Last night, the Manchester Food and Drink awards took place with 16 award winners announced across the Greater Manchester region.
Each of the shortlists was created by the MFDF judging panel in advance, before being put to a public vote.
Usually, there is also a “mystery shopping” element to the awards where judges also go and visit venues in person – but this did not take place this year due to the pandemic.
At the closing finale to a record-breaking year for MFDF, more than 450 nominees from the region’s hospitality industry came together at The Ticket Hall at Freight Island to celebrate as this year’s winners were announced.
Keep reading to discover who took home what.
The ticket hall last night at Escape to Freight Island where the award ceremony was held / Image: MFDF
Awards categories and nominations:
Restaurant of the Year
Winner: Baratxuri
Shortlisted: The Sparrows, Adam Reid at The French, Baratxuri, Erst, Hawksmoor, Mana, Street Urchin, Where The Light Gets In
Ramona took home newcomer of the year / Image: MFDF
Newcomer of the Year
Sponsored by the Manchester Evening News
Winner: Ramona
Shortlisted: District, Open Kitchen MCR, Osma, Pho Cue, Schofield’s Bar, Society, The Moor, Ramona
Albert Schloss took home the Bar of the Year award again / Image: MFDF
Bar of the Year
Winner: Albert’s Schloss
Shortlisted: Henry C, Kiosk, Schofield’s Bar, Speak In Code, The Blues Kitchen, The Jane Eyre, Three Little Words, Albert’s Schloss
Chef of the Year
Winner: Rachel Stockley, Baratxuri
Shortlisted: Adam Reid (The French), Eddie Shepherd (The Walled Gardens), Mary-Ellen McTague (The Creameries), Patrick Withington (Erst), Sam Buckley (WTLGI), Simon Martin (Mana), Terry Huang (Umezushi), Rachel Stockley (Baratxuri)
Rachel Stockley from Baratxuri with her Chef of the Year award / Image: MFDF
Pub or craft ale bar of the Year
Winner: Edinburgh Castle
Shortlisted: Beatnikz Republic, Cob and Coal, Heaton Hops, Nordie, Reasons to be Cheerful, Society, Stalybridge Buffet Bar
Artisan food producer of the Year
Winner: Pollen Bakery
Shortlisted: Manchester Smokehouse, Bread Flower, Companio Bakery, Holy Grain Sourdough, Gooey, Just Natas, Lily’s Deli, Pollen Bakery
The Pollen team collecting their award for Artisan Producer of the Year / Image: MFDF
Pop up / Project of the Year
Winner: Escape to Freight Island
Shortlisted: Eat Well MCR, Grub, Homeground, Kampus Summer Guest Events, Platt Fields Market, Homeground, One Central, MIF Festival, Escape to Freight Island
Neighbourhood venue of the Year
Sponsored by the Roomzzz Aparthotels
Winner: Lily’s
Shortlisted: Bar San Juan, Levanter, Erst, The Fisherman’s Tale, Porta, Oystercatcher, Stretford Food Hall, Lily’s
Wholesome Junkies took home the award for Food Trader of the Year / Image: MFDF
Food Trader of the Year
Winner: Wholesome Junkies
Shortlisted: Abeja Tapas Bar, Archchi’s, Gooey, Honest Crust, Pico’s Tacos, Maison Breizh, Tender Cow, Wholesome Junkies
Affordable Eats of the Year
Winner: Rudy’s
Shortlisted: Abeja Tapas Bar, Chapati Cafe, Ca Phe Viet, Little Yeti, Lily’s, Mi & Pho, Platt Fields Market Garden, Rudy’s Pizza
Federal took home the award for Coffee Shop of the Year / Image: MFDF
Coffee Shop of the Year
Winner: Federal
Shortlisted: Another Heart to Feed, Ancoat’s Coffee, Ezra & Gil, Grindsmith, Grapefruit, Just Between Friends, Pollen Bakery, Federal
Foodie Neighbourhood of the Year
Winner: Altrincham
Shortlisted: Heaton Moor, Prestwich, Ramsbottom, Sale, Stockport, Stretford, Urmston, Altrincham
Bundobust accepting their award for veggie / vegan offering of the Year / Image: MFDF
Veggie / Vegan Offering of the Year
Winner: Bundobust
Shortlisted: Eddie Shepherd, Four Side Pizza, Herbivorous, Lily’s, Sanskruti, Wholesome Junkies, Vertigo, Bundobust
Manchester Gin accepting their award for Independent Drinks Producer of the Year / Image: MFDF
Independent Drinks Producer of the Year
Winner: Manchester Gin
Shortlisted: Bundobust, Cloudwater Brewery, Diablesse, Hip Pop (formerly Booch & Brew), Northern Monkey, Steep Soda, Pomona Island, Manchester Gin
Food and Drink Retailer of the Year
Winner: Store Group
Shortlisted: The Butcher’s Quarter, Bernie’s Grocery Store, Grape to Grain, Isca Wines, Out of the Blue, Unicorn Grocery, Wandering Palate
The Store Group team collecting their award for Food and Drink Retailer of the year / Image: MFDF
Outstanding Achievement Award
Winner: Mital Morar (Store Group)
Feature image – MFDF
News
‘No suspicious circumstances’ ruled as body found in search for missing Manchester man Adeo Alston-Ekpei
Emily Sergeant
A body has now been found in the search for missing Manchester man, Adeo Alston-Ekpei.
The 25-year-old was last seen in Fletcher Moss Park in Didsbury at around 3pm on Friday 16 May, before later being seen walking down Kingsway away from Manchester and close to the River Mersey, at around 5.20pm that same day.
Multiple lines of enquiry were being explored by police, and some CCTV footage of his last-known movements was released to the public earlier this month.
At the time of the CCTV footage being released, a spokesperson for Adeo’s family described the missing man as ‘kind, funny, and intelligent’ with a ‘huge heart’, but they say he ‘wasn’t himself when he disappeared’.
A body has now been found in the search for missing Manchester man, Adeo Alston-Ekpei / Credit: GMP / Family Handout
“He may have come across as agitated, lost, or confused,” the spokesperson admitted. “In his last call to his mum, he was in a very vulnerable state.”
Now, after over a month of dedicated searches by all involved, detectives at Greater Manchester Police (GMP) have confirmed they recovered a body on Schools Hill in Cheadle last week.
Whilst formal identification is still to take place, the body is believed to be that of Adeo.
#UPDATE | Detectives searching for Adeo Alston-Ekpei, 25, who was last seen in Didsbury on Friday 16 May, have recovered a body on Schools Hill, Cheadle.
There are no suspicious circumstances and his family are being supported.
— Greater Manchester Police (@gmpolice) June 21, 2025
Police say Adeo’s family have been informed of this development, and continue to be supported through this extremely difficult time.
“We would like to thank everyone who has shared our appeals and passed their well wishes onto Adeo’s loved ones throughout this extensive search,” GMP said in a formal statement. “We would now ask that the family be allowed privacy.”
It was also confirmed that there appears to be ‘no suspicious circumstances’ surrounding Adeo’s death, and a file will now be passed to the coroner.
Featured Image – GMP
News
Four rare African ducklings have been hatched at Chester Zoo for the very first time
Danny Jones
More conversation celebration down the road at Chester Zoo, as the award-winning wildlife park has welcomed four African ducklings who belong to a rare breed.
As is so often the case with the work they do all year-round, their arrival could help signal the species’ survival in the long run, whose status was sadly upgraded from vulnerable to endangered on the official IUCN Red List.
The particular type of fowl we’re referring to is the Maccao duck, a stiff-tailed bird that typically belongs to the fresh and brackish inland waters of Eastern and Southern Africa.
Medium-sized, chunky, with big bills and subtle striping around their heads, they’re gorgeous creatures as is, but especially so as ducklings…
If you didn’t say ‘awww’ out loud, then you’re just lying.
As the Zoo itself put it, they are “rare, fluffy and VERY cute.” Celebrating what is “a breeding breakthrough for one of Africa’s rarest ducks […] so these little guys are kind of a big deal.”
These little delightful little duckies are known for diving down to the bottom of lakes and riverbeds to forage for aquatic invertebrates and plants; in fact, given the choice, they tend to prefer going underwater over flying pretty much full-stop.
As a resident species that doesn’t migrate like many other birds, they are native to nations like Namibia, Zimbabwe and Ethiopia. They’re identifiable by their dark black heads, blue bills (among the males, at least) and presence within the wetlands.
However, their estimated numbers continue to drop, and unfortunately, just 14 of their kind currently remain in Kenya and only 100 in Tanzania, with fewer than 5,000 believed to be left across the entire African continent.
Not only is this the first time the species has ever been successfully bred by bird experts at Chester Zoo, but conservationists hope ducklings will put a spotlight on the threatened species.
Their scientific name is ‘Oxyura maccoa’.Just like human babies, they prone to stuff all over their face.As far as ducklings go, these adorable little African variants are pretty special. (Credit: Supplied)
The zoo’s Head of Birds, Andrew Owen, said of their birth: “As one of just seven zoos in Europe – and 12 zoos globally – that care for Maccoa ducks, these ducklings are very special as they’re the first of their kind to ever hatch here at the zoo – making it a really historic moment for our team,
“This success gives a real boost to the future of the species, and these vital new additions will contribute to the safety-net population in zoos. These birds are facing rapid decline in the wild, so every hatchling really does count.
“To see them now out on the water inside our new Heart of Africa habitat, which is dedicated to helping Africa’s most threatened species thrive, makes this milestone even more special.”
Nothing short of brilliant news, we’re sure you’ll agree; better still, in addition to the crucially charitable and conversation-based tourist attraction being named one of England’s most popular destinations once again, but these are the only rare birds welcome by the zookeepers this month.
Georgina Pellant -
28th September 2021 
