A much-loved monthly food festival in Stockport is in the running for an international award.

Foodie Friday - which sees a plethora of food traders set up in Market Place on the last Friday of every month - has been shortlisted at the 2025 City Nation Place awards.

The awards feature entries from 28 different countries, with the aim of celebrating outstanding examples of 'placemaking' - placemaking can refer to vibrant events, art installations, restoration projects, and more.

Stockport's Foodie Friday is competing in the 'Best Placemaking Initiative' category.

This little corner of the Pennines is in the running with similar events from the likes of Stockholm, Toronto, Vilnius, and more.

Foodie Friday has been chosen for being "a community catalyst for refreshing the experience and identity of Stockport town centre".

Foodie Friday features a range of street food traders, offering cuisine from around the world (Image - Foodie Friday)

Organised by John and Rosemary Barratt, Foodie Friday is this year celebrating its 10-year anniversary.

In that time, it's become a staple of Stockport's cultural scene, with each event bringing thousands of people to the town centre to try out some of the region's best street food traders.

Indeed, the event is now one of the largest regular town centre events in the UK, with John and Rosemary describing it as "a vibrant, inclusive celebration of community, creativity and cuisine".

Nor is this the first time that Foodie Friday has been in the running for an award.

The event has picked up accolades at the Manchester Food & Drink Awards as Best Pop-Up, Club or Project in 2016 and 2022.

John and Rosemary were also presented with the Howard and Ruth Award for Outstanding Achievement in 2022, in recognition of their wider contribution to Stockport's cultural regeneration through music festivals and community arts events.

Foodie Friday draws thousands of visitors to the town centre every time it runs on the last Friday of every month (Image - Foodie Friday)

Speaking of this most recent nomination at the City Nation Place awards, organiser and curator John Barratts said: "When we started running Foodie Friday in March 2015, our aim was simple — to bring people back into the heart of Stockport and show that our town centre could once again be a place to be proud of and I believe that we've achieved that.

"Over the last ten years we've developed a really good collaborative working relationship with Stockport Council and the Stockport Market team and traders which has helped to make the event so successful.

"The fact that we're now being recognised internationally for what's been achieved through community spirit and local creativity is incredible.

"Foodie Friday has always been about people - the traders, the performers, the businesses, and the visitors — who together have helped transform the identity of Stockport."

Clare Dewhirst, Director of City Nation Place, also said: "The Stockport Foodie Friday story provides an inspiring example of how a proactive, community-focused approach to revitalising a town centre can deliver economic impact and put a neglected place back on the map.

"It stands alongside some other fantastic examples of planning and placemaking from around the world in our list of finalists and we're looking forward to some robust jury discussions to select the winner."

Cllr Mark Roberts, Leader of Stockport Council, added: "The success of Foodie Friday is testament to our way of working in Stockport, where strong partnerships and collaboration are at the heart of everything we do. It's fantastic to see the event recognised on a global stage for the contribution it makes to Stockport's community, culture and economy each month, and I wish the team all the best of luck at the awards."

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