Stockport's Foodie Friday, a monthly food event that began in 2013, is set to host the Northern Heat of the British Street Food Awards for the first time this Sunday, August 23. The event, usually held on the last Friday of each month at Stockport Market Place, will take place from 12pm to 6pm at Stockport Market and will feature over 25 traders.
Event grows from local gathering to award host
Foodie Friday started as a small gathering of traders celebrating their dishes and has become a major fixture on the town's culinary calendar. Since 2015, the event has been run by the Barratt family — John, Rosemary, their son Joe and daughter Scarlet. The family previously organised music and arts festivals in Stockport and ran the community arts hub Seven Miles Out from 2013 to 2018.
Being invited to host the Northern Heat of the British Street Food Awards is an honour not previously bestowed on Stockport, according to co-organiser John Barratt. “We’re really pleased about this weekend because it’s the first time Stockport has hosted the Northern Heat of the British Street Food Awards, as it’s usually held in Manchester instead,” he told the Manchester Evening News. “It’s quite the coup for us!”
Traders from across the north compete for national final
The line-up includes Foodie Friday favourites and heat finalists such as Oh Mei Dumpling, Friends Corner, Chilli's Indian, The Thai Food Van, Squeaky Beaver Poutine and the Bucket List. “We’ll have traders not just from Stockport this time, but from all over the north,” Barratt said.
Selected from over 3,000 applicants, traders will showcase their products to a panel of judges including chef Sam Buckley of Where The Light Gets In, BBC Radio Manchester's Joe McGrath, and Filler Magazine's Holly Temple. One trader will be chosen to advance to the national final. A second trader will go through based on public votes — each attendee receives a voting slip to place in the ballot box of their favourite trader, who will be named the People's Champion.
Stockport's food scene gains recognition
Barratt noted that the awards organisers recognised Foodie Friday's popularity and Stockport's growing reputation as a food destination. “Stockport also won the Foodie Neighbourhood award at the Manchester Food and Drink Festival Awards for the last two years in a row. A lot of good things are happening in Stockport and it’s great to hear that it’s being recognised outside too!”
Foodie Friday itself won the Best Pop-Up, Club or Project prize at the Manchester Food and Drink Festival Awards in 2016 and 2022, and John and Rosemary received The Howard and Ruth Award for Outstanding Achievement. Last year, the event was nominated for the Best Placemaking prize at the City Nation Place Awards.
The event will also feature live music, DJs, family entertainment and other surprises. “It’s going to be like Foodie Friday — but taken to the next level,” Barratt said. “We really hope people will just soak up the atmosphere, come for some lunch and then stay til the end for some tea too!”
