Cotswold House pulls out of AA hotel guide

The four-red-star Cotswold House Hotel & Spa in Chipping Campden, Gloucestershire, has decided to pull out of the AA guide because it does not promote the individuality of the property.

Sales and marketing director of the 28-bedroom hotel, Liz Norton, said the decision to leave the AA was a difficult one. "We have the utmost respect for the AA and how it represents our industry," she said. "But we feel that for very quirky and unusual properties like Cotswold House Hotel & Spa, it can be slightly confusing for guests.

"They tell us that when searching for a hotel that doesn't fit a particular mould, such as ours, they find that resources such as TripAdvisor, Great Hotels of the World and Small Luxury Hotels of the World give a clearer understanding of the individual style and quality of the property."

The Cotswold House Hotel's sister property, the three-star, 26-bedroom Noel Arms, also in Chipping Campden, will continue to appear in the AA guide. Norton said that the AA model works well with this kind of hotel.

However, she said she is saddened that Cotswold House, which is a member of Small Luxury Hotels of the World, leaving the AA means that the hotel will have to relinquish the rosettes awarded to its two restaurants, Hicks Brasserie and Juliana's.

"Unfortunately, we aren't allowed to retain the restaurant ratings independently of the hotel. However, the restaurants are so popular with local people as well as in-house guests that revenues should not be adversely affected, especially since Damian Clisby has joined us as executive head chef."

Clisby was previously executive chef at FJB Haven Hotel in Sandbanks, near Poole, Dorset, and in the past has worked with Anthony Demetre and Mark Hix.

Cotswold House unveils new management team >>

Damian Clisby becomes executive chef for Cotswold House Hotel and Noel Arms >>

AA guide announces latest additions to restaurant awards >>

By Janet Harmer

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