Two boutique hotels in Warwickshire have been named among the best small hotels in the UK for the second time in a decade.

The Eden Hotel Collection – which operates the 4 AA silver star Arden Hotel in Stratford-upon-Avon and the 4 AA red star Mallory Court Hotel and Spa in Leamington – has been named Small Hotel Group of the Year at the prestigious AA Hospitality Awards.

With nearly 900 guests, the AA Hospitality Awards highlight the very best in British hospitality, honouring achievements across fifteen categories – reflecting the industry’s commitment to innovation, quality and environmental responsibility.

Eden’s award win follows a year that has seen the business invest more than £3 million in venue refurbishments and colleague welfare initiatives – as well as adopting sustainability projects around food production.

This includes the recent £1.5 million refurbishment of 19 bedrooms at the four red star Mallory Court Hotel and Spa.

For guests, Eden is also commencing its “Inspired By” programme which brings to life the story of each hotel’s individual character for visitors, starting with Mallory Court whose ‘Inspired By our Gardens’ initiative sees the hotel’s workforce sharing knowledge with guests about how the hotel’s ten-acre gardens influence every aspect of the visitor experience – from dining through to décor.

The group’s focus on growing its own produce on-site and utilising local suppliers has also continued to develop, following the success of the kitchen garden and its tours at Mallory Court. 

This complements the collection’s ability to recycle 100 per cent of its waste, with 30 per cent directly recycled, 50 per cent converted into renewable energy, and 20 per cent processed by anaerobic digestion.

Investment has also stretched to Eden’s 500-strong workforce, including the launch of an app-based employee recognition programme called The Happy Hub, which includes activities that help to promote positive hormones – such as the ability to recognise a colleague with an e-card, an employee of the month initiative, and monetary recognitions for long service.

Alongside Mallory Court and The Arden, Eden also operates Brockencote Hall Hotel in Kidderminster, The Greenway Hotel Spa in Cheltenham, and five-star hotel Bovey Castle in Devon. 

Josefine Blomqvist, General Manager at Mallory Court Hotel and Spa, said: “It takes something special to be recognised in this way by the AA, and underlines the great attention to detail we pay to providing a memorable experience for our guests – whether they are locals sampling our award-winning food, or visitors from further afield staying in our new-look luxury bedrooms.

“The hotel is a fantastic well-rounded asset to the local area not just because of the beauty of the building and grounds, but also by providing a great place for people to develop their careers, along with environmentally-friendly approaches such as growing our own produce in our kitchen garden and utilising local suppliers.”

Mark Chambers, Managing Director at The Eden Hotel Collection, said: “The AA awards are the holy grail for any hospitality business, so to be recognised as the best in our field for the second time in a decade is a testament to our people and the consistent delivery of excellence across all of our hotels.

“As a business everything we do feeds into providing the highest possible quality of service – whether that is investing in our facilities, through to helping our people to be the best versions of themselves in terms of their skillsets, but also supporting them with everyday life, too.

“Reputation and recommendations are a key tool to success for any hospitality business, so this latest award win provides a fantastic launchpad for each of our five hotels to build on the great work they are already doing in their communities to attract guests from the local area and further afield.”

Simon Numphud, Managing Director at AA Media, expressed his pride in the resilience and creativity shown by the UK’s hospitality sector in 2024: “This incredible celebration is a true testament to the strength and innovation within our industry. The dedication and excellence demonstrated by all the hospitality teams have been nothing short of inspiring. Congratulations to all the winners, nominees, and new Rosette holders for their remarkable contributions.”