A restaurant which serves modern European food has won a prestigious award for culinary excellence.

Staff of Haywards in Bell Common, Epping, attended the AA Hospitality Awards at the Grosvenor Hotel in London On Monday, September 30.

The team were awarded the three AA Rosettes for their dishes which include wagyu beef, fillet of veal and lemon posset.

Only 204 restaurants and hotels (around 10 per cent) within the AA Restaurant Guide have this achievement.

Epping Forest Guardian:

A selection of dishes to try at Haywards in Bells Common, Epping

A spokesperson for Haywards said: “It’s quite an achievement as the three rosettes aren’t awarded very easily, the nominations of the rosettes is followed visits by two different AA inspectors.”

“As a team led by Jahdre Hayward, our head chef, and Amanda Hayward, restaurant manager, we couldn’t be more thrilled or proud to have achieved these three Rosettes which do really set Haywards apart from other fine dining restaurants.”

BBC journalist Kate Silverton served as presenter at the awards ceremony, with guests being treated to a bespoke menu created by French chef Claude Bosi.

The review of Haywards in the AA Restaurant Guide 2020 gave a glowing review of the newly refurbished Epping eatery, saying: “Service is attentive, and the focus here is high quality food that is imaginatively composed and isn’t afraid to doff its cap to the Continent.”

“Dishes can be complex, but everything is there for a reason, witness a neat dessert of aerated chocolate and hazelnut mousse encased within a delicate small shell, alongside salted milk ice cream and caramel.”

To book a table at Haywards, visit: https://haywardsrestaurant.co.uk/