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Manchester Food and Drink Festival reveal 2022 awards shortlists as voting opens

Winners will be announced at the MFDF Gala Dinner and Awards on 26 September

Georgina Pellant Georgina Pellant - 28th July 2022

The Manchester Food and Drink Festival (MFDF) has just announced the shortlists for its 2022 Awards as it opens up voting to the Manchester public.

This years’ shortlists have been chosen by a judging panel of local food critics and feature a total of 113 nominees split across 16 categories, including a newly-created award designed to recognise great service.

Following a slight change of format caused by the pandemic, this year, winners will once again be decided by the public and MFDF judging panel.

With voting open from now until 16 September, the city’s food and drinks fans are being invited to vote for their favourites over on the MFDF website.

Image: Supplied

This year’s MFDF shortlisted venues are as follows:

PLANT-BASED OFFERING OF THE YEAR

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Four Side Pizza

Herbivorous 

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Otto Vegan Empire

Ruyi Chorlton

Sanskruti

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The Walled Garden

Wholesome Junkies

INDEPENDENT DRINKS PRODUCER OF THE YEAR

Bundobust Brewery

Cloudwater

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Hip Pop

Into the Gathering Dusk

Stockport Gin

Steep Soda

Track Brewing

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INDEPENDENT FOOD PRODUCER OF THE YEAR 

Polyspore

Dormouse Chocolates

Great North Pie Co

Holy Grain

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Long Boi’s Bakehouse

Yellowhammer

La Choquette

FOODIE NEIGHBOURHOOD OF THE YEAR 

Ancoats

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Chapel Street, Salford 

Monton

Prestwich

Ramsbottom

Sale

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Stockport 

COFFEE SHOP OF THE YEAR 

Cafe Sanjuan

Factory Coffee

Grind and Tamp

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Grapefruit

Just Between Friends

Station South

Pollen

FOOD TRADER OF THE YEAR

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Burgerism

House of Habesha

The Little Sri Lankan

Lovingly Artisan

Mira

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New Wave Ramen

Pico’s Tacos

AFFORDABLE EATS VENUE OF THE YEAR

Aunty Ji’s

Bahn Mi Co Ba

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Cafe Sanjuan

Levenshulme Bakery

Go Falafel

Mama Flo’s

Salt & Pepper MCR

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POP UP OR PROJECT OF THE YEAR

Platt Fields Market Garden

Sao Paulo Project

Suppher

Eat Well MCR Spring Festival

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Bungalow at Kampus

Heart and Parcel

Foodie Friday

PUB OR BEER BAR OF THE YEAR

Bridge Beers, Staylbridge

Heaton Hops

House of Hops

The Kings Arms

Nordie

Track Taproom

Station Hop

BAR OF THE YEAR

Blinker Bar

Flawd

Henry C

Ramona

Schofield’s Bar

Speak in Code

10 Tib Lane

NEIGHBOURHOOD VENUE OF THE YEAR 

Baratuxi Bar

Bar San Juan

The Easy Fish Co.

Nilas Burmese Kitchen

Ornella’s Kitchen

Osma

The Perfect Match

FOOD AND DRINK RETAILER OF THE YEAR

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Chorlton Cheesemongers

Hello Oriental

Coopers Lets Fress Deli

Le Social

Out of the Blue

Wandering Palate

GREAT SERVICE AWARD

Sponsored by Manchester Evening News

Bull & Bear

Dishoom

Hawksmoor

Flawd

Schofield’s Bar

This year, winners will be announced at the MFDF Gala Dinner and Awards sponsored by Bruntwood and taking place at Escape to Freight Island on 26 September. 

Read more: The family-run Prestwich bagel shop with queues out the door

Some categories will be decided entirely by public vote and some made up from the public votes alongside a mystery shopping visit from members of the judging panel.

The Independent Drinks Producer of the Year and the Independent Food Producer of the Year Awards will also be judged by a panel taste test.

Read more: Inside Platzki, the city-centre Polish restaurant with an ever-evolving menu

Alexa Stratton-Powell, Director of MFDF said: “This is an incredible list of brilliant businesses that we are proud to celebrate. As we look forward to our 25th year it’s all about the talent that has shaped this last quarter century and made the city’s  food scene the world-class destination that it is today. Please get involved, vote for your favourites and visit the amazing venues on the shortlist for yourselves!”

Charlotte Wild, Head of Retail & Leisure at Bruntwood commented: “We’re proud to become headline sponsor for these important awards. Manchester’s hospitality scene is phenomenal and the industry is absolutely central to our vision of creating thriving cities. We’re excited to celebrate 25 years of the Manchester Food and Drink Festival this Autumn, alongside all the talented nominees and winners at the Awards on 26th September. Congratulations to all those shortlisted!”   

To cast your votes, visit the MFDF website here.

Feature image – MFDF

News

‘There must be a way’ – Andy Burnham vows to save Jodrell Bank after funding cuts

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant Save Jodrell Bank from closing petition

Prime Minister Andy Burnham has vowed to save the UK’s largest telescope at Jodrell Bank.

In case you hadn’t heard, back in July, theUK Research and Innovation (UKRI) announced that the Jodrell Bank Observatory – which is home to the Lovell Telescope – will not be prioritised for further funding after its current agreement ends in March 2028, despite the telescope standing in its Cheshire home since 1957.

The UKRI said the decision not to continue funding priority was ‘the result of a comprehensive, evidence-based prioritisation process’.

Since the news broke, however, it has been a topic of national uproar and discussion as to how to ensure its legacy lives on.

A proud part of the University of Manchester (UoM), Jodrell Bank had a pioneering role in the development of radio astronomy, and has evidence from its emergence as a new science in the 1940s through to the present day, making it an outstanding part of scientific heritage.

The Prime Minister was pressed to address concerns surrounding the future of the site by Sarah Russell, Labour MP for Congleton, in the House of Commons yesterday (1 September 2026).

Mr Burnham replied: “Every one of my generation went on a school trip to Jodrell Bank, and there is no way that we can see its demise – it won’t happen under my Government.

“I know there’s changes that have been made in relation to research funding, but Jodrell Bank is a heritage asset for the country, as well as a research asset.

Read more:

“I will indeed set up the meeting she requires.

“There must be a way to save Jodrell Bank, and I give a commitment today, at this despatch box, we will find it.”

Featured Image – The Manc Group

News

Northern’s ‘Flash Sale’ is back for 2026 with millions of train tickets on sale for £2

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant Northern Rail train tickets flash sale

Millions of train tickets are currently on sale for just £2 each, as Northern has brought its popular ‘Flash Sale’ back for 2026.

A whopping FOUR MILLION of them, to be exact.

For the last couple of years, the rail operator has made life a little easier for train travellers by giving them the chance to grab one of several million tickets for much cheaper than normal – and now, with the cost of living crisis sadly continuing to make its impact felt, Northern has decided to kick off the autumn season by slashing prices once again.

It means that millions of people will have the opportunity to make a cut-price journey across the north of England before the end of October is out.

With the company’s regular ‘Flash Sales’ having gone onto become a, somewhat, legendary event at this point, it probably comes as no shock that you’ll need to act fast if you want to be in with a chance of get your hands tickets.

Tickets went live today and the sale runs for three days, closing on Friday 4 September – with tickets valid for travel between 9 September and 23 October 2026.

There’s plenty of Greater Manchester journeys included in the sale too.

The top local destinations with the most tickets available in the sale are Manchester Piccadilly, Manchester Airport, Manchester Victoria, and Manchester Oxford Road, as well as Wigan and several other neighbouring towns.

A list of routes where tickets will be available can also be found using the ‘cheap fare finder’ tool on the Northern website here.

Train tickets
Northern’s ‘Flash Sale’ is back for 2026 with millions of train tickets on sale from £2 / Credit: Northern | Wikimedia Commons

“With four million tickets up for grabs, this is one of our biggest Flash Sales yet, and there’s something for everyone,” commented Alex Hornby, who is the Commercial and Customer Director at Northern.

“With millions of tickets available for just £2 each, our Flash Sale will make the railway even more appealing, and we believe it will inspire everyone to explore everything our fantastic region has to offer, from bustling cities to countryside and stunning coastlines.

Read more:

“Customers will need to book early to avoid disappointment, as once they’re gone, they’re gone.”

Tickets are available to buy on Northern’s app, online, at ticket offices, and on ticket machines at stations managed by Northern.

Featured Image – Northern

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