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 (not part of an 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 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.
– 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.
– A chance to receive our Notable Wine certificate and qualify for other Hospitality Awards.
– Quarterly magazine featuring industry news and advice.
– A link to update your details at any time via our Member Support Hub. The Hub also features a range of partner discounts, training modules and free HR advice consultation.
– 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 confirm that your application will not be processed together with a full refund of the fee and no visit will take place.
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, insufficient opening times (must be open for a minimum of 6 services and include at least 2 midweek lunch times), excessive cost of menu and limited number of covers (minimum of 20 required).
Menus must be of an a la carte, TDH, or tasting menu format, and a consistency of cooking/approach will be expected across the lunch and dinner menus.
All establishments must be open to the general public.
Applicants must have a food hygiene rating of 4 or 5.
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.
Following your first inspection, our normal visit cycle is approximately every 12 to 18 months.
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, carte or both menus. 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.
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.
