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.
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
England international and ex-Manchester City manager Kevin Keegan dies at 75
Danny Jones
Football veteran and legend of the English game, Kevin Keegan OBE, has sadly died at the age of 75.
A former Liverpool and Newcastle player, not to mention England international, turned Manchester City manager and even Three Lions boss, his death was announced on Monday, 20 July.
The news comes following a battle with illness since the start of the year, after it was revealed that he was tragically diagnosed with stage four stomach cancer back in January.
The original ‘King Kev’ before the likes of De Bruyne, also affectionately known in the footballing world as ‘Mighty Mouse’, is said to have passed away with key members of his close family by his side.
Confirmed via a public statement issued to Sky Sports journalist Pete Graves, they wrote: “It is with immense sadness that we announce that Kevin Keegan has passed away at the age of 75.
“The former England player and manager had been battling cancer and was surrounded by his wife and daughters in his final moments. “Kevin, a double Ballon d’Or winner, was a much-loved husband, father and grandfather.”
Put simply, he had an incredible career and leaves a lasting legacy.
It goes on to read: “The family would like to thank Kevin’s incredible medical team for all their support. This is a hugely difficult time, and they are requesting space and privacy.”
Naturally, tributes are already flooding in online, with ex-pros, pundits and fans alike labelling him among England’s best-loved father figures and characters, with one user notably dubbing him as “one of football’s good guys.”
Former England captain and manager Kevin Keegan has died at the age of 75, after battling cancer.
The England, Liverpool and Newcastle United legend will be remembered as one of English football's most decorated players. pic.twitter.com/oNIPUV806n
Even at his fiery and most passionate best, he was still one of the most respected figures in the history of English football and the sporting world at large.
For instance, arguably his most iconic interview as Newcastle boss ahead of his team’s clash against Manchester United back in 1995/96 only showed how mild-mannered he often came across.
Our thoughts go out to his friends, family, former teammates and all those mourning the familiar face with a famously good head of hair.
Featured Images — Sky Sports Retro (screenshots via YouTube)/WikiCommons/Manchester City
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‘I will give this my all’ – Andy Burnham’s speech in full as he becomes Prime Minister
Emily Sergeant
Andy Burnham has officially become Prime Minister.
After it was announced last month that Andy Burnham had clinched the victory in the crucial Makerfield by-election, winning 24,927 votes (54.8% vote share) and a majority of 9,231, he then went onto announce his intention to run for Labour Party leader, and therefore Prime Minister, after Keir Starmer confirmed he would be stepping down.
Earlier in July, the former Greater Manchester Mayor delivered his first speech as part of his ongoing campaign, addressing how he plans to take the country in a ‘new direction’.
He declared that he wanted to bring the ‘Greater Manchester way’ to Westminster.
Last week, he was then officially named leader of the Labour Party after the backing of 322 other Labour MPs, and now it’s official… the UK has a new Prime Minister.
Sir Keir Starmer officially stood down and gave his final speech this morning, and after meeting with King Charles III to form a new Government, Andy Burnham appeared outside the doors of Number 10 just after midday as the new Prime Minister for the first time.
“I will give this my all, and I ask you all to pull with me,” Burnham said in his speech as he addressed the media and the millions watching at home.
Andy Burnham’s first speech as Prime Minister in full
“I have just come from Buckingham Palace, where I have accepted His Majesty the King’s invitation to form a Government. In doing so, I am acutely conscious that I am the sixth person in the last 10 years to walk up this street, the seventh Prime Minister since 2016, making this a moment for reflection and new resolution.
“It requires my generation of politicians to raise our game, and rise to the new challenge. Britain needs to show the world that we can regain our stability once again, and that is our challenge, to make politics work, to make it work better.
“I know people at home are fed up with politics. I hear you. And I want to be honest with you. We have not been good enough, and we need to be better. “We will be. We will make this moment a circuit breaker for Britain, bringing forward the biggest changes in the last 40 years. A new political model and a new economic model.
“In the 1980s, Britain took some wrong turns. Political power was centralised, economic power privatised, large parts of the country de-industrialised, and they still haven’t recovered.
“Many feel as though they’re still in decline, and they don’t have the ability to turn things around. And that’s why we will change politics, to make it more collaborative, more about problem solving than point scoring.
“We will take power out of here and carry it into every postcode in the land so that they can do more. And in doing more, build a new economy where we put life’s essentials back under stronger public control to make them affordable to you again. Re-industrialising Britain, using public procurement to back British industry.
“Later this year, I will bring forward a new plan for Britain, a 10-year plan, laying out a path from where we are now to where I believe we all want Britain to be, wherever we’re coming from, whatever party we support.
“But I can do something to give people some breathing space now, some help with the cost of living, and I will set out some of those measures starting tomorrow, including how we pay for them.
“We will help more young people into work by changing the education system and giving them more support, more mental health support. And we will build more Council homes. That is the fair and sustainable way to bring the welfare bill down, to meet our fiscal rules, and to honour our commitments on defence to our international partners.
“We will help people to live well, building a more preventative state, investing in people’s success, rather than paying for failure. And that work starts now. I will soon go through that door behind me and issue my first instruction – to end rough sleeping in our country.
“It’s about putting the right values and the right standards at the heart of Government. I will put the care of people at the heart of everything I do.
“I will give this my all, and I ask you all to pull with me. Let’s build a new national sense of unity, of common purpose and positivity. Let us make this the moment when Britain starts to believe again. The moment we bring back hope.
Georgina Pellant -
28th September 2021 
