Bath's Olive Tree restaurant is awarded Somerset's only AA 4 Rosettes

Last night, The Olive Tree Restaurant in Bath was awarded 4 Rosettes at the prestigious AA Hospitality Awards. Hosted by AA Hotel & Hospitality Services, the star-studded evening was presented by BAFTA-nominated television and radio broadcaster Angellica Bell, widely recognised for winning Celebrity MasterChef.

The 4 AA Rosette status is an upgrade from an already prestigious 3 Rosettes to 4 Rosettes for The Olive Tree Restaurant, set within Bath’s multi-award-winning Queensberry Hotel. The Olive Tree continues to be the city’s only Michelin starred establishment and with last night’s award from the AA, The Olive Tree becomes the only restaurant in the whole of Somerset to carry this rare accolade.

With nearly 900 guests, last night’s AA Awards event highlighted the very best in British hospitality, honouring achievements across fifteen categories. AA Rosettes are awarded by the team of AA inspectors, who have an unrivalled wealth of experience in assessing culinary excellence.

Restaurants with 4 AA Rosettes are a very select group and are amongst the top restaurants in the UK where the cooking demands national recognition. These restaurants exhibit intense ambition, a passion for excellence, superb technical skills and remarkable consistency. They will combine appreciation of culinary traditions with a passionate desire for further exploration and improvement.

Only 5 new AA 4 Rosettes were awarded last night across the UK, meaning there is now a total of 50 in the country, with 10 of these being in London. There is now only one in Somerset, for The Olive Tree.  In awarding The Olive Tree this honour the critical AA judges said: “This is highly seasonal and reliably inventive British cuisine, exquisitely presented, every dish a delight to the eye as well as the tastebuds.”

The Olive Tree’s Executive Head Chef Chris Cleghorn is just 39 and has been part of The Queensberry team for 11 years, having joined after working with some of the UK’s best chefs, including James Sommerin and Michael Caines. The Olive Tree first gained the AA’s prestigious 3 Rosettes recognition just nine months after Chris joined the establishment. 

Image: The Olive Tree team at the Hospitality Awards 2024

He then went on to gain The Olive Tree’s first Michelin star in 2018.

The upgrade from the already-prestigious 3 Rosettes to the rarely awarded AA 4 Rosettes is testament not just to Chris’ skills and creativity, but to the hard work, tenacity, exacting standards, innovation, commitment to development and the continual leadership he’s shown in the kitchen for all this time.

In 2022, Chris Cleghorn was also awarded the Hotel Restaurant Chef of the Year at the hotel industry ‘Oscars,' the Hotel Cateys. Chris has been at the forefront of championing team and resource management change at The Olive Tree and creating an environment that nurtures the creation of beyond exceptional dining experiences alongside internal talent development and success. Chris is also utterly committed to bringing a work/life balance to everyone that works at The Olive Tree. To achieve this elusive balance within an AA 4 Rosettes environment is exceptional and reflects Chris’ truly caring nature. 

Chris Cleghorn says, “I was literally speechless when we received the news that our already coveted AA 3 Rosettes was being upgraded to a rare AA 4 Rosettes level, becoming the only restaurant in the whole of Somerset to have achieved this incredible honour. The entire industry is tough for us all just now, so this news is a major boost, not just for me, but for my incredible team who make our everyday successes and achievements possible. We are all always committed to not just retaining our major honours including our Michelin star, but to continuing to develop the deep talent within our midst, and to continuing to spearhead the most exceptional of dining experiences for our Olive Tree guests.”

Image: Chris Cleghorn's Cornish lobster dish

Chris continues, “Being awarded 4 AA Rosettes is another lifetime pinnacle career achievement for me personally, and professionally, but this status is a mark and an honour for each and every member of our Olive Tree team.  The AA’s description that we ‘exhibit intense ambition, a passion for excellence, superb technical skills and remarkable consistency’ couldn’t be more fitting – and it fills me with pride to know that these tough inspectors have seen these elements shine through in our work. Thank you to everyone at The Queensberry and The Olive Tree, especially Laurence and Helen Beere, for their continued support of our ongoing ambitions at The Olive Tree.”

Simon Numphud, Managing Director at AA Media, expressed his pride in the resilience and creativity shown by the UK’s hospitality sector in 2024, saying, “This incredible celebration is a true testament to the strength and innovation within our industry. The dedication and excellence demonstrated by all the hospitality teams have been nothing short of inspiring. Congratulations to all the winners, nominees, and new Rosette holders for their remarkable contributions.”

Image: Interior of The Olive Tree restaurant

Laurence Beere, co-founder and co-owner of The Queensberry Hotel and Olive Tree Restaurant says, “Over the last decade, I have closely watched Chris Cleghorn develop and grow. I have witnessed him finding, creating and constantly honing, polishing and continuing to insist on improving his personal chef ‘hallmarks’, his vision and his style – even when it is all already exceptional! Alongside this internal graft, he has become such a positive influence for others in our team and across our industry.”

Laurence continues, “The fact that Chris continues to grow and increase the top-flight recognition of the fiercest of restaurant critics and inspectors, makes me extremely proud. Being the only AA 4 Rosettes restaurant in the whole of Somerset, alongside being the only Michelin star restaurant in Bath, is utterly next level and major testament to everything that Chris Cleghorn stands for.  Helen and I couldn’t be prouder and extremely thankful to all the inspectors and the supportive team at the AA.”

From 1 October Chris Cleghorn is changing – and simplifying – the tasting menus available at The Olive Tree, offering exceptional value for the exceptional experience.  The new Taste of the Season menus are available at £70, £160 and £190 and bookings are essential. For more information on The Olive Tree Restaurant, please visit: www.olivetreebath.co.uk.

The full list of this year’s AA Hospitality Awards winners can be found on the Rated Trips website here.