The ‘star-studded’ evening was presented by television and radio broadcaster Angellica Bell, who also won Celebrity MasterChef. The night celebrated hotels, spas, restaurants, overall Inns and B&Bs, alongside with the people who drive them forward.

Attended by 900 guests, the event highlighted the very best in British hospitality, honouring achievements across 16 award categories. Aikens’ triumphant win comes after twelve talented chefs were shortlisted for 2024, representing the very best of the UK’s culinary landscape.

Aikens has restaurants in four different countries, has published three cookery books, is a TV regular, and supports several charities. He has been cooking at the highest level since the age of 26 and his peers have voted him as the AA Chefs' Chef for 2024.

Commenting on his win, Aikens said: “There was such an amazing group of chefs up for this award. It’s truly incredible to have actually won it. It’s not just about me, it’s about the whole team. I’m absolutely thrilled, it’s fantastic.”

Full list of winners:

Chefs’ Chef of the Year: Tom Aikens, from Muse, London

Lifetime Achievement Award: Adrian Ellis MI FIH, former General Manager of The Lowry Hotel, Manchester

Outstanding Contribution Award: Sue Williams, Positive Hospitality Ltd, Director and formerly General Manager of Whatley Manor Hotel & Spa

Restaurants of the Year 

• England – The Greyhound, Buckinghamshire
• London – The Silver Birch, London
• Wales – Thomas by Tom Simmons, Cardiff
• Scotland – Loch Bay Restaurant, Isle of Skye

Hotels of the Year 

• England – Down Hall Hotel & Spa, Hertfordshire
• London – The Dorchester
• Wales – The Parkgate Hotel, Cardiff
• Scotland – Cromlix, Stirling
• Northern Ireland – The Ebrington Hotel, Londonderry 

Group of the Year: Red Carnation Hotel Group  

Small Hotel Group of the Year: Eden Hotel Collection, Stratford-Upon-Avon

Wine Award 

• England – Moor Hall Restaurant with Rooms, Lancashire
• Wales – Plas Dinas Country House, Gwynedd
• Scotland – The Balmoral, Edinburgh

Housekeeper of the Year: Paula Seddon – Crow Wood Hotel and Spa Resort, Lancashire

Sustainable Award: 1 Hotel Mayfair, London

Inn of the Year: The Cartford Inn, Lancashire  

B&B of the Year: Mallard Grange, North Yorkshire 

Restaurant with Rooms of the Year: Mingary Castle, Highlands  

Spa Hotel of the Year: Carden Park Hotel, Cheshire

Food Service Award: The Seafood Restaurant, Cornwall

College Restaurant of the Year: Senara – Truro & Penwith College

New 5 Rosettes

• Woven by Adam Smith (Coworth Park), Berkshire
• The Glenturret Lalique Restaurant, Perth & Kinross
• Angel at Hetton, North Yorkshire

New 4 Rosettes  

• Restaurant 1890 by Gordon Ramsay (Savoy Hotel), London
• Olive Tree at the Queensberry Hotel, Somerset
• Bybrook at The Manor House Hotel, Wiltshire
• Lumiere, Gloucestershire
• Atrium (Lords of the Manor), Gloucestershire

New 3 Rosettes 

• The Flintlock at Cheddleton, Staffordshire
• The Old Deanery, North Yorkshire
• HUMO London, London
• Pignut, North Yorkshire
• The Vines Restaurant, Cheshire
• Rookery Hall Hotel & Spa, Cheshire
• The Three Horseshoes, Essex
• The Cottage in the Wood, Cumbria
• Chartwell at Aldwark Manor, North Yorkshire
• Mallory Court Country House Hotel & Spa, Warwickshire
• Skosh, North Yorkshire
• MUSU, Greater Manchester
• The Fanny Talbot, Gwynedd

New 4 Red Stars 

• Farlam Hall Hotel & Restaurant, Cumbria
• Douneside House, Aberdeenshire
• The Angel Hotel, Suffolk
• Lygon Arms Hotel, Worcestershire
• Nutfield Priory Hotel & Spa, Surrey

New 3 Red Stars 

• Penally Abbey, Pembrokeshire