Wirral hotel restaurant awarded three AA Rosettes

Oct 5 2011 by Jade Wright, Heswall News

A WIRRAL chef has joined the likes of Heston Blumenthal, Michel Roux Jr and Pierre Koffmann in being awarded three AA Rosettes.

David Gillmore’s restaurant – the Lawns at Thornton Hall Hotel, in Thornton Hough – was awarded its third Rosette at the AA Hospitality Awards at London’s Park Lane Hotel.

Mr Gillmore, who trained at some of Europe’s top Michelin-starred eateries, said it was “an honour” to be recognised.

He said: “We are keeping fine company with some of the North West’s leading restaurants.

“It is testament to the hard work of both the kitchen and front-of-house staff, who work tirelessly every day to provide the best fine dining experience as possible to all our customers.”

The other restaurants to receive three Rosettes this year included London’s Dinner, by Heston Blumenthal, Roux at Parliament Square and Koffmann’s at The Berkeley in Knightsbridge.

The AA Guide website states three AA Rosettes are awarded to restaurants where “the cooking is underpinned by the selection and sympathetic treatment of the highest quality ingredients.

“Timing, seasoning and the judgment of flavour combinations will consistently be excellent.”

The Lawns is the only hotel restaurant in Merseyside to achieve the coveted three AA Rosette status, awarded to “outstanding restaurants which achieve standards demanding recognition well beyond their local area”.

The kitchen at The Lawns has had a very successful year, introducing Mr Gillmore as executive chef, launching a new fine dining experience and now culminating in the award of a third AA Rosette.

Thornton Hall was built in the mid-1800s and was the home of shipping magnates the Bamford family.

The restaurant is housed in the ornate Italian Room and retains its original oak carvings.

Andrew Thompson, chairman of Thornton Hall Hotel, added: “This is a terrific independent endorsement of the quality we work so hard to achieve.

“This is a fantastic tribute to David and his kitchen team, not to mention the restaurant staff and David’s network of dedicated local suppliers.

“We want to be the best fine dining experience in the region, and this award is another step towards that goal. Our next goal is to be awarded a Michelin star.”