The AA Restaurant Guide has revealed that 18 establishments are to be awarded new rosette rankings eight months before the publication of its 2006 edition.

In an announcement today (13 January), three restaurants have been promoted to four AA rosettes. London's Orrery, where André Garrett heads up the kitchen, is the first Conran restaurant to achieve four-AA-rosette status. It is joined by Restaurant Martin Wishart in Edinburgh and Ynyshir Hall in Eglwysfach, Ceredigion, where Adam Simmonds took over as head chef in February.

Garrett told Caterer: "It was a pleasant surprise, particularly given the size of the restaurant and the fact that it's so busy. But it shows the hard work the team has put into maintaining consistency. It's great news, a great way to start 2005."

Another 15 restaurants were awarded three rosettes. They include McClements in Twickenham, Middlesex (see Menuwatch, page 36); the Cross at Kingussie, in the Highlands, which is owned and run by former AA chief hotel inspector David Young; Michael Caines at the Bristol Marriott Royal hotel; and Chapter Two in Blackheath, London.

Recently opened restaurants to be awarded three rosettes include L'Ortolan in Shinfield, Berkshire, which reopened under Alan Murchison in September, and London's Greenhouse restaurant, which relaunched following a refurbishment in April.


New rosettes

Four AA rosettes

Orrery, London

Restaurant Martin Wishart, Edinburgh

Ynyshir Hall, Eglwysfach, Ceredigion


Three AA rosettes

Bodysgallen Hall, Llandudno, Conwy

Cellar Restaurant, Anstruther, Fife

Compleat Angler, Marlow, Buckinghamshire

Fawsley Hall, Daventry, Northamptonshire

McClements, Twickenham, Middlesex

Seafood restaurant, St Andrews, Fife

Swinton Park, Masham, North Yorkshire

The Cross, Kingussie, Inverness-shire

Michael Caines, Bristol

Chapter Two, London

Lords of the Manor, Upper Slaughter, Gloucestershire

L'Ortolan, Shinfield, Berkshire

Rasoi Vineet Bhatia, London

The Greenhouse, London

The New Angel, Dartmouth, Devon