TWO Ramsbottom restaurants have scooped prestigious awards at this year’s Manchester Food and Drink Festival.

Eagle and Child was named the Food Pub of the Year and Levanter won Neighbourhood Restaurant of the Year.

Levanter in Square Street, was handed the new award which recognises establishments that are based in the suburbs of Greater Manchester.

And the Eagle and Child in Whalley Road beat five other pubs, including Hearth of the Ram on Peel Brow.

Bury was a borough that triumphed with winners, including the highest profile prize of the night – The Outstanding Achievement Award, which was awarded to chocolatier John Slattery from Slattery, in Whitefield.

Staff from the winning eateries picked up the awards at the Gala Dinner and Awards, which brought the 19th Manchester Food and Drink Festival to an end on Monday.

The region’s leading food and drink critics and experts made up the festival’s judging panel, who selected the shortlists. The judges then “mystery shopped” the nominated venues and the scores were then combined with votes from the public cast via the festival website.

The awards dinner was held at the recently refurbished Palace Hotel in front of 360 representatives from Greater Manchester’s food and drink scene.

It was the culmination of the most successful festival yet, attracting more than 100,000 people to Albert Square, Manchester, over 11 days.