Manchester Food and Drink Festival is back for 2021 – everything you need to know
From artisan markets with some of the region's finest traders, to street food, a giant beer and cider bar, plus events across the city, MFDF 2021 has so much to offer
After a brief hiatus, Manchester’s premier food and drink event has returned to the city for 2021 – bringing with it a host of local street food, locally-brewed beers, artisan producers and fringe events involving some of the city’s best restaurants.
As ever at the heart of the action is the MFDF Festival Hub, which returns to Cathedral Gardens from Thursday 16 – Sunday 19 September, and then again from Wednesday 22 to Sunday 26 September.
Culminating in the prestigious awards ceremony, it’s a must-visit event for any self-proclaimed Manchester foodies.
Read on to discover everything that’s happening over the next two weeks.
Where is the Manchester Food and Drink Festival this year?
The centre of the action will be at The Festival Hub – the free to enter, pop up food and drink village that will take over Cathedral Gardens for two weeks.
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Bringing together a gigantic beer bar, wine, a gin bar, loads of street food, an artisan food market, banquets, and a live music stage, it’s all going on here with so much to be discovered across the following two weeks.
What time does the Manchester Food and Drink Festival Hub open?
The Manchester Food and Drink Festival Hub is open 12 – 11 pm between Thursday 16 and Sunday 19 September. It is then closed Monday 20 and Tuesday 21 September, before reopening on Wednesday 22 from 5 pm to 11 pm.
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The final stretch of the festival then runs from Thursday 23 to 26 September, open all day from 12 to 11 pm.
What street food can I find at the festival?
From halloumi fries to chocolate galettes, there’s so much street food to be discovered at this year’s Manchester Food and Drink Festival.
Home to an epic street food market features whole village of the very best independent food traders around, from the juiciest burger to chocolate galettes and halloumi fries, read on to discover what you can enjoy at the Festival Hub over the next fortnight.
Thursday 16TH – Sunday 19th Sept
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What’s Your Beef – Locally and ethically sourced grass-fed beef burgers, halloumi fries and regular fries .
Mi & Pho – Northenden’s Award-winning Vietnamese restaurant brings Bahn Mi and Pho to the Festival.
Maison Breizh – Authentic Breton crêpes and galettes, also known as French pizza.
Oh My Glaze – Wraps, wings and halloumi.
Maison Breizh is at the Festival Hub all weekend with authentic Breton crêpes and galettes
23rd – 26th Sept
Halloumination – The Halloumination team serve the most delicious halloumi fries + halloumi burgers.
The Spinn – Gatley-based indie restaurant & bar will be bringing their amazing trademark burgers to the festival.
I Knead Pizza – Stockport-based local food heroes serving up woodfired pizza and amazing ‘pizza bites.’
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Northern Soul Grilled Cheese – The UK’s first grilled cheese restaurant, based in Manchester.
Mezze – The family-run, Cypriot kitchen will be joining The Hub with their superb take on all things Mediterranean.
Spoons Desserts – Cracking crepes made locally, featuring all the classic crepe toppings.
Meatless Farm will also be at the Hub throughout the festival, serving up samples of their excellent vegan cooking products as well as a full street food menu of their plant-based burgers.
Event programme
There’s so many wonderful events taking part as part of this year’s Manchester Food and Drink Festival, with some special fringe dinners and tastings happening around the city as well as at the main Festival Hub.
You can find the full event programme for this year’s festival here.
Tine at The Bungalow – Tine will be bringing their elevated casual dining experience to The Bungalow at Kampus with a special five-course menu created especially for MFDF.
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The Mousetrap wine and cheese tasting experience – The Mousetrap’s super special cheese and wine tasting experience include four award-winning artisan cheeses paired perfectly with a selection of wines.
Le Social Last Summer Wine tasting – Expect creamy whites, savoury orange wines and comforting reds at this special tasting.
Bread Flower x Le Social Jewish-inspired supper club – Learn about the Jewish customs and traditions of this time of year, like dipping the apple in honey for New Year and the tradition of sleeping outside in a hut for 8days during Sukkot. Dishes will be paired with wines from Le Social.
MFDF Wine and Fizz Festival – Taking place Friday 17th and Saturday 18th September, Halle St Peters on Blossom Street in Ancoats will be taken over by some of the region’s finest and most exciting independent wine retailers and brands.
Sustainable wine evening – Open Kitchen will host a sustainable wine tasting evening, showcasing the Bolney Estate in Kent & sample a range of beautiful English wines.
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The Bull & Bear Hub takeover – Tom Kerridge, the man behind the first pub to ever be awarded two Michelin stars, is hosting the ultimate pub grub dinner at the Festival Hub.
MFDF Curry Club at The Hub – A festival feast like never before, the entire Festival Hub will be the venue for an undercover, al fresco Indian street food celebration.
Manchester’s Biggest Chippy Tea – The city’s best loved restaurants, chefs and food traders are coming together to create a mammoth chippie tea feast in homage to one of the region’s best-loved meals.
Schlosstoberfest – Expect an Oktoberfest Takeover bringing a day of Bavarian delights with brats, pretzels and lederhosen. Free to attend and no need to book.
Tast Tasting DInner – The team from the award-winning restaraunt Tast, will be bringing their acclaimed take on Catalonian tapas to the MFDF Street Kitchen
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Le Social Supernature Disco – Dedicated to the party and fantastic drinks, Le Social host an all-day disco party with Supernature.
What about the music stage?
The 2021 CityLife stage at MFDF will feature a curated line-up of Manchester’s best local bands andmusicians to provide the perfect soundtrack to your festival.
Highlights include:
Friday 17 September City Life Present The Lottery Winners – 8pm.
Saturday 18 September The Covertones -6.30pm.
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Sunday 19 September Flat Cap Brass – 1.30pm and 2.30pm / Fine Lines – 3:30pm
Wednesday 22September Manchester legend Clint Boon brings his Boon Army spirit and sounds to the Festival stage for a feel-good mid-week set.
Thursday 23 September Dave Fidler / Albert Schloss Stage Takeover
Saturday 25 September Gypsies of Bohemia
Sunday 26 September Flat Cap Brass /. Hattie Pearson
The artisan market at MFDF is hosting some stellar traders from across Greater Manchester
What traders are at the artisan market?
Thursday 16 – Sunday 19:
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Chorlton Bread Co – Serving handmade plant-based, sourdough bread and cookies all the way from Chorlton.
Cafe Cannoli – Bringing handmade, authentic Sicilian cannoli to the Festival.
Cafe Cannoli was recently recommended ias one of the best UK producers of cannolis in Waitrose magazine
DevilDog Sauces– Small batch chilli sauces and seasonings made right here in Manchester.
Cocoa and Bloom – Beautiful, sustainable, handmade chocolates made with natural fresh fillings.
Chorlton Cheesemongers -The cheesie big guns are out! Chorlton Cheesemongers will be on site serving up their best quality farmhouse and artisan handmade cheeses, chutney and pickles.
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Manchester Cheesecake Co– Homemade, locally produced small-batch cheesecakes in an array of amazing flavours.
BreadFlower– Handmade bagels and seasonal bouquets from MFDF Award-nominated new local producers BreadFlower.
Twisted Wheel Beer Co – Craft Beer brewed in the Northwest and celebrating the spirit of Northern Soul!
Prestwich Gin– Locally produced, award nominated, small batch gin!
O’Donnell Moonshine – Handcrafted spirits and liqueurs presented in their now iconic glass jars. A throwback to American prohibition usually found at Hatch and coming to the Festival for the first time.
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Jack BerryGluten free and speciality flours and bread mixes. Raw, natural honeys, seeds and No BEE Vegan HONEE® (the recently launched, unique vegan honey alternative)
Thursday 23rd – Sunday 26th Sept
Companio Bakery – Ancoats’ neighbourhood, sourdough bakery will be serving up their fresh loaves to the festival customers.
Paradiso Authentic Italian – Freshly made, authentic Italian desserts including their famous flavoured Tiramisu… Bellissimo!
Chorlton Cheesemongers – Chorlton Cheesemongers will also join us for the second weekend of our Festival Market with their best quality farmhouse and artisan handmade cheeses, chutney and pickles.
Eat Well –Manchester’s social enterprise, Eat Well, will present their limited edition hampers containing the finest artisan produce from a hand selected bunch of the best indie food heroes.
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The Gourmet Brownie Co – Gorgeous gooey brownies handmade and brought to the Festival to fulfil the needs of even the sweetest of tooths.
Ribble Valley Gin – Small batch, multi award winning gins brough to the Hub direct from the Ribble Valley.
HM Pasties – Pies and Pasties handmade in Bolton with the social mission of reducing re-offending by employing people with criminal convictions.
Crozier Drinks – Professional, premixed Artisan cocktails specialising in inventive combinations of fruits spirits and spices.
O’Donnell Moonshine – Handcrafted spirits and liqueurs presented in their now iconic glass jars. A throwback to American prohibition usually found at Hatch and coming to the Festival for the first time.
News
The best things to do in Greater Manchester this week | 20 – 26 April 2026
Emily Sergeant
April is beginning to draw to a close now, and it won’t be long before May is here… where IS this year going, honestly?
Now that it’s officially spring in the UK, there’s obviously loads of events and activities to be getting up to across Greater Manchester this week. Just as long as those classic ‘April showers’ don’t show their face too much, that is.
Finding it a bit tricky to pick what to do though? No worries. We’ve chosen a few of the highlights for another edition of our ‘what’s on‘ guide.
Both free things and those that’ll set you back a few pennies are featured.
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Matilda The Musical
Manchester Palace Theatre
Monday 20 – Saturday 25 April
Matilda The Musical / Credit: The Manc | Supplied
This is your last week to catch Matilda The Musical in Manchester.
The RSC’s smash-hit musical – which is based on Roald Dahl’s beloved book of the same name – is currently on a tour of the UK and Ireland, and this includes a special four-week run at Manchester’s iconic Palace Theatre.
Written by Dennis Kelly, with music and lyrics by Tim Minchin, and developed and directed by Matthew Warchus, the beloved production about a determined heroine with a vivid imagination has won hearts all over the globe.
Find out more and see if you can grab yourself some last-minute tickets here.
Horrible Science: Cosmic Chaos / Credit: Science Museum Group | BBC
Horrible Science: Cosmic Chaos has made its world premiere at the Science and Industry Museum, and is inviting visitors to explore our wondrous Solar System.
Fresh off-the-back of the new BBC Children’s and Education TV show, Horrible Science, the ‘thrilling’ new exhibition encouraging visitors to ‘do science the horrible way’, and join both scientists and supervillains to unveil the secrets of space.
The new exhibition propels families up into space where mystery, intrigue, and rocket-loads of silly and surprising science await. You’ll get to venture through a series of cosmic zones, walk in the shoes of astronauts, explore the life-giving energy of the sun, marvel at mysterious moons, and discover far-off weird worlds.
Did you see that the spectacular 360° immersive experience that’s currently lighting up Manchester Cathedral has extended its run in our city?
That’s right – due to ‘overwhelming demand’ and following a roster of impressive reviews since making its UK debut earlier this year, LUMINISCENCE has now extended its run at Manchester Cathedral until the early summer.
LUMINISCENCE combines 360° video mapping, new orchestral arrangements of iconic songs, and a narrative story celebrating everything that makes Manchester and its residents so special.
Visitors are invited to step into a ‘spellbinding fusion’ of light, sound, and storytelling. Find out more and get tickets here.
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Picasso: A Legacy
Castle Fine Art
Monday 20 April – 4 May
Picasso: A Legacy / Credit: Supplied
A new free exhibition by Pablo Picasso is currently open in Manchester, including works never-before seen on public display.
The new exhibition, titled Picasso: A Legacy, is comprised of more than 35 original works on paper and ceramics, all of which were created by the artist from the mid 1930s up until his death in 1973, and visitors will get to be guided through the last four decades of his life.
You’ll also get to encounter the artist’s lovers and muses, mythological alter egos, and playful zoomorphic ceramics, as well as feats of frantic artistic output that made up Picasso’s final decade.
Works from legendary Japanese artists Hokusai and Hiroshige have now arrived in the city.
Opening the Whitworth’s first exhibition of Japanese print in more than a century, ‘Beneath the Great Wave’, features colourful woodblock ukiyo-e prints from Edo-period Japan, dating as far back as 1700s – including the iconic ‘Under the Wave off Kanagawa’.
It’s an easy shout if you fancy something different this week, oh and even better, it’s completely FREE to enter and look around.
Two floors, three bars, and plenty of craic – Katie O’Brien’s has now arrived in Manchester.
That’s right – Katie O’Brien’s has just opened its doors on Peter Street, transforming the old Peaky Blinders bar into a lively Irish tavern with plenty of charm, and I think we can all agree this is looking pretty impressive.
There’s both Murphy’s AND Guinness on tap, live music seven nights a week, and all sorts of cosy snugs to hide away in.
Whether you’re hitting the dance floor beneath the elevated main stage, or hiding away nursing a pint with pals, they’ve got your back.
Hatter’s is a brand-new food hall that’s just opened up in Denton, with four kitchens and two bars across a huge two-storey venue.
In the kitchens, they’ve got the legendary Tameside Italian Ornella’s, Christmas Markets favourite Waffle Kart, the delightful Spanish kitchen Casa Dario, and Oldham’s much-loved meat experts Curio.
That means you can get pizza and tiramisu, Asian-inspired chicken and waffles, Argentinian steaks, and authentic Spanish paella and tortilla, all under one roof.
Get ready to have your very own Patrick Swayze moment, because there’s a gorgeous new spot just opened in the Northern Quarter where you can craft your very own pottery pieces.
At House Pottery, you can make your own, bowl, cup, or candlestick on a traditional pottery wheel.
They do classes for all different skill levels, so whether you choose to go alone, or as a group, the lovely professionals are there to guide you throughout.
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Oasis Supernova – The Maine Event 30th Anniversary
Manchester Academy 1
Saturday 25 April
Oasis Supernova – The Maine Event 30th Anniversary / Credit: Supplied
Oasis Supernova are celebrating the 30 year anniversary of Oasis playing their legendary Maine Road shows by taking to the stage themselves at Manchester Academy 1 this Saturday (25 April) for one night only, and it’s shaping up to be the place to be.
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Expect wall-to-wall anthems, electric atmosphere, and a crowd that knows every word, as we celebrate one of the greatest bands to ever do it.
This isn’t just another tribute night – it’s a full-blown, hands-in-the-air, sing-it-like-you-mean-it experience. A huge video wall showing iconic gig footage, brass section, live harmonica and strings, play, alongside the world’s premier Oasis tribute band.
Can you believe Oxygen is turning a year old this month?
That’s right – MediaCity’s massive trampoline park has been open one whole year this month, and you’re invited down to celebrate, with play sessions available for just £10 this weekend.
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Whether the kids want to try out some new tricks on the trampolines and giant airbag, or love heights and fancy exploring the High Ropes Course and indoor ‘Sky Rider’, there’s plenty of fun to be had.
With Open Play, Toddler Play, birthday party bookings and even dedicated SEN Peaceful Play sessions – there’s something for everyone. And then after all that fun, you can gather up the gang and get stuck into food and drinks from the on-site cafe.
Get booking your day out at Oxygen MediaCity here.
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Stuck for somewhere to have a bite to eat?
Just like we do every month, we’ve rounded up some of the best things we got to eat in March, so if you’re on the hunt for somewhere new to eat in April, then we’ve absolutely got you covered as there’s plenty of places across the city region.
It’s been another jam-packed month of insanely delicious eats, and we’ve been lucky to have a bunch of new openings too. From mini tiramisu drawers, to Magnum-stuffed croissants, egg custard tarts, and more, we’ve been scoffing the lot.
Sacha Lord set to back local hospitality again with money behind the bar of one Greater Manchester pub
Danny Jones
Local figure Sacha Lord is once again looking to help support Greater Manchester’s food and drink scene once again this spring by putting a total of £2.5k behind the bar of one lucky pub.
Well, let’s be honest, we’re about to be the real lucky ones.
It’s far from the first time that the Night Time Economy Advisor has done this, having previously put sizeable sums towards shared tabs on a few ocassions over the last few years.
Lining up his next handout for this coming early May bank holiday (perfect timing), it’s going to be a super and potentially very sloppy Sunday…
Tell me your favourite pub in Greater Manchester.
Bank Holiday Sunday 3rd May, I’ll be turning up and putting £2500 behind the bar.
Sharing the video above online earlier this week, the 54-year-old simply wrote, “Tell me your favourite pub in Greater Manchester. Bank Holiday Sunday, 3rd May, I’ll be turning up and putting £2500 behind the bar.”
The message is as straightforward as ever: “Support your local pub.”
Now obviously, the fact that people can reply with their go-to boozers and help influence the decision is one thing – something that has certainly always created an attraction each time he’s done this – but it’s also just a good way of marketing these watering holes to begin with.
Whether or not someone’s favourite public house tucked away in one of the 10 boroughs, or their bar of choice here in Manchester city centre, ends up being selected or not, it’s obviously great publicity having their names plastered on a notable social media account.
This is especially so when you see how much the post itself ends up being reshared and the overall exposure Lord ultimately lends them via creating such a big crowd discussion.
Here’s hoping we get proper beer garden weather over that long weekend.
It’s also worth noting that the further support stunts like this have helped garner support for other regional businesses – in particular, indies that are battling the cost of living crisis and so many other challenges within the sector – has proved crucial for some places to stay open to begin with.
A good example is the Thirsty Korean, who teamed up with the Altrincham-born entrepreneur to cover hundreds of bills back in 2023, and has now been able to expand into a larger venue down the road from their original Chorlton location.
The obstacles facing the hospitality industry remain varied and numerous, but gestures like this can go a long way to helping prop up those who need it.
Georgina Pellant -
17th September 2021 
