A Norwich hotel which claims to be the oldest in the country is celebrating after being awarded two prestigious rosettes for its food.

The Maids Head Hotel, on Tombland, racked up its second AA Rosette for its WinePress restaurant after an unannounced inspection.

Meanwhile, its overall four star merit score – which covers areas including service and bedrooms – increased from 78pc last year to 81pc this year.

Christine Malcolm, general manager, said: 'We are thrilled with the award of a second AA rosette for our restaurant.

'Head Chef Marcin 'Magic' Pomierny and his brigade, supported by food services manager Katherine Renhard and her team, work very hard to design and deliver exciting, seasonally changing menus, using the best of local and regional produce.'

The AA say that just 10pc of restaurants across the UK are of a standard which is worthy of one rosette or above.

Mrs Malcolm said they had worked hard over the last 18 months to refurbish and expand parts of the hotel.

Nick Bond, head of tourism at Visit Norwich, said: 'We congratulate Christine Malcolm and her team at the Maids Head on the richly deserved second AA Rosette for the restaurant, and the continuous improvement of their overall merit score. The hotel's programme of renovation and refurbishment is superb, focussing on the expectations of today's visitors, but at the same time emphasising the amazing heritage of the site, serving Norwich for more than 800 years.'

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