Sandwich Technician
AJ Handley-Rowe -
10th November 2021
AJ Handley-Rowe -
10th November 2021 The Manchester restaurants and bars shortlisted for the MFDF Awards 2026
Daisy Jackson
The Manchester Food and Drink Festival Awards – better known as the MFDF Awards – have revealed the shortlist of local restaurants, bars, cafes, chefs, and more that are up for the city’s ultimate accolade.
Dozens of outstanding local businesses are nominated across 17 categories, covering everything from food trucks to Michelin Star chefs.
The winners will be revealed at the MFDF Awards ceremony on Monday 25 January, which this year will be held at Medlock Square’s City Hall for the first time.
Sponsored once again by Therme Manchester, the MFDF Awards celebrate the outstanding talent in Manchester’s hospitality scene.
Categories have been chosen to showcase new openings, talented chefs and producers, neighbourhood favourites, top restaurants, great pubs, and plenty more.
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The shortlist has been selected from a list of submissions by the MFDF Awards judging panel, made up of leading food and drink critics, writers and industry experts.
As well as the public vote, judges will mystery shop venues in a number of categories and will score venues based on their experiences. The mystery shopping and public voting period will end at midnight on 11 January 2027 when the polls will be counted and combined with the judges’ scores and the winner of each category will be chosen.
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The awards are now open to public vote on the MFDF website HERE.
Alexa Stratton-Powell, Awards Director of the MFDF Awards, said: “We’re proud to reveal this year’s MFDF Awards shortlists and shine a spotlight on the very best of Greater Manchester’s food and drink scene.
“The awards celebrate the incredible talent, creativity and diversity that make our region a world-class food and drink destination. We’re encouraging everyone to get behind the nominees by voting for your favourites, visiting the shortlisted venues and showing your support for our brilliant hospitality industry.
“We’re also looking forward to bringing the industry together on 25 January 2027 for a fantastic night of celebration and to crown this year’s winners.”
The Community Food and Drink Project of the Year, sponsored by Therme Manchester, is being decided through a separate judging process. The award celebrates initiatives making a positive difference to communities across Greater Manchester, from tackling food poverty and promoting sustainability to improving access to healthy food and bringing communities together.
The Howard and Ruth Award for Outstanding Achievement will also be presented on the night to recognise an outstanding contribution to Greater Manchester’s food and drink industry, with no public shortlist for the category.
The Manchester restaurants and bars on the MFDF 2026 shortlist
1. Affordable Eats Venue of the Year (Sponsored by Therme Manchester)
- Al Madina – 76 Wilmslow Rd, Manchester M14 5AL
- Noodle Alley – 56A Faulkner Street, Manchester M1 4FH
- Sips & Dips – 994 Stockport Rd, Manchester M19 3WN
- Que Huong Viet – 76–78 Oldham Rd, Ancoats, Manchester M4 5EB
- Kabana – 52 Back Turner Street, Manchester M4 1FR
- Bahn Mi 782 – 782 Wilmslow Rd, Didsbury, Manchester M20 2DR
- Zaytoni’s – 12 Oldham St, Manchester M1 1JQ
- Cafe San Juan – 27 St Petersgate, Stockport, Manchester SK1 1EB
Previous winner – Double Zero
2. Takeaway of the Year
- Kool Runnings – 118 Chorlton Road, Old Trafford, Stretford, Manchester M15 4AN
- Rita’s Reign – Piccadilly, Manchester M1 1LY
- Chicken Run – 6 Yarburgh St, Whalley Range, Manchester M16 7FJ
- Viet Deli – 22 Blackfriars Street, Manchester M3 5BQ
- Levenshulme Bakery – 842 Stockport Rd, Levenshulme, Manchester M19 3AW
- The Post Box Shawarma – 543 Wilbraham Rd, Chorlton-cum-Hardy, Manchester M21 9PP
- Bada Bing – 125 Oldham St, Manchester M4 1LN
- Patel’s Pies – 9 Tatton Rd S, Heaton Moor, Stockport SK4 4LU
Previous winner – This & That
3. Cafe or Coffee Shop of the Year
- Fort Coffee – 255 Deansgate, Manchester M3 4EN
- Idle Hands Coffee – 35 Dale St, Manchester M1 2HF
- Artista Perfetto – 130 Oldham Rd, Ancoats, Manchester M4 6BG
- Auntie Lou’s – Stockport Market Place, Stockport SK1 1ES
- Siop Shop – 53 Tib St, Manchester M4 1LS
- Just Between Friends Coffee – 56 Tib Street, Manchester M4 1LG
- Convene – 17 Lower Hillgate, Stockport SK1 1JQ
- Companio Bakery – 35 Radium St, Ancoats, Manchester M4 6AD
Previous winner – Something More Productive
4. Wine Offering of the Year
- Kallos – 3 Bankside Boulevard, Salford M3 7HD
- Ad Hoc – 28 Edge Street, Manchester M4 1HN
- Cork of the North – 13 Northenden Rd, Sale M33 2DH
- The Dilly Deli – 1 Little Underbank, Stockport SK1 1LA
- Reserve Wines – 176 Burton Road, West Didsbury, Manchester M20 1LH
- Carrington’s – 322 Barlow Moor Rd, Chorlton-cum-Hardy, Manchester M21 8AY
- Portfolio MCR – 67–69 Bridge St, Manchester M3 3BQ
- Erst – 9 Murray Street, Ancoats, Manchester M4 6HS
Previous winner – Flawd Wine
5. Food Trader of the Year
- Buttercup – 225 Deansgate, Manchester M3 4EN
- Pico’s Tacos – Mackie Mayor, 1 Eagle Street, Manchester M4 5BU
- Slice Culture – Unit 18, Track Brewing Co, Piccadilly Trading Estate, Manchester M1 2NP
- More Joy Food Co – Exhibition, 56 Peter Street, Manchester M2 3NQ
- Baity – Kargo MKT, The Quays, Salford M50 3AG
- Rizzo’s Sicilian Food – 296 Oxford Rd, Manchester M13 9NS
- The Thai Food Van – Address not provided
- Oh Mei Dumplings – Address not provided
Previous winner – Rack
6. Foodie Neighbourhood of the Year
- Levenshulme
- Marple & Marple Bridge
- Chorlton
- Rusholme
- Westhoughton
- Altrincham
Previous winner – Stockport
7. Independent Drink Producer of the Year
- Hip Pop – Department Bonded Warehouse, 18 Lower Byrom Street, Manchester M3 4AP
- Balance Brewing & Blending – Unit 10, Sheffield Street, Manchester M1 2DN
- Sureshot Brewing – 5 Sheffield Street, Manchester M1 2DN
- Runaway Brewery – 9–11 Astley Street, Stockport SK4 1AW
- Cloudwater Brew Co – Piccadilly Trading Estate, Unit 9, Gidding Rd, Manchester M1 2NP
- Pomona Island Brew Co – Waybridge Industrial Estate, 33 Daniel Adamson Rd, Salford M50 1DS
- Stiff Tea Brewing Company – Address not provided
- Chu-Lo – Beehive Lofts, Jersey Street, Ancoats, Manchester M4 6JG
Previous winner – Track Brewing
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8. Independent Food Producer of the Year
- Wong Wong Bakery – 32 Princess Street, Manchester M1 4LB
- Fizzles Pickles + Preserves – Unit 109, Pollard Yard, 15 Pollard St E, Manchester M40 7QX
- Sticky Fingers – 39 Great Underbank, Stockport SK1 1NE
- Loafi – 10 Square St, Ramsbottom, Bury BL0 9BE
- Patel’s Pies – 9 Tatton Rd S, Heaton Moor, Stockport SK4 4LU
- Half Dozen Other – Unit 17 Redbank, Cheetham Hill, Manchester M4 4HF
- Companio Bakery – 35 Radium St, Ancoats, Manchester M4 6AD
- La Chouquette – 812A Wilmslow Road, Didsbury, Manchester M20 6UH
Previous winner – Pollen Bakery
9. Neighbourhood Venue of the Year
- The Pearl – 425 Bury New Road, Prestwich, Manchester M25 1AF
- Cafe Continental – 5 Melbourne St, Stalybridge SK15 2JE
- Porta Tapas Bar – 41 Lapwing Ln, West Didsbury, Manchester M20 2NT
- Fold Bistro & Bottle Shop – Mountheath Trading Estate, Unit 65 Ardent Way, Manchester M25 9WE
- Sips & Dips – 994 Stockport Rd, Manchester M19 3WN
- Bar San Juan – 56 Beech Rd, Chorlton-cum-Hardy, Manchester M21 9EG
- Ornella’s Kitchen – 10 Manchester Rd, Denton, Manchester M34 3LE
- The Mekong Cat – 47 Lower Hillgate, Stockport SK1 1JQ
Previous winner – Stretford Canteen
10. Pub or Beer Bar of the Year
- The Angel Pub – 6 Angel St, Manchester M4 4BQ
- The Balance Taproom – 10 Sheffield St, Manchester M1 2ND
- The Peveril of the Peak – 127 Great Bridgewater St, Manchester M1 5JQ
- Victoria Tap – Victoria Station Approach, Manchester M3 1WY
- Track Brewing Co Taproom – Unit 18, Piccadilly Trading Estate, Manchester M1 2NP
- The Magnet Freehouse – 51 Wellington Rd N, Stockport SK4 1HJ
- The City Arms – 46–48 Kennedy St, Manchester M2 4BQ
- The Smithfield Market Tavern – 37 Swan St, Manchester M4 5JZ
Previous winner – The Marble Arch Inn
11. Great Service Award
- Kallos – 3 Bankside Boulevard, Salford M3 7HD
- Blacklock Manchester – 37 Peter Street, Manchester M2 5GB
- Stray – Mackie Mayor, 1 Eagle Street, Manchester M4 5BU
- 10 Tib Lane – 10 Tib Lane, Manchester M2 4JB
- Speak in Code – 7 Jacksons Row, Manchester M2 5ND
- Schofields Bar – 194 Deansgate, Manchester M3 3ND
- Hawksmoor – 186 Deansgate, Manchester M3 3WB
- Winsome – 74 Princess Street, Manchester M1 6JD
Previous winner – Maray
12. Low or No Offering of the Year
- Hinterland – 16–20 Turner Street, Manchester M4 1DZ
- Dishoom – 32 Bridge Street, Manchester M3 3BT
- Double Down – 7 Jacksons Row, Manchester M2 5ND
- Kerb – 04 Henry St, Ancoats, Manchester M4 5DD
- North Taproom – Circle Square, Manchester M1 7FA
- Cloudwater Brew Co – Piccadilly Trading Estate, Unit 9, Gidding Rd, Manchester M1 2NP
- Lina Stores – St Johns Court, 17 Quay St, Manchester M3 3HN
- Caravan – 6 Goods Yard St, Manchester M3 3BG
Previous winner – Nell’s Pizza
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13. Bar of the Year
- Bar Shrimp – 7 New York St, Manchester M1 4JB
- Stray – Mackie Mayor, 1 Eagle Street, Manchester M4 5BU
- Renae – 45–47 Thomas St, Manchester M4 1NA
- Ōdiobā – 26 Lower Hillgate, Stockport SK1 1JE
- Bar Posie – Unit 1, 17 Marble St, Spring Gardens, Manchester M2 3AW
- The Apple Core – 26 Middle Hillgate, Stockport SK1 3AY
- Double Down – 7 Jacksons Row, Manchester M2 5ND
- Bruk – 8 Little Underbank, Stockport SK1 1JT
Previous winner – Speak in Code
14. Newcomer of the Year
- Bar Posie – Unit 1, 17 Marble St, Spring Gardens, Manchester M2 3AW
- Convene – 17 Lower Hillgate, Stockport SK1 1JQ
- Parosna – 43 Barlow Moor Rd, Didsbury, Manchester M20 6TW
- Proloco – 74 Great Ancoats St, Manchester M4 5GU
- Bar Shrimp – 7 New York St, Manchester M1 4JB
- Bar Caput – 71 Great Underbank, Stockport SK1 1PE
- The Dilly Deli – 1 Little Underbank, Stockport SK1 1LA
- Hatter’s Food and Drinks Hall – 16 Market St, Denton, Manchester M34 2XW
Previous winner – Stow
15. Chef of the Year
- Jamie Pickles – Stow
- Shaun Moffatt – Winsome
- Jess Furniss – WTLGI
- Gary Weir – Open Fire / Tartuffe
- Sian Wilson – Bar Posie
- Tom Barnes – Skof
- Rosie Maguire – Higher Ground
- Brit Wardle – 10 Tib Lane
Previous winner – Matt Bennett (The Pearl)
16. Restaurant of the Year
- Kallos – 3 Bankside Boulevard, Salford M3 7HD
- Stow – 62 Bridge Street, Manchester M3 3BW
- Higher Ground – Faulkner House, New York Street, Manchester M1 4DY
- Winsome – 74 Princess Street, Manchester M1 6JD
- Erst – 9 Murray Street, Ancoats, Manchester M4 6HS
- The Pearl – 425 Bury New Rd, Prestwich, Manchester M25 1AF
- Adam Reid at The French – 16 Peter Street, Manchester M60 2DS
- The Trof – 6–8 Thomas St, Manchester M4 1EU
Previous winner – SKOF
The awards are now open to public vote on the MFDF website HERE.
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Tickets for the event can also be purchased by contacting the MFDF awards team via email. Please email [email protected].
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Featured image: The Manc Group
Science and Industry Museum announces programme of FREE ‘spooktacular’ October half term activities
Emily Sergeant
One of Manchester’s best museums has announced a programme of free ‘spooktacular science’ activities for October half term.
With half term right around the corner and Halloween not far off either, it won’t be long before parents and carers are looking for ways to keep little Mancs occupied… luckily, the Science and Industry Museum has got you covered.
With only a few weeks to go until schools in Greater Manchester are out for October half term, the massively popular museum in the heart of Manchester city centre has unveiled a jam-packed lineup of free events.
Families are being told to get ready for ‘spooktacular’ science, hands-on activities, and loads of interactive fun, all inspired by the popular Horrible Science: Cosmic Chaos exhibition.
You can storyboard and then animate your own extra-terrestrial character inside the Animation Studio, let your imagination run wild and design your own alien species, or even go on a galactic treasure hunt around the museum and build your own interstellar spaceship with a giant rocket building kit.
In the mornings, you can take a break from your cosmic adventures and enjoy family-friendly sci-fi screenings in Revolution Manchester.
You’ll also then be able to put your skills to the test with classic space-themed games on the big screen every day in the afternoon.
And don’t forget, this half term is your only chance to meet Albert Slime-stein – a larger-than-life monster who’ll be popping up in the Upper Yard as part of the annual Halloween in the City MCR Monsters trail.
If you’re planning on visiting on actual Halloween day itself, then the museum is inviting you to come dressed in your best costume so you can get properly stuck into all the spooky fun.
The unveiling of the October half term events programme comes after the museum also announced that its popular adults-only ‘after hours’ event would be returning for one night only later this month, also with a Halloween twist.
Museum After Hours is happening on Thursday 29 October from 7pm-10pm, with tickets setting you back £12 each or £6 for concessions. Find out more here.
Read more:
- Science and Industry Museum’s adults-only ‘after hours’ event returns with a Halloween twist this month
- Greater Manchester’s spooky steam trains are returning this Halloween
- Giant inflatable monsters to descend on Manchester for their BIGGEST celebration to date
Science and Industry Museum’s October Half Term Programme is running from 24 October to 1 November. Entry to the museum (except the exhibitions) is free of charge, but it’s advised that you book your admission in advance, as it’s expected to be busier than normal.
Book admission here.
Featured Image – Drew Forsyth (Science Museum Group)
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