AA Hotel & Hospitality Services has revealed the winners of its 2026 awards, including a selection of Scotland’s leading hotels, restaurants and hospitality teams.
Celebrating 70 years of the AA Rosette award, close to 1000 guests gathered at JW Marriott Grosvenor House in London for the awards, which recognise the people and businesses setting high standards across the hospitality industry.
Scotland enjoyed a strong night, with Knockinaam Lodge, Swadish by Ajay Kumar, Old Course Hotel, Golf Resort & Spa, Crossbasket Castle, Knockendarroch Hotel and Ilona Harris of Cromlix among this year’s winners.
Swadish by Ajay Kumar, in Glasgow, took the AA Restaurant of the Year Scotland title. Kumar commented: “In 2009, I arrived in Scotland with a suitcase, a love for food and a dream of building something of my own.
“The journey from India to Glasgow has been filled with challenges, lessons, incredible people and a lot of hard work. Today, I want to celebrate not just the award, but the city that gave Swadish a home. Glasgow, this one is for you.”
Stranraer’s Knockinaam Lodge was named winner of the AA Wine Award Scotland.
In the hotel categories, South Lanarkshire’s Crossbasket Castle was named AA Hotel of the Year Scotland, while St Andrews’ Old Course Hotel, Golf Resort & Spa took the title of AA Spa Hotel of the Year.
The awards also recognised the teams and individuals behind Scotland’s top hospitality businesses.
Knockendarroch Hotel, Pitlochry, was awarded AA Small Hotel Team of the Year, while, Ilona Harris of Cromlix, near Stirling, was named AA Rising Star.
Restaurant with rooms Inver, at Strathlachlan on the Cowal Peninsula, was awarded new four AA Rosettes, while Flavour, Tarbert, received new three AA Rosettes.
This year’s awards also saw the introduction of new categories focused on sustainability and hotel teams, reflecting the people and priorities shaping hospitality today.
The full list of this year’s AA Hospitality Awards winners can be found on the AA’s Rated Trips website here
All of 2026’s restaurant award winners and new Rosette holders will feature in the AA Restaurant Guide 2027, described as a ‘definitive guide showcasing the finest cuisine the UK has to offer’.
