The winners of the prestigious AA Hospitality Awards 2022 have been unveiled and we're delighted that a number of Wales' most loved restaurants and hotels were among the mix. Restaurant of the Year in Wales was won by Newport's Gem 42, while Hotel of the Year for Wales is Llanerch Vineyard in the Vale of Glamorgan.
Crug Glas in Pembrokeshire scooped the title of Wales' Best Restaurants with Rooms award and The Grove in Narberth, on top of receiving five AA Red Stars, was given the Wales Wine Award.
The awards too place on Monday, September 26 at Grosvenor House in London and honour the "best of the best" in the hospitality industry across the UK in twenty-six categories, including AA Restaurant of the Year, AA Hotel of the Year and AA Wine Award.
Read more: The husband and wife team behind three of Cardiff's most successful indie restaurants
To earn a rosette, the establishment will be reviewed over a number of short visits by an AA inspector to a hotel or restaurant. The site also notes that only about 10% of restaurants, nationwide, "are of a standard that is worthy of one Rosette and above".
The Red Star Award: AA Inspectors' Choice in Britain & Ireland is the AA's "supreme" award for hotels and highlights the outstanding level of service being offered.
Read on to discover more about the Welsh winners of the AA Hospitality Awards 2022:
Wales' Restaurant of the Year: Gem 42, Newport
This Italian restaurant in Newport is family business run by twin brothers, chef Sergio and pastry chef Pasquale Cinotti. The restaurant was recognised by the awards has serving up "cuisine of a truly excellent standard, as well as demonstrating innovation and ambience and providing a high standard of hospitality."
Serving up "simple and honest" food, they offer seasonal dishes influenced by homegrown ingredients that fuel the chef duo's passion for healthy eating and zero waste.
An AA Inspector said of the newport establishment: “The unassuming building is easy to miss, but once inside you’re hardly likely to forget the exuberant Mediterranean feel, with Botticelli-style ceilings and crisply dressed tables with Murano glass ornaments. The emphasis is on Italian style and ingredients, combined with top quality Welsh seasonal produce.”
Of this award, the twin brothers said: “Winning this award recognizes hard work and a job well done. It is a celebration of the long hours the team put into their culinary project. Winning this award is a huge honour and will act as a great motivator for the whole team. Furthermore, it is an indication that the team is working and moving together in the right direction. This for us is not a point of arrival but a new starting point, from where we intend to live up to the level of success that this award demands.”
Wales' Hotel of the Year: Llanerch Vineyard, Hensol, South Wales
Llanerch Vineyard Hotel is host to Wales' oldest - and the UK's most beautiful - vineyard. It is also the first hotel in the UK to be found on a vineyard and has been awarded 2 AA Rosettes for Culinary Excellence in 2021 and 2022.
The gorgeous setting not only boasts a stunning view of the rolling Welsh hills and vines that grow the grapes used to make the establishment's award-winning wine, Cariad, but a rooftop terrace, stunning wine tasting lodge (read more on that here ), an award-winning restaurant, wedding venue - and, of course, an enchanting hotel that makes use of the original farm house and new hotel building.
And with its location being nestled so deep in the Welsh countryside, it's hard to believe the 37-bed hotel is only a 20-minute drive from the city centre of Cardiff.
“Llanerch is the first UK hotel to be located on a vineyard, a wonderful setting with views over the vines and the quiet Welsh countryside beyond," an AA inspector said of the hotel. "High-quality accommodation is spread across the original farmhouse and a modern, purpose-built hotel which include a range of impressive suites.”
Llanerch's managing director, Ryan Davies, said of achieving this accolade: "We are extremely proud to hold the title of Hotel of the Year, especially as a small, family-run business. It is a testament to the incredible hard work and dedication of our fantastic team, who go above and beyond to ensure our guests have the best possible experience every time they visit.
"I took over the vineyard 11 years ago with no experience in hospitality, but I was determined to create something really special. With an amazing and very talented team at my side, we created a B&B, an award-winning restaurant and bar, two wedding venues and popular wine tasting and vineyard tours.
"The hotel then opened in 2019 offering 37 luxury rooms and became the first vineyard hotel in the UK. To be named Hotel of the Year just three years later is incredible. I’d like to thank everyone that has supported us from the start, throughout the challenging times of the pandemic and now as we continue to grow and look forward to an exciting future.”
Wales' Restaurant with Rooms of the Year: Crug Glâs, Solva, Pembrokeshire
This award was only introduced in 2017 and recognises AA-rated guest accommodation that is also a dining destination. This Pembrokeshire country house, which dates back to the 12th century, is set within 600 acres of gorgeous green Welsh countryside near the glorious seaside city of St Davids. Run by husband and wife team Janet and Perkin Evan, this five-star boutique country house hotel and restaurant offers breathtaking views from its five bedrooms, coach house and cottage suites and a vaste seasonal menu. You can also have afternoon tea and your Sunday roast there.
The AA Inspector described Crug Glâs as: “A delightful, luxurious country house restaurant with rooms, set in 600 acres of rolling farmland in North Pembrokeshire, just a mile from the coast on the St David’s Peninsula. Deeply comfortable rooms are individual in style with contemporary bathrooms and signature baths.”
Co-owner Janet Evans said of this recognition: “Winning this award means everything to all of us at Crug Glas. We are a team with a goal in mind - to make sure that all our guests have the experience they came for and more.
"Our aim is to surpass their expectation within all aspects of The Country House and for our guests to leave but wanting to return in the future. Our fantastic staff work tirelessly to make sure that everyone that walks in through our front door has an experience that they want to share and recommend, our staff are an extension of our family, and we could not be prouder that they have helped to achieve this incredible accolade. This award symbolises everything that we work hard for, and it is an honour to receive it.”
Wales' Wine Award: The Grove, Narberth, Pembrokeshire
This award recognises "an outstanding contribution to promoting, understanding and appreciating wine". Those in the running for the award are judged on the quality of their wine list as well as their ability to inspire customers to discover new and adventurous flavours. This hotel not only offers an impressive wine list but alongside having four rosettes - which, too, were unveiled last night - earlier this year, it also won the top award at the Catey Awards for Independent Hotel of the Year.
Just a 15-minute drive from the golden Pembrokeshire coast, The Grove is nestled within 26 acres of grounds made up of woodland and, set on a beautiful country house estate, the hotel is steeped in history with parts of it dating back as early as the 15th century. The earliest records of the premises show it was once owned by the bailiff of Tenby who would have lived in the 'longhouse' with his family.
This much-loved and established hotel has had an incredible year after bagging the top gong at a variety of awards, including last night. Alongside the rosettes and wine award, it was also given the impressive accolade of five red stars.
Speaking of earning the Wine Award, The Grove's Head Sommelier, Alexios Stasinopoulos, said: “It’s such an honour for The Grove to be recognised for our wine offering. There’s no greater joy for me and the team than helping our guests discover new flavours and contexts, and I’m delighted that we have had the opportunity to build and maintain a continually evolving wine list that allows our guests to do so. Wine is a wonderful thing, and wine knowledge is one of the most powerful means of getting people together – I love it!”
Adding to this, the AA Inspector said of the extensive wine list: “ The Grove’s commitment and investment in wine is significant. An impressive list with great presentation that is easy to read and navigate. A great selection by the glass, and the judges loved the flexibility that any bottle can be opened with a minimum of two glasses served.”
While these incredilble Welsh establishment received the top gong in their category, The Classroom, Cardiff & Vale College came close as a finalist in the category of College Restaurant of the Year.
New AA Rosettes in Wales
Being awarded an AA Rosette is a huge achievement for establishments new and old. And this year's AA awards has seen some brilliant restaurants and hotels be recognised for this great accolade.
The Fernery restaurant at The Grove was awarded an impressive four AA Rosettes , while Coast Restaurant in Saundersfoot, Pembrokeshire and The Jackdaw , Conwy, were both honoured with three AA Rosettes .
The Grove 's reputation was recognised once again, when the hotel received five Red Stars for its outstanding level of service.
The full list of this year’s AA Hospitality Awards winners can be found here. For more information, see here.
READ NEXT:
- Marco Pierre White enjoys 'best meal' at Welsh village restaurant
- The new 'sustainable' steak restaurant coming to Cardiff
- The Ivy Asia review: Pricey dishes at Cardiff's controversial new restaurant left us holding our breath for the bill
- The Cardiff chip shop frozen in time for 20 years
- The businessman building a Cardiff empire after deportation nightmare
