Two Manchester restaurants have been named in the the prestigious 2023 Good Food Guide awards shortlist, which is widely considered one of the UK’s most trusted and impartial restaurant guides.
City centre eateries 10 Tib Lane and Another Hand have both been listed in the ‘Best Local Restaurant’ category for the north west, appearing alongside Stockport restaurant Bombay to Mumbai, Cheshire’s 17th-century timber-framed Next Door (literally named so because that’s where its owners live), and Four and Twenty in Penrith, Cumbria.
The category shortlist is chosen by public nominations, and as a result the Guide has built up a reputation for shining a light on proper hometown favourites that might otherwise fly under the radar.
According to the Guide’s listing, 10 Tib Lane’s cooking “has a confident, gimmick-free air, not everything is faultless. Nonetheless, tweaked and polished, 10 Tib Lane can potentially climb the ratings”.
As for Manchester’s newest Michelin-recommended. Another Hand, it writes: “This is hardly Manchester’s most glamorous location. But inside, this café by day, restaurant by night is an operation of confident, understated sophistication.”
It also writes of Stockport’s Bombay to Mumbai: “True to its name, this ‘irreplaceable’ suburban Indian seeks to meld old Bombay with modern Mumbai. A warm welcome and ‘proper hospitality’ are treasured assets, while the food is ‘a world away from most high-street curry houses.'”
Restaurants must meet the following criteria to be eligible for nomination: – Independently run; owned by the chef or a hands-on proprietor – Offers regularly changing, seasonal menus at affordable prices – Demonstrates strong relationships with local suppliers – Rooted in the local community – Offers at least two dinner services a week – Gives customers a genuine, warm welcome
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Readers can nominate their favourites by heading to The Good Food Guide website, and – even better -each nomination made will be entered into a prize draw to win a £250 restaurant voucher.
Previous Best Local Restaurants discoveries include Carters of Mosely, an electic Michelin-starred restaurant in Birmingham known for its ‘ambitious, creative dishes, and the accompanying natural, organic and biodynamic wines’.
The best nomination submission will be handed the chance to take up the coveted position of Guest Inspector for The Good Food Guide.
“The simple formula of a kitchen that cooks fresh to order is the very principle on which The Good Food Guide was founded,” said Elizabeth Carter, editor of the Guide.
“We have always maintained that the best restaurants offer creative, memorable food based on quality, seasonal and local produce. In other words, no pretensions or gimmicks, just first-class food cooked from ingredients deeply rooted in the region. A commitment to their community and a strong relationship with local suppliers is what makes a restaurant truly local.”
“Our readers are our most valued source for discovering brilliant restaurants and have been since the Guide was founded back in 1951,” adds Chloë Hamilton, managing editor of The Good Food Guide. “Despite tough conditions, the calibre of local restaurants in 2023 is higher than it has ever been, so we look forward to seeing what gems readers send our way.”
Once nominations close, The Good Food Guide’s editors will reveal a shortlist of contenders across seven areas (Scotland, North East England, North West England, Central & East of England, Wales, London & South East England, and South West England).
Anonymous inspections of the frontrunners will follow, before regional winners and the overall Best Local Restaurant of 2023 is announced at the end of June.
The Good Food Guide was first compiled by Raymond Postgate in 1951. Appalled by the British post-war dining experience, Postgate recruited an army of volunteers to inspect restaurants anonymously and report back.
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His aims were simple; among them, ‘to raise the standard of cooking in Britain’ and ‘to do ourselves all a bit of good by making our holidays, travels and evenings out in due course more enjoyable’.
Much has changed since the very first edition of The Good Food Guide but the ethos of the original book remains firmly in place.
Featured image – Another Hand.
News
GMP officer sentenced after hitting pedestrian during police chase in Rochdale
Emily Sergeant
A police officer has been sentenced this week after he struck and ‘seriously injured’ a pedestrian following a pursuit of a suspected drink driver in Rochdale.
35-year-old Greater Manchester Police (GMP) officer PC Sam Lockley pleaded guilty back in January 2026 following an Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) investigation.
The IOPC investigation established that, in the early hours of the morning on 19 November 2023, PC Lockley was driving a marked police vehicle with the lights and sirens activated, and attempted to stop a suspected drunk driver on Drake Street in Rochdale.
A short pursuit that commenced but stopped merely a minute later after the police vehicle collided with a pedestrian on the footpath of Rochdale Road at approximately 3:30am.
The evidence gathered indicated that PC Lockley failed to slow down as he approached and drove through the red traffic lights at the Kingsway junction, and was travelling at a speed of 96mph in a 30mph zone.
The pedestrian suffered ‘serious injuries’ as a result of the collision, and received extensive medical treatment following.
At a hearing back in February of this year, PC Lockley received a two-year suspended sentence and was ordered to carry out 15 days community service, while also receiving two-year driving disqualification.
Also following the investigation, the IOPC decided that Lockley should face a gross misconduct hearing to face allegations that his manner of driving breached the police standards of professional behaviour.
“We continue to liaise with the force about disciplinary proceedings,” the IOPC concluded.
IOPC Director Amanda Rowe added: “My sympathies remain with the man, who sustained serious injuries, and all those affected by the incident.
“This was a complex investigation which relied on extensive amounts of data and expert analysis and the evidence showed PC Lockley drove at excessive speeds at night-time and although he was responding to a report of a suspected drink driver, it does not excuse his manner of driving.
“PC Lockley admitted he drove in a dangerous manner when he didn’t address hazards or warnings during the pursuit and ultimately by the time he saw the pedestrian, he was travelling too fast to avoid a collision.
“His actions that day have had long-lasting consequences and he has now been held accountable.”
Featured Image – Rawpixel
News
Manchester Town Hall is FINALLY taking wedding and events bookings for the first time since 2018
Emily Sergeant
A new era is on the horizon, as Manchester Town Hall has announced that it’ll be finally taking bookings for weddings and events once again.
That’s right… for the first time since it closed its doors to the public for what is the UK’s biggest restoration project to date back in 2018, one of Manchester’s most iconic landmarks is soon set to welcome its first weddings and events in a decade – with bookings for the city’s most romantic address now open once again.
Manchester Town Hall has stood at the centre of civic life in the city since 1877, and for generations, couples have exchanged their vows within its walls.
Now, as it enters the home stretch of its restoration, the Grade I-listed building is gearing up to kickstart weddings and corporate events from January 2028.
Set reopen to the public next year, first up will be a series of celebratory reopening events – which are yet to be announced – before a phased approach will then allow the building and teams to be fully prepared to host commercial events again from 2028.
Manchester Town Hall has announced that it’s finally taking wedding and events bookings for the first time since 2018 / Credit: Supplied
From its grand architecture and soaring stained glass windows, to sweeping staircases that offer the perfect ‘just married’ photo opportunities, this one-of-a-kind venue gives couples the opportunity to combine the romance and grandeur of a historic setting with the energy of a city centre celebration.
Inside the restored building, you’ll find The Great Hall, which is a magnificent setting with striking architectural character, as well as The Conference Hall, The Banqueting Hall, and The Reception Room, all of which offer equally characterful spaces that are perfect for private dinners, ceremonies, or corporate events.
The Lord Mayor’s Parlour is one of many settings overlooking the newly reopened Albert Square, while various elegant reception areas provide the perfect location for drinks and arrival moments.
“Our Town Hall is a real Victorian masterpiece and we’re looking forward to sharing it with the public once again,” explained Cllr Garry Bridges, who is Leader of Manchester City Council, as bookings finally open up this week.
“It’s a special building which belongs to the people and it’s great that they will be able to celebrate important landmarks in their lives, such as marriage, in its spectacular setting.
“The Town Hall is full of history. Here’s to many more stories being written within its walls.”
Want to be one of the first people who gets married or hosts an event at Manchester Town Hall once it reopens in 2028? You can enquire about booking here.
Georgina Pellant -
17th May 2023 
