City news: Manchester Food and Drink Festival announces September 2021 return

After hitting pause last year, the Manchester Food and Drink Festival will be returning this September for another celebration of regional food and drink and the talented individuals that create it. Together with festival partner Just Eat, this highlight of the city’s cultural scene will once again set up shop at Cathedral Gardens, with its marquee welcoming a range of vendors and pop-up bars which will be revealed in the coming weeks.

While the Festival hub is free to enter, a limited number of table bookings are available for a £5 reservation fee, allowing visitors to skip the queue and get straight to the grub.  This year’s event will take place in accordance to the latest government guidance – and its new companion app, which will house details of the festival’s full food and drink offering, is already available to download.

The MFDF team have also revealed that the Manchester Food and Drink Awards will return later this year with a physical event following last year’s digital affair. Taking place at a brand new venue – Manchester Hall – The MFDF Gala Dinner and Awards ceremony will take place on Monday 27 September and promises to be the hospitality homecoming event of the year. A well-deserved celebration for a sector that’s had more than its share of difficulties over the past year, award categories for 2021 will be revealed in the coming weeks.