The 25th Manchester Food and Drink Festival (MFDF) makes its return this month, kicking off on Thursday 15 September as it returns to its home at Cathedral Gardens.
Following a long build-up to the 25th-anniversary event, organisers have today revealed the full programme line-up ahead of its opening.
Alongside a host of street food traders, an artisan food market, and a live music stage, this year will also see the return of the Manchester Beer Bar in The Festival Hub. Sponsored by local brewing magnate Joseph Holt, beer lovers will find a host of different local selections here, including a special 25th-anniversary beer created to mark the occasion.
Elsewhere, the festival’s Masterclass Kitchen will play host to some of Manchester’s hottest cheffing talent, with a line-up featuring renowned food journalist and author Felicity Cloake, Kate Humble, Lia Leendertz and Edd Kimber.
Image: MFDF
The Hub will also be bringing together a host of incredible and eclectic street food fit for an anniversary Festival including Bab K, Herbivorous and Hip Hop Chip Shop.
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Other highlights include the return of the smash-hit Curry Club happening at the Hub. Dishoom, The Little Sri Lankan, Aunty Jis, Nila’s Burmese Kitchen and Lily’s are just a few of the traders that will bring cuisines of India, Burma and Sri Lanka to the table.
The Festival Firepit, sponsored by Weber, will see some of the region’s best loved chefs cooking over fire for a first time festival feast on Cathedral Gardens.
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Chefs hosting the BBQ include Caroline Martins, founder of the Sao Paolo project, Robert Owen Brown and Francisco Martinez from Fazenda.
There’ll also be a big focus on budget cooking and how to spruce up any leftover food to get the most of your ingredients with Recycle for Greater Manchester.
Outside of the Hub meanwhile, the feast continues with activities programmed in restaurants and bars across the city including a £25 for 25 years menu extravaganza.
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Spread out over two massive weekends, the free-to-enter Festival Hub is open from Thursday 15-Sunday 18 September and then again from Thursday 22-Sunday 25 September.
Feature image – Supplied
Manchester
A new Southeast Asian BBQ restaurant has opened on a Manchester rooftop with jaw-dropping city views
Clementine Hall
Say hello to Sister Moon, a beautiful new restaurant bringing a taste of Southeast Asia to Manchester city centre.
It’s the latest addition to Manchester’s Treehouse Hotel, which opened last year transforming a huge building at the end of Deansgate.
This is the final chapter of its new opening, and it might be our favourite one yet.
Sister Moon is the new project from acclaimed chef Sam Grainger who you’ll know from Madre, among others.
Images: The Manc
Sam is working alongside Luke Cowdrey and Justin Crawford (Electric Chair, Volta, Freight Island) at Sister Moon, a Southeast Asian BBQ concept inspired by his time cooking with a local family in Thailand.
All the dishes are cooked on open fire, including dishes like the fried pork skewers with banana ketchup and the grilled prawns with crispy chilli and garlic.
Image: The Manc
Elsewhere on the menu you’ll find stars like the crispy pork belly and pomelo salad as well as the slow cooked lamb jungle curry (warning, this one’s got a kick).
Looking for something lighter? There’s dishes like the smacked cucumber and the cold soba noodle salad that make for the perfect lunch option.
Images: The Manc
And it’s not just Sister Moon which has opened on the 14th floor of the Treehouse Hotel, also now open is The Nest, a new signature bar with panoramic views of Manchester that will be a destination for late-night drinks and social occasions.
Just up the stairs is also The Hideout – an intimate rooftop lounge and event space designed for private hire.
Kick off your evening with a drink in The Nest before making your way for a flavour-packed dinner at Sister Moon – all whilst enjoying jaw-dropping views of the city.
Sister Moon, The Nest, and The Hideout will officially open on Saturday 5 September, and you can find out more here.
Elbow announce three very intimate shows in Manchester
Daisy Jackson
Elbow have announced a three-night Manchester residency, and they’ll be playing a much more intimate venue than their usual.
The Bury-formed rock legends have announced a run of ‘very special’ intimate gigs to celebrate 25 years of their debut studio album, Asleep In The Back.
Elbow frontman Guy Garvey has said the band want it to be a ‘time machine night’ for both them and their fans.
Last time Elbow played a hometown gig, it was an enormous outdoor summer show at Castlefield Bowl in Manchester.
And the time before that, they were opening the UK’s largest indoor arena, the Co-op Live (admittedly, they weren’t supposed to open the venue, but its opening got delayed to land on the date of their gig).
So to see them play to a crowd of just 1,500 people is not an occurrence we’re likely to see again for a while.
Elbow have just announced three intimate Manchester gigs, performing at the O2 Ritz this November.
They’ll perform their debut, Asleep In The Back, in its entirety, along with selected B-sides and rarities.
Speaking of the announcement, Guy Garvey said: “It’s fascinating for us to revisit the atmosphere we created, and the Ritz feels like the perfect setting to capture that atmosphere.
“A time machine night for us and for the fans. See you there.”
Elbow will perform at O2 Ritz Manchester on Friday 20, Saturday 21, and Sunday 22 November.
Tickets will go on general sale from 10am on Friday 4 September HERE, with an artist presale from 10am on Wednesday 2 September.
The Manc -
7th September 2022 
