September 2023…// Announced in a prestigious ceremony on 25 September, UK hotel group Exclusive Collection is pleased to share Latymer has been awarded AA's top hospitality award of five AA Rosettes while The Pass has received four AA Rosettes. South Lodge in West Sussex was also honoured during the ceremony, commended as Spa Hotel of the Year for 2023.

The AA has been awarding Rosettes since 1956; an accolade awarded to the most outstanding restaurants that achieve standards that demand recognition well beyond their local area. The AA remains one of the most respected and comprehensive guides in the UK. TV presenter and broadcaster Claudia Winkelman hosted the awards in a glittering ceremony on Monday 25 September.

Located at Surrey's Pennyhill Park, Latymer is a fine dining restaurant serving a choice of inventive menus designed by Head Chef Steve Smith. Awarded its first Michelin star in 2021, Latymer has now been recognised with the supreme accolade of five AA Rosettes – just one of two new restaurants to be awarded with this prestigious recognition in 2023.  Renowned for his modern British cooking, founded on using the finest seasonal ingredients available to drive flavour and texture, Smith is widely regarded as one of the most inventive and talented chefs of his generation.

Steve Smith, Head Chef at The Latymer, said “We are absolutely delighted to receive this amazing recognition. It's always fabulous for the team to be rewarded for their hard work and dedication. As always, we will continue to improve and develop what we do to improve our product.”

Reopened in 2022, The Pass is an intimate 28-cover restaurant at South Lodge in Sussex, led by Head Chef Ben Wilkinson. The Pass received its first Michelin-star this year and is just one of six to have been awarded four AA Rosettes for its selection and treatment of the highest quality ingredients and excellent flavour combinations. Overlooking the kitchen, guests have the opportunity to truly experience the craft, with thoughtfully curated tasting menus coming to life before their eyes, featuring seasonal, British produce as the highlight of the plate.

Ben Wilkinson, Head Chef at The Pass, said of the award: “We are very grateful to the AA for recognising The Pass as a 4-Rosette restaurant. The whole team has been working hard to raise the standard since we opened last year, and this is exactly the sort of recognition they deserve for their efforts. I am very grateful for their commitment and want them to know that the hard work is really appreciated by me, Monika and the Exclusive team, and more importantly, by our guests.”

Exclusive Collection is also pleased to announce South Lodge received further recognition on the night, after being named Spa Hotel of the Year 2023. The 44,000 sq. ft spa offers guests a state-of-the-art gym and spin studio, indoor pool, outdoor hydrotherapy and wild swimming pool alongside an extensive menu of rejuvenating treatments.

Exclusive Collection boasts an array of award-winning dining experiences across the portfolio, with three Michelin stars adding to numerous AA Rosettes and a top 50 gastropub. From fine dining tasting menus, to woodfired cooking, dairy-free and hyper-local, each property's talented team shares a passion for quality food, sustainability and provenance, showcased by ever-evolving seasonal menus and dining concepts.

-ENDS- 

Notes to Editor:

About Exclusive Collection  

Eat well, sleep well, do you well and take a breath from the everyday in beautiful surroundings. Exclusive Collection are proudly leading the way as the first B Corp accredited, family-owned collection of country house hotels, spas, golf, cookery school, and a pub thrown in for good measure.  

Exclusive Collection was founded in 1981. The group includes: Fanhams Hall, Lainston House with Season Cookery School, The Manor House with golf club and The Castle Inn, Pennyhill Park with spa, Royal Berkshire, South Lodge with spa.      

The group recently brought Ansty Hall into the fold and are working hard to deliver an Exclusive Collection experience in the Midlands for guests from mid 2024.  

More at www.exclusive.co.uk  

About South Lodge  

Switch off from the everyday and switch on your senses at South Lodge hotel and spa in West Sussex. With endless views of the South Downs, South Lodge offers luxurious overnight breaks, exceptional dining, and a state-of-the-art sustainable spa. 

South Lodge offers 88 stunning bedrooms and suites, and presents three dining options for guests: you can choose to experience the craft at the Michelin-starred The Pass, enjoy the epitome of elegance at 3 AA Rosette Camellia or feed your senses at the Mediterranean-inspired, dairy-free Botanica. 

Let nature help you be naturally you at South Lodge Spa with bespoke treatments, state-of-the art spa experiences, and beautiful facilities all nestled in the tranquil environment of the South Downs. South Lodge's commitment to sustainability and dedication to guest satisfaction have made it a sought-after haven for wellbeing, relaxation and rejuvenation.  

More at www.exclusive.co.uk/south-lodge/   

 About Pennyhill Park  

Indulge in the best, be at your best, release your potential at Surrey's Pennyhill Park hotel and spa. Offering overnight breaks with 124 luxurious rooms and suites, and an outstanding array of award-winning restaurant options; experience the flavour of refinement in the Michelin-starred Latymer, or enjoy inspiring provenance at Hillfield.   

Relax and feel at your best with over 45,000 sq.ft of exceptional wellness and fitness facilities to explore. The award-winning spa offers five-star treatments, state-of-the-art spa experiences and four private luxury cabanas.   

More at www.exclusive.co.uk/pennyhill-park/  

For further press information, images or quotes, please contact Sauce Communications at: exclusivecollection@saucecommunications.com.