A number of Manchester restaurants and bars have been shortlisted for awards at a prestigious ceremony – including a trio of London establishments who moved to the city less than a year ago.
The Casual Dining Awards celebrate multi-site restaurants, pubs and bars across the country, recognising them for their achievements in menu innovation, concepts, and experience.
The shortlist for this year’s awards have been unveiled ahead of the glitzy ceremony taking place at the 5-star London Marriott Hotel towards the end of April. Amongst those nominated are the likes of Albert’s Schloss, The Alchemist and Caravan – with a number of Manchester sites getting specific mentions.
Manchester makes up half of the shortlist for the Opening of the Year award, with the city’s Blacklock, Caravan and Flat Iron all mentioned alongside Soho’s Albert’s Schloss, Paddington’s Wahaca and London’s Los Mochis.
Inspired by the original chophouses of the 1690s, popular London haunt Blacklock opened its first site outside of the capital here in Manchester in September. Housed in the corner of a Grade II listed textiles warehouse on Peter Street, the ‘contemporary yet unpretentious’ venue features a menu including skinny chops, ‘door-stop-thick’ big chops, and steaks.
The New Zealand-inspired Caravan, located in St John’s, received a number of nominations at the Casual Dining Awards 2025
(Image: Sean Hansford | Manchester Evening News)
Also with a spotlight on steak is Flat Iron, located in Deansgate. Opened in the city in a Grade II-listed building once owned by the Royal London Friendly Society, the steakhouse also comes from London. With a focus on affordability, Fred Smith, Flat Iron’s Head of Beef, previously told the M.E.N: “Our mission was to have a fantastic eating experience but not necessarily at the price point you’d expect.”
Caravan, located opposite Aviva Studios in the St John’s Neighbourhood, opened in August following success in London. Also marking its regional debut, the Manchester site continues the group’s New Zealand-inspired concept with an all-day selection of brunch dishes, snacks and large plates, including jalapeno cornbread, pork schnitzel and cauliflower fritters.
The three restaurants have also been nominated in the Restaurant Brand of the Year (for up to 19 sites) category, alongside Brother Marcus, Dishoom and Hawksmoor. Whilst Blacklock and Caravan’s Manchester sites have also been recognised in the Best Designed Site of the Year alongside interior design studio Other Side.
Flat Iron, in Deansgate, was nominated for Opening of the Year, as well as Restaurant Brand of the Year (1-19 sites)
(Image: Flat Iron)
Elsewhere in the list, Rudy’s, which started life in Ancoats, has been nominated in the Restaurant Brand of the Year (for between 20 and 50 sites) alongside Bill’s, The Ivy, Mowgli, Pho, Pizza Pilgrims and Rosa’s Thai.
Across the board, the likes of Nando’s, wagamama, and Pizza Express also received a number of nominations. The winners will all be decided by an esteemed panel of judges, including a number of CEO’s and founders of some of the top restaurants across the country.
The full shortlist for the 2025 Casual Dining Awards are:
NEW CONCEPT OF THE YEAR
- Agora
- Akara
- Black Tap Craft Burgers & Beer
- Café François
- Orleans Smokehouse
OPENING OF THE YEAR
- Albert’s Schloss – Soho
- Blacklock – Manchester
- Caravan – Manchester
- Flat Iron – Manchester
- Los Mochis – London City
- Wahaca – Paddington
SUSTAINABLE OPERATOR AWARD
- Ask Italian
- Caravan
- Faber
- Hawksmoor
- Nando’s
- Pizza Pilgrims
- Wahaca
EMPLOYER OF THE YEAR (1-49 SITES) – sponsored by HOWDEN the new name for Aston Lark
- Blacklock
- Caravan
- Dishoom
- Hawksmoor
- Mission Mars
- Mowgli
- Pizza Pilgrims
EMPLOYER OF THE YEAR (50+ SITES)
- Franco Manca
- Fullers
- Loungers
- Nando’s
- Turtle Bay
- Wagamama
- Young’s
MENU INNOVATION AWARD (1-25 SITES) – sponsored by FRESH DIRECT
- Albert’s Schloss
- The Alchemist
- Brother Marcus
- Caravan
- Chapter Collection by Stonegate Group
- Dishoom
- Pizza Pilgrims
MENU INNOVATION AWARD (26+ SITES) – sponsored by LA LORRAINE BAKERY GROUP
- Ask Italian
- Greene King
- PizzaExpress
- Turtle Bay
- Wagamama
BRAND MARKETING OF THE YEAR – sponsored by IPW1
- Ask Italian
- Bella Italia
- Bill’s
- Dishoom
- Pizza Pilgrims
- Wagamama
- Wahaca
BEST USE OF TECHNOLOGY – sponsored by HGEM
- Azzurri Group
- Bill’s
- Flight Club
- PizzaExpress
- Stonegate Group
- Wagamama
BEST DESIGNED SITE OF THE YEAR
- Albert’s Schloss – Soho – with JSA Design
- Blacklock – Manchester – with Other Side
- Caravan – Manchester – with Other Side
- Lina Stores – South Kensington – with North End Design
- Rosa’s Thai – Bristol – with Quadrant Design
- Wahaca – Paddington – with Chris Bagot Architects
BEST FAMILY DINING EXPERIENCE
- Bella Italia
- Bill’s
- PizzaExpress
- Wagamama
- Wahaca
- Zizzi
PUB/BAR BRAND OF THE YEAR (1-49 SITES)
- Albert’s Schloss
- The Alchemist
- Arc Inspirations
- The Devonshire
- Heartwood Inns
- Inception Group
PUB/BAR BRAND OF THE YEAR (50+ SITES) – sponsored by FUNKIN COCKTAILS
- Brunning & Price
- Fullers
- Greene King
- JD Wetherspoon
- Loungers
- Urban Pubs & Bars
- Young’s
RESTAURANT BRAND OF THE YEAR (1 – 19 SITES)
- Blacklock
- Brother Marcus
- Caravan
- Dishoom
- Flat Iron
- Hawksmoor
RESTAURANT BRAND OF THE YEAR (20-50 SITES) – sponsored by BIDFOOD
- Bill’s
- The Ivy
- Mowgli
- Pho
- Pizza Pilgrims
- Rosa’s Thai
- Rudy’s Pizza Napoletana
RESTAURANT BRAND OF THE YEAR (51+ SITES) – sponsored by AMERICAN EXPRESS
- Côte
- Franco Manca
- Miller & Carter
- Nando’s
- PizzaExpress
- Turtle Bay
- Wagamama
CASUAL DINING GROUP OF THE YEAR – sponsored by REYNOLDS
- Azzurri Group
- The Big Table
- JKS
- Loungers
- Mission Mars
- Mitchells & Butlers
- The Restaurant Group