All the Greater Manchester restaurants, pubs and bars nominated in top food and drink awards

The annual Manchester Food and Drink Festival Awards (MFDF) nominations have been announced, with some of the city’s best restaurants, pubs and bars all in the running for gongs.

There are 17 categories this year with 136 nominees representing the most exciting venues, chefs, talent and ideas within Greater Manchester’s hospitality industry. Food and drink fans are now being encouraged to vote for their favourites via the MFDF Awards website.

The MFDF Awards are the most prestigious and longest standing awards in the northwest and celebrate the region’s exceptional hospitality industry. winners will be revealed at the MFDF Awards Dinner at New Century on Monday, 27 January.

Up for the coveted restaurant of the year are Skof, helmed by Tom chef Tom Barnes, Higher Ground, Another Hand, Where the Lights Gets In, The Pearl, Restaurant Orme, Mana and Adam Reid at The French. Last year's award went to popular dining haunt, Erst in Ancoats.

The annual food and drink awards takes place at New Century (Image: Vincent Cole - Manchester Evening News)

Meanwhile, the nominations for chef of the year include Iain Thomas who heads up the kitchen at The Pearl in Prestwich, alongside Joe Otway (Higher Ground), Tom Barnes (Skof), Sam Grainger (Medlock Canteen), Patrick Withington (Erst), Danielle Heron (OSMA), Sam Buckley (Where the Light Gets In) , and Julian Pizer (Another Hand).

Across the 17 categories, Manchester's diverse food and drink scene is celebrated, with awards spanning Affordable Eats and Takeaway of the Year, to Foodie Neighbourhood, Plant-based Offer, and Great Service. Voting is now open for many of the categories, so you can go and vote for your favourite spots in the city at the awards website here.

The shortlisted nominations have been compiled by the MFDF Judging Panel, taking into account award submissions from the hospitality industry. The panel is made up of the region’s leading food and drink critics, writers, and experts. As well as the public vote, a mystery shopping period will now commence when judges will visit nominated venues in some categories or an anonymous dining visit, and will score venues based on their experiences.

The mystery shopping and public voting period will end at midnight on 10 January when the polls will be counted and combined with the judges’ scores, and the winner of each category will be chosen. You can vote here.

The Manchester Food and Drink Festival Awards shortlist:

Affordable Eats Venue of the Year

Café San Juan
27 St Petersgate, Manchester SK1 1EB
Nell’s Pizza
22 Minshull Street, Kampus M1 3EF
Wow Banh Mi
132 Oldham Road, Ancoats, Manchester M4 6BG
Hong Thai
140 Oldham Road, Ancoats, Manchester M4 6BG
Salt & Pepper
60-62 High Street, Manchester M4 1EA
Nila’s Burmese Kitchen
386 Third Avenue, Trafford Park, Stretford, Manchester M17 1JE
Mia’s Arepas
11 Baring Street, Manchester M1 2PZ
Sips & Dips
994 Stockport Road, Manchester M19 3WN

Takeaway of the Year

Chips @ No. 8
8 Clifton Road, Prestwich, Manchester M25 3HQ
Ad Maoira
23 Radium Street, Ancoats, Manchester M4 6AY
Maida Grill House
38 Liverpool Street, Salford M5 4LT
Lucky Mama’s
565 Barlow Moor Road, Chorlton-cum-Hardy, Manchester M21 8AE
Codi’s Kitchen
391 Bury New Rd, Prestwich, Manchester M25 1AW
Fat Pat’s
88 Portland St, Manchester M1 4GX
Mrs A’s Kitchen
30 Church Street, Eccles, Manchester, M30 0DF
One Sushi
St James’s Building, 75 Oxford Road, Manchester, M1 6EG

Coffee Shop of the Year

Grind & Tamp
45 Bridge Street, Ramsbottom, Bury BL0 9AD
Fort Coffee
255 Deansgate, Manchester M3 4EN
Allpress Espresso
3, Redfern Building, Dantzic Street, Manchester M4 4AH
California Coffee & Wine
3 Oxford Road, Altrincham WA14 2DY
Another Heart to Feed
10 Hilton Street, Manchester M1 1JF
Bold Street Coffee
53 Cross Street, Manchester M2 4JN
ManCoCo
85 Hewitt Street, Manchester M15 4GB
Oscillate Coffee
52 Flixton Road, Urmston, Manchester M41 5AB

Food and Drink Retailer of the Year

Wandering Palate
191 Monton Road, Eccles, Manchester M30 9PN
Petit Paris Deli
10 King Street, Manchester M2 6AG
Out of the Blue
484 Wilbraham Road, Chorlton-cum-Hardy, Manchester M21 9AS
Chorlton Cheesemongers
486 Wilbraham Road, Chorlton-cum-Hardy, Manchester M21 9AS
Littlewoods Butchers
5 School Lane, Heaton Chapel, Stockport SK4 5DE
Ancoats Deli
6 Murray Street, Ancoats, Manchester M4 6HS
Lily’s Deli
102 Manchester Road, Chorlton-cum-Hardy, Manchester M21 9SZ
Oseyo
Unit 90, Halle Mall, Manchester Arndale, Market Street, Manchester, M4 2HU

Food Trader of the Year

House of Habesha
Kargo MKT, Salford M50 3AG
The Little Sri Lankan
Cardinal Rule
10 Tariff St, Manchester M1 2FF
Ad Maoira
23 Radium Street, Ancoats, Manchester M4 6AY
Jaan By Another Hand
St George's House, 56 Peter St, Manchester M2 3NQ
Baity
Kargo MKT, Salford M50 3AG
House of Bun
11 Blackburn Street, Radcliffe, Manchester M26 1PN
Honest Crust
1 Eagle Street, Manchester M4 5BU

Foodie Neighbourhood of the Year

Monton
Prestwich
Salford
Urmston
Levenshulme
Altrincham
Denton
Sale

Independent Drink Producer of the Year

Cloudwater Brew Co
7-8 Piccadilly Trading Estate, Manchester, M1 2NP
Pomona Island Brew Co
33 Waybridge Enterprise Centre, Daniel Adamson Road, Salford, M50 1DS
Sureshot Brewing
5 Sheffield Street, Manchester, M1 2DN
The Salford Rum Company
33 Viaduct Street, Salford, M3 7WX
Steep Soda Co
Pod Pea Vodka
Ten Locks, Fairhill Road, Irlam, Manchester, M44 6BD
Hip Pop
Unit 98, North Western Street, Manchester, M12 6JL
Balance Brewing & Blending
Unit 10, Sheffield Street, Manchester, M1 2DN

Independent Food Producer of the Year

Companio Bakery
Unit 6 Flint Glass Wharf, 35 Radium Street, Ancoats, Manchester, M4 6AD
H.M.Pasties
Unit 11-12, Pennant Industrial, Oldham, OL1 3NP
La Chouquette
812a Wilmslow Road, Didsbury, Manchester, M20 6UH
Great North Pie Co
Unit 2a, Deanway, Manchester Road, Wilmslow, SK9 2HW
The Flat Baker
23 Radium Street, M4 6AY
Long Boi’s Bakehouse
40 Forest Range, Manchester, M19 2HP
Yellowhammer
15 Lower Hillgate, Stockport SK1 1JQ
Half Dozen Other
Unit 17 Redbank, Cheetham Hill, Manchester, M4 4HF

Neighbourhood Venue of the Year

Cibus Pizza
847 – 849 Stockport Road, Manchester, M19 3PW
Ornella’s Kitchen
10 Manchester Road, Denton, Manchester, M34 3LE
Fold Bistro & Bottle Shop
7 Town Street, Marple Bridge, Stockport, SK6 5AA
The Pearl
425 Bury New Road, Prestwich, Manchester, M25 1AF
Restaurant Örme
218 Church Road, Urmston, Manchester, M41 9DX
Tawny Stores
1 Upper Hibbert Lane, Hawk Green, Marple, SK6 7JQ
Vero Moderno
Unit 4, Vimto Gardens, Chapel Street, Salford, M3 5JF
Bar San Juan
56 Beech Road, Chorlton-cum-Hardy, Manchester, M21 9EG

Plant Based Offering of the Year

Maray
14 Brazennose St, Manchester M2 6LW
Lily’s Indian Vegetarian Cuisine
85 Oldham Road, Ashton-under-Lyne, OL6 7DF
Wholesome Junkies
Hinterland Bar, 16-20 Turner St, Manchester M4 1DZ
Allotment Vegan Eatery
1 – 3 Cathedral Gates, Manchester, M3 1SW
Walled Gardens
Whalley Range, Manchester
Little Aladdin
72 High Street, Manchester, M4 1ES
Herbivorous
445 Wilmslow Road, Withington, Manchester, M20 4AN
Sanskruti
93-95 Mauldeth Road, Manchester, M14 6SR

Pop up or Project of the Year

Bungalow at Kampus
Aytoun Street, Manchester, M1 3GL
Tartuffe
Side Street Studio Kitchen, ABC Buildings Corner of Quay Street and, Lower Byrom St, Manchester M3 4AE
Midori Didsbury at Wine & Wallop
97 Lapwing Lane, Didsbury, Manchester , M20 6UR
The Landing
Merseyway Shopping Centre Car Park, Stockport, SK1 1HG
Love From
Aytoun Street, Manchester, M1 3GL
Root to Flower
Sampa
24 Dale Street, Manchester, M1 1FY
Manchester Wine Tour