American Express® presents Food Fest 2026

American Express® presents Food Fest 2026 takes over Freight Island on Thursday 22 October, from 4pm to 11pm. It's a one-night-only thing that brings London and Manchester's food scenes together, pairing eight London chefs with Manchester food vendors to create exclusive collaboration dishes. The whole night is built around those pairings, so everything you'll eat is a one-off for the evening.

The line-up runs across a good range of styles. Ixta Belfrage works with Mia's Arepas, Helen Graham with Burgerism, and Kebab Queen with Brasa. Khao Bird pairs up with Brewski Big Tray BBQ, OshPaz with Fuku, and The Barbary with Nell's Pizza. Each pairing results in a collaboration dish you won't find on their usual menus, so it's a decent excuse to try a few different things in one go. There's live music running throughout the night too, so it's as much about hanging out as it is about eating.

If you're an American Express® Cardmember, there are a couple of extras: a complimentary drink and access to a VIP bar. Otherwise, the entry is free with advance registration, though the collaboration dishes themselves are available to purchase on the night. It's a single-evening takeover, so if you want to get through a few of the pairings, arriving closer to the 4pm start is your best bet. Freight Island is at 11 Baring Street, Manchester M1 2PY.