AA to charge for Rosette scheme
Stand-alone pubs and restaurants (not owned by a hotel or B&B) currently appear without charge in guidebooks, on the website and receive many of the same benefits as AA scheme members, according to the company.
The AA said the introduction of the fee will help it continue its benchmark for excellence to a broad range of venues at all levels.
Options included
The fee will mean venues get a website entry with up to 20 images, an image in The AA Restaurant Guide, an entry in the next Restaurant or Pub Guide, the AA’s quarterly magazine Quality Matters, regular newsletter and industry updates.
Venues that reach the level of one or two Rosettes are invited to join or continue their membership of the AA scheme with the payment of the fee.
The AA will continue to visit new venues and invite those that meet the standard of a Rosette to join the scheme.
Nationwide scheme
If an existing pub or restaurant that holds a Rosette subsequently receives an inspection and no longer meets the required standard, any fee for the following year’s guide will no longer be applicable.
Pubs and restaurants will need to achieve a Rosette standard to be eligible for the scheme and guide.
The AA told The Morning Advertiser’s sister title Big Hospitality if a qualifying venue fails to pay, it will not appear in the AA Restaurant Guide 2021, which is published in September.
The AA Rosette award was first given in 1956 and was the first nationwide scheme for assessing the quality of food served. Its team of inspectors have a wealth of experience in assessing quality throughout the UK.