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Join the AA Rosette Scheme

Find out how you could achieve Rosettes for culinary excellence

About AA Rosettes

The AA Rosette award, first awarded in 1956, was the first nationwide scheme for assessing the quality of food served by restaurants and hotels. The AA's team of inspectors have an unrivalled wealth of experience in assessing quality throughout the UK so receiving the award is a huge achievement not to be underestimated. The Rosette is an award, not a classification: Rosettes are awarded on a rising scale based on a meal visit by one or more of our inspectors.

 

Restaurants in an accommodation setting

– Restaurants in a hotel, B&B, inn or any establishment with rooms require membership to the appropriate accommodation scheme.

– Standalone restaurants, that are not in an accommodation scheme, can apply to join the AA Restaurant Scheme (terms and conditions apply, see below).

– Our normal visit cycle is approximately 12 to 18 months. This can depend on a number of factors including location, opening times, lead times to book, and availability of the inspection team.

– If an inspector visits and an award of 1 or 2 Rosettes is made, the restaurant will be notified in writing.

 

Multiple restaurants within one accommodation establishment

In the case of an AA-rated hotel or guest accommodation with a Rosette award having more than one restaurant and wishing to have the food at the second restaurant tested for a Rosette award, this restaurant must have:

– A different head chef to the other restaurant.

– A separate kitchen.

– A different food style. 

– All other Rosette criteria apply.

Being assessed for an AA Rosette award as a standalone restaurant

Standalone restaurants (those not part of a rated accommodation) can apply to be assessed for Rosettes. There is an initial fee of £375.00 (plus VAT) for the first inspection visit and, if successful in achieving Rosettes, an annual fee (see below) will then be applicable, which covers the following:

– The Rosette inspection and feedback (we pay our own bills)

– A website entry, with up to 20 images, on the RatedTrips.com site, including a link to your own site and access to our members' portal where you can updates your data and discover partner discounts and training modules.

– An entry and free image in the AA Restaurant Guide to accompany your inspector description. The next AA Restaurant Guide will publish on 24 September 2024.

– A new Rosette plate each year.

– Use of AA Rosette award images and branding.

– A chance to receive our Notable Wine certificate and qualify for other Hospitality Awards.

– Quarterly magazine featuring industry news and advice.

– Regular newsletters and industry updates.

Once part of the scheme, standalone restaurants (those who are not part of an AA-inspected accommodation scheme) will be subject to an annual admin fee of £185 (excluding VAT).

Terms and conditions for standalone restaurants

– In the event we review your application and determine the menu is unlikely to achieve a Rosette standard, we will write to you advising the application process has been unsuccessful. We reserve the right to restrict the number of applications at any time and this will be reviewed on a regular basis.

– We reserve the right to turn down applications on the basis of isolated locations and insufficient opening times (all restaurants must open for a minimum of 6 services and include at least 2 midweek lunch times (Monday to Friday). 

– We will book or on occasions walk-in for lunch (we may take dinner if appropriate) therefore, we would expect a consistent approach to the style of menu and standard of cooking (lunch should be the same standard as dinner).

– We reserve the right to refuse the application if the menu costs are excessive or the number of covers is below 20.

– All establishments must be open to the general public.

– Where there is a change of chef, establishments awarded 3 or more Rosettes will be reviewed and, pending a further visit, the Rosette level may be impacted.

– Payment to be made in one instalment and the inspection will be scheduled once payment is received.

– The AA Restaurant scheme is applicable to standalone restaurants only (where accommodation is provided, an application to our hotel scheme or Bed & Breakfast scheme (this includes Inn and Restaurant with Rooms) will be necessary and a meal will be taken as part of the inspection.

– All qualifying restaurants must have a food hygiene rating of 4 or above.

– Once payment of the invoice has been made we aim to complete the inspection within 12-14 weeks.

– The annual fee is for membership, not annual visits.

– If any of the conditions contained in this document change, we reserve the right to cancel membership, if this happens annual membership fees will not be refunded.

– The establishment will display an accurate reproduction of the AA logo on the establishment’s letterheads, brochures and appropriate promotional material in a manner which correctly indicates the establishment’s AA recognition from time to time.

– The AA name and trademarks are the property of the AA and other than as expressly granted by the AA, the Applicant shall not obtain any right or title in or to the same. The benefit of all use of the AA name and trademarks and any goodwill accrued shall inure to the AA.

How the inspection works

We will book or on occasions walk-in for lunch (on rare occasion we will do dinner, but its key you are open for lunch).

We will then take a series of dishes; starter, main and dessert from either the table d'hôte, a la carte or both menus. Where the starter and main course have not met a ‘Rosette’ level, dessert will not be taken.

Where the starter and main course have not met a ‘Rosette’ level, dessert will not be taken.

Where there is only a tasting menu available, we will eat from this.

At the end of the meal, we will pay, ask who the manager or head chef is and leave a business card. Feedback can be given on request or after the visit.

 

How to apply

To apply for a Rosette assessment as part of the standalone restaurant scheme, download the form below.

Download an application form

Once completed, send the form plus other documents, to the email address on the form.

To apply for a Rosette assessment as part of an accommodation, find out more about our accommodation schemes.

 

More scheme and awards news