MERSEYSIDE chef David Gilmore was last night celebrating joining the likes of Heston Blumenthal, Michel Roux Jr and Pierre Koffmann, after the Lawns restaurant at Thornton Hough Hotel was awarded three AA Rosettes.

The restaurant was awarded its third Rosette at the AA Hospitality Awards at London’s Park Lane Hotel.

Mr Gillmore, who trained at some of Europe’s top Michelin-starred eateries, last night said it was “an honour” to be recognised.

He said: “We are keeping fine company with some of the North West’s leading restaurants.

“It is testament to the hard work of both the kitchen and front-of-house staff, who work tirelessly every day to provide the best fine dining experience as possible to all our customers.

“The restaurant already has an excellent reputation across the region for fine dining, which I am aiming not just to maintain but to enhance and develop. It is very much family-run and about customer experience.”

The other restaurants to receive three Rosettes this year included London’s Dinner, by Heston Blumenthal, Roux at Parliament Square and Koffmann’s at The Berkeley Hotel in Knightsbridge.

The AA Guide website states three AA Rosettes are awarded to restaurants where “the cooking is underpinned by the selection and sympathetic treatment of the highest quality ingredients.

“Timing, seasoning and the judgment of flavour combinations will consistently be excellent.

“These virtues tend to be supported by other elements, such as intuitive service and a well-chosen wine list.”