The Northern Soul Awards 2018 were a proper brilliant celebration of all things Northern.

Hundreds of people from across the North of England gathered at Manchester Cathedral on November 15 to celebrate the best and the brightest, including our Top 50 Great Northerners. The lovely Lucy McNamara hosted the awards and we were blown away by award-winning poet Wendy Pratt’s premiere of What I Mean When I Say I’m a Northerner, specially commissioned for the night. Meanwhile, The Animato Trio treated guests to classical renditions of Northern tunes and our resident DJs entertained with a Northern playlist. The menu was all-Northern and included Boddingtons Syrup, Cheshire Ham, Bury Black Pudding, and Chorlton Carrots. Oh, and Manchester Tart, of course. 

Among the winners (a full list of the 14 accolades can be seen here) were 53two who scooped Small Theatre of the Year, Waterside in Sale which won Venue of the Year, Sheffield’s And Other Stories who took home Small Business of the Year, Dead Ink in Liverpool who celebrated Northern Publisher of the Year, and the team at Great Exhibition of the North who walked away with Northern Soul of the Year.

Our lovely sponsors and supporters were out in force including The Co-operative Bank, Manchester Salon, Place Experts, Alston Bar & Beef, XS Manchester and, of course, our fantastic headline sponsor, AKA North.

Photographer Rob Martin was there to snap the event – check out the photo gallery below to see the event in its full glory. 

Thanks to everyone who came and many congratulations to all those shortlisted and to the winners.

Helen Nugent, Editor of Northern Soul

Emma Yates-Badley, Deputy Editor of Northern Soul