Raise a glass to the winners of the 'Oscars' of the UK hospitality industry.

At a prestigious awards ceremony hosted by the AA at Grosvenor House in London on Monday night, awards were presented in categories including 'Hotel of the Year', 'Restaurant of the Year' and 'Chefs' Chef of the Year'.

The 2023 AA Hospitality Awards winners were picked by the AA's inspectors, who spent the past year feasting their way through the UK's restaurants and laying their heads in the nation's hotel rooms in a bid to crown the cream of the crop. Here are their verdicts…

26 September 2023. Last night, The Swan Inn, Islip, Oxfordshire was awarded 3 AA rosettes at the 2023 prestigious AA Hospitality Awards.

The glittering awards ceremony at JW Marriott Grosvenor House London was hosted by Claudia Winkleman, and celebrates the UK’s top hotels, restaurants, and pubs and the people behind them.

One of the industry’s most prestigious and highly anticipated events, the AA Hospitality Awards span 15 categories, honouring the best hotels, restaurants, and spas across the UK, and celebrating individuals with awards such as the Lifetime Achievement Award, Chefs’ Chef Award and more.

The Swan Inn

Paul Welburn, Chef Patron, said: “Genuinely over the moon, and so proud of all the team and owners…to be recognised by the AA and go in at 3 Rosettes is incredible in less than a year of being open. Anytime is tough to open a restaurant but to do it and be nationally recognised so soon is a testament to all the hard work from all involved. For me personally after a very tough and frustrating time the last few years this feels special. The reaction I’ve got both last night and all morning has been unbelievable. Great also to see Oxfordshire food scene growing in awards and congratulations to Killingworth on the award as well…onward and upward.”

Nina Gray, Nicole Patrick and Carol Robinson, the Directors of Migg Inns Ltd, who are the investors behind the Swan Inn, said in a joint statement: “We are so incredibly proud of Paul Welburn and the team and thank the AA Awards for this accolade. We know that it is a huge privilege for us to receive the three rosettes less than a year after opening. Only 10% of establishments in the AA Guide hold three rosettes. To have achieved this in such a short amount of time is to the absolute credit of Paul Welburn, his outstanding reputation and every member of our team who match his passion to deliver an exemplary customer service experience.”

If you haven’t heard of the formerly Michelin-starred chef Paul Welburn, then you are missing out. Welburn made his name under Gary Rhodes, winning a Michelin star at Rhodes W1, and then after various other high-end positions, he came to Oxford and won another Michelin star at his Summertown restaurant The Oxford Kitchen.

The cocktail glasses were overflowing as the Muddy Stilettos Awards 2023 romped to a close last week. Cue an astonishing 77,000 businesses nominated and 800,000 votes cast in 2023...winner of Best Restaurant 2023,..The Swan Inn, Islip! Thank you for all your votes.

18 new restaurants join the MICHELIN Guide Great Britain & Ireland selection this May, showcasing high quality cooking across a range of styles and budgets - including the Cygnet at The Swan Inn, Islip!

Our very own Cygnet at the Swan Inn features in this Good Food Article. Whether you fancy a midday splurge or a bite to eat at a local favourite, The Good Food Guide has got your back. The menus may be shorter, but the quality of the ingredients, the skill of the chefs, and the charm of the service doesn’t change whether you eat at 1pm or 8pm.

What an extraordinary evening. There were tears, cheers and epic celebrations taking place at last night’s OXINABOX FOOD AWARDS 2023 at The North Wall.

The event totally sold out with 150 guests attending, including the 40 finalists, waiting to see who would win the fiercely fought over categories.

Our very own Chef Patron Paul Welburn will be part of the line-up for the Foodies Festival. For more information or to book your tickets

Article in the Good Food Guide - 22 March 2023

Article by Tessa Allingham, The Caterer. As chef patron of the Swan Inn in Islip, Oxfordshire and its new Cygnet restaurant, Paul Welburn brings cheffing skills to a new project.

Article first published by Ox in a Box - 22 October 2022. Interview with Paul Welburn and Nina Gray.

MICHELIN STARRED PAUL WELBURN - NEW CHEF PATRON AT THE SWAN IN ISLIP – ON WHAT TO EXPECT

Interview by Miranda Norris, Oxford Mail with Paul Welburn

Registered in February and led by local resident Nina Grey, Migg Inns Ltd has taken on the site and appointed Paul Welburn as the chef patron to relaunch it as a public house and fine-dining restaurant.