Culloden Estate & Spa has been named AA Hotel of the Year for Northern Ireland at the AA Hospitality Awards 2026, adding a national title to an already significant year for the property. The five-star hotel, part of the Hastings Hotels collection, collected the award at a ceremony at JW Marriott Grosvenor House in London, attended by more than 1,000 industry professionals.
The award arrives as the hotel celebrates its 150th anniversary and follows the completion of a £620,000 investment programme. The work has covered its guest rooms, the historic Ailsa Suite and The Spa at Culloden, with each area refurbished to raise the standard of the guest experience.
It also builds on earlier success for the hotel’s kitchen. A year before this latest honour, its flagship restaurant, Vespers, received two AA Rosettes, placing both the dining room and the wider hotel among the AA’s recognised names in consecutive years.
National recognition
The AA Hospitality Awards are held each year to recognise the best of British hospitality, honouring the businesses and people behind outstanding guest experiences and high standards of service. The judges look for genuine passion for the craft as well as consistent quality, and the Northern Ireland title places the Culloden among the leading properties honoured across the UK at this year’s ceremony.
“Congratulations to Culloden Estate & Spa on being named AA Hotel of the Year for Northern Ireland at the AA Hospitality Awards 2026. Our annual Awards celebrate the businesses and people that set the standard for the industry across the UK, and Culloden Estate & Spa is a brilliant example of a team that deliver true hospitality for their guests. Their commitment to delivering exceptional experiences is exactly what these awards set out to celebrate. A truly deserved recognition of their hard work, commitment and love for what they do.”
Simon Numphud, Managing Director, AA Hotel & Hospitality Services
Guest rooms and private dining
The £620,000 programme was completed to mark the anniversary year, with the guest rooms receiving a considered refurbishment. New interiors and furnishings have been introduced throughout, alongside upgraded bathrooms finished to a luxury standard.
The Ailsa Suite has also been redesigned. The private dining room, which looks out across the estate and the lough, now reflects the architecture and heritage of the original 1876 building. It is used for meetings, private dining and special occasions.
Upgraded spa and fitness facilities
The Spa at Culloden has benefited from notable improvements to both its interiors and its fitness facilities. Already regarded as a destination spa in its own right, it forms one of the central pillars of the hotel’s offer alongside its accommodation and dining.
The upgrades are intended to keep the wellness offering in line with the quality and guest experience expected at a five-star property. By investing in the spa at the same time as the rooms and the Ailsa Suite, the hotel has refreshed each of the main areas that guests use during a stay.
From bishops’ palace to five-star hotel
The building was originally constructed as a palace for the Bishops of Down, and its 150th anniversary this year traces back to that original structure of 1876. It was converted into a luxury hotel during the 20th century, and the recent refurbishment of the Ailsa Suite draws directly on this history.
Today the hotel sits within 12 acres of secluded gardens, offering panoramic views and a countryside setting while remaining within easy reach of Belfast city centre. It has 98 individually designed rooms and suites, together with award-winning dining and its well-known spa, and it continues to hold a place among Northern Ireland’s most distinguished luxury hotels.
Two AA Rosettes for Vespers
Vespers, the hotel’s flagship restaurant, was awarded two AA Rosettes a year before the Hotel of the Year title. The recognition acknowledged its combination of classic and contemporary cooking, supported by a high level of service in the dining room.
With the Hotel of the Year award now added, the property has received AA recognition for its restaurant and for the hotel as a whole in successive years. The redesigned Ailsa Suite adds a further private dining option to the offer led by Vespers.
The team behind the award
Cormac Fadden, General Manager of Culloden Estate & Spa, credited the staff for the result. He also pointed to the significance of receiving the title at a ceremony dedicated to the best of the industry.
“We are incredibly proud to be named AA Hotel of the Year for Northern Ireland at the AA Hospitality Awards 2026. Receiving this prestigious accolade is a true reflection of the passion and dedication of our entire team, who work tirelessly to create exceptional and memorable experiences for every guest while upholding the outstanding service standards for which the Culloden is renowned. It is a true honour to have this commitment, care and attention to detail recognised at an event that celebrates the very best of British and Northern Irish hospitality.”
Cormac Fadden, General Manager, Culloden Estate & Spa