The 2024 National Restaurant Awards were held in London last night with a host of Manchester restaurants taking home awards.
The city’s only Michelin-starred restaurant, chef Simon Martin’s Mana, landed highest in the the top 100 list, at number 14, a huge leap from its placing at number 71 last year.
Judges said: “The cooking at Mana is described as being highly technical and precise. There’s a Nordic feel to Mana’s culinary approach with Martin very respectful of his British and often wild and foraged ingredients and use of techniques designed to let the primary ingredients shine… It’s stirring stuff.”
Meanwhile Skof, the recently-opened restaurant from former L’Enclume executive chef Tom Barnes, landed the One To Watch award.
Describing Barnes as a ‘huge talent’, judges added: “Skof looks set to make a big impact in a city that has a pumping restaurant scene but is in general unmoved by fancy restaurants.”
Higher Ground soared up the rankings too, from 51 last year to number 16, with judges describing the Chinatown spot as ‘modern and minimalistic without being austere with a long island that runs along one side of the room that serves as an open kitchen, pass and bar, as well as a counter where people can sit and eat and drink. A proper neo bistro then’.
Both Higher Ground and Mana landed ahead of the three star L’Enclume, in the Lake District, which came in at number 20.
Erst, also in Ancoats, landed its first ranking this year, entering the chart at number 50. “Overseeing the kitchen and front of house respectively, the [owners Will Sutton and Patrick Withington] deliver a laid back yet grown-up experience that’s an antidote to the glitzier ‘going out out’ restaurant scene for which Manchester is traditionally known’.
Meanwhile, in Lancashire, last year’s Best Restaurant winner Moor Hall landed at number three, while the Parkers Arms – recently named the UK’s best gastropub – and Solo were at number 51 and 52 respectively.
Lisa Goodwin-Allen’s Northcote, in Langho, was ranked number 74.
For a full list of the winners, click here…
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