Forge celebrates coveted AA award

A North Yorkshire fine dining restaurant has received national recognition for its culinary excellence.

Middleton Lodge Estate’s Forge restaurant has been awarded four AA Rosettes at the AA Hospitality Awards 2025/2026 at the JW Marriott Grosvenor House London, placing it among a select group of the UK’s most acclaimed restaurants and hotels.

The accolade highlights restaurants demonstrating technical excellence, passion and consistency at the highest level.

This is yet more acclaim for Forge, which earlier this year was awarded a Michelin Star, following on from head chef Jake Jones being named Michelin’s Young Chef of the Year in 2024 and the estate securing the Michelin Green Star for its commitment to ethical and environmental standards.

Opened in 2023, Forge was created around the estate’s ‘estate to plate’ philosophy, with tasting menus inspired by the landscape and produce grown across the grounds. 

The Middleton Lodge estate

Jake, who sat down with Bdaily earlier this year to discuss how the team shapes each course at Forge, said: “This recognition means so much to us. 

“Since opening Forge, it’s been an incredible journey, and receiving an award like this makes the whole team and estate so proud. 

“We’re always looking for new ways to be creative and give every guest a special experience.

“I’m very grateful, and I’d like to thank James Allison and the whole team at Middleton Lodge for making this possible.”

Head chef Jake Jones

James Allison, estate owner, added: “It’s a credit to the team’s hard work and dedication to the estate and our ethos. 

“This is such a distinct award and something we are all very proud of. 

“It’s a real pleasure to watch the team grow and develop and to see their talent recognised at a national level.”

Forge is open for evening reservations from Thursday to Sunday. 

Diners can experience six or ten courses, each carefully designed to reflect the seasons, with optional wine pairings. Vegan and vegetarian menus are also offered.

To make a reservation, visit www.middletonlodge.co.uk, call 01325 377-977, or email info@middletonlodge.co.uk.

You can read our review of Forge here, and to find out more about the restoration of Middleton Lodge and its innovative farm-to-table culture, see our interview with James in our sister publication, N, here.

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