Michelin is not slowing down on its road to expansion beyond restaurants.
Last autumn, the century-old guide announced that it would bestow keys – the lodging equivalent of dining stars – to hotels around the world. Last week, Michelin released its inaugural guide to the UK and Ireland.
Fourteen hotels received the highest award – three keys. Eight of those properties are in London and include the city’s most high-profile lodgings, such as the year-old Peninsula London in Belgravia, The Connaught hotel and the Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park.
Other English properties that received three keys include The Newt in Somerset and the country-house styled Lucknam Park in the Cotswolds. In Scotland, the destination hotel and golf estate Gleneagles now has three keys, and in Ireland, two properties got the highest ranking: Adare Manor in Limerick, and Ballyfin Demesne, set in a 19th- century estate.
“Having this award means so much to me, I had tears in my eyes,” said Anna Sas, head of standards at The Newt, speaking after the property received three keys. She says it reflects the team’s attention to detail and passion.