Welsh hospitality was in the spotlight on Monday night when establishments from Wales - including The Bell at Skenfrith - scooped top awards at the AA Hospitality Awards 2011.

The awards, hosted by Sophie Raworth at the London Hilton on Park Lane, saw 20 establishments and individuals receiving recognition for outstanding excellence in their field.

The AA Hospitality Awards bring together some of the most influential people within the hospitality industry to recognise the outstanding accomplishments of high-achieving AA establishments and individuals.

The award event also sees the launch of the 2012 AA guides to UK hotels, restaurants, pubs and Bed and Breakfasts which contain details of all the winning establishments.

The Bell at Skenfrith received nationwide recognition when it won the AA Wine Award for Wales and overall AA Wine Award for 2011, sponsored by T&W Wines, at the AA Hospitality Awards 2011 – 2012, hosted by Sophie Raworth, at the London Hilton on Park Lane.

Janet and William Hutchings, proprietors of The Bell at Skenfrith, who received the award in front of an audience of over 700 members of the hospitality industry, commented, "We are absolutely over the moon to have won such a prestigious award, especially as there are so many great wine lists throughout the UK. We have always sourced each wine from a large pool of specialist wine suppliers. We then make comments on each wine and what sort of dish or occasion we think they would be suitable for. The information is upfront and the guest can choose with confidence."

The Bell at Skenfrith is a 17th Century coaching Inn on the banks of the river Monnow. Modernised by the present owners, Janet and William Hutchings, creating a five AA Star restaurant with rooms with a passion for locally sourced ingredients, including their own organic kitchen garden.

The wine list has been compiled (after exhaustive tastings!) to select a range of wines from around the world. Each wine, is believed to offer quality and pleasure whether customers are in the bar, restaurant or on the terrace.

AA hotel services manager, Simon Numphud, said, "The Bell was a standout winner for Wales and overall AA Wine Award of the Year. It has a truly remarkable wine list, which is difficult to put down and the astonishing list that is full of passion and personality. There are great wine choices on every page, illustrated with both witty and engaging pictures, and The Bell offer superb value for money at every level."

The AA Hospitality Awards bring together some of the most influential people within the hospitality industry to recognise the outstanding accomplishments of high-achieving AA establishments and individuals. The award event also sees the launch of the 2012 AA guides to UK hotels and restaurants, which contain details of all the winning establishments.

Guests were treated to a magnificent gourmet meal created by five AA Rosette-awarded chef Pierre Gagnaire in conjunction with the Hilton Park Lane kitchen team, and were entertained by Britain's Got Talent stars Out of the Blue.

Other local winners were AA Restaurant of the Year Wales - The Crown at Whitebrook and AA Pub of the Year Wales (sponsored by Karcher) - The White Hart Village Inn, Llangybi.