity to step in turn the place into something familiar but new, promising more music, karaoke and bandaoke; a fresh new food menu, darts, pool and even the classic American lawn game, cornhole.

Having already opened earlier this month, toasting the arrival with a bonus Oasis reunion launch party on Friday, 20 June, the crowds are already starting to return. As for Garner, he brings an incredible pedigree to the new project.

A world champion flair bartender boasting 28 years in hospitality, he’s worked in over 100 countries, including time as a Las Vegas performer, not to mention holding a Guinness World Record and coming runner-up on Britain’s Got Talent as the founder-creator of entertainment act, ‘Barwizards’.

During his time down south, he also created the UK’s first adult playground called Roof East in London, which was ultimately sold a decade after winning Britain’s Best Outdoor Experience in 2024.

With his baby and the neighbouring bar Cherry Jam located literally just around the corner and down the brow, the reputation is already there, hence why it was busy from minute one.

new bar stockport market place
highballer sk
Highballer sitting pretty in the shadow of two famous Stockport landmarks. (Credit: Supplied)

Stockport town centre has plenty of new pub and bar openings, from the resurrection of the old White Lion this time last year and the recently debuted Underbank, to fellow newcomer Fitzpatrick’s (formerly Bask), so it’s nice to see yet another one added into the mix.

Before Highballer, Neil spent years behind the scenes at some of the UK’s biggest festivals, running the backstage bars in the mid-noughties for events like Reading and Leeds Festival, Glastonbury, Isle of Wight and even Coachella.

In terms of food, he also spent time living in Seoul, where he developed a serious love for Korean, meaning that their collab with Manc favourites BAB was a natural fit.

On the menu you’ll find:

  • Korean Fried Chicken – crispy and packed with flavour
  • Loaded Fries – choose between pulled pork or spicy grilled chicken
  • Cauliflower Bites – crispy and full of spice
  • Gochujang Mac n’ Cheese – creamy and with a kick
  • Korean Cheese Corndogs
  • Korean Grilled Cheese
highballer stockport food menu
highballer bab korean food
BAB MCR have come to Stockport to lend their talents to Highballer. (Credit: Supplied)

With ‘power hour’ karaoke sessions, Vimto mojitos named not just after the drink but the giant gorilla bouncer sat outside (great name), not to mention a big terrace to bring those beer garden vibes, they’ve got all the ingredients for an instant hit.

Oh, did we mention there are drink deals all week long? Well, there are. Cheers to that. Speaking to The Manc, Garner kept things short and sweet as he’s confident the product will do the talking, but admitted he’s “buzzing” to be opening another venue in the borough.

Balancing live music, entertainment, and hospitality is a tall order for anyone, but with the expertise behind this place, it stands as much of a fighting chance as everyone else.

It’s been a big couple of weeks for food and drink in Stockport.

Read more:

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Featured Images — Highballer (supplied)

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