Manchester Food and Drink Festival announces nominees for 2025 MFDF Awards

The Manchester Food and Drink Festival has announced the shortlists of nominees for this year’s MFDF Awards, championing the best hospitality talent across Greater Manchester.

The annual awards will return to New Century in January, promising to celebrate the businesses and individuals doing incredible work across the industry.

There are 16 categories in this year’s MFDF 2025 Awards, including new categories to reflect the region’s growing wine scene, coffee shop rise, and turn towards low- or no-alcohol drinking.

This year, the Manchester Food and Drink Festival Awards will welcome Therme as a headline sponsor, ahead of the hotly-anticipated launch of the Therme urban wellbeing resort in TraffordCity.

The shortlist announced today features 128 nominees, from cosy pubs to Michelin star restaurants to bakers.

The shortlist has been compiled by the MFDF Judging Panel, which is made up of the region’s leading food and drink critics, writers and experts.

As well as the public vote, a mystery shopping period will now commence where judges will anonymously visit nominated venues and will compile scores based on their experiences.

Alexa Stratton-Powell, Awards Director of Manchester Food and Drink Festival Awards, commented: “We’re delighted to announce Therme Manchester as the headline sponsor for this year’s MFDF awards. The Awards have always reflected the ongoing excellence and innovation here in Greater Manchester.

“As we welcome Therme Manchester as a partner it’s an opportunity to celebrate the next chapter for our world-class city region and champion the talent and communities that make it extra special.

“This year’s list of nominees is a phenomenal example of this innovation with talent from all quarters of Greater Manchester to celebrate -from takeaways in Trafford to Michelin star meals in Ancoats.

“The list should serve as a journey of discovery for food lovers around this great region. Please support all your hospitality heroes and vote for them on the awards website.”

Ben Dutson and Charlotte Harbour, joint Heads of Therme RPC, the food and wellbeing function of Therme Manchester commented: “We’re incredibly proud to partner with the Manchester Food and Drink Festival Awards — one of the North West’s most significant celebrations of culinary talent.

“Supporting an event that champions creativity, community, and excellence in food and drink perfectly reflects Therme Manchester’s commitment to wellbeing and shared experiences. We’re looking forward to celebrating the people and places that make Manchester’s dining scene truly exceptional.”

The Manchester Food and Drink Festival (MFDF) Awards will take place at New Century on 26 January 2026.

Voting is now open HERE.

Nominees for the Manchester Food and Drink Festival Awards 2025

Affordable Eats Venue of the Year sponsored by Therme

• Noodle Alley
• Pho Cue
• Cafe Sanjuan
• Hong Thai
• Seoul Kimchi
• Double Zero
• Wow Báhn Mì
• Rabbie’s Thai

Last year’s winner – Nell’s Pizza

Takeaway of the Year

• Ceresis
• Ad Maiora
• Home Chinese
• Viet Deli
• Pancho’s Burritos
• Rack
• Mughli Charcoal Pit
• This & That

Last year’s winner – Fat Pat’s

Cafe or Coffee Shop of the Year (new for 2025)

• Cafe Sanjuan
• Oscillate Coffee
• Federal Cafe Bar
• Just Between Friends Coffee
• Sipp Coffee
• à bloc
• The Old Fire Station Bakery
• Something More Productive

Wine offering of the Year (new for 2025)

• Ad Hoc
• Higher Ground
• The Beeswing
• Salut Wines
• Reserve Wines
• Flawd Wine
• Where the Light Gets In
• Kerb

Food Trader of the Year

• The Little Sri Lankan
• House of Habesha
• Baity
• Rita’s Reign
• Rack
• Taiko Ramen
• Thatziki
• Little Scarfs

Last year’s winner – Honest Crust

Foodie Neighbourhood of the Year

• Stockport
• Urmston
• Levenshulme
• Chorlton
• Monton
• Salford
• Altrincham
• Sale

Last year’s winner – Prestwich

Independent Drink Producer of the Year

• Balance Brewing & Blending
• Pod Pea Vodka
• Stiff Tea Brewing Company
• Sureshot Brewing
• Runaway Brewery
• Track Brewing Co
• Seven Bro7hers
• Weekend Project Brewing Co

Last year’s winner – Cloudwater Brew Co

Independent Food Producer of the Year

• Long Boi’s Bakehouse
• Holy Grain Sourdough
• Littlewoods Butchers
• Lily’s Vegetarian Indian Cuisine
• Wong Wong Bakery
• Pollen Bakery
• Half Dozen Other
• Mayya Bakery

Last year’s winner – Great North Pie Co

Neighbourhood Venue of the Year

• Fold Bistro & Bottle Shop
• Stretford Canteen
• The Pearl
• Lupo
• Cantaloupe
• Tawny Stores
• The Perfect Match
• Gladstone Barber and Bistro

Last year’s winner – Bar San Juan

Pub or Beer Bar of the Year

• Victoria Tap
• Runaway Brewery
• City Arms
• The Marble Arch Inn
• The Magnet Freehouse
• Café Beermoth
• North Westward Ho
• Track Taproom

Last year’s winner – Mulligans of Manchester

Great Service Award

• Tast Catala
• Atomeca
• Higher Ground
• Adam Reid at The French
• Maray
• Federal Cafe Bar
• Blacklock Manchester
• Kallos Cafe & Wine Bar

Last year’s winner – Schofield’s Bar

Low or No Offering of the Year (new for 2025)

• Nell’s Pizza
• Cloudwater Brew Co
• Dishoom
• Red Light
• Blinker Bar
• Hinterland
• Lina Stores
• Speak in Code

Bar of the Year

• Stray
• Schofield’s Bar
• Red Light
• Speak in Code
• Pray Tell
• Renae
• Libero
• Flawd Wine

Last year’s winner – Hawksmoor

Newcomer of the Year

• Cantaloupe
• Bangkok Diners Club
• Stow
• Kallos Cafe & Wine Bar
• Café Continental
• Winsome
• Royal Nawaab Pyramid
• Kung Fu Noodle

Last year’s winner – Skof

Chef of the Year

• Rosie Maguire (Higher Ground)
• Shaun Moffat (Winsome)
• Adam Reid (Adam Reid at The French)
• Matt Bennet (The Pearl)
• Mary-Ellen McTague (Pip)
• Patrick Withington (Erst)
• Jamie Pickles (Stow)
• Jack Fields (Restaurant Orme)

Last year’s winner – Tom Barnes (Skof)

Restaurant of the Year

• mana
• Skof
• Adam Reid At The French
• Winsome
• Higher Ground
• Stow
• Erst
• Cantaloupe

Last year’s winner – Where The Light Gets In

Voting is now open HERE.

Featured image: Mia Edmond