Held at Grosvenor House in London on Monday 23rd September, the AA Hospitality Awards celebrated the best hotels, restaurants and pubs across the UK. Smarter Business came out in force as the sponsor of the ‘AA Restaurant of the Year (England)’ category, which saw the Michelin-starred Fordwich Arms in Kent collect the coveted award. For over twenty years, the Awards has acted to benchmark the best and brightest talents operating in the UK hospitality industry and the world-class establishments they run. And 2019 was no exception, with an array of talents being recognised, such as:
Jason Atherton, founder of the Michelin-starred Pollen Street Social, awarded the Chefs' Chef Award winner
Robin Sheppard, Chairman of the Bespoke Hotels group, being given the Lifetime Achievement Award
The ceremony was hosted by BBC television presenter Kate Silverton. The 1,000 guests in attendance dined on a menu cooked by Claude Bosi (the AA Chef’s Chef of the Year at the 2018 awards).
Each year, the AA independently inspects hundreds of restaurants across the British Isles. Introduced in 2000, the ‘AA Restaurant of the Year’ award recognises restaurants that provide cuisine of a truly excellent standard, as well as demonstrating innovation and ambience and providing a high standard of hospitality.
Smarter Business were proud to present, for the second year running, the award for the Best Restaurant in England to Dan Smith, Chef/Patron of the Fordwich Arms in Kent, a restaurant that is defining British cuisine. Chef-patron Daniel Smith has worked in some of the country's top restaurants, and the seasonal, locally-sourced menu at the Fordwich Arms focuses on provenance, showcasing the best of local ingredients.
Matthew Margetts, Director of Communication at Smarter Business, says: “Due to the energy-intensive nature of the industry, hospitality energy savings can be significant. That’s why Smarter Business helps hundreds of hospitality businesses save money through our effective energy management services. It’s our goal to help these businesses save money in simple ways – without affecting the customer experience. With our experience in the hospitality industry, it’s a natural fit for us to sponsor one of the award categories at the AA Hospitality Awards. We’ve also created a range of bespoke rates and offers exclusively for AA customers to ensure that they get the best deals available.”
“We’d like to extend massive congratulations to Dan Smith and the Fordwich Arms team,” Matthew continued.
Smarter Business have partnered with the AA and are actively helping hoteliers and restaurateurs set standards in operating efficiency and sustainability by providing informed advice supported by bespoke technology. AA members can visit www.smarterbusiness.co.uk/aa to request bespoke rates and offers.
About the award
Each year the AA independently inspects hundreds of restaurants across the British Isles. Introduced in 2000, this award recognises restaurants that provide cuisine of a truly excellent standard, as well as demonstrating innovation and ambience and providing a high standard of hospitality.
About Smarter Business
Smarter Business is one of the UK’s leading independent consultancies, helping businesses secure the most comprehensive savings solutions from utilities contract management and procurement to merchant services, waste management, business loans and facilities maintenance. Our services are designed to provide customers with the most effective management and strategy around business utilities and services.