The Michelin Guide inspectors have revealed the very first UK selection of recipients for Michelin Keys, with five Gloucestershire and Cotswold hotels making the list.
123 accomodations throughout the UK and Ireland were chosen, all offering outstanding stays for tourists and staycationers looking for excellence.
The UK list comes after presentations to hotels in France, Spain, Italy, Japan, the U.S, Canada, Mexico and Thailand.
What is a Michelin Key?
Michelin Keys are being offered to make the Michelin Guide a more comprehensive service, combining with its recommendations of Michelin Star restaurants for a complete travel experience for users.
Keys are awarded by Michelin Guide inspectors following multiple anonymous stays or visits, in which accomodations are evaluated accoriding to five international criteria, such as their unique hospitality concept, distinctive character, warm welcome and extremely high level of service.
Similar to restaurants, hotels can be given up to three Michelin Keys and act as a new international benchmark for tourism, with one being classed as a very special stay; two, an exceptional stay; and three for an extraordinary stay.
Which hotels in Gloucestershire and the Cotswolds have been awarded Michelin Keys?
Of the 123 hotels in the UK and Ireland which were awarded Keys, 14 of the inaugural selection were presented with three Michelin Keys, 37 with two and 72 with one.
A total of 91 awarded hotels were found in England, with 15 in Scotland, 14 in Ireland and three in Wales.
Of those in England, five Gloucestershire and Cotswold hotels were chosen, with Lucknam Park in Colerne being awarded three Keys and Thyme in Lechlade being awarded two Keys.
One Key recipients in Gloucestershire and the Cotswolds include Cowley Manor Experimental, alongside nearby Malmsebury's Whatley Manor and Thornbury Castle just outside of Bristol.
International director of the Michelin Guides, Gwendal Poullennec, commented: 'Featuring no fewer than 123 outstanding hotels, this selection is an invitation to explore the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland, visit their historically rich cities, relax in their charming countryside and scenic landscapes, and enjoy, for a few nights, a timeless lifestyle in century-old castles and manor houses.
'From boutique hotels or flagship luxury properties located in eclectic London to country houses nestled in dramatic Irish countryside; from stunning Scottish manor houses to tranquil Welsh retreats: every hotel awarded one, two or three Michelin Keys is a gem sculpted by talented professionals. Using the Michelin Guide’s digital platforms, travellers can now filter their search and book hotels for stays that we hope will be unforgettable.'
