Everything you need to know about the AA Rosette Awards

AA’s rosette award scheme was the first national scheme for assessing the quality of food and service. Inspectors will visit a hotel or restaurant on one or more visits to decide whether the establishment is worthy of the accolade.

 

The rosettes celebrate successful cooking, so while they may be awarded to a restaurant or a hotel, the focus is on the feasts available.

 

About 10% of restaurants nationwide are of a standard that is worthy of one or more rosettes, according to AA, so to achieve any is a great honour.

 

What do AA Rosette awards mean?

 

The awards range from one to five Rosettes, with each level meaning increasing levels of quality and skill.

 

One Rosette: The chef should display a mastery of basic techniques and produce dishes of quality and clarity of flavours, using good, fresh ingredients.

 

Two Rosettes: The chef must show greater technical skill, more consistency and judgement in combining and balancing ingredients, and have a clear ambition to achieve high standards.

 

Three Rosettes: Expectations are high and inspectors find little room for inconsistencies. Exact technique, flair and imagination will come through in every dish, and balance and depth of flavour are all-important.

 

Four Rosettes: All technical skills should be exemplary. There should be daring ideas and they must work. Flavours should be accurate and vibrant.

 

Five Rosettes: Technique should be of such perfection that flavours, combinations and textures show a faultless sense of balance, giving each dish an extra dimension - the sort of cooking that never falters and always strives to give diners a truly memorable taste experience.

 

How do you achieve AA Rosettes?

 

AA suggest that establishments shouldn’t try to chase awards, but rather see them as an achievement after they have been awarded. It’s important to focus on the customer, which AA inspectors appreciate.

 

The criteria

• Restaurants which are within a hotel, B&B, inn or any establishment with rooms will require membership to the appropriate accommodation scheme.
• Standalone restaurants, that are not in an accommodation scheme, can apply to join the AA Restaurant Scheme.
• It is entirely at the discretion of the AA whether a visit will take place and in what time frame.
• If an inspector visits and an award of 1 or 2 Rosettes is made, you will be notified in writing.

 

The cost to win AA Rosette awards

 

Restaurants can apply to be assessed for Rosettes, which currently costs a fee of £350 plus VAT, and upon winning an award, an annual fee of £185 will apply. The costs include perks such as a new Rosette plate every year, a quarterly magazine and the chance to qualify for other hospitality awards – and covers the cost of the inspectors’ visit, as they pay their bills.

 

Clark’s in Scarborough decided to pull out of the guide and stop paying the fees, claiming inspectors had not visited the restaurant for five years.

 

The annual cost must be taken into consideration when deciding to enter the awards – though if the guide reviews your application and decides the restaurant is unlikely to win an AA Rosette, a refund of the initial fee will be given, according to AA’s website.

 

Who won an AA Rosette in 2024?

 

In a ceremony, held at JW Marriott Grosvenor House on 23 September 2024, the awards were announced for the 2025 guide.

 

Adrian Ellis was presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award, while Tom Aikens was named Chefs’ Chef of the Year. Three new restaurants were awarded the maximum five-AA-rosette rating: Woven by Adam Smith at Coworth Park in Berkshire, the Glenturret Lalique restaurant in Perth and Kinross, and the Angel at Hetton in North Yorkshire.

 

Find out the full list of restaurants which won AA Rosettes in the 2024 ceremony