AA Hospitality Awards 2022: First list of a AA Rosette Restaurants released for the year

AA Hospitality has released its first list of AA Rosette restaurants for 2022

In a pre-recorded virtual ceremony published on the company's website this morning, it announced that the following restaurants have been awarded AA Rosettes:

New three AA Rosettes

Prévost at The Haycock, The Horn of Plenty, The Dial House in Reepham, The Camilla Restaurant at South Lodge, The Auldgirth Inn, The Glenturret Lalique, Henrock at Linthwaite House, Gem 42 in Newport, Dean Banks at The Pompadour, The Nut Tree Inn, Tamburini and Wishart, Bohemia at The Club House Hotel and Spa, Blas Restaurant Twry Felin Hotel, The Ingham Swan, Goldsborough Hall

New four AA Rosettes

 Àclèaf at Boringdon Hall, Allium at Askham Hall

Host Simon Nuphud also announced that the AA Hospitality Awards will take place in person later this year, at Grosvenor House on Monday, 26th September 2022.

The AA Restaurant Guide

The guide was first published in 1956 and was the UK's first nationwide food guide - as it took Michelin until the seventies to expand across the channel. Its much coveted accolade scheme assesses restaurants on everything from food and service to the overall quality of the dining experiences, offering a maximum of 5 Rosettes to those restaurants considered the best in the country. 

There are currently 17 5 AA Rosette restaurants, 45 4 AA Rosette restaurants and 221 3 AA Rosette restaurants across the UK.

Restaurants are graded according to the following criteria: 

One rosette

Chefs should display a mastery of basic techniques and be able to produce dishes of sound quality and clarity of flavours, using good, fresh ingredients.

Two rosettes 

Innovation, greater technical skill and more consistency and judgement in combining and balancing ingredients are all needed at this level.

Three rosettes 

This award takes a restaurant into the big league. Expectations of the kitchen are high: exact technique, flair and imagination must come through in every dish, and balance and depth of flavour are all-important.

Four rosettes 

At this level, not only should all technical skills be exemplary, but there should also be daring ideas, and they must work. There is no room for disappointment. Flavours should be accurate and vibrant.

Five rosettes 

The supreme accolade awarded only when the cooking is at the pinnacle of achievement. Flavours, combinations and textures show a faultless sense of balance, giving each dish an extra dimension.

Controversially, since 2020, restaurants wishing to be included in the AA Restaurant Guide will now have to pay an annual fee of £180 or risk losing their Rosettes, a move which the company said this would help it continue to provide "this valuable service" to restaurants.