Claude Bosi and John Stauss big winners at this year's AA Hospitality Awards
John Stauss, former general manager of the Four Seasons Hotel London Park Lane, and Claude Bosi, chef-patron of Claude Bosi at Bibendum, led the winners at last night's AA Hospitality Awards.
The 2018 awards were presented by BBC's Strictly Come Dancing co-host Claudia Winkleman, at Grosvenor House, a JW Marriott hotel in London.
The awards' 21st anniversary saw accolades handed out to winners in 12 categories, as well as the recipients of newly bestowed four and five rosettes and five red stars.
The former Hotelier of the Year, who retired earlier this year, told The Caterer: "I couldn't believe it, it never occurred to me… So many people in the hospitality sector start back of house, as I did. How do you go from where you started to standing in front of the industry receiving an award like this? It speaks volumes about the hospitality industry. You can go from anything to anywhere because of the scope and variety of jobs and employers."
Read the full interview with Stauss here.
Commenting on Bosi's award Simon Numphud, managing director of AA Hotel and Hospitality Services, said: "20 years on from arriving in the UK, Claude's passion for his craft remains undiminished as does his commitment to the stove. His achievements speak for themselves and it comes as no surprise that his peers have chosen him for this ultimate industry award."
The awards ceremony, which marked the release of the 2019 editions of the AA Hotel Guide and AA Best Restaurants Guide, also saw three businesses - Claude Bosi at Bibendum, London; Core by Clare Smyth, London; and Moor Hall Restaurant with Rooms, Ormskirk - receive five AA rosettes.
Seven restaurants collected four rosettes and 28 received three rosettes - see a full list below.
The full list of AA award winners for 2018 were:
AA Hotel of the Year
AA Hotel of the Year for England - Great Fosters hotel, Egham, Surrey
AA Hotel of the Year for London - Four Seasons Hotel London at Ten Trinity Square
AA Hotel of the Year for Scotland - Old Course Hotel, Golf Resort and Spa, St Andrews
AA Hotel of the Year for Wales - Trefeddian hotel, Aberdovey, Gwynedd
AA Hotel of the Year for Northern Ireland - Bishop's Gate hotel, Derry-Londonderry
AA Restaurant of the Year
AA Restaurant of the Year for England - Sorrel, Dorking, Surrey
AA Restaurant of the Year for London - Sabor
AA Restaurant of the Year for Scotland - The Newport restaurant, Newport-on-Tay, Fife
AA Restaurant of the Year for Wales - Machine House restaurant, Wrexham
AA Pub of the Year
AA Pub of the Year for England - The Crafty Baa, Windermere, Cumbria
AA Pub of the Year for Scotland - The Pot Still, Glasgow
AA Pub of the Year for Wales - The Nags Head Inn, Garthmyl, Montgomery
AA Chef of the Year
Claude Bosi, chef-patron, Claude Bosi at Bibendum, London
AA Lifetime Achievement Award
John Stauss, former general manager, Four Seasons Hotel London Park Lane
AA Hotel Group of the Year
Harbour Hotels Group
AA Housekeeper of the Year Award
Ewa Bialonas, head housekeeper, Hambleton Hall, Oakham
AA Eco Hotel of the Year
Oakley Court, Windsor, Berkshire
AA Wine Award
AA Wine Award for England - The Harrow at Little Bedwyn, Wiltshire
AA Wine Award for Scotland - Timberyard, Edinburgh
AA Wine Award for Wales - Park House restaurant, Cardiff
AA College Restaurant of the Year
The Brasserie, Milton Keynes College
AA Foodservice Award
Margot, London
AA Customer Choice
Sofitel London St James
Rosette awards
Five rosettes
Claude Bosi at Bibendum, London
Core by Clare Smyth, London
Moor Hall Restaurant with Rooms, Aughton, Lancashire
Four rosettes
Adam Reid at the French, Manchester
Burlington Restaurant at the Devonshire Arms, Bolton Abbey, Skipton
Dinner by Heston, London
Driftwood, Portscatho
The Man Behind the Curtain, Leeds
Tassili, St Helier, Jersey
The Tudor Room at Great Fosters, Egham, Surrey
Three rosettes
ABode Canterbury
Amberley Castle, West Sussex
Benedicts, Norwich
Carters of Moseley, Birmingham
Castle Bow restaurant, Taunton, Somerset
ChÁ¢teau Le Chaire, Jersey
The Crown, Burchetts Green, Maidenhead
Dormy House Hotel, Broadway, Worcestershire
The Frog by Adam Handling, London
The Greenway Hotel & Spa, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire
Jackrabbit restaurant, Chipping Campden, Gloucestershire
JÁ¶ro Restaurant, Sheffield
Kilcamb Lodge Hotel, Fort William
Kota Restaurant with Rooms, Porthleven
La Dame de Pic, London
Merchants Manor, Falmouth, Cornwall
Mere, London
Ocean Restaurant at the Atlantic hotel, Jersey
The Oxford Kitchen, Oxford
Peckforton Castle, Tarporley, Cheshire
Roganic, London
Salt, Stratford-upon-Avon
Sorrel, Dorking, Surrey
The Square, London
The Torridon, by Achnasheen, Wester Ross
The Wild Rabbit, Kingham, Chipping Norton
The Woodspeen, Newbury, Berkshire
Whatley Manor Hotel and Spa, Malmesbury, Wiltshire
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