Allium at Askham Hall wins prestigious award for its wine

On Monday, September 25, Michelin-starred restaurant with rooms, Allium at Askham Hall in the Lake District was named the winner of the AA Wine Award, England and overall, at the prestigious AA Hospitality Awards, in recognition of its exceptional wine list which is said to be one of the most interesting and diverse in the country.

Introduced in 1998, the AA Wine Award recognises an outstanding contribution to promoting wine understanding and appreciation.

The wine list at the restaurant is amongst the best in the country (Image: Askham Hall)Allium at Askham Hall was judged on the quality of its wine list and its ability to inspire customers to make wider and more adventurous choices in selecting wines.

The awards ceremony took place at JW Marriott Grosvenor House in London and was hosted by TV presenter Claudia Winkleman.

The event, one of the most prestigious and highly anticipated in the hospitality industry’s calendar, was a celebration of the UK’s top hotels, restaurants, and pubs, and the people behind them. 

Askham Hall, which is known for its ‘field to fork’ menus and home-grown, home-reared produce, is having an award-winning year, as this latest accolade comes hot on the heels of it winning Small Hotel of the Year at the VisitEngland Awards for Excellence 2023 and Cumbria Tourism’s Taste of Cumbria Award 2023.

Nico Chieze, Askham Hall’s Maître de Maison, said: “We have always given our wine list and cellars the same level of love, care and dedication as we do our food, so to receive this recognition is just wonderful.”

Nico Chieze (Image: Steven Barber)The award is one of several for Cumbrian restaurants as the county continues to be a leader in food excellence.

The Carlisle area won its first michelin star earlier this year with the Pentonbridge Inn now one of 11 Michelin-starred restaurants in Cumbria.