AA Hospitality Awards announce leading chef line up and event host
Culinary legends Steve Smith, Tom Aikens and Hrishikesh Desai unveiled as the chefs behind the menu, with Fleur East set to lead the event as host.
12 May: AA Hotel & Hospitality Services has unveiled the three industry leading chefs who will take charge of the culinary programme at the highly anticipated AA Hospitality Awards 2026. The event, hosted by Fleur East, will take place on the 21 September at JW Marriott Grosvenor House, London.
In a special evolution of the event’s culinary programme, this year will see three distinguished chefs each take the helm of an individual course. Marking 70 years of the prestigious Rosette accreditation, this collaborative approach reimagines the event’s long-standing tradition of a single chef leading the menu, bringing a fresh and celebratory dimension to the occasion.
With 14 Rosettes between them, multi-Rosette holders Steve Smith, Tom Aikens and Hrishikesh Desai will each bring their distinctive style to the menu to celebrate the breadth and talent of the British culinary scene.
This year’s starter will be prepared by Steve Smith, Head Chef at Latymer, setting the tone for the evening with a dish inspired by flavour, texture and the very best seasonal produce. Latymer holds five AA Rosettes, with Steve’s cooking defined by precision and restraint, allowing exceptional ingredients to speak for themselves.
Tom Aikens, former winner of the AA Chefs’ Chef Award in 2024, will be crafting the main course. One of the UK’s most acclaimed and inspirational British chefs, his intimate restaurant, Muse, holds five AA Rosettes reflecting his refined and highly personal approach to modern British cuisine.
The final course of the evening’s exceptional culinary programme will be created by Hrishikesh Desai, Chef Patron at Farlam Hall Hotel & Restaurant and proud holder of four AA Rosettes. Known for his distinct culinary brilliance and innovative approach, Hrishikesh’s cooking blends his Indian heritage with classical French techniques which has taken Farlam Hall to new heights.
Broadcaster, actress and singer, Fleur East has also been announced as host of the prestigious event. The platinum-selling star is one of the UK’s most respected broadcasters, hosting Hits Radio’s nationwide Breakfast Show and Strictly Come Dancing’s Strictly: It Takes Two.
Simon Numphud FIH, Managing Director at AA Media, said: “It is a momentous year for the AA Hotel & Hospitality Services. For 70 years, AA Rosettes have celebrated the very best food from across the whole of the UK. A remarkable legacy that speaks not only to our heritage, but to the enduring trust the industry places in us to recognise excellence.
“We’re incredibly proud to continue celebrating the people and places raising the bar across the industry, and it feels only fitting this year to have three top chefs deliver what promises to be an exceptional menu for our guests. Steve Smith, Tom Aitkens and Hrishikesh Desai are outstanding examples of the talent and dedication shaping British hospitality today.”
Tickets for the AA Hospitality Awards on 21 September are available now on the Awards website >>