The restaurant is one of the 17 new recipients of the award in the 2009 list and is one of only three from outside London. Giovanna Grossi, the AA's hotel services group area manager, said: "Restaurants serving food of a three-rosette standard are worthy of recognition from well beyond their local area." General manager David Hennigan, added: "It is a real honour to have been awarded three AA rosettes within our first year of operation, especially as this is such a highly regarded commendation within the industry." "Three AA rosettes is a real endorsement of what we are trying to achieve here at The Crown at Celtic Manor where we strive to offer the ultimate fine dining experience. This comes as a result of all the hard work, professionalism and enthusiasm of the entire team." Only opened in April in partnership with The Crown at Whitebrook, the new restaurant has also been listed in this year's Good Food Guide. Other new recipients of three AA rosettes in 2009 include Angela Hartnett's Murano in Mayfair while restaurants retaining the award include Gordon Ramsay at Claridge's and Gary Rhodes' Restaurant W1. The Crown is one of only five restaurants in Wales to achieve the award, the others being Bodysgallen Hall, Llandudno; Carlton Riverside, Llanwrtyd Wells; Tan-y-Foel Country House, Betws-y-Coed; and Ynyshir Hall, Machynlleth. Only 158 restaurants in the whole of the UK hold three AA rosettes with an even more select band of 31 boasting four or five rosettes. In addition, the establishment was short-listed among the top three British and Irish hotels and spas for the Conde Nast Johansens/Champagne Taittinger Wine List Awards 2009.