Peter Hook, Ella Toone and Javeno McLean were among the winners at the ninth annual This is Manchester Awards, held at Emirates Old Trafford. The event celebrated the people, places and organisations shaping Greater Manchester.
Top honours for Hook, Toone and McLean
Joy Division and New Order bassist Hook received the Outstanding Contribution to Music Award, just a week before he heads to Los Angeles to represent the bands as they enter the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Manchester United and England Lioness Toone was given the Outstanding Contribution to Sport award.
Community hero McLean received the biggest surprise of the night when he was named the Manchester Supernova for 2026, to huge applause and a standing ovation. His family and friends kept the award a secret until host Jenny Powell announced him on stage on Thursday night.
Supernova honour for community champion
The evening's highest accolade honoured McLean for his work as founder of the J7 Community Health Centre in Blackley. The centre provides free training for disabled people, older people and those living with serious illnesses. McLean has dedicated more than two decades to helping people build strength, confidence and independence through fitness.
Accepting the award, he said: "I just want to inspire people and give people a million reasons to smile despite your ability. I just believe that everyone has got a place, everyone has got a value, everyone has got a beauty and I try to expose that as much as I can."
McLean joins previous recipients including Marcus Rashford MBE, Fred Done, John Roberts, Julia Fawcett OBE, Dr Nighat Awan OBE, Sir Howard Bernstein and Joe Thompson.
Music and sport winners celebrated
Receiving his award from fellow rocker John Robb, Hook said: "I am here because I love Manchester, and I love Salford, and I've spent my whole life here working really hard for everything I've achieved in this moment which is this. I really do appreciate it and I love this city, and I love its neighbour even more - Salford rules!"
Toone said: "I'm really proud to win this award. Manchester is home for me and it's played such a massive part in who I am, not just as a footballer but as a person." She added: "I've been lucky enough to live my dream through football, but now I want to use that platform to give something back as well. Whether that's inspiring young girls, creating more opportunities through ET7 Academy or supporting communities across Manchester, hopefully we can make a real difference. Manchester has always backed me, so to be recognised by the city means a lot. I'm absolutely buzzing."
Food, drink and business winners
LI~LY Restaurant by Aiden Byrne in Knutsford won Leading Restaurant of the Year (Formal), with judges praising its Michelin recognition, three AA Rosettes, team development and commitment to local sourcing. The Black Friar in Salford took the Casual dining title. Britt Wardle of 10 Tib Lane and Julian Pizer of Portfolio Mcr were joint winners of Leading Chef of the Year. Treehouse Manchester was named Leading Hotel of the Year, and Federico won Leading Bar / Club of the Year.
San Carlo Group won Outstanding Business of the Year, while CEO Marcello Distefano was named Entrepreneur of the Year. Co-op Live won Leading Live Event Venue of the Year, and Leigh Sports Village's Summer Concert Series took Leading Live Event of the Year. Lowry received Leading Arts & Culture Venue of the Year.
The inaugural Creative & Communications Impact of the Year award went to Roland Dransfield for Evening4Ricky. The Trafford Centre won Leading Retail Business / Brand of the Year, and Wongs Jewellers received Force of Fashion of the Year. Edgey took Leading Technology / Digital Innovator of the Year, and Radisson Hotel Manchester City Centre received Leading Sustainability & Impact of the Year.
Community and individual awards
Parvez Qadir, Artistic Director at Breaking Barriers, was named Individual Making a Difference. Manchester Foundation Trust Charity received Organisation Making a Difference. Girls On The Go won Individuals and/or Organisations Promoting Wellbeing. Edwin Buckley of The Prominence Collective received Diversity & Inclusion Leader / Changemaker of the Year, and Jack Liepa, Chair of The Proud Trust, was named One to Watch – Young Person of the Year.
Rachel Law, CEO of PossAbilities, received Woman of the Year. Outstanding Debut of the Year went to BREAKOUT – Built Different By Design, founded by Roman Dibden. Hosted by Jenny Powell, the awards followed more than 500 entries, with presenters including former Corrie star Helen Flanagan and health entrepreneur Davina Taylor.
