Nathan Outlaw is the new Chefs' Chef and The French by Simon Rogan joins six others with four rosettes in the AA Restaurant Guide 2015.
The announcement of the new ratings was made at the AA Restaurant Guide Hospitality Awards on September 22 2015, held at Grovesnor House on Park Lane; alongside 24 other awards which recognised those in the industry. This year no hotels and restaurants were awarded the prestigious five-AA-rosettes but the ever popular Chefs' Chef of the Year Award was gratefully received by Nathan Outlaw.
Nathan said: "I didn't expect it at all. There were bigger chefs on the list who, in my opinion would have taken the award. It's fantastic - a little restaurant in Cornwall, it's not bad is it? I saw my name come up there and the thing I'm worried about now is they will ask me to feed 1200 people at the awards next year!"
The AA Restaurant of the Year in England was received by The Sticky Walnut in Chester; the London winner was Berners Tavern. Bully's in Cardiff took the title for Wales, and Timberyard in Edinburgh for Scotland. Other awards included Hotel of the Year in England, won by Dormy House, Broadway and the winning hotel in London was The Rosewood; they were joined by Scotland's winner, Mendrum House Country Hotel and the winner for Wales, Ynyshir Hall in Powys.
Adam Reid, head chef at The French, said: "I'm overjoyed! It's the result of a lot of hard work by the team. I feel like it's the recognition of the amount of effort that we put in."
He added: "When we started four rosettes wasn't even in the equation. We wanted to do our best and anything else was a bonus. Our main aim was to have a product that was sellable and an experience which was enjoyable."
Winner of this year's AA Lifetime Achievement Award was Ruth Rogers MBE. She launched River Cafe in London 25 years ago with the late Rose Gray and has sold over a million cookery books.
She said: "I would not be anything without the team. I accept this not for myself but for Rose and every single person who has worked to make the River Cafe a success."
The AA's recently appointed executive chairman, Bob Mackenzie, said: "You can see the strength of the relationship of the AA brand and the significant impact it has to businesses."
He added: "We want to bring our 13 million members closer to our hotels and restaurants."
THE RESULTS
AA Hotel of the Year
Winner, England – Dormy House, Broadway
Winner, Wales – Ynyshir Hall, Powys
Winner, Scotland – Meldrum House Country Hotel, Aberdeen
Winner, London – Rosewood London, London
Winner, Northern Ireland – The Bushmills Inn Hotel, Bushmills
AA Restaurant of the Year
Winner, England – Sticky Walnut, Chester
Winner, Wales – Bully’s, Cardiff
Winner, Scotland – Timberyard, Edinburgh
Winner, London – Berners Tavern, London
AA Wine Award
Winner, England and Overall – The Queensberry Hotel, Bath
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who, in my opinion would have taken the award. It's fantastic - a little restaurant in Cornwall, it's not bad is it? I saw my name come up there and the thing I'm worried about now is they will ask me to feed 1200 people at the awards next year!"
