Tags: Awards , Guidebooks

Fairlie to be top chef in 2006 AA awards

by News , Thursday 21st September 2006 18:25

Gleneagles's two-Michelin-starred chef, Andrew Fairlie, will be named Chef's Chef of the Year in this year's AA Hospitality Awards, Caterer can reveal.

The award, which is judged by other AA-recognised chefs, will be presented to Fairlie by Raymond Blanc at a ceremony recognising the top UK hotels, restaurants, chefs and pubs at London's Dorchester hotel on Monday 25 September.

Nottingham's Sat Bains will receive the Best English Restaurant Award for his eponymous eaterie.

Bains said: "It's scary and quite shocking, as we've only been open 18 months as our own business. It's a great achievement for the staff, head chef John Freeman, and my wife Amanda, whose attention to detail is phenomenal."

Malmaison will be singled out as Hotel Group of the Year, while the Baglioni hotel is set to scoop Best Hotel in England, despite opening only two years ago.

In the capital, the Galvin brothers' Bistrot de Luxe in Marylebone will be named London Restaurant of the Year. Martin Skan, who recently retired from Chewton Glen in New Milton, Hampshire, will be given the first AA Lifetime Hospitality Award for his services at the forefront of the industry for more than 40 years.

Honours north of the border will go to Sangsters restaurant in Fife and the Marcliffe at Pitfodels hotel near Aberdeen. Welsh Hotel of the Year will be the Park Plaza in Cardiff, with the Drawing Room in Builth Wells scooping the restaurant prize.

Peter Birnie, AA chief hotel and restaurant inspector, said: "There's been a lot of investment and commitment at a lot of different levels this year. Our winners exemplify the commitment to balancing commitment to service and high quality with a touch of well-thought-out innovation."

The awards will be presented by Birnie with Ruth Watson of Channel 5's Hotel Inspector TV programme.

AA Hospitality Award winners 2006-07

English Hotel of the Year Baglioni hotel, London
English Restaurant of the Year Sat Bains, Nottingham
London Restaurant of the Year Galvin's Bistrot de Luxe
National Hotel Group of the Year Malmaison
English Guest Accommodation of the Year Fulready Manor, Stratford-upon-Avon
Pub of the Year Gin Trap, Ringstead, Norfolk
Wine Award Jeremy Rata, Devonshire Arms, Skipton
Chef's Chef Award Andrew Fairlie, Gleneagles hotel
Lifetime Achievement Award (sponsored by AXA/AA Business Insurance) Martin Skan