Discover all the winners of the AA Hospitality Awards 2025
Recognising excellence
Each year, we recognise the best hotels and restaurants in the UK. Hosted by TV presenter Vernon Kay, the 2025 event was held at Grosvenor House in London on 22 September 2025.
Congratulations to all this year's winners on their amazing achievements, and to all of the latest 3, 4 and 5 AA Rosetted restaurants.
Now, here are the UK's top chefs, restaurants and hotels.
AA Chefs' Chef
Gareth Ward
Chef patron at Ynyshir, Machynlleth, Ceredigion
From his formative cooking years in local pubs, Gareth rose through the ranks under Aaron Patterson at Hambleton Hall. On to Seaham Hall, a first head chef’s job at Hart’s, then sous chef at Restaurant Sat Bains.
In 2013, Gareth moved to the then Ynyshir Hall in Wales. Here, along with partner, Amelia Eriksson, his constant innovation, creativity and drive enabled them to transform this former country house into a unique, international restaurant destination, gaining 5 AA Rosettes in 2017. Since then, Gareth has done things entirely on his own terms, creating a highly interactive, fast-paced experience for intrepid diners. Gareth is a real force of nature and it is little wonder that the AA Rosette-winning chefs have voted him as the AA Chefs' Chef for 2025–2026.
AA Restaurants of the Year
England
Skof, Manchester
London
Joséphine, Chelsea, London
Wales
Gorse, Cardiff
Scotland
The Little Chartroom, Edinburgh
AA Hotels of the Year
England
The Cavendish Hotel, Baslow, Derbyshire
London
1 Hotel Mayfair, Mayfair, London
Wales
St Brides Spa Hotel, Saundersfoot, Pembrokeshire
Scotland
100 Princes Street, Edinburgh
Northern Ireland
The Old Inn, Crawfordsburn, Co Down
AA Restaurant with Rooms of the Year
Restaurant Interlude, Lower Beeding, West Sussex
Finalists
The Dipping Lugger, Ullapool, Highland
Plas Dinas County House, Caernarfon, Powys
AA Inn of the Year
The George Inn, Norton St Philip, Somerset
Finalists
The Colintraive, Colintraive, Argylle & Bute
The Nags Head Inn, Montgomery, Powys
AA B&B of the Year
The 25 Boutique B&B, Torquay, Devon
Finalists
Ramsey House, St Davids, Pembrokeshire
The Townhouse, Perth, Perth & Kinross
AA Spa Hotel of the Year
Hoar Cross Hall, Hoar Cross, Staffordshire
Finalists
Fairmont Windsor Park, Egham, Surrey
Crow Wood Hotel & Spa Resort, Burnley, Lancashire
AA Wine Award
England and Overall Winner
Sketch Lecture Room & Library, London
Scotland
Timberyard, Edinburgh
Wales
Ynyshir Restaurant and Rooms, Eglwys Fach, Ceredigion
Small Hotel Group of the Year
The Brend Collection
Brend is a stylish collection of hotels located in dramatic coastal settings across south-west England. Founded by Mr and Mrs Percy Brend in 1955, the Brend Collection has been creating wonderful experiences for guests for over 6 decades and the portfolio now encompasses 9 high quality AA 3- and 4-Star hotels in Devon and Cornwall, 18 quality restaurants, 5 spas and a championship golf course.
The Brend family are passionate about managing their hotels to the highest possible standard and the third generation of the family are now part of the team that makes that happen, paving the way for the fourth generation. They remain incredibly customer focused and work hard to meet and exceed their customers' expectations on every visit.
Group of the Year
Daniel Thwaites
Daniel Thwaites is an independently owned group of 10 hotels and 10 accredited inns based around the UK but mainly in the north of England. The hotel estate has grown over the past 10 years from six core hotels which offer extensive spa and conference facilities with a strong food and beverage ethos.
The jewel in the crown is the newly refurbished Langdale Chase on the shores of Windermere. An AA 5-star luxury hotel with a laid-back approach, 30 luxury bedrooms and suites, a 2 AA Rosette restaurant and big plans for the coming years.
Sustainable Award
The Gleneagles Hotel, Auchterarder, Perth & Kinross
Finalists
Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park, London
Galgorm, Ballymena, Co Antrim
College Restaurant of the Year
@thirty-four restaurant – Exeter College, Exeter, Devon
Finalists
The Brasserie – Milton Keynes College, Milton Keynes
The Classroom – Cardiff & Vale College
Lifetime Achievement Award
James Thomson OBE DL MI
James is one of Scotland’s best-known independent restaurateurs and hoteliers. In 1979, at the age of 20, he launched his first restaurant at The Witchery. This original restaurant remains an integral part of the Edinburgh scene. In 1999, James opened Edinburgh’s first rooftop restaurant, the Tower Restaurant, which successfully operated until 2020. In 2003, James became the owner of Prestonfield House, one of Scotland’s finest hotels.
For over 40 years he has supported students at Edinburgh College, and is a founding patron of Springboard UK. He also founded the annual fundraising ‘Lunch with an Old Bag’, and the ’One pound on a bill’ donation initiative. James does all this quietly, in the background with no fanfare or great attention. There are few others in our industry that can match his contribution.
Outstanding Contribution Award
Michel Roux Jnr and Alain Roux
The Roux cousins, respective sons of the late great Michel and Albert Roux were honoured with our Lifetime Achievement award back in 2008. Together they have ensured the Roux family legacy has not only continued but flourished. Alain and Michel's passion and dedication to mentoring and developing young chefs is strong. 2024 saw the Roux scholarship celebrate an incredible 40 years.
At the Waterside Inn, Alain has created an incredible private library designed for study and reflection, showcasing the Roux’s amazing catalogue of cookery books. A perfect neighbour to the stunning Roux Cookery school next door which not only continues the teaching ethos but also hosts chef tables from former Roux Scholars.
Rising Star
Nataliia Maiseionok, Sommelier, Fischer's Baslow Hall
Joining the team at Fischer’s Baslow Hall in November 2022, shortly after arriving from Ukraine, Nataliia had very little English and no expectations, yet has rebuilt her life with focus and integrity. She began as a food runner and, in just over two and a half years, has progressed to the role of Sommelier, a position she has embraced with skill, passion, and professionalism.
Nataliia has developed and refined the restaurant's wine offering, re-introducing detailed tasting notes and wine pairings for each new menu. She takes the time to educate the front-of-house team, allowing every team member to speak knowledgeably and confidently about the wine list. Nataliia’s story is one of quiet dedication, professional excellence, and a deep love for hospitality.
Housekeeper of the Year
Amit Pal, Prestonfield, Edinburgh
Amit came to Prestonfield in 2010, rising to Head Housekeeper by 2013, at one of the country’s top AA 5 Red Star Hotels. His dedication to excellence is immediately apparent and over a number of years AA inspectors have been consistently full of superlatives on the quality of cleanliness, housekeeping services and presentation in a detailed property which offers many challenges.
Going above and beyond is part of Amit’s daily routine, whether it’s beeswaxing antique floors, pressing guest’s ballgowns, carefully dusting historic cabinets and paintings, or sewing a button on at a moment’s notice. Amit’s close mentoring of his team reflects the hotel's service culture, and exceeding expectations is second nature to him. A worthy winner of this year's AA Housekeeper of the Year.
New 5 Red Star hotels
The Beaumont Mayfair, London
100 Princes Street, Edinburgh
Raffles London at the OWO, London
New 4 Red Star hotels
Down Hall Hotel & Spa, Bishops Stortford, Hertfordshire
The Elms, Abberley, Worcestershire
Foxhills Club & Resort, Ottershaw, Surrey
The Swan at Lavenham Hotel and Spa, Lavenham, Suffolk
New 3 Red Star hotels
THE PIG in the Cotswolds, Barnsley, Gloucestershire
New AA Rosette awards
Congratulations to all the new 3, 4 and 5 AA Rosette restaurants.
New 5 AA Rosettes
Forest Side, Grasmere, Cumbria
Row on 5, London
View all 5 AA Rosette restaurants, here >>
New 4 AA Rosettes
Cedar Tree Restaurant by Hrishikesh Desai, Brampton, Cumbria
HAAR, St Andrews, Fife
Restaurant Interlude, Lower Beeding, West Sussex
Forge at Middleton Estate, Richmond, North Yorkshire
Solstice by Kenny Atkinson, Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne & Wear
SOURCE at Gilpin Hotel, Windermere, Cumbria
New 3 AA Rosettes
Avenue Restaurant at Lainston House Hotel, Sparsholt, Hampshire
The Braywood, Maidenhead, Berkshire
Fawsley Hall Hotel & Spa, Daventry, Northamptonshire
Gorse, Cardiff
Gravetye Manor Hotel, West Hoathly, West Sussex
The Greyhound, Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire
The Homestead Kitchen, Goathland, North Yorkshire
The Horn of Plenty, Tavistock, Devon
The Kirkstyle Inn and Sportsman's Rest, Brampton, Northumberland
Melton's Restaurant, York, North Yorkshire
Skof, Manchester
Sushi Kanesaka at 45 Park Lane, Mayfair, London
The Three Chimneys & The House Over-By, Colbost, Highland
