John Williams is the new AA Chef of the Year and three 5 Rosettes are awarded in the AA Restaurant Guide 2018

John Williams, Executive Chef of The Ritz London is announced as the new Chef of the Year at the AA Hospitality Awards 2018.

He joins an all-star list of chefs who have been awarded the accolade over the years including Tom Kerridge, Nathan Outlaw and Daniel Clifford.

On winning the award he said: "It's absolutely amazing, I'm thoroughly shocked! 

"It's wonderful to join some fantastic chefs as Chef of the year and it's been great to be here and be a part of it. We are where we should be at The Ritz and we haven't finished yet."

As Chef of the Year he will now have to cook at next year's Hospitality Awards, and said: "It will be fine, cooking the dinner next year.....that's cool!"

There were three five rosette winners at the ceremony at the Grosvenor House Hotel - Ynyshir, Bohemia and Gidleigh Park which received its rosettes in January.

On Gidleigh's rosettes, Michael Wignall said: "We were the first restaurant to get five rosettes in January and it's going great at Gidleigh. It was difficult for the first six months but we are moving with the times and it's still a journey.

"Accolades are an added bonus but you can't but you can't put your heart and soul into just getting accolades."

15 restaurants in the UK hold five AA rosettes and Bohemia is the only restaurant in the Channel Islands to have achieved this award. 

There were nine restaurants who achieved 4 rosettes, including The Latymer, Restaurant James Sommerin, The Orangery at Rockliffe Hall, House of Tides, Morston Hall, Martin Wishart at Loch Lomond, Typing Room, Forest Side and Sosban and the Old Butchers Restaurant.

Richard Allen from The Orangery said: "It's absolutely amazing, rosettes are something for people to strive for and it puts a spotlight on the industry. it's a pat on the back and it makes everything you've done all worthwhile." 

Full list of winners at the AA Restaurant Guide 2018 Hospitality Awards:

Lifetime Achievement Award: Philippe Rossiter, former chief executive, Institute of Hospitality

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

Restaurant of the Year England: The Freemasons at Wiswell, Clitheroe
Restaurant of the Year London: Elystan Street, London
Restaurant of the Year Scotland: The Dining Room, Edinburgh
Restaurant of the Year Wales: Beach House Restaurant at Oxwich Beach, Swansea

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

Chef of the Year: John Williams, MBE

Housekeeper of the Year: Tzveta Ivanova, The Milestone Hotel, Kensington

Eco Hotel of the Year: Oakley Court, Windsor

Wine Award: Ynyshir, Powys

Customer Choice: The Savoy, London