Paul Ainsworth wins Chefs’ Chef and Angela Hartnett gets the Outstanding Contribution Award in the AA Restaurant Guide 2023

Paul Ainsworth wins Chefs’ Chef and Angela Hartnett gets Outstanding Contribution Award in the AA Restaurant Guide 2023!

• Which restaurants won AA Awards and Rosettes last year?

Paul Ainsworth, Chef Patron of Paul Ainsworth at Number 6, takes the crown this year and joins an all-star list of chefs who have been awarded the accolade over the years including: Mark Birchall, Jason Atherton, Tom Kerridge, Nathan Outlaw and Daniel Clifford.  

On winning such huge acknowledgement from his peers, Paul commented: "Just to be in hospitality right now, in this era, it's just amazing. You're all heroes to me in this room, thank you so much, I'm absolutely blown away."

Steve Smith, Head Chef of The Latymer, who picked up of the Five AA Rosettes said: "We are absolutely delighted to have recieved five AA Rosettes, it's a testament to the whole team and all the hard work that they've put in over the last five years years."

He added: "We thought we were getting there, and we've made a lot of improvements, and we've constantly been chipping away to make things better, so we're both delighted and at the same time really happy that the hard work has paid off."

Commenting on this year's awards, Managing Director of AA Media Simon Numphud, said: “It’s a delight to be back at Grosvenor House as we mark the greatest hospitality celebration across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The last year has been tough on the hospitality industry as we’ve felt, like many others, the challenges facing businesses."

He added: "I’m so proud of the resilience, innovation and quality shown by the UK hospitality industry in response. We would like to extend a massive congratulations all the winners and shortlisted establishments for their hard work, passion, and dedication.”

See the full list of winners:  

The winners of the AA Hospitality Awards 2023 are:

Chefs’ Chef

Paul Ainsworth of Paul Ainsworth at No.6

Restaurant of the Year

• England – The Old Stamp House, Ambleside
• London – Chutney Mary, St. James's
• Wales – The Jackdaw, Conwy
• Scotland – Cail Bruich, Glasgow

Outstanding Contribution Award

•Angela Hartnett

Hotel of the Year

•England – Forest Side, Grasmere
• London – The Lanesborough, London
• Wales – Penally Abbey Hotel, Penally
• Scotland – Fingal, Leith, Edinburgh
• Northern Ireland – Killeavy Castle Estate, Killeavy

Restaurant with Rooms

• England – The New Inn, Hereford
• Wales – Ynyshir Restaurant and Rooms, Eglwys Fach
• Scotland – The Witchery, Edinburgh

Hotel Group of the Year

• The Coaching Inn Group

Spa Hotel of the Year

• South Lodge, West Sussex

Small Hotel Group of the Year

• Crerar Hotels

Accessible Award

• Pan Pacific London, London

Sustainable Award

• THE PIG Hotel Group

Food Service Award

• The Strathearn, The Gleneagles Hotel, Auchterarder

 Wine Award

• England – Allium at Askham Hall, Cumbria
• Wales – Palé Hall Hotel & Restaurant, Gwynedd
• Scotland – Little Chartroom

College Restaurant of the Year

• Thirty-Four Restaurant, Exeter College

Lifetime Achievement Award

• Jonathan Raggett, Red Carnation Hotels

Housekeeper of the Year

• Nicola Burton from Hartwell House & Spa, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire