Steven Smith’s high profile establishment was named AA Restaurant of the Year for England, which probably came as something as a surprise as the Lancashire venue is generally considered a pub.
Elystan Street won AA Restaurant of the Year for London and the awards for Scottish and Welsh Restaurant of the Year went to The Dining Room in Edinburgh and Swansea’s Beach House Restaurant at Oxwich Beach respectively.
John Williams MBE was named Chef of the Year at the awards. The executive chef of the Ritz London won the restaurants its first ever Michelin star last year. The Chef of the Year award is voted on by all AA Rosette-awarded chefs.
“John’s remarkable career is an example to anyone who wants to become the very best in the culinary world,” says AA head of hotel and hospitality services Andrew Oxley.
Ynyshir, in Powys, Wales was honoured for its wine list, as was England’s The Five Fields and Restaurant Andrew Fairlie in Scotland.
London’s The Savoy took home the AA Customers’ Choice award.
The AA also revealed the establishments awarded four or five AA Rosette ratings. New four star winners include The Typing Room; Forest Side; The Orangery and Restaurant Gordon Ramsay while the three restaurants to achieve the AA's maximum five Rosette rating were Gidleigh Park, Bohemia Restaurant and Ynyshir.
The full list of AA winners for hotels and pubs are as follows:
Hotel of the Year England – The Gainsborough Bath Spa, Bath
Hotel of the Year London – The Goring, London
Hotel of the Year N. Ireland – The Old Inn, Bangor
Hotel of the Year Scotland – Douneside House, Aboyne
Hotel of the Year Wales – Twr Y Felin Hotel, St Davids
Pub of the Year England – The Bell at Ramsbury, Wiltshire
Pub of the Year Scotland – The Bow Bar, Edinburgh
Pub of the Year Wales – Bryn Tyrch, Conwy
Wine Award England – The Five Fields, Chelsea
Wine Award Scotland – Restaurant Andrew Fairlie, Auchterarder
Wine Award Wales – Ynyshir, Eglwysfach
Wine Award England – The Five Fields, Chelsea
Wine Award Scotland – Restaurant Andrew Fairlie, Auchterarder
Wine Award Wales – Ynyshir, Eglwysfach