The AA names Berkshire and Surrey as hospitality top spots
The county is home to Heston Blumenthal’s Fat Duck in Bray, which holds five red AA rosettes, and the five red star Hurley House hotel and restaurant.
Berkshire received an ‘outstanding’ score of 84%, the highest of 47 regions ranked by their average ratings for restaurants, hotels, B&Bs, caravan and campsites.
“If a county scores over 80% is should be regarded as outstanding, over 70% excellent and over 60% very good,” says Andrew Oxley, head of hotel & hospitality services at the AA.
“We hope this information will highlight some of the very best hospitality experiences that England has to offer.”
Surrey was ranked as the best region for restaurants and second overall with a score of 73%. Some of its top-rated sites include Pennyhill Park, home to the Matt Worswick at The Latymer restaurant, and The Clock House in Ripley, formerly known as Drake’s.
The AA took over the VisitEngland star-rating scheme in April, though it is run by a separate team of inspectors.
England’s top hospitality destinations as ranked by the AA and VisitEngland:
1 Berkshire 84%
2 Surrey: 73%, Staffordshire: 73%
3 Bedfordshire: 72%
4 Northamptonshire: 70%
5 Nottinghamshire 69%, Shropshire: 69%
6 Buckinghamshire 68%, Cheshire 68%
7 West Sussex 66%
8 County Durham:66%, North Yorkshire: 66%
9 Herefordshire 64%
10 Greater London 63%, Hertfordshire: 63%
