AA Hospitality Awards 2026: Winners & New Ratings

St. Ermin's Hotel is a sensible Westminster pick if location and a recognised quality baseline matter more than a flashy suite. Book a standard room for short stays or business-heavy trips; upgrade only when extra living space will change the trip. Dining should be treated as convenience, not the reason to choose it.

Tim Allen's Michelin-starred Modern British restaurant in Aughton holds its own as a destination, not just a cheaper alternative to Moor Hall next door. The converted pub setting keeps the atmosphere warm and unfussy, while the cooking operates at genuine one-star level. Note: closed for refurbishment until November 2025, with a new Chefs' Table and flexible menu format planned on reopening.

The Chancery Rosewood is a strong Mayfair pick for special occasions and senior business travel, especially if the address and luxury-hotel polish matter more than loyalty-point value. Its Grosvenor Square location is the draw; points-focused travellers should compare branded nearby alternatives before booking.

Tom Brown's 2025 return to The Capital Hotel brings his seafood-led cooking into one of Knightsbridge's most discreet dining rooms. Book for a celebratory dinner or business lunch where quality of ingredients and a quiet room both matter. Currently easy to book, which makes it an accessible entry point into Brown's cooking at its most formal.

The Cocochine is a high-commitment Modern French restaurant in a Mayfair townhouse, with tasting menus from £169 per head built around private-island seafood and a partner-owned 1,100-acre farm. It holds a Michelin Plate (2025) and a Star Wine List award (2026). Book for special occasions if provenance matters to you; expect limited availability and a small-format, intimate setting.

Lofft is worth choosing when the chef’s table format is the point of the night: 12 seats, a seasonal ten-course tasting menu, and a close-up kitchen view in Pontcanna. It is less suited to flexible group dining or anyone choosing primarily for wine-list depth rather than a food-led counter experience.

Frog by Adam Handling is a restaurant on Southampton Street in Covent Garden, London.

etch. by Steven Edwards is Brighton and Hove's most ambitious dinner booking: a Michelin Plate tasting menu (five, seven, or nine courses) in a converted bank, with a wine list strong enough to earn back-to-back Star Wine List recognition in 2024. At ££££, it is the right call for a special occasion; but book four to six weeks ahead minimum and read the booking requirements carefully.

Daise by Tony Parkin is the Oxton pick to consider when Michelin Plate recognition matters more than a fully signposted cuisine or price tier. It suits first-timers planning a special-occasion dinner who can stay flexible on seating and format; choose OXA instead if clear ££ pricing and Modern British positioning are the deciding factors.

St. Barts holds a Michelin star and an OAD Top 500 Europe ranking for good reason: Johnnie Crowe's ten-course tasting menu built entirely on British produce is among the most focused cooking currently happening in the City of London. Book lunch for value, dinner for the full experience. Hard to get; plan at least several weeks ahead.

A castle address outside Glasgow makes Crossbasket Castle a stronger pick for a quiet, contained stay than for a fast city itinerary. Recognition from Small Luxury Hotels of the World, Virtuoso, and the MICHELIN Guide hotel selection adds confidence, but dining should be treated as part of the hotel experience rather than the sole reason to book.

Knockinaam Lodge is the Portpatrick pick for a quieter, occasion-led dinner rather than a casual drop-in meal. The Good Food Guide 2025 recognition gives it more credibility than a generic country-house booking, but first-timers should choose it for the overall evening, not for a clearly documented drinks or à la carte format.

Culloden Estate and Spa is the Belfast-area choice for travellers who want a quieter, spa-led hotel rather than a city-centre base. Book it for downtime, couples' stays, or a softer luxury setting; choose The Fitzwilliam Hotel Belfast or The Merchant Hotel if walkable access to central Belfast matters more.

The Emory is worth pricing carefully: its awards place it in London's serious luxury set, but value depends on timing and how it compares with The Berkeley, The Lanesborough, and The Peninsula London for your dates. Book it for a discreet Knightsbridge-Belgravia base and a calmer atmosphere, not for a loud scene or dining-led stay.

Ashford Castle is worth booking when the hotel is meant to anchor the trip: milestone leisure, senior client hosting, or a contained retreat near Cong. It is less sensible for a quick work overnight, because the value comes from time on the estate and the property's serious luxury credentials.

Luna Omakase is a focused City pick for diners who want a guided, Japanese-leaning dinner near Liverpool Street rather than a broad group restaurant. Choose it for a compact meal for one or two; look to Yauatcha City, Shiro Sushi, or Jose Pizarro Broadgate if variety, sharing, or a bigger-room atmosphere matters more.

AngloThai earned a Michelin star within three months of its November 2025 opening, making it one of London's most compelling new tasting-menu rooms. The nine-course dinner runs £110 per head; the six-course lunch is £55. Sourcing is entirely British; including produce from the founders' own farm; but the cooking is rooted firmly in Thai technique and flavour.

The Jackdaw is the best reason to plan a meal in north Wales. Chef Nick Rudge (formerly of The Fat Duck) serves a nine-course tasting menu built around hyper-local heritage produce; including near-extinct apple varieties from Anglesey; in an intimate first-floor room in Conwy's walled town centre. It holds a Michelin Plate and books out fast; plan ahead.