CityLife

Manchester Food And Drink Festival: Winners announced

Restaurant Of The Year: The Modern

MANCHESTER’S loftiest restaurant is celebrating coming out on top at this year’s glitzy Manchester Food And Drink Festival Awards.

The Modern, perched at the very top of the Urbis building in the city centre, won the hotly-contested Restaurant Of The Year award at the annual celebration of the region’s foodie scene.

Meanwhile 170-year-old traditional boozer the Lass O’Gowrie raised a glass or two after scooping the Best Pub award at the ceremony.

But it was bar newcomer Apotheca, which opened just under a year ago in the city’s Northern Quarter, that beat off more established competition to win the Best Bar category. 

Star-studded dinner

Ian Matfin was crowned the city’s Chef of the Year for his work at the Abode Hotel on Piccadilly.

The cream of Manchester’s restaurant, pub and café industry headed out to the star-studded awards dinner hosted by television chefs Si King and Dave Myers, aka The Hairy Bikers, at The Palace Hotel.

The awards rounded off the annual Manchester Food And Drink Festival, which has been held over the past fortnight with a raft of foodie events around the city.

The bikers, who ditched their usual leathers for the occasion, said: “We dusted down the dinner suits and what a great night we had. It is wonderful to realise what a wealth of food treasure we have in the north west. The food festival has been one of the best - we can’t wait for next year.”

'Proud history'

It was also quite a night for Steve Pilling - a former winner of the Outstanding Achievement gong for his work at the Sam’s and Tom’s Chop Houses - who scooped the Best Newcomer award for his new venture, Damson in Heaton Moor.

Siobhan Hanley, director of Manchester Food And Drink Festival, said: “Once again, it was extremely difficult for the judging panel to decide the award winners as there is such a high quality of restaurants, bars, cafes and pubs in our city.

“Despite there being a recession in the country, we were astounded by the level of entries for the Best Newcomer Award, and wish them all the best. Manchester has a proud history of food and drink and we look forward to more establishments opening over the next year.”

THE WINNERS IN FULL...

Restaurant Of The Year
The Modern, Manchester

Best Pub
Lass O’Gowrie, Manchester

Best Bar
Apotheca, Manchester

Best Newcomer
Damson, Heaton Moor

Chef Of The Year
Ian Matfin, Abode Manchester

Best Food And Drink Retail Outlet
Barbakan Delicatessen, Chorlton

Best Wine List
Gaucho Manchester

Best Coffee Bar / Casual Dining
Folk Café Bar, West Didsbury

MFDF Award For Healthy And Sustainable Eating 
Gabriel’s Kitchen, Manchester

Outstanding Achievement Award
George Bergier, head sommelier at Sam’s and Tom’s Chophouses, Manchester

INVESTMENT IN SKILLS AWARDS

Professional Bartender Of The Year
Tom Lloyd, Obsidian

Manchester Young Chef Of The Year
Michael Tate, Harvey Nichols

Manchester Young Waiter Of The Year
Matthew Dutson, River Restaurant

Love Food Hate Waste Award
Mason Arms, Atherton

Producer of the Year Award (judged by Clarissa Dickson Wright)
Mrs Kirkham’s Cheese

MFDF Cheese Challenge Winner
Garstang Blue by Dewlay Cheesemakers 

Best Beer Brewed In Manchester (judged by panel at the Greater Manchester Real Ale Festival)
Dobber by Marble Brewer