Chewton Glen checks out of awards ceremony with Hotel of the Year

NEW Milton’s luxury Chewton Glen Hotel has walked away with the top prize at a prestigious industry awards night.

The five-star resort on Christchurch Road was crowned England Hotel of the Year at the AA Hospitality Awards held in London’s Grosvenor House, writes Rob Edwards.

Hosted by TV presenter Kate Silverton, with last year’s winner of the Chef’s Chef Award, Claude Bosi providing a banquet for the 1,000 guests, the annual event celebrates the nation’s hotels, restaurants and chefs.

Chewton Glen managing director Andrew Stembridge said: “Winning this prestigious title is testament to the energy, passion and creativity of the entire team who work so hard, not only to ensure that our guests always want to return, but are also focused on continually improving and innovating.”

The judges said: “Over the years, Chewton Glen has never rested on its laurels.

“Always a leader at the highest level, as the spa, kitchen gardens and treehouses illustrate.

“Investment continues, most recently ‘The Kitchen’ and cookery school, bedrooms, and terrace but also in its people.”

Chewton Glen is a member of Iconic Luxury Hotels, a collection of England’s finest establishments. Its also includes Cliveden House in Berkshire, 11 Cadogan Gardens in the heart of Chelsea, and The Lygon Arms in the Cotswolds.

Mr Stembridge added: “Chewton Glen has always been remarkable, as defined by Martin Skan when he blazed the country-house-hotel trail well over half a century ago.

“We are exceptionally fortunate to still have owners who support our vision through constant reinvestment.

“There hasn’t been a year in the hotel’s history that hasn’t seen developments carried out.”

Also celebrating at the awards was the Montagu Arms in Beaulieu which gained one of the top hospitality ratings from the AA.

Inspectors gave the Palace Lane hotel four red stars – one short of the highest possible mark.

It is a promotion from the four silver stars it held previously and comes after new head chef Matthew Whitfield arrived in January from the three-Michelin star Eleven Madison Park in New York.

The hotel’s Terrace restaurant retained its three AA rosettes for dining, which go to eateries that “demand recognition well beyond their local area”. Andrew Nightingale, general manager, credited “the continual hard work and dedication of each team member”.