{"id":180294,"date":"2023-09-26T14:04:04","date_gmt":"2023-09-26T14:04:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hotworldreport.com\/?p=180294"},"modified":"2023-09-26T14:04:04","modified_gmt":"2023-09-26T14:04:04","slug":"the-uks-best-hotels-and-restaurants-for-2023-revealed","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hotworldreport.com\/travel\/the-uks-best-hotels-and-restaurants-for-2023-revealed\/","title":{"rendered":"The UK's best hotels and restaurants for 2023 revealed"},"content":{"rendered":"
Raise a glass to the winners of the ‘Oscars’ of the UK hospitality industry.<\/p>\n
At a prestigious awards ceremony hosted by the AA at Grosvenor House in London\u00a0on Monday night, awards were presented in categories including ‘Hotel of the Year’, ‘Restaurant of the Year’ and ‘Chefs’ Chef of the Year’.<\/p>\n
The 2023 AA Hospitality Awards winners were picked by the AA’s inspectors, who spent the past year feasting their way through the UK’s restaurants and laying their heads in the nation’s hotel rooms in a bid to crown the cream of the crop. Here are their verdicts\u2026<\/p>\n
HOTELS<\/span><\/p>\n The top hotel in England is Forest Side, a former mansion house that\u2019s been transformed into a hotel \u2013 complete with a Michelin-starred restaurant \u2013 on the edge of the pretty Lake District village of Grasmere.\u00a0<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The 2023 AA Hospitality Awards winners have been revealed. Taking the prize for England’s hotel of the year is Forest Side (above), a former mansion house in the Lake District that\u2019s been transformed into a hotel<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Penally Abbey Hotel is the top-ranking hotel in Wales. The AA Inspector was impressed by its friendly staff\u00a0<\/p>\n \u2018The bedrooms have stunning views of the hills and countryside beyond,\u2019 reveals the AA\u2019s inspector.\u00a0<\/p>\n The number one hotel in London is The Lanesborough<\/span>, an \u2018elegant and luxurious\u2019 hotel that \u2018offers nearly 100 rooms, of which almost 50 are suites, with a personal butler service for all guests 24 hours a day\u2019.<\/p>\n Reigning supreme as the best hotel in Wales, meanwhile, is Penally Abbey Hotel<\/span> in Pembrokeshire. The AA Inspector was impressed by its \u2018friendly team’ who show a ‘genuine concern for guest comfort and enjoyment\u2019.<\/p>\n CHEFS\u2019 CHEF<\/span><\/p>\n Paul Ainsworth of Paul Ainsworth at No.6<\/p>\n ACCESSIBLE AWARD<\/span><\/p>\n Pan Pacific London, London<\/p>\n SUSTAINABLE AWARD<\/span><\/p>\n The Pig Hotel Group<\/p>\n LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD<\/span><\/p>\n Jonathan Raggett, Red Carnation Hotels<\/p>\n OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION AWARD<\/span><\/p>\n Angela Hartnett<\/p>\n HOUSEKEEPER OF THE YEAR<\/span><\/p>\n Nicola Burton from Hartwell House & Spa, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire<\/p>\n RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR<\/span><\/p>\n England \u2013 The Old Stamp House Restaurant, Ambleside<\/p>\n London \u2013 Chutney Mary, London<\/p>\n Wales \u2013 The Jackdaw, Conwy<\/p>\n Scotland \u2013 Cail Bruich, Glasgow<\/p>\n HOTEL OF THE YEAR<\/span><\/p>\n England \u2013 Forest Side, Grasmere<\/p>\n London \u2013 The Lanesborough, London<\/p>\n Wales \u2013 Penally Abbey Hotel, Penally<\/p>\n Scotland \u2013 Fingal, Leith, Edinburgh<\/p>\n Northern Ireland \u2013 Killeavy Castle Estate, Killeavy<\/p>\n RESTAURANT WITH ROOMS<\/span><\/p>\n England \u2013 The New Inn, Hereford<\/p>\n Wales \u2013 Ynyshir Restaurant and Rooms, Eglwys Fach<\/p>\n Scotland \u2013 The Witchery, Edinburgh<\/p>\n SPA HOTEL OF THE YEAR<\/span><\/p>\n South Lodge, West Sussex<\/p>\n GROUP OF THE YEAR<\/span><\/p>\n The Coaching Inn Group<\/p>\n SMALL HOTEL GROUP OF THE YEAR<\/span><\/p>\n Crerar Hotels<\/p>\n FOOD SERVICE AWARD<\/span><\/p>\n The Strathearn, The Gleneagles Hotel, Auchterarder<\/p>\n Finalists:<\/p>\n Arkle, The Chester Grosvenor<\/p>\n Woven by Adam Smith, Coworth Park<\/p>\n WINE AWARD<\/span><\/p>\n England \u2013 Allium at Askham Hall, Cumbria<\/p>\n Wales \u2013 Pal\u00e9 Hall Hotel & Restaurant, Gwynedd<\/p>\n Scotland \u2013 The Little Chartroom, Edinburgh<\/p>\n COLLEGE RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR<\/span><\/p>\n @thirty-four Restaurant, Exeter College<\/p>\n Finalists:<\/p>\n Senara Restaurant, Truro & Penwith<\/p>\n The Classroom, Cardiff and Vale College<\/p>\n Source: The AA\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Scotland’s top hotel is Fingal, a former support vessel for the Northern Lighthouse Board that’s been converted into a luxury hotel<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The number one hotel in London is The Lanesborough, an \u2018elegant and luxurious\u2019 hotel that \u2018offers nearly 100 rooms, of which almost 50 are suites, with a personal butler service for all guests 24 hours a day\u2019<\/p>\n It looks like the Cluedo murder mystery mansion.<\/p>\n Forest Side hotel, a striking Gothic building dating back to the 1850s, is surrounded by dark and moody fells on a wooded hillside at the edge of the Lake District village of Grasmere…<\/p>\n Moving up the map, Scotland’s hotel of the year is Fingal<\/span>, a former support vessel for the Northern Lighthouse Board that\u2019s been converted into a luxury hotel that’s moored permanently in Edinburgh.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u2018This is a hotel experience unlike any other that\u00a0Edinburgh can offer,\u2019 says the AA\u2019s Inspector.<\/p>\n And\u00a0Northern Ireland’s hotel of the year is\u00a0Killeavy Castle Estate<\/span> in County Armagh, a \u2018fairy-tale castle\u2019 set in \u2018a 350-acre estate made up of woods and farmlands\u2019.<\/p>\n The prize for ‘spa hotel of the year’ goes to South Lodge<\/span> in West Sussex. Its spa, complete with a spin studio and an outdoor hydrotherapy pool, is \u2018set into the natural contours of the land and designed with sustainability in mind\u2019, the AA’s inspector reveals.<\/p>\n For travellers with an affinity for foodie experiences, the awards also breaks down the nation’s top restaurants with rooms, with\u00a0The New Inn<\/span> in Hereford taking the top spot in England.\u00a0<\/p>\n Originally a 16th-century coaching lodge, the inn has been \u2018delightfully refurbished\u2019 and boasts \u2018plenty of character\u2019, the AA’s inspector notes.<\/p>\n In Wales, the number one restaurant with rooms is Ynyshir Restaurant and Rooms<\/span>, an inn surrounded by mountains to the west of the country.\u00a0<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Northern Ireland ‘s hotel of the year is Killeavy Castle Estate in County Armagh, a \u2018fairy-tale castle\u2019 set in \u2018a 350-acre estate made up of woods and farm lands\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The prize for ‘spa hotel of the year’ goes to South Lodge, West Sussex. Its spa has been ‘designed with sustainability in mind\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Witchery, a ‘romantic’ inn housed within a 16th-century building in Edinburgh is Scotland’s top restaurant with rooms<\/p>\n As the taxi approaches the Old Stamp House restaurant in Ambleside, I wonder how much of it would be ‘the world’s best’. Would it have the world’s best restaurant entrance? The world’s best restaurant tables and chairs? The world’s best bathroom taps?<\/p>\n This lauded Lake District eatery has been named the overall global winner of Tripadvisor’s Travellers’ Choice ‘Best of the Best’ Restaurants Awards for the past two years, garnering gushing tributes from almost every customer (1,334 ‘excellent’ reviews out of 1,477 at the time of writing)…<\/p>\n Ynyshir\u2019s restaurant serves \u2018exceptional\u2019 food that takes diners on a \u2018relentless tasting journey that offers hit after hit\u2019, says the AA\u2019s inspector.\u00a0<\/p>\n And the gong for Scotland’s best restaurant with rooms goes to The Witchery<\/span>, an inn housed in a 16th-century property beside Edinburgh Castle.<\/p>\n The AA\u2019s inspector notes that it\u2019s a \u2018romantic\u2019 destination, with suites \u2018filled with antiques, opulently draped beds, large roll-top baths and a plethora of memorabilia\u2019.<\/p>\n RESTAURANTS<\/span><\/p>\n Looking to the top restaurants of the year, in England, it’s the Old Stamp House Restaurant\u00a0in the Lake District town of Ambleside that takes the crown.\u00a0<\/p>\n The AA\u2019s inspector praises the \u2018charming little basement\u2019 restaurant for its \u2018creatively presented\u2019 tasting menus with \u2018plenty of focus on the best of Cumbrian produce\u2019.<\/p>\n London\u2019s restaurant of the year is Chutney Mary<\/span>, a \u2018long-established and super stylish\u2019 Indian restaurant in the St James district.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u2018Expect luxurious ingredients, careful presentation and well-judged spicing in a fabulously glossy dining room,\u2019 says the AA\u2019s Inspector.<\/p>\n The Jackdaw <\/span>in Conwy is Wales’s top restaurant. This eatery, housed in a former cinema, offers \u2018clever modern dishes and a cool Scandi vibe\u2019.\u00a0<\/p>\n <\/p>\n England’s restaurant of the year is The Old Stamp House Restaurant (above) in Ambleside. The AA\u2019s inspector praises the \u2018charming little basement\u2019 restaurant for its \u2018creatively presented\u2019 tasting menus\u00a0<\/p>\n <\/p>\n One of the dishes served at the Old Stamp House Restaurant, where diners tuck into ‘the best of Cumbrian produce’<\/p>\n Scotland\u2019s restaurant of the year, meanwhile, is Cail Bruich<\/span>, a Glasgow\u00a0eatery that \u2018champions the finest British produce\u2019.\u00a0<\/p>\n Here you can expect \u2018a unique and relaxed dining experience\u2019 and \u2018modern Scottish cooking with lots of luxury ingredients\u2019.<\/p>\n The AA Food Service Award goes to The Strathearn<\/span> restaurant at Gleneagles in Scotland, where diners enjoy \u2018slick\u2019 service and Franco-Scottish cooking with \u2018plenty of modern twists\u2019.\u00a0<\/p>\n NEW 5 ROSETTES<\/span><\/p>\n Muse, London<\/p>\n Steve Smith at Latymer, Surrey<\/p>\n NEW FOUR ROSETTES\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The Cellar, Fife<\/p>\n Where The Light Gets In, Manchester<\/p>\n Shaun Rankin at Grantley Hall, North Yorkshire<\/p>\n MO, Dormy House, Worcestershire<\/p>\n The Samling, Cumbria<\/p>\n Ben Wilkinson at The Pass, West Sussex<\/p>\n NEW 3 ROSETTES<\/span><\/p>\n Next Door, Cheshire<\/p>\n 1863 Restaurant with Rooms, Cumbria<\/p>\n The Wildebeest, Norfolk<\/p>\n The George at Alstonefield, Staffordshire.<\/p>\n Forge, North Yorkshire<\/p>\n The Lantern Room, West Yorkshire<\/p>\n 1921 Angel Hill, Suffolk<\/p>\n Restaurant Roots, Dorset<\/p>\n The Cottage in the Wood, Worcestershire<\/p>\n The Idle Rocks Restaurant, Cornwall<\/p>\n The New Inn, Herefordshire<\/p>\n The Lanesborough Grill, London<\/p>\n Crockers Tring, Hertfordshire<\/p>\n The Cygnet at The Swan Inn, Oxfordshire\u00a0<\/p>\n 8 By Andrew Sheridan, Liverpool<\/p>\n The Newport Restaurant, Fife<\/p>\n Legacy, North Yorkshire<\/p>\n London Stock Restaurant, London<\/p>\n The Clock House, Surrey<\/p>\n The Bulls Head Inn, Derbyshire<\/p>\n Behind, London<\/p>\n The Star Inn at Harome, North Yorkshire<\/p>\n Cedar Tree Restaurant by Hrishikesh Desai, Cumbria<\/p>\n The Terrace Restaurant at The Montagu Arms Hotel, Hampshire<\/p>\n Culture Restaurant, Cornwall<\/p>\n The Killingworth Castle, Wootton, Oxfordshire<\/p>\n The Wild Rabbit, Kingham, Oxfordshire<\/p>\n The Ethicurean, Bristol<\/p>\n NEW 5 RED STARS<\/span><\/p>\n Crossbasket Castle, South Lanarkshire<\/p>\n NEW 4 RED STARS<\/span><\/p>\n The Fish Hotel, Worcestershire<\/p>\n Thornbury Castle Hotel, Gloucestershire<\/p>\n Source: <\/span>The AA\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n <\/p>\n London\u2019s restaurant of the year is Chutney Mary, a \u2018long-established and super stylish\u2019 Indian restaurant in the St James district<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Scotland\u2019s restaurant of the year is Cail Bruich, a Glasgow restaurant that \u2018champions the finest British produce\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The AA Wine Award goes to Askham Hall in Cumbria, where guests are treated to a \u2018notable wine list’ that includes a number of ‘vintage French stunners\u2019\u00a0<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The AA Food Service Award goes to The Strathearn (above) restaurant at Gleneagles in Scotland, where diners enjoy \u2018slick\u2019 service and Franco-Scottish cooking with \u2018plenty of modern twists\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The \u2018Chef\u2019s Chef of the Year\u2019 goes to Paul Ainsworth, who \u2013 as the name suggests – is Chef Patron of Paul Ainsworth at No. 6 in Padstow\u00a0<\/p>\n The AA Wine Award goes to Askham Hall<\/span> in Cumbria, where guests are treated to a \u2018notable wine list’ that includes a number of ‘vintage French stunners\u2019.<\/p>\n CHEF’S CHEF OF THE YEAR<\/span><\/p>\n The \u2018Chef\u2019s Chef of the Year\u2019 goes to Paul Ainsworth<\/span>, who \u2013 as the name suggests – is Chef Patron of Paul Ainsworth at No. 6 in Padstow, Cornwall.<\/p>\n The Southampton-born chef studied catering and hospitality at his local college and went on to work with celebrated chefs that include Gary Rhodes,\u00a0Gordon Ramsay and Marcus Wareing.\u00a0<\/p>\n The AA says: \u2018After eight years in London, Paul moved to Padstow to work at No 6, and fell in love with Cornwall. Together with his wife Emma, they took over the business, relaunching it as Paul Ainsworth at No 6.\u2019 The AA\u2019s Inspector praises the restaurant as a \u2018truly delightful place to eat\u2019, adding that every dish on the menu is ‘underpinned by quality produce and assured technique’.\u00a0<\/p>\n Commenting on the awards, Simon Numphud, Managing Director at AA Media, said: \u2018It\u2019s 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\u2019ve felt, like many others, the challenges facing businesses. Yet I\u2019m so proud of the resilience, innovation and quality shown by the UK hospitality industry in response. We would like to extend a massive congratulations [to] all the winners and shortlisted establishments for their hard work, passion, and dedication.\u2019<\/p>\n For more information on the winners, visit <\/span>ratedtrips.com<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Shangri-La The Shard – London<\/p>\n Freemasons At Wiswell – Lancashire<\/p>\n Garvault House – Scotland\u00a0<\/p>\n Mandarin Oriental Bosphorus – Istanbul\u00a0<\/p>\n Les Airelles – Courchevel 1850\u00a0<\/p>\n Bear Lodge hotel in Les Arcs\u00a0<\/p>\n Cheval Blanc Courchevel\u00a0<\/p>\n Fonab Castle Hotel – Scotland<\/p>\n The Old Stamp House – Cumbria\u00a0<\/p>\n The One Palacio da Anunciada – Lisbon<\/p>\n Le Grand Controle – Versailles\u00a0<\/p>\n Kilmartin Castle – Scotland\u00a0<\/p>\n Hoshinoya Kyoto\u00a0<\/p>\n Cotton House Hotel – Barcelona\u00a0<\/p>\n Cheval Blanc Paris\u00a0<\/p>\n Storrs Hall hotel – Lake District<\/p>\n Forest Side – Cumbria\u00a0<\/p>\n Mama Shelter Lisbon – Portugal\u00a0<\/p>\n Ocean Drive Madrid – Spain\u00a0<\/p>\n South Place Hotel – London\u00a0<\/p>\n Mandarin Oriental in Tokyo<\/p>\n Baccarat Hotel New York<\/p>\nTHE AA’S 2023 HOSPITALITY AWARD WINNERS<\/h3>\n
READ MORE: Inside Forest Side, England’s Hotel of the Year…\u00a0<\/h3>\n
READ MORE: Inside The Old Stamp House Restaurant, England’s Restaurant of the Year<\/h3>\n
THE AA\u2019S NEW ROSETTE AND RED STAR WINNERS<\/h3>\n
MORE MAILONLINE TRAVEL PROPERTY REVIEWS… FROM PARIS TO NEW YORK AND TOKYO<\/h3>\n