We all know Greater Manchester has a glowing – and ever-growing – food and drink scene, right?
Well, nothing proves that to be true more than the fact that a handful of the region’s best eateries, known and loved by residents all across Greater Manchester, have impressively been shortlisted in major categories at this year’s Deliveroo Restaurant Awards.
The leading food delivery service’s annual Restaurant Awards are a celebration of the best and most-loved restaurants up and down the country.
The highly-anticipated awards recognise Deliveroo’s most-popular local partners, from independent burger joints, to neighbourhood sushi restaurants, and all the dishes and flavours in between – and this year, a whopping NINE dining spots in Manchester and Salford have made the coveted shortlist for several accolades.
The popular restaurants feature in a wide range of categories, including ‘Best Chinese’, ‘Best Pizza’, and the all-important ‘Independent Restaurant of the Year’ award.
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Here’s all the nominees you need to know.
Deliveroo has announced its shortlist for its annual Restaurant Awards / Credit: The Manc Group
Regional Cuisine Awards
Best Chinese – Red Chilli, in Manchester
Best Pizza – Proove, in Manchester AND Double Zero Pizza, in Chorlton
Best Dessert – Frurt, in Manchester
Best Indian – Mughli, in Manchester
Best Burger – Burgerism, in Salford
Best Breakfast & Coffee – Ezra & Gil, in Manchester AND Federal Cafe and Bar, in Manchester
Best Japanese – Unagi Streetfood & Sushi, in Manchester
Independent Restaurant of the Year
25 restaurants from all across the UK are up for this year’s coveted ‘Independent Restaurant of the Year Award’, and Greater Manchester has two representatives.
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Burgerism, in Salford
Unagi Streetfood & Sushi, in Manchester
Nine of Greater Manchester’s best restaurants have made the cut / Credit: The Manc Group
Customer votes will determine five ‘Regional Restaurant of the Year’ winner, and then each of these eateries will be automatically entered into the final shortlist for the national ‘Independent Restaurant of the Year’ – which will be later judged by an esteemed panel.
Will Shu, who is both the founder and CEO at Deliveroo, says this year’s awards are “bigger and better” than ever before.
He continued: “The Restaurant Awards are designed to give our customers the chance to champion and celebrate the wealth of great food right on their doorstep, so get voting to see your favourite spots snap up the titles.”
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Voting for the awards is now open via the Deliveroo Restaurant Awards website, and participating customers are automatically entered into a prize draw to win £500 of app credit.
You’ve got until midnight on Sunday 21 January to get your votes in, and all the winners will be announced on Deliveroo’s social channels on Thursday 15 February, so make sure to keep your eyes peeled to see who claims to title.
Inside Manchester’s new padel club with a Pot Kettle Black cafe and courtside cocktail bar
Daisy Jackson
Padel is the fastest-growing sport in the world, and it’s really picking up speed in Manchester now too with another city centre club opening this month.
The Pollen Club is a little different to the others, in that it’s fully undercover and protected from Manchester’s less-than-favourable weather.
And another thing that makes it a must-visit is the cafe attached to it – a third site for the beloved Pot Kettle Black.
The Pollen Club and Pot Kettle Black have both taken over a prominent city centre spot just off Deansgate, at the foot of the recently-opened Treehouse Hotel.
There are two state-of-the-art padel courts inside, with a mezzanine terrace for enjoy Pot Kettle Black’s offerings.
In summer, there are plans to launch a bar downstairs too, where you can sip spritzes courtside from loungers and swing seats.
The exciting new Manchester padel club will host pop up events, DJ takeovers and an extended evening food offering.
Pot Kettle Black are part of the new padel clubInside Manchester’s new padel club, The Pollen ClubPot Kettle Black are part of the new padel club
And even if you’re not heading inside The Pollen Club, Pot Kettle Black has a grab-and-go hatch facing onto Blackfriars Street, making their delicious coffees, sandwiches and pastries (from their own bakery Half Dozen Other) even more accessible.
Commenting on the opening of the new site, Pot Kettle Black co-owner, Mark Flanagan said: “We’re absolutely thrilled to have opened our third Pot Kettle Black site at The Padel Club. This achievement is a testament to the hard work and dedication of the team.
“After ten years in the city we’ve been enjoying seeing some familiar faces stopping by for a coffee and we can’t wait to get started on our programme of summer events!”
Insomnia Cookies is giving away FREE cookies to anyone with these two names
Emily Sergeant
Manchester’s late-night sweet treat spot Insomnia Cookies is dishing out freebies this week… but there’s a catch.
You have to be called one of two specific names to get one.
With the long bank holiday weekend upon us, those in-the-know will also have noticed that this Sunday isn’t just Easter Sunday, it also happens to be 4/20… and that means Insomnia Cookies is back with its ‘blazing’ £4.20 deal, giving you the chance to bag a box of four warm cookies while saving nearly £7 at the same time.
But even better still, if you happen to have either the first or middle name ‘Mary’ or ‘Jane’, then you can also get yourself a warm tasty cookie for free.
To mark both 4/20, and celebrate the launch of its newest strain of mouthwatering cookie, the Mary Jane, anyone called Mary or Jane can pop into either of Insomnia Cookies’ two Manchester city centre sites – Cross Street and University Green – show their valid ID with their name on, and walk alway with a cookie free of charge.
If you want to try the new Mary Jane cookie, then this limited-edition special is made up of a cookies n cream dough base, packed with rainbow sprinkles.
The freebie deal has been running all week, and you have up until 3am on Monday 21 April to take advantage of it.
Customers will be limited to one free cookie per day.
Insomnia Cookies is giving away free cookies to anyone with these two names / Credit: Insomnia Cookies UK
If you aren’t lucky enough to be called one of those two names though, then thankfully you can still make some great savings on a classic four-pack of cookies over the spring bank holiday weekend, and for every four-pack sold, £1 will be donated to Groundwork – a charity helping make Manchester greener for nature and for local people.
“We’re calling for Marys and Janes to join us to live the high life with free cookies all week,” commented Millie Ralston, Head of Marketing at Insomnia Cookies.
Emily Sergeant -
10th January 2024 
