British Street Food Awards at Stockport Foodie Friday

Stockport Market has spent the best part of a decade becoming a very good reason to visit this fast-growing town, and Foodie Friday is the crux of it all. Last Friday of every month, several thousand people turn up with hungry bellies and cash to splash.

Naturally, higher-ups have taken note, and now we have the biggest event yet: a Northern heat of the British Street Food Awards, held this Sunday, 23 August, from noon to six.

It’s what we like to call something of a big deal: twenty traders whittled out of 3,000 applicants – roughly the same odds as getting into Oxbridge, all competing for a lot in the national final. You can (and should) spend your Sunday sampling their wares. Wear those pants with the stretchy waist because this is all about the very best street food in the North.

We’re not sure about other heats – Northern pride tells us they’re all suckers – but they’d have to go some way to top this judging panel line-up: Sam Buckley of Where the Light Gets In; Holly Temple of Filler zine; and Joe McGrath, podcast host and the voice of BBC Radio Manchester.

There’s also a People’s Champion vote too, so the masses can come together as one and deem their own pop-up food championé.

Music, street performance and children’s activities are all present and correct, working round the food to deliver a lazy Sunday day out with a bit of tasting menu-style fun and frolics. What are your alternatives? Songs Of Praise and vacuuming the car? Come off it.

Robinsons Brewery and Totally Stockport are backing it, and local rail partnerships are doing a damn fine job of encouraging locals to head in by train.