British Street Food Awards Announce Traders For Northern Final

The British Street Food Awards (BSFA), part of the world’s largest street food competition, is set to bring the best of Northern street food traders to Manchester this summer. The regional final is set to take place at the city’s leading destinations for food, drink, and entertainment, Freight Island, on Saturday 17^th and Sunday 18^th August.

Bringing together 16 top street food traders to compete for the BSFA ‘Northern Champion’, the participating traders for 2024 edition are now announced. The finalists are set to produce a special menu of two killer dishes, with their taster dishes available for only £6.50 a dish. Free tickets for the event are available here.

This year’s judges for the Northern heat are Luke Payne, chef/owner at the award-winning Pack Horst in the High Peak which has been recognised in the Michelin guide and ranked in the top 50 gastropubs. Alongside Matty White who is known for his work on Steph’s Packed Lunch on Channel 4 and Manchester’s Finest, as well as having a DJ residency every Sunday at Freight Island. Plus, British Street Food Awards founder and food journalist, Richard Johnson.

Guests also have the unique opportunity to vote for their favourite vendor in The People’s Choice award. Both The People’s Choice and Northern Champion will be announced on Sunday 18^th August.

Participating traders along with their taster dishes which are all available at £6.50, and their additional killer dishes are announced below.

1. Back-a-yard Jamaican – authentic Jamaican flavours bringing a taste of the Caribbean

• Jerk Chicken Dumpling – £6.50
• Sweet Potato and Jackfruit Curry Stew

2. Baldy’s – multi award-winning artisan pies

• Chicken Kiev Pie – £6.50
• Big Jim Pie

3. Burgerism – North West’s most ordered burger serving premium smashed burgers

• The Cheesed – £6.50
• The Veggied – £10.95

4. Colombo Street – award-winning Sri Lankan street food

• Loaded Jumbo Mutton – £6.50
• Kottu with Chili Fish

5. Fuku – a fusion of Chinese, Korean, and Japanese cuisine

• Salt & Pepper Chicken with Fries or Rice – £6.50
• Korean Fried Chicken with Fries or Rice – £12

6. Hello Oriental – a culinary journey through the diverse flavours of Asia

• Pork Soup Dumplings – £6.50
• Sichuan Chilli Fried Chicken Burger – £12

7. Mega Gyros – classic Greek gyros bringing a taste of the Mediterranean

• Chicken Gyros Wrap – £6.50
• The Goliath Wrap – £12.50

8. Mia’s Arepas – traditional Venezuelan dish bringing a taste of South America

• Pabellón Criollo Arepa – £6.50
• Cheese Pork Fiesta – £6.50

9. Pattersons – serious fried chicken brined in its signature mix of herbs and spices

• Famous Crispy Wings – £6.50
• Famous Fried Chicken Leg – £12

10. Payal – serving flavoursome Indian street food cuisine

• Aloo Vada Pav – £6.50
• Chicken Chapli Pav – £8.50

11. Rio-Mex – a vibrant fusion of Brazilian and Mexican street food

• Barbecued Picanha Taco – £6.50
• Cumbrian Pork Al Pastor and Brazilian-style Barbecued Pineapple Taco

12. Smoking Coal – BBQ dishes smoked to perfection with a unique blend of flavours

• Kimchi BBQ Glazed Smoked Brisket Burnt Ends – £6.50
• House Smoked Brisket French Dip Sandwich – £17

13. Syiok-Lah – Malaysian cuisine offering a delicious array of traditional dishes

• Beef randang – £6.50
• Nasi Lemak with Coconut Rice

14. That Ziki – Greek street food with a modern twist

• Slow Cooked Pulled Greek Lamb Pita – £6.50
• Hot Honey Halloumi Gyros

15. Zapp – traditional Polish street food showcasing authentic ingredients

• Goralska Zapiekanka – £6.50
• Placki

The winner of BSFA’s Northern championship will advance to the UK final in London on September 13^th – 15^th, competing for the prestigious British Street Food Awards Champion. The competition will then culminate at the European Street Food Awards grand final in Germany later this year.

Join British Street Food Awards’ Northern final at Freight Island on Saturday 17^th August, from 12pm until 10pm, and on Sunday 18^th August, from 12pm until 6pm. Free tickets available HERE.

Find out more about British Street Food Awards at www.britishstreetfood.co.uk.

Commenting on the Northern Championship, Richard Johnson, Founder of British Street Food Awards, said: “We have always wanted to host BSFA at Freight Island since it opened back in 2020. The venue perfectly captures the experiential nature of street food, elevating it with style and ambition. The Northern finalists are a big deal to us and we are delighted to finally host this at Freight Island.”

“We look forward to finding out who wins the Northern heat – impressing both the judges and the public – and for them to represent the North at the 2024 British Street Food Awards grand final in London next month.”

Completing the weekend line-up, Freight Island is set to continue their Spring/Summer programming – an all-free festival inspired music events celebrating some of the best names in dance music including Sunday headliner Alexis Taylor (Hot Chip) with supports from Body Heat DJs.

Find out more about Spring/Summer programming, running until September, at www.escapetofreightisland.com/springsummer.

Alongside the heats taking place, British Street Food Awards are also running awards in multiple other categories. Here’s what the British Street Food Awards are looking for in these categories, in their own words:

Sustainability:

Do you deserve our Sustainability Award? Are you doing something above and beyond, that deserves some recognition? Maybe you’re committed to minimising food waste and making it a thing of the past? Or focusing on the wider social impact of your business and how it interacts with your community? Do you prioritise provenance by cultivating a clean supply chain? If so, then apply for our Sustainability Award via the link in our bio.

We are, as always, advised in these things by the wonderful Sustainable Restaurant Association who provide foodservice businesses with a manageable means of understanding, reviewing and acting on the issues that matter. This free-to-enter award is designed to celebrate street food traders who go the extra mile to operate sustainably. Simply complete this short online questionnaire for your chance to win. It only takes ten minutes to complete, and it could change your business forever.

Best Food Hall:

Food halls are an increasingly important part of the street food revolution.

They give traders a new income stream, and they make SO much sense for the public. Why would you commit to a night out at a restaurant, with a narrow-focus menu, when you and your friends can eat your way round a host of unique and independent street food traders in the one location? Good food halls are bold, well-dressed, and indicative of the new confidence in British food. But who does it best? After calling for nominations on Facebook, instagram and Twitter, we’ll list the three most popular and put them to a public vote. Winners will be announced at the grand finals of the 2024 British Street Food Awards.

Best Looking Van, Truck or Trailer:

Who has the best looking van, truck or trailer – gazebo, caravan or tuk tuk – at work in British street food today?

There’s a saying in street food – “your flash is your cash”. A good-looking van, a caravan with one HELLUVA paint job or an interesting little trike with a gazebo tagged onto the side can really help out with sluggish sales. We want you to nominate your favourites. We will choose a long list to put to a public vote on Facebook, and (as is traditional) cut it to a short list. At the 2024 British Street Food Awards final, where the very best traders in Britain will be cooking their hearts out to win the British title AND a place in the grand finale of the 2024 European Street Food Awards in Germany – we’ll announce our winners.

Influencer / Street Food Champion:

We want to know who YOU think is having a positive impact on the British street food scene on social media and online.

“Influencer” doesn’t cover it – digital creators with a deep understanding of the street food audience and an ability to convey meaningful messages and evoke emotions about the street food traders they love. If you’re a trader, who has helped your business? If you’re a foodie, who do you follow for great food and catering inspiration? Nominate your favourite influencer/street food champion – with a few words why – and we’ll put together a shortlist for a public vote. The winners will be declared at the 2024 British Street Food Awards grand final.

Find out more about British Street Food Awards at www.britishstreetfood.co.uk.