Revealed: The winners of Manchester Food and Drink Awards 2020

The winners of this year’s Manchester Food and Drink Awards have been revealed following a live-streamed ceremony that featured surprise special guests Clint Boon, Noddy Holder, Victoria Ekanoye, John Thompson and more. The ceremony – which took place on the evening of Monday 5 October – featured a host of new awards celebrating all of the innovative ways hospitality venues and vendors have combated the ongoing COVID-19 crisis.

Following a public vote (the first in MFDF’s history), awards for prizes like the Best DIY Delivery Food Offering, Lockdown Heroes and Best Innovation were revealed to nominees who accepted their awards live via video link. Among this year’s big winners were Ancoats pizza house Rudy’s for Best Restaurant Takeaway Adaptation, Shindigger Brewery for Best Food and Drink Box Delivery and Stretford Food Hall for Best Innovation.

Other notable winners include Ancoats General Store for Takeaway Coffee Experience, Wholesome Junkies for Best Online Vegan/Veggie Offering and Mayfield Depot’s Escape To Freight Island for Newcomer of the Year. Manchester Food and Drink Festival’s annual festival hub featuring the best street food and entertainment was recently postponed and is due to return in April 2021. Explore all of this year’s Manchester Food and Drink Awards winners below…

BEST ONLINE ‘AT HOME’ FOOD AND DRINK CONTENT SPONSORED BY MODA ANGEL GARDENS

Recognising the best online food and drink content shared during lockdown by Manchester’s chefs, producers and industry experts.

Winner: Cork of the North

THE BEST RESTAURANT TAKEAWAY ADAPTATION SPONSORED BY JUST EAT

Recognising restaurants who have adapted their business model, menus and offering to provide a takeaway/delivery service during lockdown.

Winner: Rudy’s Pizza

BEST DIY DELIVERY FOOD OFFERING SPONSORED BY ROOMZZZ APARTHOTELS

Recognising the restaurants, chefs and businesses who have created ‘do it yourself’ recipe delivery meal kits for people to create their own restaurant quality meals/dishes at home.

Northern Soul – Grill it Yourself Kit

BEST FOOD AND DRINK BOX DELIVERY

Recognising the best food and drink delivery boxes created to serve the community with fine food and drink during lockdown.

Winner: ShinDigger Brewing Co

BEST INNOVATION SPONSORED BY HUN WINE

Recognising the most impressive business innovations by food and drink operators during the COVID-19 crisis.

Winner: Stretford Foodhall

NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR SPONSORED BY BULLEIT BOURBON

Recognising the best new food and drink operations to open in Greater Manchester since the last awards decision period.

Winner: Escape to Freight Island

BEST ONLINE VEGGIE/VEGAN OFFERING SPONSORED BY MEATLESS FARM

This award recognises the restaurants and food businesses that have provided innovative and exciting menu options for vegetarian and vegan diners via takeaway/delivery services during lockdown.

Winner: Wholesome Junkies

ARTISAN DRINKS PRODUCER OF THE YEAR SPONSORED BY FRANKLIN & SONS

This award recognises the plethora of fabulous local drinks producers, from gins and ciders to ales and meads, if it’s produced in Greater Manchester and tastes great, we want to celebrate it.

Winner: ShinDigger Brewing Co

TAKE AWAY COFFEE EXPERIENCE OF THE YEAR

This category recognises quality coffee takeaways during the COVID-19 crisis. This category is an adaptation of The Coffee Shop of the year award and only recognises those businesses that were able to stay open via takeaway.

Winner: Ancoats General Store

STREET FOOD TRADER OF THE YEAR

Awarding one of the Greater Manchester-based street food legends who have adapted their services to provide takeaways and deliveries during lockdown.

Winner: Oh Mei Dumpling

Lockdown Heroes

Sponsored by Manchester Evening News Recognising those individuals and businesses who have provided continued support for the wider community, the food and drink industry and Greater Manchester as a whole during the COVID-19 Crisis..

Winner: Eat Well MCR

Howard and Ruth Outstanding Achievement Award

Recognising someone who has contributed something outstanding to the food and drink industry in Greater Manchester.

Winner: Mary-Ellen McTague from The Creameries and Eat Well MCR.