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