The Gunroom at Plas Dinas earns Three AA Rosettes under head chef Daniel ap Geraint

# What happened House, in Bontnewydd, North Wales, has been awarded Three AA Rosettes. The accolade was announced at the AA Hospitality Awards in Mayfair, where members of the team collected the honour on stage.

# Why it matters

# The team and leadership Head Chef Daniel ap Geraint has led The Gunroom since 2018. He credited the kitchen and front-of-house staff for the achievement and said the team will continue to develop menus and the guest experience. Owner Annie Perks highlighted the anxious wait before the panel decision and described the award presentation in London as a special moment for the whole team.

Key staff named in the coverage include Dylan Thomas, Rupert Loom, Ferdinando Salvestrini and Liga Williamson. The kitchen also includes pastry specialist Cosmin Scarlet, Aled Jones and Kane Williams. Kane's CV includes time as Head Chef at The Barn at Moor Hall, where he helped the team to its first MICHELIN star, and roles at Tom Kerridge's The Hand and Flowers, The Ledbury and as Senior Sous Chef at Moor Hall with Mark Birchall.

# What the AA praised Guide as an intimate dining room within the former home of Lord Snowdon. The guide highlighted the restaurant's seasonal menus and use of Welsh produce — examples listed include Welsh butter, Anglesey sea salt, Welsh lamb and locally sourced seafood — and described the cooking as modern British grounded in classic skills and technique.

# Context and recent recognition This award joins several recent honours for Plas Dinas and The Gunroom. Plas Dinas retained AA Five-Star Gold status and the property was named Best Hotel in Wales in the Good Hotel Guide's 2026 César Awards. The Gunroom has been recognised in the MICHELIN Guide. Daniel ap Geraint represented Wales in the final of BBC Two's Great British Menu in 2025 after winning the Welsh heat.

# What comes next Owner and chef comments point to two clear priorities: enjoy the recognition and continue improving. The reporting notes that with Three AA Rosettes and inclusion in the MICHELIN Guide, future attention will turn to whether a MICHELIN star could be pursued, though no specific plans or timelines are given.

# Bottom line Rosettes indicate strong national-level recognition for a relatively small country-house restaurant. The award reflects combined strengths: a chef with regional and national exposure, a skilled supporting team, commitment to seasonal Welsh produce, and growing external validation through the AA and MICHELIN listings.