The Manchester Food and Drink Festival Awards are handed out tonight - and you can watch live with us here.
The festival had to postpone its main event in Cathedral Gardens until next spring on public health advice as coronavirus infection rates continue to rise in the city.
But there's no stopping tonight's virtual awards ceremony, which is being live-streamed from Moda Angel Gardens from 7pm.
During an incredibly difficult year for the hospitality industry, it's more important than ever to highlight the contribution the sector makes to our region.
A number of new categories have been created in recognition of this year's challenges, celebrating the innovation, resilience, altruism and successes that have taken place in the last year - and particularly in the difficult months since March.
New prizes for 2020 include best DIY delivery food offering, best food and drink box delivery, best innovation and lockdown heroes.
The shortlists - which you can find at the bottom of this page - have been drawn up by a judging panel made up of the city's leading food and drink critics and industry experts and then voted for by the public.
One very special prize, the Howard and Ruth Outstanding Achievement Award, has also been decided secretly by the judges and will be given to one deserving individual or organisation.
You can watch live below, or on our Facebook page, from 7pm as the winners are announced.
MFDF founding director Phil Jones said: “This year’s festival awards are taking place at an extraordinary time – the most difficult period yet for our industry, and against the backdrop of a global crisis.
"It’s been a very tough year for restaurants, bars, pubs and cafes - but we’ve also seen a huge amount of innovation, creativity and community focused altruism from the hospitality industry.
"While it is not possible to run the awards in the usual way this year, we felt it was more important than ever to recognise and celebrate our hospitality sector.
"This year’s awards, delivered with the help of our sponsor Just Eat, are designed to celebrate, showcase and support our brilliant dining community in 2020 and beyond.”
Here's who's in the running this year. Who'd get your vote? Let us know in the comments 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.
Andrew Nutter – For his online cookery videos broadcast via social media.
Cork of the North - For their live wine tasting masterclasses broadcast via social media
Higher Ground - For their live cook-alongs broadcast via social media
Manchester Gin - For their live gin masterclasses broadcast via social media.
Rachel Stockley/Baratxuri - For her online cookery videos broadcast via social media.
Sienna & Maurizio Cecco from Salvi’s – For their live cook-alongs and online cookery videos all broadcast via social media
Simon Wood - For his online cookery videos broadcast via social media
Six By Nico - For their Now Cooking series broadcast via social media
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.
Bundobust
Elnecot
Hip Hop Chip Shop
Mughli Charcoal Pit
Rudy’s Pizza
Six by Nico
Wolf at The Door
Yang Sing
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.
Adam Reid - Great British Menu Box
Baratxuri - Menu Delivery Boxes
DD’s Burgers at The Koffee Pot - The Lockdown DIY Burger Kit
Elite Bistros at Home
Hawksmoor at Home
Northern Soul - Grill it Yourself Kit
Wood at Home
Yao Yao Noodles - Ramen Kit Delivery
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.
Grandad Sausages - “The Sausage Hotline”- Delivering BBQ Kits and Breakfast Packs
Great North Pie Co - Pie Box Delivery
Lupo Caffe Italiano - Italian Treats and Veg Boxes
R Noone and Son- Fruit and Veg boxes
Reserve Wines - Wine Box Deliveries
ShinDigger Brewing Co - Beer Delivery Boxes In Under 3 Hours
The Crafty Cheese Man - Cheese Board Delivery Boxes
Zouk - BBQ Boxes
Best innovation
Recognising the most impressive business innovations by food and drink operators during the COVID-19 crisis.
Grub-E-Mart - hosting street vendors online for orders and collections
Levenshulme Market - providing a platform for traders to go online as well as local charities
Andrew Nutter - Nutter’s Cheese and Wine Boutique
Cloudwater - supporting other breweries through the crisis, letting them use their webshop and supporting Higher Ground with deliveries.
Didsbury Gin - moving gin production to hand sanitiser
Manchester Union Lager- growler collection and refills
House of Hops - investing in canning production to enable them to order, pour, seal and deliver beer on the same day.
Stretford Foodhall - finding innovative ways to serve the community right the way through lockdown... from street food takeaway to free grocery delivery for the vulnerable.
Newcomer of the year
Recognising the best new food and drink operations to open in Greater Manchester since the last awards decision period.
The Bull & Bear
The Edinburgh Castle Pub
Escape to Freight Island
Six By Nico
Higher Ground
Perfect Match
Street Urchin
Stretford Food Hall
Best online veggie/vegan offering
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.
Wholesome Junkies
Blue Caribou Canteen
Yao Yao Noodles
Vaso Indian Kitchen
The Walled Gardens by Eddie Shepherd
Herbivorous
The Ottomen
Pasta Factory
Artisan drinks producer of the year
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.
Didsbury Gin
Four Sisters
Manchester Gin
Diablesse Rum
Manchester Union Lager
Cloudwater Brewing
ShinDigger Brewing Co
Track Brew Co
Takeaway Coffee Experience of the Year
This category recognises quality coffee takeaways during the COVID-19 crisis. An adaptation of The Coffee Shop of the year award and only recognises those businesses that were able to stay open via takeaway.
Just Between Friends
Federal Cafe Bar
Foundation Coffee House
Ancoats General Store
Grindsmith
Heart & Graft Coffee
Another Heart to Feed
Manchester Coffee Co
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.
The Ottomen
Oh Mei Dumpling
Ginger’s Comfort Emporium
Nasi Lemak
Herbivorous
Abeja Tapas Bar
I Knead Pizza
Jerk Shack
Lockdown Heroes
Sponsored by Manchester Evening News
This award recognises 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.
We are opening this up for public nominations. Let us know about your local lockdown hero at foodanddrinkfestival.com. It can be anyone you think deserves recognition.
Howard and Ruth Outstanding Achievement Award
Recognising someone who has contributed something outstanding to the food and drink industry in Greater Manchester, to be decided by the judging panel.
