John Williams and Mark Birchall win top honours at AA Awards 2022
John Williams MBE, executive chef of the Ritz London, and Mark Birchall, chef patron of Moor Hall in Lancashire, led the list of winners at the AA Hospitality Awards 2022.
The first in-person AA awards ceremony in three years was held at Grosvenor House, a JW Marriott hotel in London on 26 September.
Awards were presented by former BBC Sport presenter Gabby Logan to winners in 26 categories, and to the recipients of newly bestowed AA rosettes and red stars.
Williams received the AA Lifetime Achievement Award for his contributions to the hospitality industry over the past 40 years.
He joined the Ritz as executive chef in 2004 and continues to head a team of 64 chefs at the luxury hotel restaurant.
He said: "It is truly the greatest honour to have been recognized by the AA, the leading authority in the hospitality industry, thank you! I'm over the moon.
"I'm very lucky to have a brilliant brigade of chefs working with me, whose passion is to deliver the very best experience to every guest who comes into the Ritz Restaurant, every day. It's been a challenging couple of years, but I really believe the entire experience that we are offering in the Restaurant is the best it has ever been."
Birchall was named the Chef's Chef of the Year, an award voted for by chefs at restaurants which hold AA rosettes.
Simon Numphud, managing director of AA Media, said: "We are delighted to honour Mark Birchall with the AA Chef's Chef award at the AA Hospitality Awards this year. We would like to congratulate Mark for his hard work and determination over this year, and the last 20 years of his career."
The full list of AA award winners for 2022 were:
Chefs' Chef
Mark Birchall, chef Patron of Moor Hall, Aughton, Lancashire
Restaurant of the Year
England – Socius, Burnham Market, Norfolk
London – Chez Bruce, London SW17
Wales – Gem 42, Newport
Scotland – the Cellar, Anstruther, Fife
Hotel of the Year
England – Grantley Hall, Ripon, North Yorkshire
London – Pan Pacific London, London EC3
Wales – Llanerch Vineyard, Hensol, South Wales
Scotland – the Balmoral, Edinburgh
Northern Ireland – the Rabbit Hotel & Retreat, Templepatrick, County Antrim
Restaurant with Rooms
England – the Angel at Hetton, North Yorkshire
Wales – Crug Glâs Country House, Solva, Pembrokeshire
Scotland – the Bonnie Badger, Gullane, East Lothian
Spa Hotel of the Year
Lime Wood, Lyndhurst, Hampshire
Hotel Group of the Year
The Pig Group
Small Hotel Group of the Year
Iconic Luxury Hotels
Accessible Award
Rudding Park, Harrogate, North Yorkshire
Sustainable Award
Swinton Estate, Masham, North Yorkshire
Food Service Award
Hélène Darroze at the Connaught, London W1
Wine Award
England – the Vineyard, Newbury, Berkshire
Wales – the Grove, Narberth, Pembrokeshire
Scotland – Unalome by Graeme Cheevers, Glasgow
College Restaurant of the Year
Senara Restaurant, Truro & Penwith College
Lifetime Achievement Award
John Williams MBE
Outstanding Contribution Award
Northcote: Obsession, Langho, Lancashire
Housekeeper of the Year
Diane Payne from Rockliffe Hall in Darlington, County Durham
