Stockport restaurants and retailers make shortlist for Manchester Food and Drink Festival Awards 2021

Stockport’s growing reputation for great food and drink has been recognised with a number of the borough’s establishments shortlisted in this year’s Manchester Food and Drink Festival Awards.

In the town centre, restaurant Where The Light Gets In (pictured), has been shortlisted for the Best Restaurant award, with chef-patron Sam Buckley also in the running for the Chef of the Year gong.

There were also a number of nominations for Heaton Moor’s food and drink offering. The Moor restaurant has been nominated for Newcomer of the Year; Bernie’s Grocery Store is shortlisted for Food and Drink Retailer of the Year.

Both Heaton Moor and Stockport town centre were also acknowledged for the breadth of their food and drink offerings, with the two areas competing with the likes of Altrincham, Prestwich and Ramsbottom for the title of Foodie Neighbourhood of the Year.

Elsewhere in the borough, Heaton Hops in Heaton Chapel was also recognised as a contender for the Pub or Beer Bar of the Year category. Fisherman’s Table in Marple has also been nominated for Neighbourhood Venue of the Year sponsored by Roomzzz Aparthotels.

Despite challenging trading conditions for the hospitality sector during the Covid-19 pandemic, The Manchester Food and Drink Festival Awards this year saw a record 113 businesses nominated from across the city-region.

The shortlists have been compiled by the MFDF judging panel, made up of the region’s leading food and drink critics, writers and experts, with the final winners this year decided by a public vote. An online poll has now launched for Greater Manchester residents to choose the winners across all categories in the awards, with voting closing at midnight on September 20th.

Winners will be announced at the culmination of the Manchester Food and Drink Festival and will take place, for the first time, at the Ticket Hall at Freight Island on 27th September.