Cast your vote: Public decide winners of Manchester Food and Drink Festival Awards 2020

To say it’s been a tricky year for Manchester’s hospitality industry is a massive understatement. Having battled the ever-changing rollercoaster that has been the COVID-19 pandemic – and its catastrophic fallout – Manchester’s restaurant and food scene has outdone itself with some truly remarkable and tenacious work in adapting their offering to suit the ‘new normal’. Now, you can help reward those who you feel have gone above and beyond to serve you during lockdown by voting for them to win big at the Manchester Food and Drink Festival Awards 2020.

This annual festival – which will return to Cathedral Gardens in September – has also been forced to change the way it operates, and for the first time in its history has opened up voting to the general public following the release of its awards shortlist earlier this month. A selection of new categories have been added relating to lockdown cuisine – including the best DIY Delivery Food Option, Best Food and Drink Delivery Box, and Best Online ‘At Home’ Food and Drink Content celebrating Manchester chefs, producers and industry experts who have adapted to virtual cooking. These new awards join existing accolades which recognise the city’s best take-away coffees, veggie and vegan offerings, and artisan drinks producers of the year. There’s also a Lockdown Heroes award, aimed at showcasing the individuals and businesses that you feel have done a particularly great job at battling the COVID craziness.

Winners will be unveiled at the MFDF 2020 Awards ceremony which is due to take place on Monday 5 October 2020. It’s yet to be revealed where – or how – this year’s awards evening will take place but we’ll be sure to share new information as soon as it’s available. In the meantime, you can scan this year’s nominees – which feature popular spots like Just Between Friends (Best Take Away Coffee), ShinDigger Brewing Co (Artisan Drinks Producer of the Year), Herbivorous (Best Veggie/Vegan Offering) and Grub-e-Mart (Best Innovation) – by visiting the Manchester Food and Drink Awards 2020 website.