Manchester Food & Drink Festival is going ahead for 2020.
The famous event has been given the green light to return for its 23rd edition – with a new programme being held partnership with the city’s restaurants, bars, cafes and chefs across 12 days.
The Festival Hub will be situated at Cathedral Gardens this year, with the site consisting of two key areas – The Feasting Quarter and the Festival Market.
Entry price will be free, and an MFDF app has also been designed to provide a digital version of the Festival programme.
Brand new safety measures, such as social distancing, table service, ordering via mobile, and capacity restrictions have also been introduced to make the event COVID-secure.
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Organisers have confirmed the fest will take place from 24 September to 5 October.
Much of the event will all be undercover – with enough seating for all guests to eat and drink at tables.
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Orders can be placed via screens.
Among the attractions will be MFDF’s famous Manchester beer bar – showcasing and supporting the region’s very best brewers (every brew will be available on tap).
The Festival’s live music stage will also provide an acoustic soundtrack to the event with some of Manchester’s best bands and artists invited to perform stripped-back versions of their usual acts for an easy-going, outdoor live music experience – the first of its kind since the outbreak of the pandemic.
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This year will also see MFDF’s biggest food market yet.
The foodie shopping experience will feature over forty traders – offering the best local, independent and sustainable food and drink from around the region.
The MFDF team said they are “delighted to be able to stage the event this year, supporting jobs across a huge range of sectors decimated by the pandemic – from event production to hospitality – and, of course, celebrating our incredible food and drink scene and night-time economy.”
Alexa Stratton-Powell, Director of the Festival commented: “We’re thrilled to be planning a 2020 Festival, particularly at such an incredibly challenging time for our hospitality industry.
“It’s great to be staging a positive event for the city’s food and drink lovers too – we all need something to celebrate and look forward to right now. We’d like to extend a huge thank you to our headline sponsors, Just Eat.
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“Without their support, and that of Manchester City Council, we simply wouldn’t be able to do this. It has been, and continues to be, a difficult and distressing time.
“We know that COVID-19 isn’t going anywhere fast – and neither is our city’s love for good food and drink.
“Our Festival this year will provide a safe setting in which to indulge in the pure joy of great gastro experiences.
“Watch this space for more announcements and we can’t wait to see everyone in September”
For a reservation fee of £5, guests can guarantee a table at the event and skip any queues to get onto the site.
Arrest made after 14-year-old boy found in critical condition on Market Street
Daisy Jackson
An arrest has been made after a teenage boy was found unresponsive on Market Street in Manchester city centre.
Detectives believe that the boy, 14, was approached by seven males who stole a designer jacket from him.
Following the altercation, he went into cardiac arrest and was rushed to hospital in a critical condition.
Thankfully, the teenager is continuing to recover well.
Detectives from Manchester City Centre Criminal Investigation Department confirmed that an 18-year-old male was arrested yesterday, Thursday 20 February.
He has been arrested on suspicion of robbery and remains in police custody.
Detective Inspector Mark Astbury of GMP’s City Centre Criminal Investigation Department, said: “We hope the victim can continue his recovery following what must have been a terrifying ordeal for him.
“Officers are fully investigating all aspects of this shocking incident that has left a man with serious injuries in hospital.
“Our work doesn’t stop here, we are continuing to investigate this incident and information from the public plays an incredibly important role in our investigations and I ask that the community keep talking to us and keep sharing their concerns with us so our teams can act.”
If you have any information, contact GMP 101 or 0161 856 4305 quoting log 2854 of 16/2/25.
Comedy is being prescribed instead of antidepressants as part of UK trials
Emily Sergeant
Trials are currently underway to see if comedy could be an alternative to antidepressants as a way to reduce NHS costs.
UK tech company Craic Health has secured important funding for its ‘comedy on prescription’ project that’s aimed at helping the Government work with the comedy industry, communities, and organisations on comedy-based social prescriptions in the hope that they can solve financial struggles within the NHS.
The groundbreaking scheme uses stand-up shows and workshops to help people who are isolated, lonely, and vulnerable.
Craic believes comedy is an ‘untapped opportunity’ to improve health and wellbeing, and has a goal to make comedy easier to access, so that it can help communities experience its mental health and social benefits.
To achieve this, the company has started trialling Comedy-on-Prescription experiences in the UK – starting in London, with the potential for expansion – which includes things like curated comedy panel game show events and workshops, and general stand-up comedy shows at some of the capital’s world-famous venues.
Comedy is being prescribed instead of antidepressants as part of UK trials / Credit: Wikimedia Commons
“Mental health issues like loneliness, isolation, and stress are more common than ever,” the company explains.
“So much so that it’s projected that by 2030, mental health problems, particularly depression, will be the leading cause of mortality and morbidity globally, [but] in this challenging world, comedy stands out as a universal language that breaks barriers.
“Research shows that comedy and laughter have powerful effects – they bring people together, create positive connections, and make life more enjoyable.”
Craic Health says that social prescribing, of which Comedy-on-Prescription is a part of, is all about inclusivity, which makes it making it suitable for people of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities.
Its focus is on personalised support, tailored to individual needs and preferences.
The Manc -
6th August 2020 
