Manchester’s bars, kitchens and hardworking hospitality staff have been celebrated at the Manchester Bar Awards.
Now in its fourth year, the Manchester Bar Awards took place last night, Tuesday 15 March, in a heady ceremony at First Street bar Bunny Jackson’s.
Following on from a jam-packed first day back at the Northern Restaurant and Bar Show, the creme de la creme of Manchester’s bartending scene flocked across to the popular dive bar for a night full of Hooch, tequila and well-deserved accolades.
Run by a group of Manchester bartenders and hospitality professionals, the awards were organised by the admins of a local Facebook group and first began in 2018 to champion local people working in the industry.
Image; Bunny Jackson’s
Winners were decided by a public vote from within the Manchester bar community, which is some 17,000 members strong.
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Every year the awards pick out the very best operators in the city – with 2022’s categories championing the city’s Best Restaurant Bar, Best Speciality Bar, Best New Bar, Best Bar Back and Bartender of the Year.
Further categories paid homage to professionals within the industry, with awards given to the best bar backs, front-of-house staff, and rising stars.
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This year, the awards ceremony also included a new food offering category – nodding to a number of well-known bar staff who, during the pandemic, made the switch to open their own kitchens.
The winner, Kong’s Chicken Shop, drew huge cheers of applause when announced – a testament to how supportive and tight-knit Manchester’s bar scene really is.
Speaking on the award win, Kong’s Chicken Shop founder Tom Potts said to The Manc: “Thanks for everyone who voted, always a really nice feeling to be up for awards with all of our amazing friends and peers and even better feeling to win knowing how much hard work goes into what we do.
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“We wouldn’t be able to do what we do without the amazing hospo community in Manchester so thanks to everyone who’s helped make Kongs happen!”
Image: Bunny Jackson’s
Manchester Bar Awards 2022 winners
Best New Bar Sponsored by Portobello Gin
Winner: Junior Jackson’s
Shortlisted: Schofield’s, 10 Tib Lane, Ramona, Lost Cat
Manchester’s Best Speciality Bar Sponsored by Maison Ferrand
Outstanding Achievement Award! Sponsored by White Claw
Winner: So Let’s Talk
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Shortlisted: Dom Gold, (Orphan’s Xmas); Kiera & Amie, Feel Good Club; Mike Ramsden (Too Many Owners), Abbie Dunn, 86 People
Feature image -Junior Jackson’s
News
Andy Burnham announces five more ‘everyday fixes’ to make life easier for Brits ahead of Budget
Emily Sergeant
Ahead of the Autumn Budget, five more ‘everyday fixes’ have been announced in a bid to make life easier for millions of Brits.
Since becoming Prime Minister this summer, Andy Burnham has been rolling out a series of what he’s dubbed ‘everyday fixes’ as the cost of living crisis continues to make itself known nationwide – and now, with the Autumn Budget coming up today (28 October 2026), he has announced five more of these measures.
Unveiled by the Chancellor, the ‘fixes’ will support people with the cost of food, fuel, and family life, all to provide breathing space for households.
The package will tackle costs people face every day – from doing the weekly shop, to supporting people who rely on their cars for work, while extending support to new parents, and fixing an ‘unfair cliff edge’ that can penalise unpaid carers for earning more.
So, what are these ‘everyday fixes’ then? Here’s everything you need to know.
First up, it has been announced that the Government will be making higher tax-free mileage rates permanent, increasing support for millions of nurses, care workers, self employed builders, and others who drive for work along the way.
They will also be extending parental pay to more than 150,000 additional parents per year, including self-employed dads and partners who have previously missed out, which will give those eligible two weeks of support (currently worth up to £194 a week) so they can spend more time with their child.
The so-called Carer’s Allowance ‘cliff edge’ will also be coming to an end, so unpaid carers no longer lose their entire allowance simply for earning a penny over the Weekly Earnings Limit.
Andy Burnham has announced five more ‘everyday fixes’ to make life easier for Brits / Credit: Number 10 Downing Street | Aldi
Import tariffs will be removed on more than 100 products – including baked beans, chocolate, and gherkins – which, together with the tariff suspensions already introduced, means households could save up to £21 on their food shop each year.
And finally, hundreds more Post Office drop boxes are set to be rolled out in a bid to make it ‘easier’ and ‘more convenient’ for people to send and return parcels without having to queue at a Post Office counter.
“We are taking on the big challenges facing the country,” explained Prime Minister Andy Burnham, in a statement ahead of the Budget. “But that doesn’t mean losing sight of the everyday problems that cost people money or simply aren’t fair.
“And at Wednesday’s Budget, we’ll go further to give families and businesses the breathing space they need today, while we build a stronger economy, transform our country and bring down cost for people long-term.”
Featured Image – Aldi
News
Met Office gives verdict on how Storm Boelo aftermath will affect Greater Manchester this week
Emily Sergeant
Storm Boelo is finally on his way out, and now the Met Office has given its verdict on what we can expect from the rest of the week.
In the aftermath of two successive storms, Storm Austen followed by Storm Boelo – the latter of which affected Greater Manchester – the UK is now able to begin recovering from the effects of the adverse weather.
But the Met Office has warned that, although there is no named storm, strong winds and heavy rain will continue to affect parts of the UK early this week, before high pressure brings calmer conditions.
Yellow national severe weather warnings are in place for parts of Scotland and western areas of the UK today (Tuesday 27 October), including areas of the North West, as gales and spells of rain bring the potential for ongoing disruption around the region, particularly on exposed coasts and higher ground.
“The continued winds could hamper recovery efforts in some places,” forecasters also unfortunately confirmed.
⚠️ Strong winds and heavy rain continue across parts of the UK early this week with a yellow weather warning in place, before high pressure brings calmer conditions for many from Wednesday ⛅
Read our news release to find out more 👇
https://t.co/EQU4vvaA3B https://t.co/hpvTd8v7EZ
As rest of the week pans out though, conditions will begin to settle down and showers are expected to become ‘less frequent’, while winds also ease for most, although gales could continue for a time in the far north.
Thursday is expected be ‘largely dry’ with lighter winds and variable cloud, with a touch of mist and fog likely across parts of England and Wales during the morning.
From Friday and into the weekend, light rain will team up to potentially affect northwestern areas of England, but for the most part, temperatures are expected to remain close to, or slightly above, average for the time of year.
“From Wednesday, high pressure will start to build which will ease the winds and bring a quieter and largely drier end to the week for many, although some rain is still possible in the North and West,” explained Met Office Deputy Chief Forecaster, Steven Keates.
“However, with wind warnings in place, those in warnings areas, particularly in northern Scotland and western high ground, continue to be exposed to strong winds and heavy rain before the more settled weather arrives.”
Georgina Pellant -
16th March 2022 
