We had a great time last Monday night at the Lowry Hotel for the annual Manchester Food and Drink Awards.
The Chocolate Café was voted 'Best Coffee Shop or Casual Dining Venue' from an impressive list of nominees. To say I was surprised was the understatement of the year! The picture above shows myself (centre) and our Café Manager Stephen Ryan (with a tram coming out of his head) receiving the award from the Editor of City Life Magazine.
The awards proved to be a great night for independent businesses in the suburbs, and particularly Ramsbottom, which also saw our friend over at Ramsons win 'Restaurant of the Year'.
Coming just days after the BBC's Olive magazine named Ramsbottom as the 7th best place in the UK for Foodies, it underlines what a great time it is to come and eat, drink and shop in our beautiful town!
Here are the full list of winners and nominees:
Restaurant of the Year
WINNER: Ramsons, 18 Market Place, Ramsbottom, Bury, BL0 9HT
WINNER: Ramsons, 18 Market Place, Ramsbottom, Bury, BL0 9HT
Shortlisted:
Damson, 113 Heaton Moor Road, Stockport, SK4 4HY
Michael Caines Restaurant at Abode, 107 Piccadilly, City, M1 2DB
The Mark Addy, Stanley Street, City, M3 5EJ
Gaucho, 2A St Marys Street, City, M3 2LB
Harvey Nichols Second Floor Restaurant, 21 New Cathedral Street, City, M1 1AD
Chef of the Year
WINNER: Laurence Tottingham & Mary-Ellen McTague, Aumbry, Prestwich
Shortlisted:
Bryn Evans, Rhubarb, West Didsbury; Ian Armstrong, Vertigo, City; Robert Owen Brown, Mark Addy, City: Pete Taylor, Room, City; Stuart Thomson, Harvey Nichols Second Floor Restaurant and Brasserie, City.
Pub of the Year
WINNER: The Parlour, 66 Beech Road, Chorlton, M4 1LE
Shortlisted:
Bar Fringe, 8 Swan Street, City, M4 5JN
The Castle Hotel, 66, Oldham Street, City, M4 1LE
The Angel Pub, 6 Angel Street, City, M4 4BQ
The Briton's Protection, 50 Great Bridgewater Street, City, M1 5LE
The Nursery Inn, 258 Green Lane, Heaton Norris, Stockport, Sk4 2NA
Bar of the Year
WINNER: Electrik, 559 Wilbraham Road, Chorlton, Manchester, M21 0AE
WINNER: Electrik, 559 Wilbraham Road, Chorlton, Manchester, M21 0AE
Shortlisted:
Black Dog Ballroom, Corner of Tib Street/Church Street, City, M4 1PW
The Alchemist, 3 Hardman Street, Spinningfields, City, M4 1PW
The Molly House, 26 Richmond Street, City, M1 3NB
Port Street Beer House, 39-41 Port Street, City, M1 2EQ
The River Bar, Lowry Hotel 50 Dearmans Place, City, M3 5LH
Newcomer of the Year
WINNER: Cicchetti, Ground Floor, House of Fraser, Deansgate, Manchester, M3 2QG
Shortlisted:
Australasia, 1 The Avenue, Spinningfields, City, M3 3AP
Bistro 1847, 58 Mosley Street, City, M2 3HZ
Port Street Beer House, 39-41 Port Street, City, M1 2EQ
The Rose Garden, 218, Burton Road, West Didsbury, City, M20 2LW
Vertigo, 36 John Dalton, Street, City, M2 6LE
Best Coffee Shop or Casual Dining Venue
WINNER: The Chocolate Café, 2 Bolton Street, Ramsbottom, Bury BL0 9HX
Shortlisted:
Jack Spratt, St James House, John Dalton Street, City, M2 6WH
Kebabish, 49, Hilton Street, City, M1 2EF
North Tea Power, 36 Tib Street, City, M4 1LA
Tampopo, 16 Albert Square, City, M2 5PF
Teacup on Thomas Street, 55 Thomas Street, City, M4 1NA
Best Food and Drink Retail Outlet
WINNER: WH FROSTS THE BUTCHERS, 14 Chorlton Place, Manchester, M21 9AQ
WINNER: WH FROSTS THE BUTCHERS, 14 Chorlton Place, Manchester, M21 9AQ
Shortlisted:
Barbakan, Delicatessen, 67-71 Manchester Road, Chorlton cum Hardy, M21 9PW
Bradley's Bakery, 225 King's Road, Ashton-under-Lyne, OL6 9EE
The Cheese Place, Unit 6, Radius Building, Prestwich, M25 1AY
J.A. Hyman (Titanics), 123-129 Waterloo Road, Cheetham, M8 8BT
Out of the Blue, 484 Wilbraham Road, Chorlton, M21 9AQ
W.H. Frosts Butchers, 14 Chorlton Place, Chorlton, M21 9AQ
Best Wine List
WINNER: Harvey Nichols Second Floor Restaurant, 21 New Cathedral Street, Manchester, M1 1AD
WINNER: Harvey Nichols Second Floor Restaurant, 21 New Cathedral Street, Manchester, M1 1AD
Shortlisted:
Evuna, 277-279 Deansgate, City, M3 4EW
Gaucho, 2A St Mary's Street, City, M3 2LB
Michael Caines Restaurant at Abode Manchester, 107 Piccadilly, City, M1 2DB
Ramsons, 16-18 Market Place, Ramsbottom, Bury, BL0 9HT
The River Bar and Restaurant, The Lowry Hotel, 50 Dearmans Place, Salford, M3 5LH
Best Family Friendly Venue
WINNER: Croma
Manchester Food Hero
WINNER: Katie Brunt and Gastroclub
WINNER: Katie Brunt and Gastroclub
Truly Good Food
The Howard and Ruth Award for Outstanding Achievement
WINNER: Dimitri Griliopoulos
WINNER: Dimitri Griliopoulos