Two restaurants awarded four AA Rosettes in first 2020 guide

Nottingham's newest Michelin-starred restaurant, Alchemilla, is one of two restaurants to have been awarded four Rosettes in the AA's bi-annual guide. 

Alchemilla is joined by one Michelin-starred The Lady Helen Restaurant, the main restaurant at the Mount Juliet Golf & Spa Hotel in County Kilkenny, Ireland.

It's been a fortuitous few months for Alex Bond and team, who, thanks to a surprise visit from Michelin, received a star days before the awards ceremony. 

Meanwhile, Jason Atherton's award-winning Social Company restaurant, No. 5, was among the eleven new three AA-Rosette recipients, along with Nathan Outlaw's restaurant at The Goring, Siren, Tony Parkin at The Tudor Room and Tom Kemble at The Pass.

How are AA Rosettes awarded?

AA Rosettes are one of a handful of coveted accolades within the hospitality industry. Despite some criticism - namely for introducing a policy whereby restaurants will have to pay for the chance to be featured in the AA Restaurant Guide - the group's accreditation system is a reference in and outside of the industry.  

According to information on the AA's website, restaurants awarded three Rosettes "are all outstanding restaurants achieving standards that demand national recognition well beyond their local area," and  "those achieving four AA Rosettes are among the top restaurants in the country."

To achieve five AA Rosettes, it reads, "the restaurants have to reach the pinnacle of the nation’s restaurants, where the cooking compares with the best in the world.

"These restaurants exhibit breathtaking culinary skills, and set the standards to which others aspire, yet few achieve."

Throughout the UK and Ireland, only 18 restaurants have 5-AA Rosettes - and, with the addition of Alchemilla and The Lady Helen, 47 have four. 

Unlike Michelin, whose review system is based solely on the quality of the food served at a restaurant, the AA reviews all aspects of the dining experience, including service.