The MFDF Awards have announced their 2026 shortlists, celebrating everyone from neighbourhood cafes to the region’s most ambitious chefs, and now it’s over to the public to decide who wins.
Voting is open now on the MFDF website and will close at midnight on 11 January 2027. A total of 17 categories cover all that makes Greater Manchester’s food and drink culture tick: brilliant neighbourhood spots, affordable eats, standout coffee shops, homemade produce, and boundary-pushing chefs.
The shortlists were selected by a judging panel of food critics, writers and industry experts, drawing from submissions by the hospitality industry and the public. Mystery shoppers from the judging panel will visit nominated venues over the coming weeks and score them on their experiences. The public votes are then combined with the judges’ scores, which means a popular favourite still needs to deliver when someone turns up unannounced.
Two categories are decided through a separate judging process: the Community Food and Drink Project of the Year and the Howard and Ruth Award for Outstanding Achievement.
The award ceremony itself will take place on 25 January 2027. For the first time, it will be held at City Hall, the new event space at Medlock Square.
Alexa Stratton-Powell, Awards Director, said: “The awards celebrate the incredible talent, creativity and diversity that make our region a world-class food and drink destination. We’re encouraging everyone to get behind the nominees by voting for your favourites, visiting the shortlisted venues and showing your support for our brilliant hospitality industry.”
Tickets for the awards ceremony can be purchased by contacting the MFDF awards team at isabella@foodanddrinkfestival.com.
In the meantime, check out the shortlist below and vote for your favourites at foodanddrinkfestival.com/awards.
MFDF Awards 2026 Shortlists
1. Affordable Eats Venue of the Year
Sponsored by Therme Manchester
Al Madina
76 Wilmslow Road
Noodle Alley
56A Faulkner Street
Sips & Dips
994 Stockport Road
Que Huong Viet
76–78 Oldham Road, Ancoats
Kabana
52 Back Turner Street
Bahn Mi 782
782 Wilmslow Road, Didsbury
Zaytoni’s
12 Oldham Street
Cafe San Juan
27 St Petersgate, Stockport
Last year’s winner: Double Zero
2. Takeaway of the Year
Kool Runnings
118 Chorlton Road, Old Trafford, Stretford
Rita’s Reign
Piccadilly
Chicken Run
6 Yarburgh Street, Whalley Range
Viet Deli
22 Blackfriars Street
Levenshulme Bakery
842 Stockport Road, Levenshulme
The Post Box Shawarma
543 Wilbraham Road, Chorlton-cum-Hardy
Bada Bing
125 Oldham Street
Patel’s Pies
9 Tatton Road South, Heaton Moor, Stockport
Last year’s winner: This & That
3. Cafe or Coffee Shop of the Year
Fort Coffee
255 Deansgate
Idle Hands Coffee
35 Dale Street
Artista Perfetto
130 Oldham Road, Ancoats
Auntie Lou’s
Stockport Market Place, Stockport
Siop Shop
53 Tib Street
Just Between Friends Coffee
56 Tib Street
Convene
17 Lower Hillgate, Stockport
Companio Bakery
35 Radium Street, Ancoats
Last year’s winner: Something More Productive
4. Wine Offering of the Year
Kallos
3 Bankside Boulevard, Salford
Ad Hoc
28 Edge Street
Cork of the North
13 Northenden Road, Sale
The Dilly Deli
1 Little Underbank, Stockport
Reserve Wines
176 Burton Road, West Didsbury
Carrington’s
322 Barlow Moor Road, Chorlton-cum-Hardy
Portfolio MCR
67–69 Bridge Street
Erst
9 Murray Street, Ancoats
Last year’s winner: Flawd Wine
5. Food Trader of the Year
Buttercup
225 Deansgate
Pico’s Tacos
Mackie Mayor, 1 Eagle Street
Slice Culture
Unit 18, Track Brewing Co, Piccadilly Trading Estate
More Joy Food Co
Exhibition, 56 Peter Street
Baity
Kargo MKT, The Quays, Salford
Rizzo’s Sicilian Food
296 Oxford Road
The Thai Food Van
Oh Mei Dumplings
Last year’s winner: Rack
6. Foodie Neighbourhood of the Year
Levenshulme
Marple & Marple Bridge
Chorlton
Rusholme
Westhoughton
Altrincham
Last year’s winner: Stockport
7. Independent Drink Producer of the Year
Hip Hop
Department Bonded Warehouse, 18 Lower Byrom Street
Balance Brewing & Blending
Unit 10, Sheffield Street
Sureshot Brewing
5 Sheffield Street
Runaway Brewery
9–11 Astley Street, Stockport
Cloudwater Brew Co
Piccadilly Trading Estate, Unit 9, Gidding Road
Pomona Island Brew Co
Waybridge Industrial Estate, 33 Daniel Adamson Road, Salford
Stiff Tea Brewing Company
Chu-Lo
Beehive Lofts, Jersey Street, Ancoats
Last year’s winner: Track Brewing
8. Independent Food Producer of the Year
Wong Wong Bakery
32 Princess Street
Fizzles Pickles + Preserves
Unit 109, Pollard Yard, 15 Pollard Street East
Sticky Fingers
39 Great Underbank, Stockport
Loafi
10 Square Street, Ramsbottom, Bury
Patel’s Pies
9 Tatton Road South, Heaton Moor, Stockport
Half Dozen Other
Unit 17, Redbank, Cheetham Hill
Companio Bakery
35 Radium Street, Ancoats
La Chouquette
812A Wilmslow Road, Didsbury
Last year’s winner: Pollen Bakery
9. Neighbourhood Venue of the Year
The Pearl
425 Bury New Road, Prestwich
Cafe Continental
5 Melbourne Street, Stalybridge
Porta Tapas Bar
41 Lapwing Lane, West Didsbury
Fold Bistro & Bottle Shop
Mountheath Trading Estate, Unit 65 Ardent Way
Sips & Dips
994 Stockport Road
Bar San Juan
56 Beech Road, Chorlton-cum-Hardy
Ornella’s Kitchen
10 Manchester Road, Denton
The Mekong Cat
47 Lower Hillgate, Stockport
Last year’s winner: Stretford Canteen
10. Pub or Beer Bar of the Year
The Angel Pub
6 Angel Street
The Balance Taproom
10 Sheffield Street
The Pevril of the Peak
127 Great Bridgewater Street
Victoria Tap
Victoria Station Approach
Track Brewing Co Taproom
Unit 18, Piccadilly Trading Estate
The Magnet Freehouse
51 Wellington Road North, Stockport
The City Arms
46–48 Kennedy Street
The Smithfield Market Tavern
37 Swan Street
Last year’s winner: The Marble Arch Inn
11. Great Service Award
Kallos
3 Bankside Boulevard, Salford
Blacklock Manchester
37 Peter Street
Stray
Mackie Mayor, 1 Eagle Street
10 Tib Lane
10 Tib Lane
Speak in Code
7 Jacksons Row
Schofields Bar
194 Deansgate
Hawksmoor
186 Deansgate
Winsome
74 Princess Street
Last year’s winner: Maray
12. Low or No Offering of the Year
Hinterland
16–20 Turner Street
Dishoom
32 Bridge Street
Double Down
7 Jacksons Row
Kerb
04 Henry Street, Ancoats
North Taproom
Circle Square
Cloudwater Brew Co
Piccadilly Trading Estate, Unit 9, Gidding Road
Lina Stores
St Johns Court, 17 Quay Street
Caravan
6 Goods Yard Street
Last year’s winner: Nell’s Pizza
13. Bar of the Year
Bar Shrimp
7 New York Street
Stray
Mackie Mayor, 1 Eagle Street
Renae
45–47 Thomas Street
Ōdiobā
26 Lower Hillgate, Stockport
Bar Posie
Unit 1, 17 Marble Street, Spring Gardens
The Apple Core
26 Middle Hillgate, Stockport
Double Down
7 Jacksons Row
Bruk
8 Little Underbank, Stockport
Last year’s winner: Speak in Code
14. Newcomer of the Year
Bar Posie
Unit 1, 17 Marble Street, Spring Gardens
Convene
17 Lower Hillgate, Stockport
Parsona
43 Barlow Moor Road, Didsbury
Proloco
74 Great Ancoats Street
Bar Shrimp
7 New York Street
Bar Caput
71 Great Underbank, Stockport
The Dilly Deli
1 Little Underbank, Stockport
Hatter’s Food and Drinks Hall
16 Market Street, Denton
Last year’s winner: Stow
15. Chef of the Year
Jamie Pickles – Stow
Shaun Moffatt – Winsome
Jess Furniss – WTLGI
Gary Weir – Open Fire / Tartuffe
Sian Wilson – Bar Posie
Tom Barnes – Skof
Rosie Maguire – Higher Ground
Brit Wardle – 10 Tib Lane
Last year’s winner: Matt Bennett (The Pearl)
16. Restaurant of the Year
Kallos
3 Bankside Boulevard, Salford
Stow
62 Bridge Street
Higher Ground
Faulkner House, New York Street
Winsome
74 Princess Street
Erst
9 Murray Street, Ancoats
The Pearl
425 Bury New Road, Prestwich
Adam Reid at The French
16 Peter Street
The Trof
6–8 Thomas Street
Last year’s winner: SKOF
- Words:
- Sarah Tierney
- Published on:
- Thu 15 Oct 2026
