Manchester Food and Drink Festival has unveiled the full programme of events for the celebratory 20th anniversary Festival.

This year’s Festival sees involvement from 252 partners including chefs, brewers, authors, street food traders, wine merchants, restaurants, cafes, art galleries, forgotten railways, community groups, pubs, bars and food foragers.

There are more than 100 events happening across the city and surrounding neighbourhoods with food heroes descending on Manchester from all over the region and the UK.

From Ella Mills’ first pop up outside London to Altrincham’s Sugo (both pitching up in the city centre especially for MFDF) Manchester is set to be the UK’s top food destination of the Autumn.

The centrepiece is the Festival Hub on Albert Square, where a huge free pop up food village is to be built. This will become the city’s very own heavenly food and drink neighbourhood for 11 jam-packed days.

The Hub will be open from 12noon – 11pm daily and will feature street food, an indie beer festival, gin, wine, chefs, masterclasses, pop up restaurants, live music and more.

Manchester Food and Drink Festival

As well as the Hub happenings, there’s banquets in forgotten railway arches; fine dining extravaganzas in some of the city’s most glamourous restaurants; wine festivals; cocktail safaris; gin trails; food entrepreneur workshops; rustic basque banquets; ‘Manchester Tart-Offs’; craft beer tastings; cakes; ‘octogenarian cookery’; mushroom foraging and the MFDF Gala Dinner and Awards.

The full festival brochure, which can be downloaded here .

Phil Jones, Festival Founding Director commented: “This is without a doubt our biggest and best programme yet – there is something fantastic happening every day throughout this Festival.

"Events are selling out fast so I advise foodies to pick up a brochure or get on the festival website and get themselves a place at whatever takes their fancy ASAP.

"We’d like to say a big thank you to all the brilliant chefs, partners and restaurants who have come together to make this such a special celebration of Manchester’s food culture. Happy Birthday MFDF and all and we’ll see you at the Festival Hub!”

Manchester Food and Drink Festival's 'Class of 2017'

20 highlights from the MFDF 2017 programme

The Festival Hub

Albert Square, 28th September – 8th October, FREE

The Festival Hub will remain at its traditional home on Albert Square, and will be a ‘better than ever’ bespoke, pop-up food village, open from 12noon – 11pm daily. As ever the Hub is free and fantastic, with a whole new design, layout and some exciting additions too.

In situ throughout the Festival will be the city’s best mix of street food traders (from Manchester and beyond), Vin Van Voom Wine bar, the CITYLIFE live music stage, the MFDF Live Cookery Theatre, an indie beer festival, a gin garden, wine tastings, pop up restaurants, masterclasses, workshops and more.

There’s even two Hub Cocktail Bars this year.

Cocktail Institution Be At One will be serving up a range of their classic cocktails from 28th September – 3rd October including Porn Star Martinis, Mojitos and their specialty ‘Candy Pants’.

Cocktails and Carbs hosted by Laundrette from 4th - 8th October will be serving an array of cocktails accompanied by candy floss, toasted marshmallows, bath tubs and ice cream.

MFDF at Mayfield Depot

Mayfield Depot, 29th September – 7th October, ticketed

Manchester’s abandoned railway station, and one of the city’s most jaw-dropping spaces, is the location for MFDF’s 20th birthday feasts.

Breathing new life into this forgotten space, Mayfield will be transformed for the Festival into an extraordinary dining room and party space. A unique, one-off chance to eat, drink and party in an awe-inspiring, historic, giant of a Manchester landmark.

Friday 29th September – MFDF & Tampopo 20th Birthday Party

Authentic, independent Pan Asian restaurant, Tamopop, is 20 this year too. These two iconic Manchester food brands will be celebrating their joint birthday together the only way that both know how…with one great big gastro birthday party in a magnificent location. With DJ sets from Graeme Park, music from Happy Mondays’ Rowetta and lots of fabulous Tampopo food and drink - expect a hedonistic mix of full moon party fun and Manchester icons.

Tickets include food, entertainment and welcome drinks.

Thursday 5th October – Hispi Meets The Unabombers.

A collaboration between food and drink innovator, Gary Usher, and club alchemists-turned-restaurateurs The Unabombers, this huge banquet-come-food party will bring together 2 of the hottest food brands in the north – The Refuge and Hispi – along with club pioneers The Unabombers as they DJ throughout. A completely unique food experience awaits.

Tickets include food, entertainment and welcome drinks.

Saturday 7th October - Thomasina Miers: Day of the Dead

Forget the infamous "Spectre" opening scene, Thomasina Miers, the red hot Mexican food entrepreneur, brings a new gastro take on the infamous ‘Day of the Dead’ with a Mexican banquet every bit as fantastical as the venue in which it’s taking place.

Tickets include food, entertainment and welcome drinks.

MDFD Indie Beer Fest

Festival Hub, 28th September-8th October, noon-11pm, Free

This year’s Festival Beer Bar represents a non-stop, indie extravaganza of beautiful brews making this the ultimate 20th birthday beer fest. All on tap, all the way through MFDF, and all making up the Festival centrepiece – the Festival’s huge beer bar at the Hub.

What better way to toast the 20th anniversary of the Manchester Food and Drink Festival than by inviting 20 breweries from our world famous scene to contribute their finest beers to the party?

Leading the way will be Brightside, Wildside, Ticketybrew, Black Jack, Runaway, Seven Brothers and the Manchester Brewing Co.

Alongside our local brews are the official beers of MFDF 2017, on tap throughout the festival. Shedhead, a 4.6% ABV American-style pale ale brewed in Sweden, and Brooklyn and Poretti lagers, from America and Italy respectively.

All of this housed under one, gigantic, all weather pop up beer hall complete with long tables, sofas, live music stage and room for dancing.

All this making up one exceptional, double decade celebration of beer.

Live cookery theatre

Thomasina Miers will host a Mexican banquet at Manchester's Mayfield Depot

Festival Hub, Various Dates/Times, Free

Nisha Katona: Cookery Demo & Book Signing: Festival Hub: 7th October, 12:30pm

Owner of Mowgli restaurants, TV personality and Food Writer, Nisha Katona will be sharing her skills at her first MFDF cookery demo, and will be signing copies of her new book ‘The Spice Tree’.

Thomasina Miers: Cookery Demo & Book Signing: Festival Hub: 7th October 2pm.

Ex-Masterchef winner, and Mexican food expert, Thomasina, comes to the MFDF. Prolific author and Guardian columnist, she is demonstrating recipes from her latest book “Home Cook by Thomasina Miers” and signing copies afterwards.

Aiden Byrne : Cookery Demo – Festival Hub: 7th October, 3:30pm

A prodigious talent, Aiden is renowned in the City for opening the fine dining Manchester House with Living Ventures which sent his profile soaring. It immediately scooped an unprecedented hat-trick of triumphs at the 2014 Manchester Food and Drink Awards – Best Restaurant, Best Bar and Best Newcomer – and now holds a coveted four AA Rosettes.

Kwoklyn Wan: Cookery Demo & Book Signing: Festival Hub: 7th October, 5pm

Brother of stylist and foodie, Gok Wan, Kwoklyn will be coming to Manchester to demonstrate recipes from his new cookery book Chinese Soul Food and signing copies afterwards.

Ed Baines: Cookery Demo and Q&A: Festival Hub: 29th September, 1pm.

Chef/founder of Randall & Aubin, Ed Baines, is best known for his role as a judge on ITV’s hugely successful Britain’s Best Dish. He is hosting his own masterclass and Q&A session at the Hub, sharing some of the secrets of his legendary Soho brasserie, an offshoot of which has transferred to Manchester this year.

Ella Mills: Q and A/Book Signing: Festival Hub: 30th September, 4pm.

Award-winning cookery author and entrepreneur Ella Mills will be at the Festival Hub for a Q&A, sharing some of the secrets of her phenomenal success story and signing copies of her book Deliciously Ella With Friends.

Fever Tree Gin Garden and The Dark Spirit Den

Festival Hub, 28th September-8th October, noon – 11pm, free

An array of extraordinary gins will be on the menu via the free to enter Fever Tree Gin Garden and Dark Spirits Den.

As ever, festival goers will be able to create their very own bespoke, ‘ultimate’ gin and tonic with a host of gins available, all chosen to perfectly pair with the Fever Tree range of mixers. This year that will include the biggest collection yet, including Premium Tonic, Naturally Light Tonic, Mediterranean Tonic, Elderflower Tonic, Aromatic Tonic and Lemon Tonic.

The liquor loving won’t stop there. The Dark Spirits Den is a brand-new addition to the Festival. It will be the ultimate festival hangout with visitors able to sample their favourite dark spirits, as well as gin, with the most appropriate Fever Tree mixer. There’ll be live entertainment from local musicians and songwriters from across Manchester and undercover seating all in a specially created space inspired by the contrasts of light and dark. An exciting venue that’s sure to be the place for gorgeous and refreshing drinks by daylight, rainy day cocktails, as well as after dark fun.

For a more immersive drinking experience, join Fever-Tree on their Spirit Safari, which will showcase some of the best drinking spots in the city.

The Big Indie Wine Fest

Manchester Hall, 6th & 7th October, Ticketed

One of Manchester’s most well known buildings, located at the gateway to Spinningfields, Manchester Hall is a Grade II listed building that has been transformed into a stunning and unique space. It will be hosting this year’s ‘ Big Indie Wine Fest’ which returns as one of the most popular events at MFDF. With an extra special bonanza of independent wine merchants bringing the highest quality exclusive wine, this event is one not to be missed. Serving new wines from Croatia to independent French wines the event will also host a session of masterclasses including a wine tasting masterclass by the BBC’s Kate Goodman.

Tickets

Cup North

Festival Hub, 1 October, noon – 6pm, FREE

Cup North, the people behind Manchester Coffee Festival will be popping up at the Hub to present a day of tasting, talking and learning. Inside the coffee tent there will be the opportunity to try and buy coffee from a range of local roasters including Heart & Graft, Ancoats Coffee Co. and Passionfruit. Visitors are invited to engage with a number of free talks and demos throughout the day, all aimed at bringing consumers closer to the world of professional coffee making.

Cheese and Ciderologist

Festival Hub, 4th October, 6:30pm, ticketed.

The city of Manchester has but one commercial cider maker and he cordially invites you to join him and his team for this MFDF special event. With an impressive back catalogue of previous Cheese & Cider nights, join founder of The Moss Cider Project and new found friend Gabe Cook AKA The Ciderologist (Channel 4's Sunday Brunch go-to cider guy) for an evening of pairings from near and far.

These dapper gents, one with the finest facial whiskers this side of Herefordshire, will guide you through 5 courses of cheese and cider's weird and wonderful customs from around the globe and some a little closer to home. "Wassail!" as Gabe would say.

Tickets

Wine v Beer

Paul Jones of Cloudwater

A PERFECT MATCH – WINE AND BEER TASTING WITH FOOD PAIRING BY RESERVE, CLOUDWATER AND WOLF HOUSE KITCHEN

Festival Hub, 6 October, 7pm, ticketed

BBC star and founder of Reserve wines, Kate Goodman meets Cloudwater Beer boss Paul Jones. One of the key figures behind Manchester’s micro beer boom, Paul will be teaming up with Kate for the first time to host a fascinating evening exploring the cultural and gastronomic differences between wine and beer alongside the best food pairings for each.

Tickets

The Manchester Tart Bake Off

Festival Hub, Sunday 8th October, noon – 6pm, free

In celebration of 20 years of MFDF, the Festival are resurrecting a competition that was staged in year 1. The search to find the best Manchester Tart in Manchester.

The people of Greater Manchester will be asked to put their heart into the tart and enter their homemade creations so that the ultimate Tart of Manchester can be crowned! To enter, budding bakers and trainee tarts should email George@foodanddrinkfestival.com

On the judging day join us for the annual Forever Manchester Caketober Charity Bake Sale, all proceeds supporting community activity across Greater Manchester. If you would like to bake and donate your wares for the sale contact emmaj@forevermanchester.com

Justeat at MFDF

Justeat Student Supper Club

Festival Hub, Monday 2nd October, ticketed

Just Eat are offering 40 lucky students a chance to join them at The Hub at Manchester Food and Drink Festival 2017 on Monday 2nd October. The evening will start with a drinks reception, followed by a complimentary 3 course dining experience with Didsbury’s finest Indian restaurant, Indique, as well as live entertainment.

All you have to do to be in with a chance of winning tickets for you and three friends for this fabulous event is email hello@foodanddrinkfestival.com from an accredited college or university email address with your name, age, telephone number and the name of the Indian Restaurant providing the food for the evening.

Just Eat Street Kitchen

Festival Hub 28th September – 8th October, free

As official Online Takeaway Partner for MFDF 2017, Just Eatis proud to offer the hungry citizens of Manchester more than 700 Just Eat restaurant partners to choose from, and what better opportunity to showcase them than by bringing them to the Festival Hub in Albert Square?

So, with the help of their customers, they’ve selected some of their highest rated restaurants to serve up quality food for all budgets, tastes and appetites.

Just Eat welcome The Pasta Project, Oishi Q, Strip Health, Italian Express, Kings Treats and Naasouk to the Festival Hub, throughout MFDF, at their own pop up Just Eat kitchen!

Bookatable's Festival Feast

Across the city, 28th – 9th October, Book Online

As the exclusive booking partner of Manchester Food and Drink Festival 2017, Bookatable helps foodies to discover and book the city’s best restaurants.

This partnership celebration of dining out takes place across Manchester’s favourite restaurants - you’ll find festival menus at your chosen high street spots, as well as the city’s most luxurious fine dining establishments. Whether you’re a seasoned Manchester foodie looking to return to your favourite restaurant, or a dining-out newbie
on the hunt for an amazing-value experience, there’s special MFDF/Booktable menus out there for everyone.

Explore the menus here .

MFDF Gala Dinner and Awards

Becky Want and Matt White presenting 2014 MFDF Awards

The Principal Manchester, 9th October, Ticketed

The Manchester Food and Drink Festival Gala Dinner and Awards will be taking place on the 9th October and will be returning to the beautiful and iconic Principal Manchester. The most prestigious food awards in the North will be distributed and this year there’ll be 20 awards for 20 years.

CityLife Music Stage

Festival Hub, 28th September-8th October, Noon-11pm, Free

If you thought the Manchester Food and Drink Festival was just about eating and drinking, think again. As ever, MFDF sets itself apart from the rest with its programme of fantastic live music all the way through the event.

Across the 11 days of the Hub, you will be able to tune in, dance or just chill-out, to an eclectic mix of amazing artists.

Names to whet the appetite include:

Christian Burrows - Boltonian X Factor sensation whose debut single Two Again was a big hit

Ben Williams - Manchester’s hotly tipped singer-songwriter

Corella - new indie heroes

Lily Jo - pop soul singer-songwriter

Dave Fidler – local singer-songwriter legen.

‘The Chanteuse’ aka Manchester’s finest vocalist and MFDF stalwart Lucy Hope - performing a live world premiere, her new, french-language album, Sings Modiano. A chanson extraordinaire, the album is superb listening. It’s being released in both the UK and France. www.thechanteuse.co.uk

Singer Lucy Hope at the Diary Party at the Lowry Hotel

Scruff of the Neck - The North’s coolest promoters present a fascinating night of stunning music, featuring the powerful hooks of Cosmo Calling, the energetic Opera Comic, soul sensations Deliah and groove laden Maisie Johnson.

Joel Valentine & Katy Alex – Merseyside singer-songwriter with great pop hooks.

Whitley Ruchea – a unique urban DJ from the Midlands.

Audio Beats/Whoever and the Somethings - The Northwest’s best covers dance bands. Expect Stevie Wonder to Fleetwood Mac, Chaka Khan and The Roses with some help from some top DJs too.

Full programme available at the Festival website.

MAD Cocktail Week

Hula, Rosylee, The Fitzgerald, Walrus and Tusk, 28th September- 8th October, Ticketed & Free.

Shaking things up with a celebration of all things cocktail, MAD Ltd will be hosting a series of pop-up events, bespoke serves and exclusive discounts across their five Northern Quarter bars; Hula, Rosylee, The Fitzgerald, Walrus and Tusk.

Full details on the MFDF website.

Champagne and oyster tasting with Randall and Aubin

Festival Hub, 28th September, From 7pm, Ticketed

Learn more about the decadent world of Champagne. Let Manchester’s newest French brasserie, in conjunction with HallgartenDruitt & Novum wines, enlighten you at an exclusive evening
of bubbly and bivalves.

Book early to secure a place as spaces are limited.

A journey through Spain with Iberica

4th October, From 6pm, Ticketed

In a revelatory hands-on Spanish experience, kick off with a chance to mix your own G&T and, of course drink it before learning from head master carver Sergio Escudero all about Jamón Ibérico through a live carving demo while enjoying this delicacy with a glass of bone-dry Manzanilla. After these two welcoming treats enjoy head chef Nacho Llinares’ bespoke menu including tapas and a dessert to share, with Paella Valenciana as a main course. Valencian style is dry, with crunchy, caramelised socarrat – the team will show you how to scrape it from the pan bottom
to unleash incredible flavours. To match these dishes– two special glasses of boutique Spanish wines.

Tickets

Goatober

The Koffee Pot Oldham Street Northern Quarter Manchester. Pictured are Chris Devlin and Sam Dunwoodie.

The Koffee Pot, 8th October, Ticketed

Darren Goodwin (Grafene), Mary-Ellen McTague (Manchester Art Gallery Café), Richard Sharples (Hispi) and James Whetlor (Cabrito Goat Meat) are cooking a four-course menu using kid goat meat or dairy in every dish. It’s part of an entire month nationwide devoted to celebrating dishes made from male billy goats, which are usually discarded at birth as a waste product of the dairy industry.

Tickets

The music quiz and Manchester challenge

Festival Hub, 8th October, free - reservation of place online required

Guide and author, Jonathan Schofield, offers 40 questions and challenges on Manchester, Greater Manchester and their people, places and events. Includes a Musical Challenge, sung intros round by Lucy Hope. Fabulous prizes plus the chance
to buy the new extended guide to Manchester by Jonathan and other Manchester Books Ltd publications. Short break in the middle with live music from Lucy.

Tickets

Basquet banquet

Baratxuri in Ramsbottom

Y Comedor, Ramsbottom

3rd October, Ticketed

Whole fish and big cuts of meat roasted and chargrilled in the pintxos masters’ new Pereruela wood-fired oven. All Asado (roasted) dishes are cut and served at the table with sides and rescoldo veg cooked in the embers of the fire.

Tickets from the bar or email info@levanterfinefoods.co.uk