Published by Neil Thompson, 20th October 2025
St Brides Spa Hotel in Pembrokeshire has been crowned Hotel of the Year for Wales at the prestigious AA Hospitality Awards.
The luxury spa retreat and popular meetings and events destination was presented with the special award at a glittering black-tie dinner at London’s JW Marriott Grosvenor House on Monday 22nd September.
St Brides Spa Hotel, which enjoys a breathtaking clifftop location overlooking Saundersfoot Beach and Bay, becomes the first venue in Wales to win the coveted accolade for a second time, having previously picked up the award in 2011. It is also the second Celtic Collection hotel in successive years to collect the award following the success of Cardiff’s Parkgate Hotel in winning Hotel of the Year for Wales in 2024.
The award caps a momentous year for St Brides which has been elevated by an extensive three-month refurbishment during 2025. All 35 hotel bedrooms have been fully refurbished with new air conditioning, carpets, furniture and soft furnishings enhancing the fresh coastal feel. St Brides also offers a versatile range of meetings and events spaces, which can host up to 100 delegates, benefitting from natural daylight and sea views.
The hotel’s celebrated spa, with its iconic infinity pool, has also benefited from substantial improvements including a new Himalayan infra-red saltroom, outdoor sauna and spa pool, while the 2AA Rosette Cliff Restaurant has been rebranded and refurnished to make even more of the hotel’s stunning coastal views.
“The whole team at St Brides Spa Hotel are committed to providing the warmest Welsh welcome, delivering exceptional hospitality and exceeding guest expectations, so winning Hotel of the Year for Wales from the AA is an amazing achievement and a fantastic endorsement for all that we do.
With so many other incredible hotels and destinations in Wales, we are absolutely thrilled to win this award for the second time. Since reopening in May, we have received some wonderful feedback from guests on the quality of the refurbishments throughout the hotel and this award is the icing on the cake.”
Matt Barnby, Regional Operations Director, Celtic Collection
The AA, which has long been a marker of leading restaurant and hotel venues, celebrates the crème de la crème of UK hospitality.
Simon Numphud, Managing Director at AA Media, expressed his pride in the resilience and creativity shown by the UK’s hospitality sector in 2025: “This celebration highlights the passion, creativity and resilience that define UK hospitality. The teams have turned challenges into opportunities, inspiring us with their innovation and dedication.
“Congratulations to all winners, nominees and new Rosette holders – your achievements deserve recognition today and set a shining example for the future of our industry.”
The Celtic Collection took over the management of St Brides Spa Hotel in 2024 in partnership with the hotel’s new owner, the Port of Milford Haven.
For more information and reservations, visit www.stbridesspahotel.com
