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Guest Accommodation Categories
Guest Accommodation
Any establishment that meets the minimum entry requirements is eligible for this sub-category.
Bed & Breakfast
Accommodation provided in a private house, run by the owner and with no more than six paying guests.
Guest House
Accommodation provided for more than six paying guests, and run on a more commercial basis than a B&B. Usually more services, for example, dinner, provided by staff as well as the owner.
Farmhouse
B&B or Guest House accommodation provided on a working farm or smallholding.
Inn
Accommodation provided in a fully-licensed establishment. The bar will be open to non-residents and provide food in the evenings.
Restaurant with Rooms
Destination restaurant offering overnight accommodation with the restaurant being the main business and open to non-residents. The restaurant should offer a high standard of food and restaurant service at least five nights a week. A liquor licence and a maximum of 12 bedrooms are necessary.
Star Ratings
From 2006, stars replaced diamonds as the rating system for guest accommodation. In order to achieve one star, establishments must meet the minimum entry requirements inlcuding a cooked breakfast, staff available upon arrival and departure and at meal times, access to the establishment at all times, all areas to meet requirements for cleanliness and maintenance, and a dining facility is available (unless meals are served in rooms).
To achieve three stars and above, establishments must offer access to both sides of the bed for double occupancy, bathrooms/shower rooms cannot be used by the proprietor and there is a washbasin in every room. For four stars, half of the bedrooms must be en suite or have private facilities. Five star guest accommodation must offer all bedrooms with en suite or private facilities.
Highly Commended Guest Accommodation
Yellow stars recognise the very best guest accommodation within the three, four and five star rating levels.
Rosette Ratings for Guest Accommodation
Rosettes are awarded annually to AA inspected restaurants for the quality of their food. Some star-rated guest accommodation have their own restaurants and we also inspect these. Not all restaurants receive an AA award, but will generally serve enjoyable food of a reasonable standard.
Hotel Categories
Hotel
Formal accommodation with full service. Minimum six guest bedrooms but more likely in excess of 20.
Country House Hotel
A country house hotel with ample grounds, in a rural or semi-rural situation with an emphasis on peace and quiet.
Small Hotel
Smaller hotels with a maximum of 20 bedrooms. They will be personally run by the proprietor and are likely to have limited function basis.
Town House Hotel
High quality town/city centre properties of individual and distinctive style with a maximum of 50 rooms. High staff-to-guest ratio. Public areas may be limited. Possibly no dinner served, but room service available instead.
Metro Hotel
A town/city hotel providing full hotel services with the exception of dinner. Within easy walking distance of a range of places to eat.
Star Ratings
Star ratings, from one to five, are used to assess guest accommodation. The following is a brief summary of standards expected from guest accommodation within their ratings.
Staff provide a prompt, polite and informal service. The majority of rooms are en suite and there is a designated eating area serving breakfast everyday and dinner most evenings.
Staff are smartly presented and provide a well-informed service. Rooms are generously proportioned. Breakfast and dinner are available seven days a week.
An ample number of easily identified staff, who are able to anticipate requirements. All rooms have en suite bathrooms. Meals are cooked and presented to a good standard, using good quality ingredients.
Attentive staff provide a very good level of service. At least half of the rooms will have an en suite bath and a shower. At least one restaurant offering a good range of hot and cold skilfully prepared food.
Impeccably dressed staff provide attentive and unobtrusive service. All bedrooms will have an en suite bathroom with a bath and thermostatically controlled shower. Meals are cooked and presented to an excellent standard using high quality ingredients.
Red Star Hotels
From large luxury hotels to snug country inns, red star hotels are the best in the UK. They are selected from each of the star rating levels for their exceptional quality of accommodation and customer service.
Merit Score
AA inspectors supplement their reports with an additional quality assessment of all facilities, services and hospitality offered by the hotel. This wider ranging assessment results in an overall merit score, shown as a percentage next to the star rating. To gain AA recognition, a hotel must achieve a minimum quality score of 50%.
Rosette Ratings for Hotels with Restaurants
Rosettes are awarded annually to AA inspected restaurants for the quality of their food. Most star-rated hotels have their own restaurants and we also inspect these. Not all restaurants receive an AA award, but will generally serve enjoyable food of a reasonable standard.
Chefs should display a mastery of basic techniques and be able to produce dishes of sound quality and clarity of flavours, using good fresh ingredients.
Innovation, greater technical skill and more consistency and judgement in combining and balancing ingredients are all needed at this level.
This award takes a restaurant into the big league. Expectations of the kitchen are high: exact technique, flair and imagination must come through in every dish, and balance and depth of flavour are all-important.
At this level, not only should all technical skills be exemplary, but there should also be daring ideas, and they must work. There is no room for disappointment. Flavours should be accurate and vibrant.
The supreme accolade awarded only when the cooking is at the pinnacle of achievement. Flavours, combinations and textures show a faultless sense of balance, giving each dish an extra dimension