Two of the borough's businesses are celebrating after they took an award apiece at the Manchester Food and Drink Festival Awards.

Grapefruit Coffee and Stretford Canteen took awards for Coffee Shop of the Year and Neighbourhood Venue of the Year this week.

Grapefruit Coffee, a coffee shop on School Road, Sale, opened outside Sale Metrolink around four and a half years ago. It is rated 4.8 out of five stars on Google Reviews.

Stretford Canteen, a restaurant on Chester Road, Stretford, opened outside Stretford Mall in 2022. It is rated five out five stars on TripAdvisor and is one of the best in town.

After a ceremony at New Century in the city centre a post on social media by the restaurant said: "We only bloody well went and won it. 

"A big thank you to all our team and especially our customers for making our little space the best neighbourhood restaurant in the whole of Greater Manchester. Go Stretford!"

Others of the borough's businesses were shortlisted but stopped short of winning an award. They were New Market Dairy, Altrincham (Retailer of the Year), Nila's Burmese Kitchen, Trafford Park (Affordable Eat of the Year) and Restaurant Orme, Urmston (Neighbourhood Venue of the Year / Newcomer of the Year). All of Altrincham, Sale, Stretford and Urmston were shortlisted for Foodie Neighbourhood of the Year but this award went to Stockport.

In a first for the Manchester Food and Drink Festival Awards it was at a different time to the Manchester Food and Drink Festival itself, which is taking a year off for the first time in its history, with the exception of the coronavirus crisis.

Previously Alexa Stratton Powell, the director of the Manchester Food and Drink Festival Awards, said: "This decision was made after careful consideration around the best timing for the hospitality sector and separating the awards from the festival itself allows us to focus on each in depth."

This article was written by Jack Tooth. To contact him, email jack.tooth@newsquest.co.uk or follow @JTRTooth on Twitter.