AA Guest Accommodation Recognition Scheme

We aim to promote our partners – the establishments that we have recognised with our well-established ratings. To do this we use a range of printed and online marketing that allows us to reach a wide and diverse audience.

Our team also helps and advises proprietors on improvements they can make for the customer. These improvements help their businesses to be more competitive, and to increase customer satisfaction.

Common standards for accommodation

The AA assesses establishments that offer accommodation to a set of common quality standards. These standards are agreed by the AA and the UK tourist authorities: VisitBritain, VisitScotland and Visit Wales. Accommodation is assessed under three broad categories: Hotel, Guest Accommodation and Budget Hotel.

If you have been assessed and recognised by one of the tourist authorities you can join the AA as an Associate Member. This means we recognise the rating given to you by the tourist organisation that assessed you.

Guest accommodation categories

Guest Accommodation	Any establishment that meets the minimum entry requirements is eligible for this general category.
Bed & Breakfast	Accommodation provided in a private house by the owner for up to six paying guests.
Guest House	Accommodation provided for more than six paying guests, and run on a more commercial basis than a B&B. Usually more services, for example, dinner, provided by staff as well as the owner.
Farmhouse	B&B or Guest House accommodation provided on a working farm or smallholding.
Inn	Accommodation provided in a fully-licensed establishment. The bar will be open to non-residents and provide food in the evenings.
Restaurant with Rooms	Destination restaurant offering overnight accommodation with the restaurant being the main business and open to non-residents. The restaurant should offer a high standard of food and restaurant service at least five nights a week. A liquor licence and a maximum of 12 bedrooms are necessary.

AA Star ratings

From 2006, Stars replaced Diamonds as the AA's rating system for guest accommodation. Star ratings, from one to five, are used to assess guest accommodation. The following is a brief summary of standards expected from guest accommodation within their ratings.

	Minimum quality requirements for cleanliness, maintenance, hospitality, facilities and service. A cooked or substantial continental breakfast is served in a dining room or eating area, or bedroom only.
	Courteous service, well-maintained beds, and breakfast prepared with a good level of care.
	A friendly welcome and good-quality, well-presented beds and furniture. A choice of good-quality, freshly cooked food is available at breakfast.
	Attentive, more personalised service. At least half of the bedrooms are ensuite or have private bathrooms. Very good beds and high quality furniture. Breakfast offers a greater choice, and fresh ingredients are cooked and presented with a high level of care.
	Awareness of each guest's needs with nothing being too much trouble. All bedrooms are ensuite or have a private bathroom. Excellent quality beds and furnishings. Breakfast includes specials/home-made items, high quality ingredients, and fresh local produce.

For detailed information, download our Guest Accommodation Quality Standards brochure.

Highly commended guest accommodation

Yellow Stars indicate that an accommodation is in the top ten percent of its star rating. Yellow Stars only apply to three, four or five Star establishments.

Rosette awards for guest accommodation

The Rosette scheme has long been established and successfully recognises cooking at different levels nationwide. The success or failure in achieving Rosettes is based on a single (sometimes multiple) visit/s to a hotel or restaurant. Essentially it's a snapshot; whereby the entire meal including ancillary items (when served) are assessed.

Of all the restaurants across the UK, approximately 10% are of a standard which is worthy of 1 Rosette and above. This is indeed a huge achievement and something not to be underestimated.

We are often asked, "What is the difference between 1 and 5 Rosettes and how can I get to the next level?"

Our answer is, "It's how well a chef manages to apply advanced technique whilst retaining maximum flavour, assuming an appropriate quality of source ingredients"

Whilst we endeavour to work with the industry and promote great cooking across the UK, it's of paramount importance to always serve your market first. We would also recommend you don't chase awards, see them as something to celebrate when they come along. Where however, the achievement of Rosettes is an aspiration, the simple guidelines below are provided for your information. AA food tastings, enhanced food tasting or signing up to one of the AA Rosette Academies can also give further insight and guidance, but are separate from the awards process and do not influence any assessments.

AA Rosettes are awarded solely by AA Hotel and Restaurant Inspectors. External influences from hotels, restaurants or other guide are not taken into account when awarding Rosettes.

	The best restaurants serving food prepared with care, understanding and skill, using good quality ingredients. These restaurants will be achieving standards that standout in their local area. The same expectations apply to hotel and guest accommodation restaurants where guests should be able to eat in with confidence and a sense of anticipation. Around 50% of establishments within our AA Restaurant Guide will have One Rosette
	Excellent restaurants, which aim for and achieve higher standards, better consistency and where a greater precision is apparent in the cooking. There will be obvious attention to the selection of quality ingredients. Around 40% of establishments within our AA Restaurant Guide will have Two Rosettes
	Outstanding restaurants that achieve standards that demand national recognition well beyond their local area. The cooking will be underpinned by the selection and sympathetic treatment of the highest quality ingredients. Timing, seasoning and the judgment of flavour combinations will be consistently excellent. These virtues will tend to be supported by other elements such as intuitive service and a well-chosen wine list. Around 10% of establishments within the AA Restaurant Guide will have Three Rosettes and above
	Amongst the Top restaurants in the UK where the cooking demands national recognition. These restaurants will exhibit intense ambition, a passion for excellence, superb technical skills and remarkable consistency. They will combine appreciation of culinary traditions with a passionate desire for further exploration and improvement. There are very few restaurants with Four AA Rosettes
	The pinnacle! Where the cooking compares with the best in the world. These restaurants will have highly individual voices, exhibit breathtaking culinary skills and set the standards to which others aspire to, yet few achieve

Announcement of Rosette awards

1 and 2 Rosettes are awarded at the time of inspection.

3 and 4 Rosette awards are announced twice during the year, but never at the time of inspection.

5 Rosettes are awarded just the once during a year and never at the time of inspection.

Suspension of multi-Rosettes (3, 4, 5 Rosettes)

When a chef holds 3, 4 or 5 Rosettes and moves from ones establishment to another, the award is suspended at the hotel/restaurant he/she has just left. The award does not follow the chef automatically either.

We therefore recommend that when a change of chef occurs, establishments let us know as soon as possible in order for us to schedule forthcoming inspections.

AA training and consultancy - could you benefit?

The AA provides a range of training and consultancy for hoteliers. There are a wide range of options available for owners and managers who want to improve the performance of their establishments, and the efficiency of their services and staff.

Find out more about our training and consultancy options.

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